drwoo Senior Member Joined: 8 May 2004 Posts: 166 Location: Toronto, Canada Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Miss Silvia , Saaeco Via... Grinder: Rancilio Rocky , Braun... Vac Pot: thinking of one Drip: Bodum FP ,Phillips , Melitta... Roaster: FR+8
Posted Sun Jun 27, 2004, 5:12pm Subject: Suggestion for grinder?
If I don't see getting an espresso machine in the near future , any recommendations for a low-mid price grinder? Presently using a Braun blade. I do Philips drip,Melitta #2 , Bodum & hope to get some sort of VAc pot soon. Thanks Wayne
drsmith Senior Member Joined: 8 May 2004 Posts: 178 Location: ny Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Mr Coffee Grinder: Crank by hand Vac Pot: n/a Drip: Bunn Roaster: Hearthware prec.; Whirley...
Posted Sun Jun 27, 2004, 6:37pm Subject: Re: Suggestion for grinder?
drwoo Said:
If I don't see getting an espresso machine in the near future , any recommendations for a low-mid price grinder? Presently using a Braun blade. I do Philips drip,Melitta #2 , Bodum & hope to get some sort of VAc pot soon. Thanks Wayne
If you're looking for easy, cheap, and quick - a Braun burr grinder can easily be had for around $30-$40 USD. It was the first grinder I ever bought and it worked quite well for a couple of years for drip coffee. I eventually wore out the bearings in the motor, though.
Since I bought that one and subsequently retired it, I've had a couple of others, but my favorite at the moment is the hand-crank box style grinders. I recently bought a Zassenhouse(sp?) from sweetmarias, and it does as well as any other grinder I've ever owned for both french press and drip.
Others will no doubt recommend the Rancillio Rocky or the Mazzer Mini, but they are extremely expensive. If your budget is less than $100 USD, you won't be able to afford either of them(in no uncertain terms, they are the most expensive grinders I've ever heard of short of a commercial grinder).
Posted Mon Jun 28, 2004, 12:10am Subject: Re: Suggestion for grinder?
Use this link to see the most-reviewed grinders. There are some inexpensive ones there. Pick one that a lot of people have reviewed, and gets high marks.
I'd go with the Solis Maestro Plus at a minimum.
Dana Leighton - Espresso hack and CoffeeGeek moderator
DEchelbarger Senior Member Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 416 Location: Negaunee, MI Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Solis SL-70 Grinder: Macap M 4, Rocky,... Vac Pot: Bodum Santos, Nicro Drip: pour over, Chemex, FR Press,... Roaster: RK Drum, I-roast, manual...
Posted Mon Jun 28, 2004, 4:47am Subject: Re: Suggestion for grinder?
I have a Solis M Plus and it is working well for me in all applications, and I do a fair amount of espresso. The grinder is key, and when I moved up to the Solis from the whirly bird deals, it was like day and night. I also have a Zass that I enjoy. I know the Rocky and Mazzer are expensive, but when my Solis goes, I'll probably get a Mazzer. I know you don't do espresso now, but once the gloves come off with a decent grinder, and once you get a decent espresso machine and taste what you can do in your kitchen -- you will be off to the races. I wish I'd just gone for the home run ball and gotten a Mazzer right away -- The Solis is very fine for me -- but I will not replace it, or get new burrs when the time comes.
ljguitar Senior Member Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 2,450 Location: Cheyenne Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Expobar Pulsar Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly, Solis Drip: Bunn Roaster: iRoast2
Posted Mon Jun 28, 2004, 5:04am Subject: Re: Suggestion for grinder?
drwoo Said:
If I don't see getting an espresso machine in the near future , any recommendations for a low-mid price grinder? Presently using a Braun blade. I do Philips drip,Melitta #2 , Bodum & hope to get some sort of VAc pot soon. Thanks Wayne
It sounds like you are suggesting a better grinder for drip, pourover and Vac pot, which certainly don't take the precision grinding of espresso, which is a compound matter of how fine coffee is ground and how evenly it is ground.
For the other brewing methods, I'd suggest a Solis Maestro ($100 model) and then should you choose to purchase an espresso machine, incorporate a great espresso grinder into the purchase of it.
Multiple grinders are highly desirable in that you don't have to spend time resetting them. As precise as the setting on my Mazzer is, I'd hate to try hitting it precisely after switching back and forth for drip. Sometimes I am tweaking it 1/3 of a point now to dial in shots as the weather changes, or beans age.
Just my 2 cent's worth and my vote for multiple grinders.
Posted Mon Jun 28, 2004, 5:46am Subject: Re: Suggestion for grinder?
Wayne,
I agree with Larry on the Maestro, and David (Dechelbarg) on the Maestro Plus. With these particular grinders, I'd avoid buying someone else's returned unit ("next-to-new", refurb, etc.). Get a new one.
If you might eventually try using a press pot, I'd definitely step up to the Maestro Plus. Even if you're not, it's a more solid grinder.
The next step above this one is the Innova conical, or the Cunill Tranquilo--possibly a bit overkill for what you want to do.
Stevan Senior Member Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Posts: 44 Location: Shepherd, Michigan Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Solis SL-70 Grinder: Rocky, Kitchenaid Proline Drip: Cuisinart Brew Central
Posted Mon Jun 28, 2004, 5:46am Subject: Re: Suggestion for grinder?
A more recent alternative to a Solis Maestro/Maestro Plus is the Capresso Infinity ($99 retail for plastic-shelled model, $139 retail for the metal-cased model; identical mechanism in each). While very similar to the Solis grinders, it appears to be more durable, can grind finer, and is easier to take apart and put back together for cleaning and/or burr replacement, without mishap. The grind is more reliable, though it's not as good as my Rocky for espresso consistency, but it can produce a rich and creamy shot with care and the right beans. For all other uses, it's harder to tell the difference between the Infinity and the Rocky. We now use our Infinity for drip and press pot.
I just went to look-see. The Capresso looks VERY good indeed. The Solis has a bonus in my book -- It's made in the USA, while the Capresso is made in China. :^( I think I'd pay a bit more for the (some might say anemic, but still better than China's) labor and environmental protections in the USA.
(groan) Tough being a bleeding-heart liberal these days.
Dana Leighton - Espresso hack and CoffeeGeek moderator
Posted Mon Jun 28, 2004, 3:51pm Subject: Re: Suggestion for grinder?
I'd avoid the low end ($30-$40) burr grinders. In my experience they really are not an improvement over the blade.
I disagree somewhat that evenness of grind is less important with press pot or drip than espresso. There's a huge quality difference between the press pot coffee I make at home ground with a Rocky and the press pot I make at work with a cheap burr grinder. Today I actually brought my Zass Turkish to work because I wanted to do justice to the really awesome Yemen Mokha Ismaili I just roasted.
If your budget is a factor, then a Solis is better than nothing. Otherwise an espresso class grinder can really make a difference for non-espresso coffees.
Posted Mon Jun 28, 2004, 3:57pm Subject: Re: Suggestion for grinder?
Jim - boy do I agree with that post. I have never made espresso, have upgraded grinders about 4 times, and each time noticed a major improvement in my drip coffee.
I see posters say all the time that it doesn't much matter for drip, but my experience is different than that. I'd recommend the best grinder you can afford. Period.
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