chasemonster Senior Member Joined: 3 Jun 2010 Posts: 364 Location: Chicago Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Audrey Grinder: Hario Mini Mill Drip: V60
Posted Tue Oct 18, 2011, 7:02am Subject: Re: desperately looking for a grinder under $50, for home usage
hmmm.. The manual grinder option was already suggested to this person in this thread. And now they are back again, asking about a grinder (this time for under $50) to use with a Cuisinart espresso machine -which happens to employ a pressurized portafilter. For this specific situation, the Starbucks Barista Burr Grinder is a perfect fit. Plus, as a side bonus, it will look awesome sitting next to the Cuisinart on the kitchen counter.
Yes, & for a lower priced option, the Baratza Maestro (with the exact same burr set) is available as as a refurb for $70 versus $80 for the SB Barista from Baratza.
P.S. A correction for above, I just checked the website & the Starbucks Barista refurb (the only model available at this time) is $69.00. To get the same features on the comparable Baratza model it would be a Maestro Plus refurb (last published prices at $95.00), so my nod would go to the Baratza's Starbucks Barista model.
Posted Tue Oct 18, 2011, 10:10am Subject: Re: desperately looking for a grinder under $50, for home usage
Hey guys new here to the forum.
Anyways, I am too looking for best bang for you buck grinder under 100. However I have a professional blender, the vitamix. I was wondering if I can use that to grind my beans? It has low to high setting which is good. But would it most likely be hard to guage how fine I want it to be with a blender?
gingi Senior Member Joined: 26 Jul 2011 Posts: 12 Location: USA Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Tue Oct 18, 2011, 12:52pm Subject: Re: desperately looking for a grinder under $50, for home usage
Thanks everyone. I'm trying to summarize in my mind what I"m going to "take" form this discussion: 1) in my budget, manual grinder is my best bet 2) it'll be better than the sbux machine recommended here, even for espresso. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Posted Tue Oct 18, 2011, 1:04pm Subject: Re: desperately looking for a grinder under $50, for home usage
gingi Said:
Thanks everyone. I'm trying to summarize in my mind what I"m going to "take" form this discussion: 1) in my budget, manual grinder is my best bet 2) it'll be better than the sbux machine recommended here, even for espresso. Correct me if I'm wrong.
For pressurized portafilter espresso like your machine makes, the grind can be closer to fine auto drip and the coffee will look like espresso. If you move on to a non pressurized basket then the Hario Mini will take the machine places the burr grinder designed for drip and press won't want to go. Can the cheap sbux machine make espresso too? Yes. Grinding fine when the tolerances are not designed for it will wear the burrs out quickly - even quicker on a used machine. Might not do the motor any good either. But it is cheap so if you break it you are not out much and have learned a bit about grinders.
Hario will grind for espresso, and will make better tasting espresso if all else is equal. It is not built to last forever either so durability is a wash. At $50, some compromises should be expected though.
I chew coffee beans with my teeth while gargling with 195 F water to enjoy coffee. What is this "coffee brewing" device you speak of?
chasemonster Senior Member Joined: 3 Jun 2010 Posts: 364 Location: Chicago Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Audrey Grinder: Hario Mini Mill Drip: V60
Posted Tue Oct 18, 2011, 4:01pm Subject: Re: desperately looking for a grinder under $50, for home usage
CraigA Said:
P.S. A correction for above, I just checked the website & the Starbucks Barista refurb (the only model available at this time) is $69.00. To get the same features on the comparable Baratza model it would be a Maestro Plus refurb (last published prices at $95.00), so my nod would go to the Baratza's Starbucks Barista model.
Funny you should mention this. I saw that refurbished Baratza Starbucks Barista grinder for sale last week for $69.00 and ordered one, and it arrived in the mail today. After testing it out, I can verify absolutely that it is just as good as -if not better- than the Hario Mini Mill hand grinder for making espresso -at least when using a mypressi Twist.
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