jcorde Senior Member Joined: 8 Jan 2013 Posts: 30 Location: Puerto Rico Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Mazzer Mini, Hario mini
Posted Wed Jan 9, 2013, 4:31am Subject: Need help, what to buy
HI currently I am planing to buy an electric grinder to replace my old hario mini. My budget is $300.00. I have looked around and found that the rocky and the virtuoso preciso are in that price. Which one should I buy? Also, if there is any other that I have miss please let me know.
Its going to be uses for espresso, paired to a gaggia classic, but thinking of upgrading the machine in the future.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,652 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Wed Jan 9, 2013, 10:42am Subject: Re: Need help, what to buy
A used Rocky at half that price would be OK but not great, I would not buy a new one. A referb Vario or the preciso. A used commercial grinder such as a SJ is a very positive step but SJs tend to be a little more than that, a MDX in good shape with new burrs can be bought for a little more than your budget, they grind every bit as well as a SJ and I like the adjustment a bit more but they tend to be less popular for some reason so the used price is less.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
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jcorde Senior Member Joined: 8 Jan 2013 Posts: 30 Location: Puerto Rico Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Mazzer Mini, Hario mini
Posted Sat Jan 12, 2013, 1:07pm Subject: Re: Need help, what to buy
I have been reading about the vario but I dont know... I have read too many complaints about it so i decided to search for other grinders, what about a macap Mc4 a compak K3 touch, a pasquini lux, a Nouva SImonelli Grinta or the Ascaso I mini?
Posted Sat Jan 12, 2013, 2:30pm Subject: Re: Need help, what to buy
My first Preciso had some issues and I had to replace the burr holder a couple times. Even at it's best, I had to set it as low as 3-5 for espresso so something was amiss. After the 2nd (or 3rd) burr holder cracked, Baratza replaced the grinder and this one's been great and my espressos require a setting around 9-10.
I use it for brewed coffee as well.
Also, throughout my trouble, Baratza customer service was great. They even sent the replacement grinder before I sent my old one in and didn't require a credit card.
My ONLY qualm is it's sometimes ambiguous exactly which macro setting you're on (for example 9 vs 10) causing a little guessing when I'm going from say drip to espresso settings.
Skylar Senior Member Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 46 Location: New Jersey Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: lelit espresso Grinder: lelit grinder Vac Pot: B. D. Electric Drip: chemex Roaster: wok roast and popper, heat...
Posted Sat Jan 12, 2013, 2:53pm Subject: Re: Need help, what to buy
The Le'lit PL53 has served me well as a dedicated espresso grinder for 3+ years. As long as there is no need to use it for another type of coffee production I believe it is a good choice. To go between espresso and e.g. drip would be far too many knob turns.
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