MikeReilly Senior Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 277 Location: Vancouver Island Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Cimbali Junior D, Gaggia... Grinder: Mazzer Mini Drip: Cuisinart Roaster: Behmor, I-Roast 2, Popper
Posted Sun Dec 30, 2012, 11:16pm Subject: Re: about to pull the trigger on Lelit PL041TQE with Lelit Pl53 grinder
You have made a great choice for that price point. One thing to keep in mind is that the grinder will for all intents and purposes be espresso only since it has a very fine adjustment knob (one retailer says it would take hundreds of turns of the knob to go from espresso grind to drip). So plan to have a different grinder for drip or French press. Using the search function should find you a lot if information posted by owners of these machines.
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,801 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Mon Dec 31, 2012, 8:33am Subject: Re: about to pull the trigger on Lelit PL041TQE with Lelit Pl53 grinder
yeah, espresso only grinders are like that...not only too many turns to make it feasible to readjust for drip or press, but also, once you leave the espresso setting, you have to redial it in. Of course, if you're like me, you won't really make anything other than espresso. I only make press when my Mom comes to visit (she's in LA and I'm in Houston), and she's actually quite happy with americanos.
Enjoy the LeLit set! The only real downside I see is the pf is 57mm. Not a problem until you go to upgrade, and then, only if you bought more pf handles and baskets that you would like to keep, because most other machines are 58mm. Oh, and I guess if you buy a tamper, you'll need to get a new one when you upgrade (though if you get a Reg Barber, you can just get a new base).
jwark Senior Member Joined: 29 Dec 2012 Posts: 42 Location: TX Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Le'Lit PL041TQE Grinder: Le'Lit PL53
Posted Mon Dec 31, 2012, 12:00pm Subject: Re: about to pull the trigger on Lelit PL041TQE with Lelit Pl53 grinder
emradguy Said:
yeah, espresso only grinders are like that...not only too many turns to make it feasible to readjust for drip or press, but also, once you leave the espresso setting, you have to redial it in. Of course, if you're like me, you won't really make anything other than espresso. I only make press when my Mom comes to visit (she's in LA and I'm in Houston), and she's actually quite happy with americanos.
Enjoy the LeLit set! The only real downside I see is the pf is 57mm. Not a problem until you go to upgrade, and then, only if you bought more pf handles and baskets that you would like to keep, because most other machines are 58mm. Oh, and I guess if you buy a tamper, you'll need to get a new one when you upgrade (though if you get a Reg Barber, you can just get a new base).
Thanks for the insight. I already do have separate regular coffee grinder so don't have to worry about that. I actually thought that reg barber tamper seemed a little overpriced so I bought the ones that 1st-line.com makes. They are interchangeable as well but only half the price. I guess I'll see how that goes.
“It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.” - Jack Handy
Posted Mon Dec 31, 2012, 12:22pm Subject: Re: about to pull the trigger on Lelit PL041TQE with Lelit Pl53 grinder
I have a basic stainless steel tamper, probably like what you're getting from 1st Line, and it works fine. :) I think you're going to love your new set up. Be prepared for a little bit of a learning curve, but my guests are always surprised at how much better they like my coffee, over what they pay $4 for every day. :)
jwark Senior Member Joined: 29 Dec 2012 Posts: 42 Location: TX Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Le'Lit PL041TQE Grinder: Le'Lit PL53
Posted Mon Dec 31, 2012, 12:52pm Subject: Re: about to pull the trigger on Lelit PL041TQE with Lelit Pl53 grinder
Yeah I have only been to a few coffee shops ever that made decent espresso. I don't get why people say starbucks is so great. They have what looks to be a $10,000 machine but their coffee has no flavor in my opinion.
I like it really thick and cremalicious. I also ordered some fresh roasted beans from Klatch coffee but it was a little pricey. Going to have to spend some time researching where I can get fresh beans at a decent price.
“It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.” - Jack Handy
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
= No New Posts since last visit 