Coffee_Buff Senior Member Joined: 4 Feb 2005 Posts: 5 Location: Los Angeles Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Fri Feb 4, 2005, 2:45pm Subject: Enthusiastic Newbie
Hello all,
I just joined coffeegeek.com today.
I have a Briel Cadiz which I've been using for about 2 1/2 years. I've been using pre-ground "espresso grind" coffee in it.
I'm ready to step up to the next level I can make decent cappucino with my Briel, but I'm not kidding myself. I know that I'm still on the "beginner's slope". There's a whole world of espresso appreciation that I'm just beginning to enter!
Here's what I'm planning to do this year:
1) Buy a Rancilio Sylvia. (which will really stretch my budget, so forget about getting the Rocky grinder at the same time!)
2) Learn how to use my Silvia. (I have a Mr. Coffee grinder that I can use for now)
3) When I get some funds, buy a Rocky and learn how to use it.
4) After I've mastered both machines, learn how to buy and roast my own beans.
I planning to complete all of these steps by the end of this year, and be well on my way to earning the title of "barrista"!
Geekess Senior Member Joined: 4 Jan 2005 Posts: 122 Location: Pennsylvania Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Andreja Premium Grinder: Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: I wish! Drip: Don't drink it!!!! Roaster: SC/CO
Posted Fri Feb 4, 2005, 3:05pm Subject: Re: Enthusiastic Newbie
Welcome! You'll find a lot of information here which may help you or help make you broke or worse, BOTH ;) I would opt for the grinder first but that is just me. When I got my grinder and had this ancient old Krups it still made all the difference. I just hate to see anyone using pre-ground beans...it's a peeve of mine. Nothing wrong with a budget. Mine got blown away rather quickly but I am weak and spoiled and have a Hubby who loves espresso (it helps if the SO that makes the money likes espresso.) LOL
Posted Fri Feb 4, 2005, 3:26pm Subject: Re: Enthusiastic Newbie
Coffee_Buff Said:
Hello all,
I just joined coffeegeek.com today.
I have a Briel Cadiz which I've been using for about 2 1/2 years. I've been using pre-ground "espresso grind" coffee in it.
I'm ready to step up to the next level I can make decent cappucino with my Briel, but I'm not kidding myself. I know that I'm still on the "beginner's slope". There's a whole world of espresso appreciation that I'm just beginning to enter!
Hi David. :-)) Welcome to CoffeeGeek! Looks like you've already done a little research and that's good.
Just a suggestion... I'm under the impression that the Briel Cadiz has a non-pressurized portafilter. If that's true then you're biggest leaps toward great espresso will be the home-roasted beans and the quality grinder. If you get those first then your budget won't suffer so badly at first...
Also, there are a few alternatives to the Rocky that may be more cost effective. If you look through the forums you can find tons of information (the search is pesky but can be effective, maybe try "+grinder +good" and see what happens).
Also check sumocomputer's comparison page CLICK HERE
Posted Sat Feb 5, 2005, 4:19am Subject: Re: Enthusiastic Newbie
Hi David. I'd definitely agree with the other two. I think you'd be much better off in the meantime with a good grinder and your briel (or perhaps get a recon gaggia to go with it) than a silvia and bad grind. You just can't get good espresso from bad beans. With good beans and a good grinder however, you'll get MUCH better shots from your briel and probably the occasional one that you'll consider outstanding. With silvia and no grinder, you'll get fairly consistent OK coffee. I know it seems crazy to spend hundreds of bucks on a grinder when the machine's worth SFA, but trust me, you won't regret it.
I used to recommend rocky, but when I bought rocky, he was cheaper in the UK than the gaggia MDF. Looking at that link jon posted, if I was going to buy a grinder now, knowing what I know, I'd opt for either the gaggia MDF or the mazzer mini, depending on budget. The biggest criticism I've heard about the mdf is that the grinding steps are too far apart, but I'm sure it can be adapted to be stepless, like my rocky is.
I'd also recommend learning to roast before upgrading your machine, as depending on what your bean supplies are like, that can make as big a difference as the grinder.
All the best, and I hope you enjoy your coffee journey as much as I'm enjoying mine.
Posted Sat Feb 5, 2005, 7:25am Subject: Re: Enthusiastic Newbie
Welcome to the forums.
If you try to use that Mr. Coffee grinder for espresso, you will be sadly disappointed. Mr. Coffee does not even grind consistent enough for french press, IMHO.
Let me put it this way, there is no way the Mr. Coffee grinder that I had would make good coffee period. I am positive that mine would have made terrible espresso on any machine.
Do yourself a favor and follow the general wisdom that you should get a good grinder before you get a good machine. You'll see that a good grinder dramatically improves all of your coffee: drip, french press, vac pot, whatever you use.
Good luck to you. You're starting off right by doing the research and asking the questions. If you're in this hobby for the long haul, spend good money up front on a grinder.
Sincerely,
Jeremy
"I've appeared before every court in the state. Often as a lawyer." - Lionel Hutz, Esq.
Coffee_Buff Senior Member Joined: 4 Feb 2005 Posts: 5 Location: Los Angeles Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sat Feb 5, 2005, 7:30pm Subject: Re: Enthusiastic Newbie
Thank you all so much for your suggestions!
I will take your advice and get a good grinder first. I'm looking at the Gaggia MDF and the Rocky, and possibly the Saeco.
My Briel doesn't have the punch it did when I got it 2 1/2 years ago, but as you pointed out, if I get good fresh beans and grind them right, I can probably get a pretty good shot out of it.
Posted Sun Feb 6, 2005, 10:10am Subject: Re: Enthusiastic Newbie
As well as a grinder you might also want to get a popper and try your hand at roasting. It is a lot of fun and you can really get some awesome coffee this way.
Posted Sun Feb 13, 2005, 5:17am Subject: Re: Enthusiastic Newbie
Welcome!!!
I agree with the others, your best choice is to get the grinder first. By all means, buy the best grinder you can afford. If you can buy a Silvia, you should be able to buy a Mazzer Mini. While it is more money, it is IMHO the best grinder out there. You can certainly get a good grinder for $200.00. I would not recommend the Saeco 2002 because it has a problem with static electricity created by the higher speed motor. Chris's Coffee was selling a Nuova Simonelli MCI doserless grinder for $229.00 that would be an excellent choice.
Posted Sun Feb 13, 2005, 8:29am Subject: Re: Enthusiastic Newbie
I talked to Chris coffee before I bought my Rocky and it does clog easier depending on where you live. I think it was Mary that said if you live in a humid climate the MCI clogs easier than the Rocky.
Since getting my Rocky I have had THE BEST espresso I have ever tasted and the static is almost non existant so there is no mess all over the place.
The Sylvia/Rocky combo is great and I am glad I took the advice of many CGer's here even though I thought they were crazy to recommend a grinder that is well over $200.
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