Len Sabo offers his espresso-deprived friend and former co-worker some detailed advice on a first-time home espresso set-up. It's great info for any espresso newbie.
JohnPark Senior Member Joined: 7 Nov 2006 Posts: 28 Location: Los Angeles, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Bricoletta Volante Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Posted Thu Dec 21, 2006, 9:56am Subject: Re: Espresso Advice - From One Steel Guy to Another, The Cafe Stage
A great article, Len, thanks for putting together such a concise bit of advice. Be sure to let us know what Joe ends up getting, and more importantly, how he likes the espresso! -JP
Coffee_Wombat Senior Member Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 9 Location: San Jose/Diego Expertise: I love coffee
Grinder: Zassenhaus, Maestro Plus Vac Pot: Chambord FP Drip: Scand. Presto Roaster: iRoast I
Posted Thu Dec 21, 2006, 4:20pm Subject: Re: Espresso Advice - From One Steel Guy to Another, The Cafe Stage
Doesn't Mark Prince always say to spend more money on a quality grinder than the espresso machine? But in all your setups, the espresso machine outpriced the grinder... is your philosophy that the espresso machine matters more than the grinder?
Worldman Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1,791 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Expobar Office Control Grinder: Cimbali 6/S
Posted Thu Dec 21, 2006, 5:20pm Subject: Re: Espresso Advice - From One Steel Guy to Another, The Cafe Stage
John,
Thank you for the kind words.
CW,
Doesn't Mark Prince always say to spend more money on a quality grinder than the espresso machine? But in all your setups, the espresso machine outpriced the grinder... is your philosophy that the espresso machine matters more than the grinder?
hmmm...a good point. Though I won't presume to speak for Mark Prince, I think that his comments about spending more on a grinder than a machine is based on "entry level" kind of spending. The fellow to whom these recomendations were made is, as I said, well off. Once you get to a Mazzer Mini E, there isn't too much higher that you can go.
You are correct, though, and I also tell freinds to spend the $ to get a "serious" grinder before worrying about getting a serious machine. It is safe to say that all of these setups are "serious".
jgriff Senior Member Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 17 Location: Portland, OR Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Quickmill Anita Grinder: Macap M4, Solis Maestro Plus Vac Pot: French Press (3) Drip: Aeropress Roaster: none
Posted Thu Dec 21, 2006, 5:22pm Subject: Re: Espresso Advice - From One Steel Guy to Another, The Cafe Stage
It was indeed a very good article, just a bit too late. ;-) I drove myself crazy reading all of these forums, review, visiting the Home-Barista website, reading alt.coffee posts.... If only someone had been around to give me such sage advice from the beginning. I do feel like I made the right purchase after all of that, and here the article confirms it! I have the Quickmill Anita with Macap M4 stepless (w/doser) grinder and I think it's great so far. I wasn't sure about doser vs. doserless, but I think I'll be happy with what I've got. There's always some little thing to be nitpicky about no matter what you choose!
Coffee_Wombat Said:
Doesn't Mark Prince always say to spend more money on a quality grinder than the espresso machine? But in all your setups, the espresso machine outpriced the grinder... is your philosophy that the espresso machine matters more than the grinder?
It seems like that is nearly impossible if you're buying a nice heat exchanger or other prosumer-level machine. What I've noticed is that you need to spend at least $400-450 on the grinder (generally speaking) to be properly set up. That should get you a Mazzer Mini or Macap M4. Most of us don't need or have the space for anything larger, although I am sure there are plenty out there who will disagree and say you should get a Mazzer Super Jolly at a minimum! I think what people are commonly referring to is just that the grinder is more important than the machine and you will do a lot better by getting a $400 grinder and a $200 machine than you would if you got the $200 grinder and spent $400 or more on your machine.
JohnPark Senior Member Joined: 7 Nov 2006 Posts: 28 Location: Los Angeles, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Bricoletta Volante Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Posted Fri Dec 22, 2006, 9:54am Subject: Re: Espresso Advice - From One Steel Guy to Another, The Cafe Stage
I'm with Justin -- where was your article a month ago when I started obsessively reading reviews and creating spreadsheets?! I ended up pulling the trigger on a Fiorenzato Bricoletta Volante and a Mazzer Mini -- I'm really excited because they're supposed to arrive today! This is a huge step up for me, as I was using a Krups and a whirly blade grinder before. -JP
jgriff Senior Member Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 17 Location: Portland, OR Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Quickmill Anita Grinder: Macap M4, Solis Maestro Plus Vac Pot: French Press (3) Drip: Aeropress Roaster: none
Posted Fri Dec 22, 2006, 9:59am Subject: Re: Espresso Advice - From One Steel Guy to Another, The Cafe Stage
JohnPark Said:
I'm with Justin -- where was your article a month ago when I started obsessively reading reviews and creating spreadsheets?! I ended up pulling the trigger on a Fiorenzato Bricoletta Volante and a Mazzer Mini -- I'm really excited because they're supposed to arrive today! This is a huge step up for me, as I was using a Krups and a whirly blade grinder before. -JP
JohnPark Senior Member Joined: 7 Nov 2006 Posts: 28 Location: Los Angeles, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Bricoletta Volante Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Posted Fri Dec 22, 2006, 10:47am Subject: Re: Espresso Advice - From One Steel Guy to Another, The Cafe Stage
Thanks Justin. I just checked the UPS tracking and it says my shipment has an "exception" due to bad weather. It's on a train, so how bad would the weather have to be?!! Looks like I'll be drinking press pot for Christmas after all. -JP
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