ShortyW Senior Member Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Posts: 16 Location: Chicago NW Suburb Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sun Jan 17, 2010, 7:34pm Subject: grinder recommendation
I have a Krups blade grinder, but it appears to be almost inoperable now. I can sometimes get it to turn for a couple of revolutions, and then it stops. Something is causing it to operate very intermittently. Since the warranty has expired, I am looking into replacing it.
I am currently using the following for brewing coffee: 1) Cuisinart drip coffee maker 2) Aeropress
I use the aeropress when I am trying to make myself a mocha. I don't use the aeropress all of the time since it uses up a lot of beans.
I typically make two cups of coffee a day. Given my pattern of usage, should I get the Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder? What do you recommend? Also, if I am grinding only about two cups worth of coffee beans a day, do I need to clean the coffee grinder everyday?
If anyone else has had this kind of problem with the Krups blade grinder, I would be interested in knowing if you were able to fix the problem.
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,098 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Sun Jan 17, 2010, 9:08pm Subject: Re: grinder recommendation
Even if you could fix the Krups blade "chopper," I wouldn't. Your grinder is the most important piece of equipment you can buy. What's your budget for a grinder? (I'd look here.)
kschendel Senior Member Joined: 7 Nov 2008 Posts: 267 Location: Pittsburgh Expertise: I love coffee
Grinder: Maestro Roaster: Freshroast
Posted Mon Jan 18, 2010, 4:53am Subject: Re: grinder recommendation
Throw the Krups thing in the garbage, and get either a Baratza Maestro or a Capresso Infinity. Either one will do a good job for drip and AP. I'd get the Maestro unless size and appearance is important; the Capresso unit is smaller and sleeker looking, but is reported to retain more grinds. I have a Maestro which is used mostly for Aeropress, and it does a great job.
And no, I don't think you need to clean the grinder every day, at least not the Maestro. (Not sure about the Capresso.) I clean mine out about once a week.
ShortyW Senior Member Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Posts: 16 Location: Chicago NW Suburb Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Jan 18, 2010, 10:03am Subject: Re: grinder recommendation
kschendel Said:
Throw the Krups thing in the garbage, and get either a Baratza Maestro or a Capresso Infinity. Either one will do a good job for drip and AP. I'd get the Maestro unless size and appearance is important; the Capresso unit is smaller and sleeker looking, but is reported to retain more grinds. I have a Maestro which is used mostly for Aeropress, and it does a great job.
And no, I don't think you need to clean the grinder every day, at least not the Maestro. (Not sure about the Capresso.) I clean mine out about once a week.
ShortyW Senior Member Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Posts: 16 Location: Chicago NW Suburb Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Jan 18, 2010, 10:04am Subject: Re: grinder recommendation
kschendel Said:
Throw the Krups thing in the garbage, and get either a Baratza Maestro or a Capresso Infinity. Either one will do a good job for drip and AP. I'd get the Maestro unless size and appearance is important; the Capresso unit is smaller and sleeker looking, but is reported to retain more grinds. I have a Maestro which is used mostly for Aeropress, and it does a great job.
And no, I don't think you need to clean the grinder every day, at least not the Maestro. (Not sure about the Capresso.) I clean mine out about once a week.
Jmanespresso Senior Member Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 2,108 Location: Westchester NY Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Alex Duetto II Grinder: Compak K10 - Vario Vac Pot: Yama-SY5/SY8/TCA5 Drip: V60, Beehouse, CCD Roaster: Hottop B
Posted Mon Jan 18, 2010, 5:55pm Subject: Re: grinder recommendation
Baratza Grinders are usually the best bet for a solid grinder, backed by a great company. Id personally go for the Virtouso, and get a Refurb model from their website(they're often just a demo model, used at a trade show or something). IIRC, the refurb Virts go for $133
Follow Your Bliss
Coffee makes your constantly overcome your prejudices and re-evaluate your own "received wisdoms" when it comes to judging cup flavors. -Tom Owen, SweetMarias
ShortyW Senior Member Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Posts: 16 Location: Chicago NW Suburb Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Jan 18, 2010, 7:22pm Subject: Re: grinder recommendation
Jmanespresso Said:
Baratza Grinders are usually the best bet for a solid grinder, backed by a great company. Id personally go for the Virtouso, and get a Refurb model from their website(they're often just a demo model, used at a trade show or something). IIRC, the refurb Virts go for $133
Isn't the Maestro sufficient if I never plan to make espresso?
I think that I might have to go with Infinity. I saw some comments that Baratza grinders have problems handling flavored coffee. It causes jams. I like flavored coffee.
I've spent some time with a Maestro and Virtuoso. The grind from the Virtuoso is noticably better IMO, but everything I've tasted from a Maestro has been solid, so I have no complaints. If you're willing to spend the extra money then I'd go for it; if you can't justify it then don't. FWIW, the Virtuoso isn't up to par for espresso; so whether you get a Maestro or Virtuoso it would be how they compare to each other for non espresso brewing.
ShortyW Said:
I think that I might have to go with Infinity. I saw some comments that Baratza grinders have problems handling flavored coffee. It causes jams. I like flavored coffee.
Posted Mon Jan 18, 2010, 8:18pm Subject: Re: grinder recommendation
I don't have any direct experience with the Maestro but I did own a *$ Barista AKA Solis 166. It is sort of the predecessor of the Maestro.
My sister in law has an Infinity so I have a bit of experience with it.
They are both conical burr grinders of similar design. The Infinity has a three point upper mount verses a two point mount in the Solis machine.
The more stable burr mount gave a smaller spread of grind size. The down side of the Infinity is the longer grounds path. This means more grounds retention.
If we are comparing the old Solis machine (2 point burr mount) to the Infinity I would go with the Infinity. Baratza has redesigned the Maestro and now it has a three point burr mount. With that in mind I would go with a Baratza machine.
My son now owns the *$ and grinds beans which look like charcoal briquettes. He frequently clogs the machine up. The poor thing is having a hard life.
I am guessing here but I think flavored coffee is more of a challenge than overroasted beans.
I am guessing that the Infinity with its longer grounds path will have all the clogging problems as the Maestro and then some. Make sure you get input from someone who has put flavored beans into the infinity.
Phil
ShortyW Said:
Isn't the Maestro sufficient if I never plan to make espresso?
I think that I might have to go with Infinity. I saw some comments that Baratza grinders have problems handling flavored coffee. It causes jams. I like flavored coffee.
ShortyW Senior Member Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Posts: 16 Location: Chicago NW Suburb Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Jan 18, 2010, 8:39pm Subject: Re: grinder recommendation
PJK Said:
I don't have any direct experience with the Maestro but I did own a *$ Barista AKA Solis 166. It is sort of the predecessor of the Maestro.
My sister in law has an Infinity so I have a bit of experience with it.
They are both conical burr grinders of similar design. The Infinity has a three point upper mount verses a two point mount in the Solis machine.
The more stable burr mount gave a smaller spread of grind size. The down side of the Infinity is the longer grounds path. This means more grounds retention.
If we are comparing the old Solis machine (2 point burr mount) to the Infinity I would go with the Infinity. Baratza has redesigned the Maestro and now it has a three point burr mount. With that in mind I would go with a Baratza machine.
My son now owns the *$ and grinds beans which look like charcoal briquettes. He frequently clogs the machine up. The poor thing is having a hard life.
I am guessing here but I think flavored coffee is more of a challenge than overroasted beans.
I am guessing that the Infinity with its longer grounds path will have all the clogging problems as the Maestro and then some. Make sure you get input from someone who has put flavored beans into the infinity.
Thanks for the info. I can live without flavored coffee beans. The flavoring can be added after brewing. If I am not concerned about grounds retention, what benefit does Maestro have over Infinity?
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