RoyceRuiz Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2012 Posts: 47 Location: Hollister, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Mon Jan 7, 2013, 10:20am Subject: Help with my new Hario Skerton and Press
I''ve been using my french press for years with my fake burr grinder (Cuisinart) and have finally gotten a hand grinder (Hario Skerton). I have a couple of questions.
1) I don't have a scale and my previous grinder had volume settings from the hopper so I am not sure how much coffee to use. I would like to measure in unground coffee so I don't need to grind more than I need and then measure out tablespoons of ground coffee. Through googling I was able to see that for my 8 cup bodum press I should use about 2/3 of a cup (about 10 tablespoons) of unground coffee. I used that amount this morning but think it may have been a little too much (the plunger was not able to go all the way down.
2) How many notches from zero should I go on the Skerton to get the right coarseness of grind? I found this guide click here and tried 7 but it seemed very hard to push down (at least about 15-20 lbs. of pressure). Maybe my cheapo grinder had been grinding to course but that seems to be too fine.
3) Finally I am planning on ordering the Mod Kit for Orphan espresso to stabilize the burr. In the mean time, the Hario is still better than the cheapo right? Any thoughts or input would be very helpful.
RoyceRuiz Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2012 Posts: 47 Location: Hollister, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Tue Jan 8, 2013, 9:26am Subject: Re: Help with my new Hario Skerton and Press
Day two, I decreased my coffee (unground) to a little under 2/3 of a cup and everything seemed to be a little better. I didn't have to push as hard and the coffee tasted better. I still kept it on 7 notches past zero. Anyone with experience with the Skerton and press I'd love to hear your method.
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,720 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Tue Jan 8, 2013, 10:29am Subject: Re: Help with my new Hario Skerton and Press
Weighing the beans will be a lot more accurate than counting spoons. Get yourself a decent kitchen scale that goes to 0.1g resolution...they cost about $20-40, depending on brand and style.
CheapBastid Senior Member Joined: 3 Dec 2012 Posts: 61 Location: Los Angeles Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: None Grinder: Talking myself into a LIDO Vac Pot: None Drip: Mr Coffee Roaster: None
Posted Wed Jan 16, 2013, 7:48pm Subject: Re: Help with my new Hario Skerton and Press
I'd been thinking of getting the Skerton, but in my research it wasn't a good match for a French Press larger grind size, without the modification kit that Orphan Espresso offers.
Posted Wed Jan 16, 2013, 9:08pm Subject: Re: Help with my new Hario Skerton and Press
emradguy Said:
Weighing the beans will be a lot more accurate than counting spoons. Get yourself a decent kitchen scale that goes to 0.1g resolution...they cost about $20-40, depending on brand and style.
+1. If I'm remembering correctly, I got mine for $12. It's an AWS, and I've used it to weigh pre grind, post grind, the resulting shots, as well the water weight as I'm doing pourovers. The scale is a bit small, but it's solidly built and consistent. Here it is on Amazon for even cheaper: click here
Doing it without a scale will never be consistent enough to really diagnose issues you're having. The problem is that all coffee beans don't weigh the same (never mind the fact that their shape really impedes your ability to get a consistent spoonful). Because of this, there isn't a one-size-fits-all volumetric dosing method that will give you a consistent weight. Once you take out the variable of weight, then you can adjust to taste and more easily figure out where your issues are.
Yes, your Skerton will be better than the Cuisinart, but it is rather weak for coarse grinds. If you're going to use it for other methods as well, I wouldn't get the kit from OE as it pretty much flips the issue. Instead of having issues with coarse grinding, the issues will be with fine grinding. But if you're only going to be using it for the press, then go for it.
Posted Thu Jan 17, 2013, 6:51am Subject: Re: Help with my new Hario Skerton and Press
I can vouch for the mod. It works great. :) I haven't tried it for press though yet. Notch 5 for me is still pretty fine for drip. Get the OE PFP kit. Trust me it's worth the $15. For press if you’re letting it steep for 4min I would try notch 8 or 9. Get the mod a.s.a.p. because you will be getting uneven grinds.
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,720 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Thu Jan 17, 2013, 7:34am Subject: Re: Help with my new Hario Skerton and Press
OE is still closed. There was another thread explaining why, or you can go to their website and see it there at the top of the home page. They should be opening again soon. Just be patient and they will take care of you when they are ready.
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