germantownrob Senior Member Joined: 2 Dec 2007 Posts: 375 Location: Phialadelphia Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: N.S. Oscar Grinder: Vario, Virtuoso Drip: pour over Roaster: HotTop B, Behmor, pan on the...
Posted Fri Jul 3, 2009, 6:47am Subject: Grinder for the Oscar
So I just ordered the Oscar and it will arrive in a week + which gives me time to order a grinder from the east coast. Mary at Chris' Coffee got me started on my choices which are the
Mini Mazzer Macap M4 Compak K3
I really like the looks of the Compak but a review between the mini and the compak says the mini wins on performance which wins over style for me. I still need to read up on the Macap. Opinions wanted as well as any more suggestions.
Questions I have on the basics are...
Do I keep my Virtuoso for all other grinder needs? Doser or no Doser? If I decide to upgrade my Oscar down the road will I need to upgrade from these grinders mentioned above? Forgot the other questions at this moment.
I didn't mention it in the list but the Baratza Vario seems nice. It looks like it can switch grind sizes easily and get back to the sweet spot but how will it grind in comparison to the other 3? I like my Virtuoso and have had to call for some service and was very impressed with that experience so I would like to consider the Vario based on Loyalty to a company.
Zin1953 Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 1,684 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: no, Press Pot Drip: Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Fri Jul 3, 2009, 9:34am Subject: Re: Grinder for the Oscar
germantownrob Said:
So I just ordered the Oscar and it will arrive in a week + which gives me time to order a grinder from the east coast. Mary at Chris' Coffee got me started on my choices which are the
As you already know, Rob, any of these three will do the job. Indeed, all three are (relatively speaking) equal to each other; they are in the same "class," so to speak. Each will be outperformed however by a Mazzer Super Jolly, which can be found used for less than any of these cost new . . .
germantownrob Said:
Questions I have on the basics are...
Do I keep my Virtuoso for all other grinder needs? Doser or no Doser? If I decide to upgrade my Oscar down the road will I need to upgrade from these grinders mentioned above?
-- Doser v. Doserless is a matter solely of personal preference! No doser ever made will satisfy a "neatnik," but the doser helps break up clumps; doserless may clump more, but can also be neater. It makes no difference in the cup!
-- Will you need to upgrade your ginder? No. Will you want to upgrade your grinder? Yes! The biggest single improvement I;ve ever made to the quality of my espresso in terms of equipment (that is, other than improvements to my technique and to my choice of beans) was to sell the Mazzer Mini and grab the Cimbali Max Hybrid. It kicked a** over the Mini, and I would expect it to do the same over a Compak K3 or a Macap M4. There is no doubt, too, that a Super Jolly will do the same . . .
germantownrob Said:
I didn't mention it in the list but the Baratza Vario seems nice. It looks like it can switch grind sizes easily and get back to the sweet spot but how will it grind in comparison to the other 3?
As you have already read, many who have considerable experience with the Baratza Vario (and whose opinions I trust) consider it superior to the Mazzer Mini "class" of grinder, and just slightly below the Super Jolly.
germantownrob Senior Member Joined: 2 Dec 2007 Posts: 375 Location: Phialadelphia Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: N.S. Oscar Grinder: Vario, Virtuoso Drip: pour over Roaster: HotTop B, Behmor, pan on the...
Posted Fri Jul 3, 2009, 6:24pm Subject: Re: Grinder for the Oscar
I really only read the "first look" on the Vario and it sounded interesting but didn't realize how good it is. I have been reading up on it all night and it really seems to do the job of 2 grinders and a great job with espresso. What I like the most about the Vario is the very limited waste or stale coffee left behind, as a roaster I am sure to be sampling many SO's in a day and that translates into very little waste. I knew I should have been reading more on blending, oh well, I am sure to revisit many of the green espresso blends out there that never translated into the moka pots well.
The Jolly is out, just won't fit anywhere on the counter at 23 1/2 inches, and since the Vario keeps coming close but not as consistent it seems like a bargain. I guess it is becoming apparent that I like plastic over metal, LOL. I still have more reading to catch up on the Vario. I have not seen an answer yet to what if a rock gets to the ceramic burrs? Longevity? (I guess that will be a gamble)
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