NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,608 Location: Germany Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Poccino Opus One, Ariete Grinder: Eureka Mignon Istantaneo,... Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Melitta Linea Unica de Luxe Roaster: N/A
Posted Tue Aug 16, 2011, 12:17am Subject: New grinder needed
I need to buy a new grinder in the near future, since my current one is only on loan. There are three models on my shortlist: Rancilio Rocky SD, Eureka Mignon Istantaneo (version with timer and manual), and Mahlkönig Vario Home (which is identical in build to the Baratza Vario).
The grinder is going to work with a Poccino Opus One (identical in construction with the Isomac Millenium exept for a bigger boiler and water tank).
Any advise?
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
jwoodyu Senior Member Joined: 31 Dec 2010 Posts: 704 Location: Michigan Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Allex Duetto II Grinder: Mazzer Major Roaster: Poppery
Posted Tue Aug 16, 2011, 7:13am Subject: Re: New grinder needed
There are hours of reading on this topic, hundreds of hours of contemplation, and thousands of opinions at your finger tips with a search of the forum or google it. Having been afflicted with this topic recently myself let me sum it up for you but by all means wrestle with this yourself but this is were i think you wind up.
1.) All grinders are a compromise in one way or another, freshness, mess, ease of use, expense and it goes on and on and on. 2.) Taste is subjective and your taste is all that matters 3.) ROI is subjective and your money is all that matters
In the end for me the Baratza Vario is pretty darn tough to beat when you consider all things. Personally the next hop would be a Robur, K-10 or the like. I recently purchased a Orphan Espresso Pharos which is a manual large conical. It much less costly than a Robur but it a slow, messy and has a rather steep and sometimes painful learning curve when it comes to dialing it in.
You know those people that want to tell you how to raise your kids but have none of their own? That is how i feel when someone with a kitchen appliance tells me how the merits or dis-merits of my machine or how to use it.
NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,608 Location: Germany Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Poccino Opus One, Ariete Grinder: Eureka Mignon Istantaneo,... Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Melitta Linea Unica de Luxe Roaster: N/A
Posted Tue Aug 16, 2011, 7:46am Subject: Re: New grinder needed
I definately want a doserless grinder. So the Mazzer Robur and the Compak K-10, while certainly being great macinacaffès, rule out. Apart from busting my budget, too, that is. ;-(
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
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 Tue Aug 16, 2011, 7:51am Subject: Re: New grinder needed
Well, I'm most familiar with the Mahlkönig Vario Home (aka "Baratza Vario" in North America) and the Rocky. Eureka grinders are not sold in the US, as far as I know, under the "Eureka" brand name, but rather they make grinders for other manufacturers (Nuova Simonelli) -- the only Eureka I've had personal experience with is the Nuova Simonelli MCF.
I'd skip the Rancilio Rocky in favor of the Mahlkönig Vario Home every time. I use this (Baratza Vario) at home for SO espresso, decaf espresso, and every other form of coffee preparation (pourover, press, siphon). My main grinder for daily use is a Mahlkönig K30 Vario, so perhaps I can be accused of a "Mahlkönig bias," but I do find these grinders to be excellent, easy to use, and I have had ZERO problems with them.
jwoodyu Senior Member Joined: 31 Dec 2010 Posts: 704 Location: Michigan Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Allex Duetto II Grinder: Mazzer Major Roaster: Poppery
Posted Tue Aug 16, 2011, 7:57am Subject: Re: New grinder needed
NobbyR Said:
I definately want a doserless grinder. So the Mazzer Robur and the Compak K-10, while certainly being great macinacaffès, rule out. Apart from busting my budget, too, that is. ;-(
K10-Fresh is the new dosserless version, its salty which explains my Pharos ;o)
You know those people that want to tell you how to raise your kids but have none of their own? That is how i feel when someone with a kitchen appliance tells me how the merits or dis-merits of my machine or how to use it.
NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,608 Location: Germany Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Poccino Opus One, Ariete Grinder: Eureka Mignon Istantaneo,... Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Melitta Linea Unica de Luxe Roaster: N/A
Posted Tue Aug 16, 2011, 8:02am Subject: Re: New grinder needed
JasonBrandtLewis Said:
Well, I'm most familiar with the Mahlkönig Vario Home (aka "Baratza Vario" in North America) and the Rocky. Eureka grinders are not sold in the US, as far as I know, under the "Eureka" brand name, but rather they make grinders for other manufacturers (Nuova Simonelli) -- the only Eureka I've had personal experience with is the Nuova Simonelli MCF.
I'd skip the Rancilio Rocky in favor of the Mahlkönig Vario Home every time. I use this (Baratza Vario) at home for SO espresso, decaf espresso, and every other form of coffee preparation (pourover, press, siphon). My main grinder for daily use is a Mahlkönig K30 Vario, so perhaps I can be accused of a "Mahlkönig bias," but I do find these grinders to be excellent, easy to use, and I have had ZERO problems with them...
Thanks for the input. Given enough kitchen space and an unlimited budget I'd go for a Mahlkönig K30 Vario. Unfortunately I lack both (the budget being limited by matrimonial decree, LOL). I think the Eureka I have in mind and the Nuova Simonelli MCI are indeed identical in construction. What intrigues me about the Eureka is that it's stepless.
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
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 Tue Aug 16, 2011, 9:35am Subject: Re: New grinder needed
The Baratza Vario/Mahlkönig Vario Home is so "micro-stepped" as to be virtually stepless -- I have never found myself in between steps, looking for a way to tweak it . . . there are a total of 230 steps!
it's just opinion and your welcome to yours for sure but I don't see the K30 Vario being three times the grinder and price the Baratza Vario is. When you get into that kind of money you can start thinking large conicals.
You know those people that want to tell you how to raise your kids but have none of their own? That is how i feel when someone with a kitchen appliance tells me how the merits or dis-merits of my machine or how to use it.
Posted Tue Aug 16, 2011, 1:05pm Subject: Re: New grinder needed
jwoodyu Said:
it's just opinion and your welcome to yours for sure but I don't see the K30 Vario being three times the grinder and price the Baratza Vario is. When you get into that kind of money you can start thinking large conicals.
Correct - if the brighter taste most report with larger conical grinders is what you are looking for - 64mm & up flats are reported to deliver more sweet chocolate notes. Guess the well stocked counter should have one of each...
I chew coffee beans with my teeth while gargling with 195 F water to enjoy coffee. What is this "coffee brewing" device you speak of?
To be fair, while I do think there is a difference between the Baratza Vario (aka Mahlkönig Vario HOME) and the Mahlkönig K30 Vario -- with the K30 being the better of the two (one would hope!) -- the grind quality is close enough that I readily admit the Baratza offers more for the money. It's long been described as a grinder that plays above its weight class, and it continues to do so. The K30 Vario should certainly last longer, and the build quality is better, but the Baratza is definitely a bargain at the price.
jwoodyu Said:
When you get into that kind of money you can start thinking large conicals.
. . . if the brighter taste most report with larger conical grinders is what you are looking for - 64mm & up flats are reported to deliver more sweet chocolate notes.
As with all things, it's a matter of preference. Me? I tend to prefer the chocolatey notes to the bright ones, so -- while I used to think about getting a conical -- I stopped seeing any reason to, once I understood the true behind Eric's comment. Besides . . . I love my K30! ;^)
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