red4167 Senior Member Joined: 25 Jul 2012 Posts: 18 Location: Scotland Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed Jul 25, 2012, 1:49pm Subject: Which grinder?
I have been using a Nespresso machine for the last year. I have been happy with it but the espresso is not as good as that from a good cafe.
I have a cheap (about £60 new) delonghi bar-14 treviso machine that has been lying around for a while and has hardly been used. I thought that this might be able to produce a good espresso if paired with a good grinder. It has a 53mm non pressurised basket and is pump driven. I believe it also has a stainless steel boiler.
I have read many things about grinders and am not any closer to finding the right one for my situation.
From my own looking around there seemed to be three options; the Gaggia MDF, the Iberital MD2 and the Rancilio Rocky, which all seem to be of similar design. Of those three the Iberital seems to be the best (and cheepest).
However... I have been advised that the Baritza Preciso has the bare minimum in adjustment required to brew good espresso (it seems to have a lot of adjustment)... but it is more pricey (at three times the price of the Iberital)...
What is the bare minimum grinder required to brew a good espresso? Is the Rocky (and equivalent spec machines) not up to the job?
Bear in mind that the espresso machine that I currently own is dead cheap! The hope is that with sufficient adjustment in grind I can achieve a good extraction with it. While I understand the importance of a good grinder is it wise to blow the bank on a grinder while sticking with a bottom of the range machine?
Lots of questions in there... :) some advice would be appreciated! Thanks :)
greekespresso Senior Member Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 172 Location: Ptolemaida, Greece Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Silvia V3, Gaggia... Grinder: Mahlkönig Vario Home, Anfim...
Posted Thu Jul 26, 2012, 12:44am Subject: Re: Which grinder?
Assuming that it has similar internals to Ascaso I-2 my vote goes to Iberital MC2 (I do not know if there is MD2), even without considering the price difference from the other two. Click Here (www.iberital.com) It can be found around £114.00 which is very good value for money.
NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,661 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 Thu Jul 26, 2012, 12:48am Subject: Re: Which grinder?
There are two major requirements that an espresso grinder should meet: First of all, it must be able to grind fine enough for brewing espresso. Secondly, the fineness of grounds should be adjustable steplessly or at least in minuscule steps.
All of the three grinders you mentioned (I suppose it's the Iberital Challenge MC2 you mean) can work for brewing espresso. However, the steps of all of them are pretty wide (the Iberital having most steps), which can sometimes leave you stuck in between twoi steps for proper extraction. You can work around that problem by changing your dose, but that'll have an effect on taste.
If you can afford it, get the Preciso. With 400 settings it's virtually 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)
CMIN Senior Member Joined: 14 Jun 2012 Posts: 566 Location: South FL Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Crossland CC1 Grinder: Baratza Preciso
Posted Thu Jul 26, 2012, 4:27pm Subject: Re: Which grinder?
Never heard of the MC2 but that thing seems like a bargain, especially with it being stepless, are people really paying less than $200 for it? How is it so cheap? Looks like the only faults I've read are that you need to constantly clean it as it retains a couple ounces of coffee.
cappuccinoboy Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2009 Posts: 793 Location: MILANO Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Milano pod, Milano fully... Grinder: grind on demand
Posted Sat Jul 28, 2012, 8:24am Subject: Re: Which grinder?
NobbyR Said:
There are two major requirements that an espresso grinder should meet: First of all, it must be able to grind fine enough for brewing espresso. Secondly, the fineness of grounds should be adjustable steplessly or at least in minuscule steps.
All of the three grinders you mentioned (I suppose it's the Iberital Challenge MC2 you mean) can work for brewing espresso. However, the steps of all of them are pretty wide (the Iberital having most steps), which can sometimes leave you stuck in between twoi steps for proper extraction. You can work around that problem by changing your dose, but that'll have an effect on taste.
If you can afford it, get the Preciso. With 400 settings it's virtually stepless.
Hi Nobby, the Iberital Challenge seems very much a stepless grinder, see that little knob at the base of the hopper, on the right top side of grinder ???, same or similar grinding mechanism like Lelit, Ascaso, Vanelli's , and a few more. Also 400 settings is misleading because in one full rotation of burr mechanism, that is more than enough for any type of brewing, you get 360 degrees and no room for so many steps that you only achieve thanks to the micro-macro system. Mine is in no way an attempt to compare the grinders, just want to rectify your wrong statement Ciao, Pietro
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