shakin_jake Senior Member Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 12 Location: Reddick Fla. Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Futurmat Rimini HX One... Grinder: Rancilio MD 50 Vac Pot: Yama 5 cup Drip: nada Roaster: Hot Top B
Posted Sat Mar 2, 2013, 12:28am Subject: Kicking around buying a new espresso grinder...let's discuss this proposition
I'm posting in the general forum instead of the espresso grinder forum because I feel like it. I'm not looking for nerved up replies (get this, no get that). Instead, I'm just looking for some casula banter hence I'm in the general discussion area. A liitle bit about where I'm at with my espresso...
Strictly home barista, going on 5 years (come this April). Started out with a PID'd Gaggia Classic someone else built. Because I'm totally down with leche, I quickly outgrew the limitations of that machine's ability to froth milk (nuff siad). So I went down the HX road, accumulating a Salvatore One Black which I used for maybe better than a year n a half?, started a restoration with a comm Gaggai (Rim-Ah- Knee) HX that has stalled a numerous amount of times, lately because of a lack of interest
I'm currently pulling shots with a Vetrano Quick Mill that I've owned/used for 2 years. I do my own roasting & have been for the whole time. I consume two doubles (shots) daily
Now I've used the same grinder these past 5 years, a well worn but loyal (read reliable) to a fault Ranchilio MD-50
So in the spirit of general espresso discussion, if I were to buy a new espresso grinder, what do you peeps recommend, and why? At this point, if I were to find the funds (another reason I'm in the gen discussion forum=:-), let's keep the price of new at or under $700. Yeah, the K-30 seems like it would be fun to play with at twice that price, but it doesn't make the cut
Posted Sat Mar 2, 2013, 1:23am Subject: Deciding on a new $700 and under grinder.
shakin_jake Said:
I'm posting in the general forum instead of the espresso grinder forum because I feel like it. I'm not looking for nerved up replies (get this, no get that). Instead, I'm just looking for some casula banter hence I'm in the general discussion area. A liitle bit about where I'm at with my espresso...
Jake, because I FEEL LIKE IT, I'm going to say your opening sentence could be taken the wrong way, if you know what I mean. "Nerved up replies?" Most here only want to help. If you state "My limit is $xxxxxxxx, then we'll honor that. Those that don't usually get called out for wasting everyone's time. We ARE serious here, admittedly so, so "casual banter" is usually confined to non specific subjects, while (to US) SEROUS issues like a competent espresso grinder (THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE ESPRESSO PUZZLE) are deemed important enough to take seriously.
On that note, I'd strongly suggest you edit this posts opening, invite members to comment, within your price parameters of course. If you like, I, or another moderator will be MOST happy to move your thread to the Forum to which it belongs, the Espresso Grinders Forum. I can guarantee you will be treated with respect here.
EDIT: you also need to shorten your subject line for responses.
Posted Sat Mar 2, 2013, 8:43am Subject: Re: Kicking around buying a new espresso grinder..
Dear Jake,
Since you would like a gentle, respectful and serviceable reply to your post, let's start out that way. What Eric asked may be the best approach to your inquiry. Specifically, how do you feel about machine size (counter clearance), grind retention, weight (plastic versus metal) and resale value? From your provided usage, I assume you would like a dedicated espresso grinder and not a grind-all unit. As Eric implied, you did not offer why you want to replace your current grinder but I also assume that you would like a unit that performs better (unlocks more flavor spectrum) than your current MD-50.
Now that I have (hopefully) engaged your interest in some congenial correspondence, please allow me to second Robert's (justified, IMHO) reaction to your post. Again, trying to be specific, you write:
shakin_jake Said:
I'm not looking for nerved up replies (get this, no get that). Instead, I'm just looking for some casula banter
It is hard to recommend something like a grinder in broad strokes because (a) they are all so different structurally and operationally in such a variety of ways and (b) very few of us have experience with a number of grinders that would adequately sample the coffee grinder universe. So, it is hard to see how your question could be addressed without some degree of conviction that might step on your nerves. Do be gentle with us, as well.
Posted Sat Mar 2, 2013, 9:51am Subject: Re: Kicking around buying a new espresso grinder.
Agree with Eric and several others. You don't really say quite what you're looking for ("a good grinder" being pretty non-specific) or what you don't like about your current setup, so it's hard to know where to go.
I"d also add that sometimes you find something that works really well for you, even though everybody else says it's a bad idea (or, at least, not a good one). Case in point, the Gaggia MD85 I picked up from Russel last spring. It's a monster that will never fit under any standard counter height—a full-blown commercial espresso grinder with 85mm flat burrs that towers over my coffee area and will grind 18-21 grams for a double in under 3 seconds. Others here have had one and found it inconvenient for them. I love mine. I don't mind the few seconds it takes to brush out the chute after grinding, since the shots I've been pulling have been exceptional. And the doser sweeps clean, so, with the timer i added, grinding for a single dose is no problem. If I have company and am pulling multiple drinks in a row, the doser makes that coovenient. So I'm very happy with a grinder that others have found to not suit their purposes.
Following my personal approach to equipment recommendations -- taking the individual's budget and adding a 10 percent "fudge factor," I would make the following suggestions:
. . . but what I'd really do is get a USED SuperJolly and a new set of burrs, and save the rest.
The key is how YOU use a grinder -- which you haven't told us. Do you single-dose, or leave beans in the hopper? Do you weigh your dose? Before or after you grind? etc., etc., etc.
Your best bet may be a Baratza Vario or a Vario-W.
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
= No New Posts since last visit 