Posted Sat Jul 17, 2004, 11:04am Subject: Who knows the CHEAP grinders...?
I am trying to decide on a cheap grinder that I can use for travelling and as a backup (if the Mazzer Mini ever needs to go away for service - heaven forbid!)
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has experience with any of these:
Whodat Senior Member Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 131 Location: Boston Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Bezzera BZ02S, La Peppina Grinder: Isomac Gran Macinino
Posted Sat Jul 17, 2004, 11:34am Subject: Re: Who knows the CHEAP grinders...?
I recently bought the Cuisinart DBM-8 for drip use. It's reasonably nice looking, very convenient, and produces a nice range of ground sizes.
Unfortunately, it produces them all at once.
After a short experience it seems to work OK for drip, but for espresso, the best I can say about it is that it makes you appreciate a good grinder. (Disclaimer: I'm basing that last statement on a visual comparison of grounds from the 2 machines. I haven't had a chance to try making espresso from the Cuisinart grounds, but they're so heterogeneous compared to grounds from the Isomac ginder that I can't imagine the results would be too good.)
From what I've read about the other options, i sounds like if you're looking for a budget backup you might want to consider a reconditioned Maestro.
Me too. I think it will be the Capresso Infinity for me. It is a great value at $99. 3.5 lbs with steel burrs and 21 grind settings. The Bodem Antigua is second at $60 with 9 grind settings. Check out WLL and Abree Compare Grinders.
expobar Senior Member Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 3,003 Location: .
Posted Sat Jul 17, 2004, 11:45am Subject: Re: Who knows the CHEAP grinders...?
i have a 20 dollar melitta burr thing. its a pain, and i only use it for drip. i'm worried about its durability, especially with what i do with it. it has so much static that i pick up the entire grinder and smack in on the counter 3 times, then take out the grounds hopper and smack that on the counter till the lid falls off
its discontinued, and the newer versions look like many of the sub $50 grinders listed above - so i'm gonna guess that its all made by 1 factory
and even if they decided to make a better product, and improved 400% and made an honest effort, I still wouldn't buy it.
you're honestly better off with storeground than that stuff. its very irregular, i get a large amount of dust that clings to the top (convenient for making turkish coffee or substiuting for cocoa powder though) for every grind, and lots of powder in my fresh press.
for drip with a filter, it makes a great cup
BUT , and you'll have to look in a store to see if it functions this way too... mine dispenses grounds into the hopper as such
== ....| |...| |...| ___
imagine that bad drawing is the hopper. the '.' are just placeholders. the '=' is the lid.
grounds shoot out almost horizontally through a space on the top left. that means grounds stick the cover, and near the cover, and get everywhere when you take it off. grounds also miss the opening in the .04mm space, and collect behind the hopper and drift out
its just a mess. my girlfriend likes the idea of me getting the mazzer mostly because i wont have grinds everywhere anymore.
Posted Sun Jul 18, 2004, 7:21pm Subject: Re: Who knows the CHEAP grinders...?
i just revisted mr.coffee
after reading about the restrictor screw on the mazzer mini that people tend to remove, i decided to see if something similar was on my crap grinder
surprise! i found a little plastic tab.
after whittling it down a bit, i've found an appropriate espresso grind at 3-4 clicks past the default espresso setting.
it still makes a lot of dust, BUT i've been able to save the too-coarsely ground stuff i had delivered this week by running it through my mill for a second time.
not an ideal situation, but it works and is drinkable.
Posted Mon Jul 19, 2004, 6:42am Subject: Re: Who knows the CHEAP grinders...?
I just bought a Zassenhaus Grinder on ebay for about $30. From all that I read, it is the only grinder I would consider for espresso for anywhere near that price. Can't wait to try it out.
Whodat Senior Member Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 131 Location: Boston Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Bezzera BZ02S, La Peppina Grinder: Isomac Gran Macinino
Posted Wed Jul 21, 2004, 12:32pm Subject: Re: Who knows the CHEAP grinders...?
Now that my vacation has started, I've had time to do a bit of experimentation (is that devotion to the cause or what?). Even at its finest setting, with a gorilla tamp, the Cuisinart cannot grind finely enough to make decent espresso. (And bear in mind I'm using a pressurized filter basket; with a commercial type, it would be even worse).
If you only want to make drip, it's OK. If you're looking for espresso too, DON'T DO IT!
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