Coffee bean grinder

Sephiroth_dude

Hello folks,

I recently brought a coffee bean grinder, I'm a complete noob when it comes to making coffee but should I buy a french press? or would I be ok with just grinding the beans and adding them to a cup and hey presto?

Zagato

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

Hello folks,

I recently brought a coffee bean grinder, I'm a complete noob when it comes to making coffee but should I buy a french press? or would I be ok with just grinding the beans and adding them to a cup and hey presto?

Don't just add them to cup. French press may work, what sort of grinder did you get? If it has a blade then you will get a lot of fine grounds that will go through the metal filter.
Consider and aeropress, or possibly a Hario V60. I suspect aeropress will work better for you.

Sephiroth_dude

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07D9D4P5B?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

The high horse brigade

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

I got this grinder

Link the grinder not the Amazon order.

The type of grinder will dictate what type of coffee you can make. What type of coffee do you like? Filter, espresso, Americano, latte, Cappuccino?

Sephiroth_dude

The high horse brigade wrote: »

Link the grinder not the Amazon order.

The type of grinder will dictate what type of coffee you can make. What type of coffee do you like? Filter, espresso, Americano, latte, Cappuccino?

Just plain old black coffee, I fixed the link.

Mr Magnolia

French press makes 75% of my coffee. Love it.

Hopefully you went for a burr type grinder. Whirly blade types are no use as Zagato mentioned.

Sephiroth_dude

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

French press makes 75% of my coffee. Love it.

Hopefully you went for a burr type grinder. Whirly blade types are no use as Zagato mentioned.

Yup it's a burr grinder.

The high horse brigade

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

Just plain old black coffee, I fixed the link.

That is known as Pour over or filter coffee
Consider an ordinary French press
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BODUM-Cafeteria-French-Press-Coffee/dp/B00008WU99

Or this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00755F9Z4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_6zaoDbZ2ZB85K

alec76

Hario v60 way to go IMO
handy app
Coffee Guru
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=guru.cup.coffee&hl=en_IE

Planet X

Grinder and buying them ......can be a dangerous hobby!

Sephiroth_dude

Planet X wrote: »

Grinder and buying them ......can be a dangerous hobby!

Dangerous on the auld wallet is it ?

I got me a french press but thinking now maybe I should have went with the Hario v60.

Planet X

If you want it to be

Slattsy

I'd go for a Espresso machine myself. I have a DeLonghi Dedica. Great for espresso and americanos. It has a milk frother too if anyone is into latte's etc. I find it great for guests if they want one, always very impressed

As someone that has been thorough French Presses/Moka Pots et all, the espresso machine trumps them all.

The high horse brigade

It's a slippery slope alright, in up to €550 on my last coffee machine investment and already looking jealously at more expensive machines

Xenji

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

Hello folks,

I recently brought a coffee bean grinder, I'm a complete noob when it comes to making coffee but should I buy a french press? or would I be ok with just grinding the beans and adding them to a cup and hey presto?

Hario Drip Decanter Pourover Coffee Brewer Server with V60 filters would be a good start to get you into it.

Zagato

The high horse brigade wrote: »

It's a slippery slope alright, in up to €550 on my last coffee machine investment and already looking jealously at more expensive machines

So true, I've ended up spending nearly that on my grinder, so it will be a long time before I get to upgrade the espresso machine.

Glad you didn't get a blade grinder.

Find a recipe you enjoy with the french press (grind setting, coffee weight, time in contact with water) and then get the V60 to see if you can improve on it.

DaveyDave

Hi all,

Piggy backing this for advice for a grinder to use with a French press, can I get one in the €20 range?

Sephiroth_dude

https://i.imgur.com/cW1AvCC.jpg

I went with this and a french press.

Sephiroth_dude

DaveyDave wrote: »

Hi all,

Piggy backing this for advice for a grinder to use with a French press, can I get one in the €20 range?

I got this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07...b_b_asin_title

megaten

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

I got this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07...b_b_asin_title

Do you have a name for that? Link doesn't seem to work.

Sephiroth_dude

megaten wrote: »

Do you have a name for that? Link doesn't seem to work.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07D9D4P5B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Day Lewin

While we're on the subject, can anyone recommend a modestly priced electric burr grinder?

I've got all the traditional ones...my old hand-wound Spong, a flat Krups spinning blade (not really the best though, most irregular grinds) and a little hand burr grinder for my camper-van.

I want a decent electric now but they seem to be very dear.
And I don't want to spend large cash on something that doesn't work well, or is too noisy, or takes up too much room. Yeah, I'm fussy!

Suggestions?

alec76

What is it for ?
Espresso/filter ?

Day Lewin

Home made coffee, mixed with hot water in a measuring jug, poured through a fine metal filter. I am no snob!

But I also sometimes make coffee in my Moka Pot, my French Press, my Aeropress, Vietnamese Phin, or a vintage stovetop percolator.

I'm assuming that a modern grinder would have variable settings?

alec76

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Krups-GVX231-Expert-Burr-Grinder/dp/B0002H2IOM/ref=sr_1_3?crid=MXK35M7HI8YR&keywords=krups%2Bcoffee%2Bgrinder&qid=1570464257&refinements=p_76%3A419158031&rnid=419157031&rps=1&sprefix=Kru%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-3&th=1

Day Lewin

alec76 wrote: »

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Krups-GVX231-Expert-Burr-Grinder/dp/B0002H2IOM/ref=sr_1_3?crid=MXK35M7HI8YR&keywords=krups%2Bcoffee%2Bgrinder&qid=1570464257&refinements=p_76%3A419158031&rnid=419157031&rps=1&sprefix=Kru%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-3&th=1

Looks very nice, thanks for the recommend!
Have you tried this one?

DaveyDave

Opinions on this for non espresso coffee? What should I look out for between different grinders?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002OHDBQC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_uU2MDb7PC1JJV

alec76

Day Lewin wrote: »

Looks very nice, thanks for the recommend!
Have you tried this one?

I have not, but it definitely worth the money .
Entry level grinder , obviously there is no consistency of grinds ....

Personally I would go with Baratza Encore if espresso out of question.

alec76

DaveyDave wrote: »

Opinions on this for non espresso coffee? What should I look out for between different grinders?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002OHDBQC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_uU2MDb7PC1JJV

they are the same grinders, some cosmetic differences AFAIK

wersal gummage

Looking to buy a burr grinder at the moment....

For espresso.

I like my coffee but don't like a huge faff associated with it, so willing to compromise a bit towards convenience.

Ideally want one that holds the portafilter and one that 'dispenses' a precise 'dose' (?) of coffee...

I've looked at the rancilio rocky and it looks good but I'd want the doserless version for the amount of use, and you just hold a button to grind the coffee and stop when you have enough, looking at reviews on YouTube it looks messy,

The Baratza Sette 270 looks ideal but is getting a bit out of the price range I'm comfortable with...

Is there anything else I should consider? Do the Sage machines dispense a precise amount of coffee??

Thanks a lot and sorry if my lingo is not correct

alec76

wersal gummage wrote: »

Ideally want one that holds the portafilter and one that 'dispenses' a precise 'dose' (?) Do the Sage machines dispense a precise amount of coffee??

Rocky would be better grinder compare to Sage ....
It is only a grind timer by Sage , not based on weight of coffee.
Just get a kitchen digital scale if you want a precise amount of coffee.
Baratza Vario W great espresso grinder with integrated weight scale.

The high horse brigade

I have the sage grinder pro, set at 19 seconds it dispenses the exact amount of coffee for my portafilter. It also has a start button at the back of the portafilter holder, push in the portafilter handle to start grinding

wersal gummage

alec76 wrote: »

Just get a kitchen digital scale if you want a precise amount of coffee.
Baratza Vario W great espresso grinder with integrated weight scale.

Thanks, I think weighing the coffee is again getting too troublesome for me, especially in the morning with kids running around etc.

How does this work generally with a precise integrated weight, you press a button an exact weight is dispensed into the portafilter, and then you tamp it down, so before you tamp it down is it piled up high overflowing the poetafilter and generally making a bit of a mess?

Shouldn't really need to weigh the coffee and maybe I can manage without this, I'd sooner grind the coffee into a container and then scoop a certain amount out, rather than use the rancilio thing to just guess how much to grind in and then flatten out a bit, maybe grind a bit more etc...

Presume there's nowhere you can actually view these things before buying? Most suppliers seem to be online /uk

wersal gummage

The high horse brigade wrote: »

I have the sage grinder pro, set at 19 seconds it dispenses the exact amount of coffee for my portafilter. It also has a start button at the back of the portafilter holder, push in the portafilter handle to start grinding

Does it take 19 seconds to grind for one espresso/ double espresso?? That seems like ages, is that normal in this price category? No idea what I was expecting, maybe 2 or 3 seconds!

The high horse brigade

wersal gummage wrote: »

Does it take 19 seconds to grind for one espresso/ double espresso?? That seems like ages, is that normal in this price category? No idea what I was expecting, maybe 2 or 3 seconds!

Yes, 17-19 seconds to grind to fill my portafilter (double) which is normal, mostly 19 seconds with my regular bean. It takes a few goes to dial in a new bean to get the grind right then it's consistent

alec76

wersal gummage wrote: »

Shouldn't really need to weigh the coffee and maybe I can manage without this, I'd sooner grind the coffee into a container and then scoop a certain amount out, rather than use the rancilio thing to just guess how much to grind in and then flatten out a bit, maybe grind a bit

Surely you can. Just use kitchen scale at the start , untill you could trust you judgment with out it
ps.We,the coffee snobs, measuring coffee to get recipe right and for results consistency , not to get rid of mess.
Different beans , different recipes , one required 17 g of coffee, another 19g etc. You could also shake portafilter while grinding to get even distribution without overflowing.

J_E

wersal gummage wrote: »

Does it take 19 seconds to grind for one espresso/ double espresso?? That seems like ages, is that normal in this price category? No idea what I was expecting, maybe 2 or 3 seconds!

These are smaller burrs than what you expect in industrial/cafe grinders. My Eureka Mignon does only about 1g/sec but it is pretty accurate.

wersal gummage wrote: »

Shouldn't really need to weigh the coffee and maybe I can manage without this, I'd sooner grind the coffee into a container and then scoop a certain amount out, rather than use the rancilio thing to just guess how much to grind in and then flatten out a bit, maybe grind a bit more etc...

If you are serious about getting the best out of your espresso, it's better to eliminate that uncertainty of weight, or you are going to get a lot of shots that didn't turn out right for some reason or another. The cheapest of scales will make your life a whole lot easier. Some beans are going to weigh differently than others even if you measure by how they fit in the PF.

wersal gummage

alec76 wrote: »

ps.We,the coffee snobs, measuring coffee to get recipe right and for results consistency , not to get rid of mess.
.

Thanks, yeah I understood that alright. I meant that I'd be more inclined towards convenience than making a mess (eg a grinder that can just put a set number of grammes of coffee into the portafilter).

wersal gummage

J_E wrote: »

If you are serious about getting the best out of your espresso, it's better to eliminate that uncertainty of weight, or you are going to get a lot of shots that didn't turn out right for some reason or another. The cheapest of scales will make your life a whole lot easier. Some beans are going to weigh differently than others even if you measure by how they fit in the PF.

Yeah that's an issue now alright. I'm using a bladed grinder and every time I use it I suppose the coffee is grinders to a slightly different degree, even though I do time it and try and keep it to what I know generally works. Then I'm using a "scoop" to put the coffee in, not weighing. So yeah, a fair bit of room for inconsistencies there. I don't tend to ger very bitter coffee, but I do occasionally find the coffee doesn't come through properly, just little drips (too much coffee or too tightly ramped I guess, or possibly error in thickness of coffee grind), I also find that I routinely don't get great crema, I mean it's fine and it's there, but it's not amazing and it tends to dissipate very quickly....

Thanks


Ps I read a few reviews suggesting that the baratza is so noisy that it would wake a whole house up, I think it was an American website so possibly bigger houses than we'd have here too....

alec76

wersal gummage wrote: »

Ps I read a few reviews suggesting that the baratza is so noisy that it would wake a whole house up, I think it was an American website so possibly bigger houses than we'd have here too....

I own Baratza Vario ( regular, not Weight version ) along with Sage Pro grinder, not sure which one is noisiest( probably Vario), but grinds quality wise Vario miles ahead of Sage .
PS. You’ve never said what espresso machine you’ve got. There is no point getting cheap grinder for hi end machine and vice versa

J_E

wersal gummage wrote: »

Ps I read a few reviews suggesting that the baratza is so noisy that it would wake a whole house up, I think it was an American website so possibly bigger houses than we'd have here too....

Yeah, the Baratza grinders can be a little bit noisy alright, not roaring loud but enough that it might wake someone in a quiet house.

If I were you, I would maybe get something like a Hario Mini Mill some time which is not overly expensive (€35) and see the difference when you use a more even grind. I used a Mini Mill with my espresso machine for a long time. Sure the hand-cranking is slow and a little tiresome but you can get an amazing espresso compared to using a blade grinder.

If you are still committed to your blade grinder, try time the grinding, and this might at least help get it down to a certain range. when I had a blade grinder I'd usually go in 3 10 second bursts and also feel the grind at each stage as I knew what coarseness was in the ballpark for the machine, although it will never make you happy compared to a burr grinder.

wersal gummage

alec76 wrote: »

PS. You’ve never said what espresso machine you’ve got. There is no point getting cheap grinder for hi end machine and vice versa

I don't have a very good machine, but I may well get one in the future so wouldn't want to have to upgrade the grinder as well.... Machine is Smeg ecf01.

wersal gummage

J_E wrote: »

If you are still committed to your blade grinder, try time the grinding, and this might at least help get it down to a certain range. when I had a blade grinder I'd usually go in 3 10 second bursts and also feel the grind at each stage as I knew what coarseness was in the ballpark for the machine, although it will never make you happy compared to a burr grinder.

I do that now, somewhere between 25 and 30 seconds in total seems to be the ballpark.

What do you mean never happy compared to a burr? There's a noticeable improvement with the burr in what sense, the consistency of the grind, the end results in terms of espresso taste etc??

I wouldn't have an incredibly sophisticated pallet and not sure I'd know the difference in terms of how the beams in my coffee were ground?

Day Lewin

wersal gummage wrote: »

What do you mean never happy compared to a burr? There's a noticeable improvement with the burr in what sense, the consistency of the grind, the end results in terms of espresso taste etc??

It's this: when the flat blade of a grinder spins around, it chops up the coffee beans, all right, - as it should, of course.
But the finer pieces get flung outwards into the edges of the container while the larger bits go on travelling round to be ground in their turn.

When all is ground as fine as you like it, you will find that the edges contain a much finer deposit of powdery particles while the middle has the biggest pieces.
That is what they mean by "an irregular grind", in these traditional types of coffee-grinder; I get around it by stopping every few seconds to shake or even stir the contents. (I keep a special chopstick for the purpose!)
Still, sometimes there is too much of the very finest grounds in the finished batch and then it escapes through the fine metal filter that I use, and creates a slightly dusty cup.

alec76

wersal gummage wrote: »

Machine is Smeg ecf01.

Couldn’t find much information about this machine. Is it the one with pressurised basket and thermoblock instead of boiler ?
Pressurised basket doesn’t require decent grinder, almost anything will do. You won’t pull great shot with it (regardless how good grinder you have),although it won’t be too bad ... Great machine for unskilled person IMO

wersal gummage

^
Yes that's it. Understand it's not for the purists but it's convenient. I wouldn't be willing to have a coffee machine that takes a long time to heat up / turn on.

So waste of money buying a grinder, that's useful thank you! Maybe I'll go with the scale and start weighing the coffee instead, I've been judging the amount of coffee by how full the portafilter is. I'm finding when I put too much coffee in it comes out in little drips, but if I don't put in a good bit of coffee it comes out a relatively weak looking colour. It may be a nice brown syrupy looking texture for about a second or two but rapidly turns to a watery colour.

Would you recommend an alternative machine, that turns on quickly??

wersal gummage

Day Lewin wrote: »

I get around it by stopping every few seconds to shake.... .

That's what I do, don't even have to turn it off, can shake it a bit while it's still going. Seems to do an OK job but as I say, getting some inconsistent results (with what seems to be a sort of idiot proof machine). Probably 85% of the time that shot of espresso is fine (never amazing, even with good coffee and the crema always just disappears quickly), then now and again I just get drips, which I think is more related to too much coffee or tamping down too hard?

Thanks for the info

alec76

wersal gummage wrote: »

Would you recommend an alternative machine, that turns on quickly??

There is no such a thing. You could get Timer switch though or just try to source non pressurised basket for your machine first .

https://youtu.be/vB2bOZ1V99M

some helpful guides
https://www.home-barista.com/espresso-guide-skills.html

Zagato

I have my espresso machine plugged in via a smart plug, that is on a timer to come on at 7.15 every weekday morning, works perfectly. I have a widget on my phone to turn it on/off as well, which is handy at weekends or if I think I'll have a coffee when I get home from work.

wersal gummage

alec76 wrote: »

There is no such a thing. You could get Timer switch though or just try to source non pressurised basket for your machine first .

https://youtu.be/vB2bOZ1V99M

some helpful guides
https://www.home-barista.com/espresso-guide-skills.html

Thanks that's very informative and shows me how little I know, I didn't even realise there was different types of baskets. I'm doing some searching on-line now, but wonder if you know whether the baskets tend to be proprietary? I think the smeg is an odd size, possibly 49mm or 51 or something like that.... I'll measure it up and see if I can find something similar

Having to wait a while for a coffee machine to warm up is a bit of a deal breaker for me... If you are busy at the weekend and in and out of the house, not at very predictable times, or people visit etc... How do you manage?! Once it's warned up in the morning, does it fire up quicker then later in the day?

Thanks again, appreciate your help

wersal gummage

Zagato wrote: »

I have my espresso machine plugged in via a smart plug, that is on a timer to come on at 7.15 every weekday morning, works perfectly. I have a widget on my phone to turn it on/off as well, which is handy at weekends or if I think I'll have a coffee when I get home from work.

That would work for me Monday to Friday alright, but I would find it very annoying at the weekend if I wanted a "spontaneous" coffee.... How long does it take to fire up?

I obviously don't appreciate my coffee enough to go to the necessary trouble, I must say I'm finding the current espresso machine pretty underwhelming though...