Anybody made the switch from a blade grinder to a burr grinder? Thinking about getting a burr grinder but it seems like all the good ones are really expensive. Is it worth changing?

3/10/2018 12:29:55 PM

Are you talking about gay dating apps?

3/10/2018 12:44:57 PM

This must be grindr forks

3/10/2018 12:45:38 PM

why even bother grinding your own beans if you aren't using a good grinder (i.e., at least a decent quality burr grinder)?

I think that it's sort of like building a computer (back when that was more common), or modifying a sports car, or whatever. You need complimentary components, and in many ways, it's only as good as the weakest link.

There's no sense in buying exceptional beans if you're using a shitty blade grinder and a shitty coffeemaker, just like there's no sense in having a top-quality grinder and coffeemaker, and then brewing garbage beans in it.

I would either say "I don't care that much and I just want to go cheap", and then I'd go buy a $15 coffee pot and use whatever pre-ground coffee you prefer...

or I'd decide that I wanted to step up considerably and pay for it, and then I'd get a decent machine and a decent grinder. It has been a while since I was in the market for a grinder; I'd pick some halfway decent burr grinder. As far as coffee makers, here's a list of good machines; pick one of the lower end models. http://www.scaa.org/?page=cert2. My dad has a Bunn that makes good coffee, too, but I expect that it was about as pricy as a few of the machines on that list that are more of a sure bet.


If you want some truly bad ass coffee and don't give a shit what it costs (within some loose semblance of reason), you're in luck, I've already cracked the code for you.

http://www.capresso.com/coffee-grinders/infinity-conical-burr-grinder-stainless-steel.html
(there may be others that work really well, but this one was very highly reviewed when I bought it, and it has done good work for me.)

http://www.technivorm.com/products/brewers_for_home-use/
This coffee maker is king ding-a-ling. It's pretty much the yardstick. Some people might prefer one unit or another, but to the extent there's a consensus, this be it. Choose one with a thermal carafe, not with some fucking hot plate to scorch your coffee through a glass carafe.


As far as beans, it depends on what you like. There's some local stuff around me that's good; there are a couple of things I really like from A Southern Season if you're around NC.

What I've gone to for the last year or two is a place that sells good stuff on eBay for really good prices: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Jamaican-Blue-Mountain-Coffee-Beans-100-Authentic-Whole-Bean-Ground-1-Pound/132073749973?var=431427113460&epid=1850449287&hash=item1ec0357dd5:m:mAIpc9Qya3S-qp4gFld4hSw:sc:USPSPriorityMailPaddedFlatRateEnvelope!32571!US!-1

100% Jamaican Blue Mountain. This stuff and Hawaiian Kona are considered to be the top dogs. Make sure you get 100%, not a blend (which may only have 10% or less).

I just opened a bag of Alto Grande (Puerto Rican high-end coffee) and had my first cup; it's really good, too. Slightly cheaper than JBM (from the above link--far cheaper than JBM or Kona sold by many other places). https://www.ebay.com/i/183107293675?chn=ps



Like anything else, the returns are diminishing. That $400-500 brewing setup I linked you to is better than a suitable, decent setup, and it will last a long time. They're not like tech gadgets that are obsolete in a few years. On the other hand, it's a lot more expensive to only be a little better than decent mid-grade or upper mid-grade stuff. It isn't the solution if you want the most bang for the buck...just if you want the most bang, period. If you don't want to get fucking silly about it, you could prob get something like a Bonavita (well reviewed) and a cheaper burr grinder for maybe $150 or a little more, all-in, and I bet there would be a pretty minimal difference.

[Edited on March 10, 2018 at 2:01 PM. Reason : ]

3/10/2018 1:43:45 PM

tl;dr

3/10/2018 2:20:38 PM

;dr

3/10/2018 2:50:53 PM

I, too, have a Moccamaster and a Cappresso Infinity grinder. I can confirm they make excellent coffee.

3/10/2018 3:13:29 PM

Grinder: http://texascoffeegrinders.com
Coffee: https://www.mysticmonkcoffee.com/collections/coffee/products/midnight-vigils-blend?variant=14052876039

3/10/2018 3:42:13 PM

I use a burr grinder, a Baratza grinder I've had for a few years now.

3/10/2018 4:02:45 PM

Yea, I like coffee, and drink a lot of it, but I just don't have the extra income to sink 500 into a set up like you've got Duke. I mean i was wondering if a $50 burr grinder would do the trick. I guess not haha.

3/10/2018 4:06:01 PM

Burr grinders are the only way to go.

3/10/2018 4:18:11 PM

That tl;dr had to be neodata

3/10/2018 5:01:47 PM

Yea, I like coffee, and drink a lot of it. i get the $7 tubs of maxwell house for my $24 coffee maker.

3/10/2018 5:12:27 PM

^^^^ you can shop around and get it for less than that. I got the Moccamaster as a factory refurb.

I don't know that a $50 burr grinder wouldn't work well. It would sure as hell be better than a blade grinder.

Quote :

"I, too, have a Moccamaster and a Cappresso Infinity grinder. I can confirm they make excellent coffee."

Your taste is exquisite.

3/10/2018 5:56:24 PM

Holy crap that wasn't neodata

3/10/2018 6:06:12 PM

i don't even know what neodata is.

[Edited on March 10, 2018 at 6:08 PM. Reason : ]

3/10/2018 6:08:14 PM

He's the guy who posts long long long elitist posts about very expensive coffee, messenger bags, and headphones.

3/10/2018 7:02:39 PM

Good fight, sweet princes

[Edited on March 10, 2018 at 10:44 PM. Reason : -]

3/10/2018 10:44:26 PM

You should be using a burr grinder

Blade grinders are impossible to get a consistent grind size so you won’t get a consistent coffee

3/10/2018 11:22:26 PM

You should be using a burr grinder

Blade grinders are impossible to get a consistent grind size so you won’t get a consistent coffee

3/10/2018 11:22:26 PM

You should be using a blade grinder

Burr grinders are impossible to get a consistent grind size so you won’t get a consistent coffee

3/10/2018 11:58:35 PM

I have both, but I've never used the blade grinder for coffee.

3/11/2018 12:46:08 PM

You can get a hand burr grinder for $25, still way better than a blade grinder

https://www.amazon.com/JavaPresse-Manual-Coffee-Grinder-Stainless/dp/B013R3Q7B2

[Edited on March 11, 2018 at 1:45 PM. Reason : .]

3/11/2018 1:44:13 PM

boom, there you go.

I haven't shopped them in a while, but i bet you can get a decent electric burr grinder for not TOO much, too. I just figured, this thing ought to last 20 years or something--what do I care about an additional $50 over that timeframe, if it gets me the very best?

3/11/2018 3:36:27 PM

i'd chuck that manual one up in a cordless drill and let er rip

3/11/2018 4:33:39 PM

^
hell yeah, pretty sure i saw an amazon review of someone doing that

3/11/2018 6:40:18 PM

Most of those manual coffee grinders don't do more than a few ounces at a time. So for the folks that are really serious about their coffee, do they make their coffee in small batches rather than by the pot?

3/12/2018 6:51:47 AM

The recommend starting point is 10 g of grounds per 6 oz of water. A few ounces of coffee should be all you need to brew a pot.

3/12/2018 11:06:29 AM

FroshKiller gave me a used burr grinder. After some maintenance, it kicks ass.

3/12/2018 1:12:06 PM

manual burr grinder, aeropress, and finding your favorite local roaster is a cheap route for some still pretty kick ass coffee.

3/12/2018 1:22:50 PM

Quote :

"Most of those manual coffee grinders don't do more than a few ounces at a time. So for the folks that are really serious about their coffee, do they make their coffee in small batches rather than by the pot?"

yes, that's my impression

I have an electric burr grinder because I typically need more than just single-servings

3/13/2018 7:04:08 PM

if im making coffee at home, im typically just doing one or two cups of coffee so the manual burr grinder is fine for me.

3/15/2018 2:50:30 PM

manual grind and go with this 12-cup French press: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008F3Y42O?tag=gbcoffee-20

3/15/2018 4:56:12 PM

i enjoy using a manual grinder, but if im doing 12 cups regularly, id be getting an electric.

[Edited on March 15, 2018 at 5:27 PM. Reason : ]

3/15/2018 5:27:13 PM

^ Were I doing 12 cups regularly, I'd BE electric (and so wired, the manual grinding would be the least of my concerns).

More seriously, though, a large press would be fine if one occasionally needed to serve hand-ground coffee for guests and such, leaving a more normal sized one for personal brewing.

3/15/2018 10:32:03 PM

i filled my 10-cup thermal carafe and took it with me to work today, for an 11-hour day.

I bring it fairly regularly when I know it'll be an 11-12 hour day.

3/15/2018 10:47:30 PM

you know how i know you're gay?

3/15/2018 11:49:11 PM

I refuse coffee pods from the previous day if I need to. It really doesn't taste that bad. It's like a lighter roast.

3/20/2018 7:40:41 AM

So I went with the JavaPress and Aeropress combo. Arrives Thursday.

I am excite!!!

3/20/2018 10:11:08 PM

A genuine thanks for the suggestions.

3/20/2018 10:22:37 PM

aeropress is cool, i really enjoy the clear cup it produces, but i like a little more coffee in my mug.

My daily setup is a Porlex manual burr grinder and a Kalita Wave pourover.

3/21/2018 10:33:01 AM

I figure if I'm sitting at my desk, and I'm a short walk away from the hot water, it won't be any effort to make multiple cups of coffee.

3/21/2018 10:43:04 AM

I use a bench grinder, although I also use an angle grinder on occasion.

3/21/2018 10:53:30 AM

surface grinder is where it's at

3/21/2018 12:20:46 PM

Quote :

"So I went with the JavaPress and Aeropress combo. Arrives Thursday. I am excite!!! "

exact combo I use. I enjoy it.

3/21/2018 2:36:06 PM

I like coffee, but I'm not like super into the hobby of it---if that makes sense. I buy a nice local roast, and I use an
Aeropress. I make coffee at work and don't want to deal with grinding, so I get my beans ground at the shop and only buy about a week's worth at a time. My question: How'd y'all figure out what beans you prefer? I know a lot of it is personal palate, but what do you look for? What do you typically buy?

3/22/2018 11:17:57 AM

I don't buy super expensive beans like some of the folks here, but I look for local roasters, and for lighter roasts - I like the caffeine.

3/22/2018 11:40:27 AM

most of my preferences have just come from drinking various single origin coffees at the different coffee houses over the years. I already know what i prefer and what i don't. I like more floral, earthy, bright. Not so much into the syrupy, dark chocolate, nutty roasts. So knowing that, it helps me narrow down my choice.

I have learned i tend to prefer african beans, especially Ethiopian.

3/22/2018 11:43:01 AM

First impressions? It's a lot of damn work, between grinding, pouring, stirring, pressing, and then the cleanup.

The coffee was weak, but on my first try I could see why, grind probably wasn't fine enough and I diluted with too much water.

3/22/2018 4:02:22 PM

Use more coffee, def. Don't bother with a fine grind with a press. It's just gonna be silty.

A friend of ours gave us a Zojirushi boiler, like a four-liter one. It's fuckin' great for coffee and tea, just hot water held at temp on demand. Much faster than waiting on a kettle.

3/22/2018 4:50:03 PM