(Part 2) Best coffee grinders according to redditors

Thanks! It's all lower-mid tier stuff but the best bang for the buck imo.

Espresso machine

Grinder (not the best, be warned)

French press

/u/OliverBabish

Great episode. My only qualm is why you didn't use a burr grinder. I know you're on a budget, but a Hario hand crank is only $26 and you can get a nut and drill socket adapter for about $3 at the hardware store to make your drill into a motor to grind with.

kettle: http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417710975&sr=8-2&keywords=bonavita

Scale: http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Coffee-Drip-Scale-Timer/dp/B009GPJMOU/ref=pd_sim_k_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=04WC4XNEDPNT7K81849C

Hand mills (good to take with the aeropress while traveling):
http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Ceramic-Skerton-Storage-Capacity/dp/B001802PIQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1417711031&sr=1-2&keywords=hario+mill

http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Canister-Ceramic-Coffee-Mill/dp/B003EEGDSM/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1417711031&sr=1-3&keywords=hario+mill

Or if you want to go all out you could get a small roaster and some green bean samplers to have some fun with.

Manual Coffee Grinder with Ceramic Burr by Cozyna, Coffee Bean Grinder, Stainless Steel - Aeropress Compatible - Original https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U7WRUNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_VlMYBb7G2EBY7

I have used this Breville Grinder for about 3 years. It is amazing, consistent, and makes grinds that are too fine for my espresso machine. It is easy to take apart and clean and holds a lot of coffee. Doesn't have a fancy name but its got it where it counts. It comes in just below your limit at $199!

http://www.amazon.com/Breville-BCG800XL-Smart-Grinder/dp/B0043EWFAM/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373727318&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=bretville+grinder

Breville Smart Grinder. It's never let me down. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0043EWFAM/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?keywords=bretville%20grinder&qid=1373727318&ref_=sr_1_sc_1&sr=8-1-spell

Gaggia Classic - $400 - One of the classic and best cheap espresso machines. Consider trying to find a refurbished or used unit to save money.

You might pair this with:

Baratza Preciso Eletric Grinder - $300 - A reasonable-quality grinder which loosely matches the Classic in budget.

My favorite (inexpensive) burr grinders are a Cozyna portable and a Hario Skerton.

Check out the skerton pro it fixed several issues the earlier models had with stabilizing the burrs.

Agree with u/magicrice that a good hand grinder will be your best quiet option. The ones mentioned all are much faster than your Hario to grind a dose for an Aeropress - under a minute easily.

But to add to your list, the Capresso Infinity is similar in burrs to the Bodum you mentioned, and is pretty quiet for an electric. Haven't compared them side-to-side, but I bet there's a YouTube video out there somewhere.

Capresso has the infinity 565 on amazon for 122.

Although it has been noted to have greater retention than its counterpart.

You need a grinder as well, the grinder is more important than your machine. The closest acceptable set-up for your budget IMO would be a Baratza Preciso and a Gaggia Classic (a fantastic machine once you get a Silvia steam wand which is not hard to install at all).

The Silvia is a great machine but it isn't worth almost twice what the Gaggia costs, unless you have lots of money laying around, in which case you should probably still get the Gaggia and just get a nicer grinder.

Is this the one you are referring to: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000FBYRMQ/ref=pd_aw_sims_2?pi=SY115

The main issue I have with coffee grinders (besides the noise and need for a power source) is kief getting stuck in the nooks and crannies.

1. I feel like you're just grasping at straws with this one
   
   
2. Coffee makers aren't heavy let alone a "single shot" coffee maker
   
   
3. -
   
   
4. He might be over glorifying the fact that he asked friends to help him? It's not uncommon. He's an engineer i'm sure he can get a lot of free help / cheap help / for beer help if he needs it
   
   
5. It brews an entire jug of coffee! not a single shot like this product and looking at the dimensions it isn't much smaller!
   
   6 / 7) I really don't see how this would be impossible. There is plenty of space in this device based on proportions in the videos and dimensions shown. It's just a tiny bit smaller than the one you presented but delivers a single cup not an entire pot.
   
   this Tiny thing can grind enough coffee for an 8 cup french press.
   
   
6. As he said in his video... the plastic parts are 3D printed in his basement. But even then I wouldn't say the design really changes at all throughout either video or the kickstarter campaign

http://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Preciso-Coffee-Grinder-685/dp/B003JFCRN6/

I am probably going to get downvoted for this, but this is what I started my pour over adventures with.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F8U2SCO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

What's nice, is the kettle has a built in thermometer, with a green highlighted section for optimum temp.

As for Colombian bean, if you aren't hardcore into buying 15-20 dollar 12 oz bags, check out 8 o'clock. Their Colombian is my go to daily drinker for a quick cup (I have a local roaster that I use for my days off of work)


With all that said, like the one dude said, an Aeropress would work pretty good too, and wouldn't require the precision of pouring that the pour over does. And for a cheap, decent-ish grinder, get a manual Hario knock off (if money is an issue). I currently use the following, and am more than happy with it for my pour overs and French presses.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013RGGFZM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The swiss method is no joke either. I decided to kick caffeine (which has turned out to be an amazingly good decision), but still really missed the taste of coffee. The swiss method decaf, although expensive and hard to find, is the only stuff that I can enjoy. Some good beans, a decent burr grinder, and a single cup gold foil filter and I am once again a person that doesn't hate life.

I bought this one yesterday. Its not a hario brand but from everything I can see it looks like the EXACT same thing as a hario plus with a different name on it, mod kit installed for $22. I thought it was a very good deal. I know the skerton has its flaws, but for $22 well worth it.

Premium Ceramic Burr Manual Coffee Grinder. Updated with installed Stabilizer Washer. Large 100g Capacity Coffee Mill. For Espresso, Pour Over, French Press, and Turkish Coffee Brewing. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010UJZ5XW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_kgRvDb6DG7PP7

I started with my former roommate's Hario Skerton, but we no longer live together so I had to buy a new one and settled on the Hario ceramic "canister" coffee mill. I bought it around Christmas and with a Prime trial so I was able to get it for $50. https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Ceramic-Canister-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B003EEGDSM

Rhinowares grinder. They also have one made to fit inside and grind direct to an Aeropress. $50 at their site or Bed Bath and Beyond but $25 @ Amazon BrewGlobal Rhinoware Hand Coffee Grinder, Stainless Steel (RWHANDGRINDER) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M0NS8A4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1o8dAbG8RPH2T.

Despite how it looks it's not one of the 1000's of Porlex knockoffs. There's some YT vids of it.

I bought the OXO Grinder for $60 on amazon, you may need to wait for the price to come down, but it works really good for $60.

The one I bought is actually the cheapest coffee grinder I could find at local stores with a removable grinding chamber. It seems to have no problems grinding things to a nice fine powder. Here is a link to the same one I bought.

What's your budget? That's going to make a difference in what gets recommended. If you can only spend $100 vs $500 there are going to be some compromises that you'll have to make, especially when it comes to the grinder.

Scale:

• This basic scale does not include a timer, but you could just use your phone or something https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004C3CAB8
  
  
• This scale comes with a timer and some advanced features https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N3U7RKH
  
  
• The Acaia scales are the top-notch pro-level deal which don't really add much compared to the Brewista scale, but people like them. https://www.amazon.com/s/ie=UTF8&search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Acaia
  
  Burr Grinder:
  
  
• Most basic hand grinder that will give you the least amount of problems for the price: https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Skerton-Coffee-Grinder-Black/dp/B01MXJI90S
  
  
• Jump on up to the AerGrind, Feld2, Lido, Helor 101, Kinu M47, Commandante... these hand grinders are top-notch and a great value, giving the best quality grind until you hit the $500-600 price.
  
  
• If you want to go electric, don't get anything less than the Encore which you can get refurb for $100. It won't be as good of a grind as the better hand grinders, but it's a great grinder for the price.
  
  Pour over cone:
  
  
• I really can't recommend anything other than the V60. I don't see an advantage to the Wave or Chemex. They all make the same quality level of coffee, but the Wave filters can be annoying, the Chemex filters are extra thick and you may not care for it, and both Wave and Chemex are more expensive. Get the $5 plastic V60-02 and some white filters for $10 and you're set. Or you can get a fancier glass or metal one if you want. Get a server/carafe if you plan on making that much coffee but it can just sit on a mug. If you want to try the Chemex filters, they fit in the V60-02 or V60-03. If you want to try cloth or metal filters, there are options that fit in the V60's.
  
  Gooseneck Kettle
  
  
• Bonavita Variable Temp is perfectly fine but not amazing quality; mine has lasted a couple years just fine but I can't use my well water in it because it rusts it due to high sodium levels... also it tends to heat the water too much if I don't have at least a pint in it (I often don't). It's not too annoying though, just be aware it's not perfect but is good for the price https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40
  
  
• The Oxo kettle would be the competitor at that price, which I haven't used but it's worth looking at reviews for it https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Adjustable-Temperature-Electric-Pour-Over/dp/B074KHPS7F/
  
  
• For a cheaper kettle option you'd have to go stovetop. Hario Buono is a good one for that.
  
  
• A desirable kettle if you can afford it is the Fellow Stagg EKG.
  
  
  Prioritize the grinder and make that the most expensive part of your setup. You can easily deal with a $10 scale, $5 pour over cone, $35 kettle, but a grinder that is $25 vs $50 vs $150 will make a huge difference in not just the taste quality of your coffee but the more expensive grinders will also reduce your frustration level by giving you less fines and more even grinds so it will be easier to hit the brew times, taste notes, and reduce the bitterness.

The cheapest reasonable set up for roommates who all drink lots of coffee would be something like this:

​

• An SCAA-certified machine (which mostly just means it gets the water hot enough), like this Bonavita 8-Cup machine ($100). That's about as cheap as you'll get for a larger SCAA-certified machine.
  
• A burr grinder. If you want good coffee, you have to grind your beans fresh; there's no way around that. The most popular recommendation, with good reason, is the Baratza Encore, but this OXO grinder ($80) should be fine for your needs and is about $50 less.
  
  ​
  
  That puts you at 180 for your grinder and machine, which isn't bad.
  
  ​
  
  For beans, Happy Mug is as cheap as you'll get for super freshly-roasted. Based on what you're saying you'd probably be just fine with a blend. Order two or three different ones and figure out what you like! $9 per 12 oz bag. The beans are nearly always roasted the same day they ship.
  
  ​
  
  It sounds like you aren't interested in taking on coffee as a "hobby" and instead just are looking for a better cup. Something like I recommended would be the cheapest and least "enthusiast" route to drinking much, MUCH better coffee than you are now.

So search for "spice grinder" instead? Unless this isn't what you're looking for.

Five easy steps to a good cup.

1. Buy only medium or lighter roast WHOLE bean coffee.
   1a. Smell the bag through the pin hole vent before purchase. Bitter coffee will smell bitter or burnt.
   
2. Freeze the whole bean coffee in its container.
   2a. It slows the bittering process caused by exposure of the oils to oxygen.
   
3. Grind it at home in a BURR MILL grinder.
   3a. Let the beans reach room temperature before grinding, or the grinder will clog (condensation + grinds = paste).
   3b. Only grind enough for one brew at a time.
   3c. Stay clear of CHOPPERS, as they don't increase the surface area of the coffee as much as a BURR MILL does.
   
4. Brew using your preferred method.
   4a. Even drip coffee is far better with these steps.
   
5. Enjoy.
   

I have this one and it’s been great for coarse grinds for my cold brew. Price drops to $89 frequently.

OXO BREW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CSKGLMM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_uCNNDbCEN052M

Since you dropped quit a bit on a nice espresso machine the same kind of needs to hold true for the grinder. GRIND IS SUPER IMPORTANT. So a $100 grinder is out of the question in my opinion. I would try and budget another 100 or so dollars towards a grinder. Maybe a used or refurbished Rancilio

<--- Barista here! I second the Moka suggestion. Unless you have thousands to shell out on a shop quality espresso machine, this is the next best thing. A good grinder is key, and burr grinders are best. This is mine. Also, steaming wands on cheaper machines never work very well and are horrible to clean. All you really need to get that nice foam easily is one of these nifty milk frothers.




Most retail coffee "machines" aren't built to last and make mediocre drinks. Low-tech almost always produces a superior tasting beverage. I have a Chemex(for normal coffee), a french press(for stronger coffee), a Toddy(for iced coffee) and a Moka(for espresso).


Also, if you can, seek out a roaster that is local to your mother. They will direct you to their best beans for espresso, and it will most likely be very fresh. All the roasters I have worked with are always happy to help customers troubleshoot and tweak to their tastes as well. It's a really worthwhile relationship for a coffee enthusiast.


So, Moka, burr grinder, frother wand, a pound of beans, and you're set. She'll love it. If you have some extra cash, and she likes normal coffee, throw in that Chemex. 10 times better than an auto-drip, and uses less beans as well. :)

This is what I have for grinding spices, and I really like it. I recently made my own sambar powder, and I was surprised at how easily it chopped up dry channa. You just push down on the top, so you can easily see how ground up everything is.

As for storing and labeling, I use plain jars with white electrical tape and sharpie. It peels off easily enough if you want to relabel without leaving sticker residue, and isn't too costly either.

Whole spices are great - they last for years, and if you buy them at ethnic groceries they tend to be dirt cheap. I keep 50 or so around and use this guy because I'm too lazy to grind them by hand.

I find that dried herbs are better in some applications. Fresh thyme and rosemary are great stuff, but if I'm using one of them in a sauce that's going to simmer for a long time I sometimes want the spicier, deeper flavor that you get from dried. And don't even think about trying to sprinkle fresh oregano on my pozole - that's just wrong. There are herbs that should never be dried (parsley, for example), but with others fresh vs. dried is like onions vs. shallots - they're similar but different, and there's a place for each.

I think to best answer this request, we'll need a bit more info. Are you ok with a manual grinder, or do you prefer an electric grinder? Do you want a drip brewer or a pour over set up? Are you looking to get into espresso? And, what is your actual budget in your local currency?

And now for a guess at what might work for you...

A [Melitta Plastic Pour Over Dripper](https://www.amazon.com/Melitta-Ready-Single-Coffee-Brewer/dp/B0014CVEH6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527536804&sr=8-1&keywords=mellita) $5 to $6 (a lot of grocery stores carry these in stock)

A box of #2 Cone filters at your local grocery store $2

If you want an automatic drip brewer, and you are making smaller amounts for just you, the [Bonavita 5 cup](https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1500TS-Carafe-Coffee-Stainless/dp/B00SK5IXPQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1527537674&sr=8-4&keywords=bonavita+brewer) is wroth a look. it runs about $66. I have the 8 cup for the wife and I and we love it.

Filters can be purchased, again, at your local grocery store for about $2.

[Brewista SmartPour Kettle w. Thermometer](https://www.amazon.com/Brewista-Variable-Temperature-Kettle-BKV12S02NA/dp/B01CFBBUVY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527537033&sr=8-1&keywords=brewista%2Bsmart%2Bpour&th=1) $40. There are cheaper ones, but I personally have this one and have loved it.

[Scale](https://www.amazon.com/Jennings-CJ-4000-Compact-Digital-Adapter/dp/B004C3CAB8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527537139&sr=8-1&keywords=Jennings+CJ4000) This is a must. $30

[Bratza Encore](https://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Encore-Conical-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B007F183LK/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1527537371&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=baratza+encore&psc=1&smid=A302OQK4GZWXCC) Grinder is the default recommendation around here, and for good reason. It's high quality, and easily serviceable. New they run $139, but you can save $40 and pick up a [refurb](https://www.baratza.com/product/encore-refurb/) (still with the 1 year warrantee) for $99 direct from Baratza.

If you want a cheaper option, and don't mind a manual hand grinder, there are a few options, but the [Hario Skerton Pro](https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Skerton-Ceramic-Grinder-MMCS-2B/dp/B01MXJI90S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527537536&sr=8-1&keywords=hario+skerton+pro) is about the lowest cost / still decent quality grinders, grinder that most would recommend. It runs about $60, and personally, I'd spend the extra $30 on an Encore refurb.

Happy Mug Beans are a pretty great option. I really enjoy the Big Foot Espresso blend (despite it's name) as a pour over, and even like it in my drip brewer. The Inspirational Artist Blend is a great option too. But really just try them out and see what you like. Their bags (for 1lbs of whole beans) run $11 - $13

Hope that helps.

Sounds like you are in your way to making some quality coffee very soon! A good manual burr grinder should do the trick for you, depends on how much you want to spend. I suggest this something like this but you could do one that is a bit cheaper and be ok.

I also suggest getting an app to help you with getting your ratios and timing correct. A couple that I use on iOS are Filtru and coffee.guru.

Make sure you get good quality freshly roasted beans, local roasters are the way to go, I avoid grocery stores for my beans because they are typically pretty outdated and your local coffee shops roast weekly.

Enjoy your journey!

I am a 3 time a day user for medical reasons. I use this https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-BCG111OB-Blade-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B003WIZ5PC/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=kitchenaid+coffee+grinder&qid=1562701281&s=gateway&sprefix=Kitchen+aid+coffee+&sr=8-3

Along with these https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-Bcgsga-Grinder-Accessory-Stainless/dp/B00FGBKUSK/ref=pd_aw_fbt_79_3/147-3352185-3424207?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00FGBKUSK&pd_rd_r=959e21b1-a281-11e9-8f63-f9ddbf2e0684&pd_rd_w=OudDU&pd_rd_wg=HIsv6&pf_rd_p=3ecc74bd-d08f-44bd-96f3-d0c2b89f563a&pf_rd_r=WNRYSQFT9FTRJQ4M8AQF&psc=1&refRID=WNRYSQFT9FTRJQ4M8AQF


This allows me to grind multiple days worth very fine with minimal loss.

Not sure why that person deleted their post, but a mini mill like that would be fine. Honestly, I spent years using a spice mill. It wasn't until I was going into a pour over competition that I upgraded to a legit coffee grinder, and even then it's a simple barratza encore. The spice mill I used was maybe $14 new at target. So check this out... not high quality mind you, definitely is in its price point, but this is better than pre-ground, or a spice mill.


https://smile.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-80365-Hands-Free-Platinum/dp/B000FBYRMQ/ref=sr_1_7?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1473115693&sr=1-7&keywords=coffee+grinder


As for a pour over cone? My ceramic v60 was $12 on amazon, I have a melita cone, plastic that was $3 on amazon, and I have a kalita wave that was $1 at goodwill.

I've never used capresso gear before, but if you don't already have an electric burr grinder, or are using a hand grinder, it would probably be an upgrade. (someone with experience using Capresso, please chime in!) I spent about 120 on a woot deal for this grinder and I couldn't be happier.

EDIT: FWIW I believe the Breville was refurbished, but can't say for sure.

how good of a deal? I have a price tracker monitoring the hario skerton waiting for it to dip below 10% so I can buy it. Was thinking about this knock-off that is reportedly a replica of it

https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Grinder-Capacity-Espresso-Brewing/dp/B010UJZ5XW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511236888&sr=8-1&keywords=simple+burr+grinder

You think the stabilizer upgrade with the pro is worth it. I can put up with re-adjusting, I think. never used one before.

Well, there is only one option that might be better than that on the rewards site. That would be:

http://www.amazon.com/KRUPS-Grinder-Selection-Stainless-Conical/dp/B0001I9R8W

Anything better than that gets higher up in points, and I don't have that many.

I know these gear posts are annoying, so I really appreciate your help here!

Thanks! Just found it if manthing772 is still interested:
http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Canister-Ceramic-Coffee-Mill/dp/B003EEGDSM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1397444070&sr=8-3&keywords=Canister+Grinder

BPC was a big help for me in starting Keto, and it has been hugely motivating for me to stay on Keto. It's delicious. In the beginning when I was having carb cravings I would remind myself that I could have BPC, but BPC + a pastry wasn't possible. The caffeine buzz from BPC is a lot... clearer, is the only way I can describe it. I don't experience the 10am crash the way I did with regular coffee, either.

I use my AeroPress and Magic Bullet. Sometimes I use my Coffee Grinder to grind he beans, but lately I've been using pre-ground beans. If you use an AeroPress, you'll want the coffee ground for an espresso maker.

I use grassfed unsalted butter (sometimes salted adds a zing to the taste but I'm not a fan), Trader Joe's Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, a raw egg (for protein -- I get migraines and protein in the morning is essential in warding them off) and 1/4 teaspoon of Ghiradelli Baking Cocoa. Whip it up for 30 seconds and life is glorious.

The BPC and drinking water keep me full from about 6:45 am until 11:30.

The AeroPress is good because you can make one cup at a time, so it conserves coffee grounds. You can also bring it anywhere - it's a portable espresso/coffee maker. Some people put sugar-free sweetners in the coffee, but I prefer to avoid them. If you drink it without the sweetner after a while you get used to the taste anyway.

This is my hack for grinding lots of pepper. I'm not a fan of the twisty-top style pepper mills in the first place, but they're especially ill-suited for massive pepper needs. And if you're doing this regularly enough, get a coffee mill that's dedicated to taking care of spices and use that.

Honestly, I'd recommend against another. (I'm not certain KA even sells them for espresso anymore.) The general consensus on the Proline is that some of them are fine for espresso and some of them are completely unsuitable. If you have one and you like the results, there's no reason to switch... the good ones stay good. It's just apparently very hit or miss whether a new one you get will be good or not.

I tried, about 6 years ago, to buy one. It was awful and I exchanged it for another of the same. That one worked very briefly and died within 6 months. Beyond the electrical problem my second one had, apparently the more common problem is that the burr holders are not reliably straight. If you get one where they are, it's (supposedly) in the same league as a Mazzer Mini. If you get one where they aren't, it's not good for much.

The Rocky is decent, but like its sibling, overpriced.

If I were looking for the least expensive decent electric espresso grinder I could get (new) today, I'd grab a Preciso. I haven't tried that specific one myself, though I've used a couple of Baratza's other grinders, but the scuttle is that it's competitive with grinders way above its price point.

I'm currently using a Macap M4 I picked up used on CG and very happy with it.

I have a Breville Smart Grinder. It only has 25 grind settings, but those settings span french press sized to espresso. I'm not sure how fancy your espresso machine is. But the Breville does pretty well at the espresso and medium fine range. I find it is a little inconsistent at the larger settings, but perfectly workable.

Like others have said, if you have a fancy espresso machine you might need to get a dedicated espresso grinder. If you have a midrange espresso machine, the Breville will work great.

Most of these grinders are blade grinders, which are almost impossible to get a good and uniform bean size with. This is a problem if you want a quality cup of coffee, especially when using a french press. I would not recommend getting a blade grinder under any circumstance. If money is an issue, you can get relatively cheap hand burr grinders. I have this one, and I am pretty pleased with it. It's hard work, but gets a pretty uniform grind size.

Try the EvenGrind. It was a kickstarter project, I've had mine since they fulfilled, works great (except for a tendency to hang on to grounds up in the body, requiring a lot of tapping to clear).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013RGGFZM

Basically it's a Hario Skerton that has a stabilizer built-in. I like mine.

I have a blade grinder and an entry level espresso machine. When they ship I'll be the proud owner of the new ZPM machine (that Kickstarter project).

My grinder is a Bodum:

http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Bistro-Electric-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B0043073WQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331046738&sr=8-1

My machine is:

http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-EM-100-1000-Watt-Espresso-Stainless/dp/B000MX3HOQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1331046765&sr=8-3

I have a Bodum Bistro grinder, and it's great!

Rancillo Rocky grinder, preferably used

https://www.amazon.com/Rancilio-HSD-ROC-SD-Espresso-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B00H1OUW24

It may be less decibels than the Encore, but that doesn't make it "quiet."

This is the manual one I've been looking at lately.

Sure. I buy my beans on Amazon.

Green beans store indefinitely. So, you can roast what you need each week. I roast a pound of decaf and regular.

I roast with this air fryer.
It comes with a cage that rotates when roasting.
I measure a pound (454 grams) for each roast.

So, for decaf I roast at 430F for 19 minutes (can adjust time to preference).
For caffeinated I roast at 450 for 20 minutes.

I let each roast age for a few days, then grind freshly before brewing. I prefer espressos, and use this machine.

Here is a nice video on the art of coffee.

Spend a little more and get a coffee grinder with a removable bowl.

http://smile.amazon.com/KitchenAid-BCG111OB-Blade-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B003WIZ5PC

I spent even a bit more on this kit that came with extra bowls.

http://smile.amazon.com/KitchenAid-BCG211OB-Blade-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B00CT9XZMA/

https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-SG-10-Electric-Spice-and-Nut-Grinder/dp/B001C2GWTI

This....this....this....THIS....

I've had this for about 8 years now and it still running strong. It worked so good I bought a second one to grind nugs in...that one's lasted for over 5 years. You will NEVER EVER use another grinder for nugs after this one.

I've had this Oxo burr grinder for a few months, and I like it. It's about $100, but I think that it has a consistent grind and doesn't take up too much counter space. Cold brew is my favorite way to enjoy coffee, so I've been experimenting making my own for a little over a year now. I find that the 13 setting is great for cold brew. I occasionally will make a pour over if I want hot coffee, and have found the 5.5ish setting to work best for my v60.

Electric coffee grinder
https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-Coffee-Grinder-80335R/dp/B005EPRFKO/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=electric+coffee+grinder&qid=1573276453&sprefix=electric+coff&sr=8-4

I don't have one, but the Rancilio Rocky gets recommended a lot as one of the cheaper good espresso grinders. You can find them on ebay for cheaper sometimes.

When you click the cheaper one it does not say infinity but all the others do look at the model number. The cheap one looks a lot like this

To answer your question, the strength of your coffee is mostly influenced by how much coffee you're using versus how much water. For a strong cup with your Keurig, go with the setting with the smallest amount of water. The Keurig is by no means the "best" method to make coffee, but it will make coffee. If you decide to get a manual brewer (French press, Aeropress, Kalita Wave, etc.) the brew time has some leeway, but I'd recommend just using more coffee than trying to push the recommended brew time too far. Coffee can/should be strong without being bitter, and keeping the water and coffee together too long will create bitterness.


What follows is everything you need to know about making great coffee. Warning, this may be overwhelming:

1. Freshly ground coffee is going to taste better. Consider coffee like bread. A loaf left on the counter will get stale faster if you slice it up. Freshly roasted is better, but it might be more expensive/harder for you to find and you might not want to dive that deep yet.
   
2. Conical burr grinders are better than blade grinders. The problem is that a decent automatic burr grinder is going to be ~$100 and that's a steep price for someone just getting into coffee. Many people will recommend the mini mill, Skerton, or something along those lines that is hand-crank. (Good non-name brand options: 1 and 2) Those are your best bet. Although I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, you can get an automatic blade grinder if you might have an issue with manual grinding/don't want to drop a lot of money. I will mention that darker roasts are easier to grind manually so there's less worry for your wrist. The problem with blade grinders is you get a bunch of differently sized bits, which makes it more difficult to get consistency and figure out a grind size/brew time you like.
   
3. Each method of brewing calls for a differently sized grind. This is pretty important. If it's too small, you'll get a bitter cup. If it's too big, you'll get a sour cup. The same goes for brew time. Too long will make a bitter cup, and too short will make a sour cup. However, there's some leeway on both of these to your taste.
   
4. There are a bunch of ways to make coffee that change how it tastes. Methods that involve filtering through paper make a cleaner cup, but you lose most of the oils in the coffee. Metal filters leave in these oils, but can also leave a lot of sediment/mud in the bottom of your cup. You might drink this if you drink that last sip, and it isn't really nice.
   
5. Weighing your coffee is much more accurate if you want to make a consistent cup. A tablespoon of a darker roast might be 5 grams while a tablespoon of a lighter roast might be 7 grams.
   
6. You'll need something to boil water in. If you have a kettle, great. If you don't, you can use a pan or you can buy a kettle. It doesn't need to be a fancy/expensive gooseneck-style one (1 and 2), but you might want one of those if you get into pourover methods.
   
   I would recommend a French press (1 2 3 4) or Aeropress for someone just getting into coffee. They're much more forgiving than pour-over methods, meaning you're less likely to make a bitter cup. They each have their own drawbacks, too. An Aeropress is easier to clean up, but can only make one cup at a time. A French press takes more time to clean, but can make about 3 cups at a time. (By cups I mean a standard 12-ounce mug.) Definitely get a grinder, too (see above). A scale (1 and 2) is optional but recommended. For beans, seek out a local roaster/coffee shop, but there are tons of online options available, too.
   
   Welcome to the wonderful (and sometimes crazy) world of coffee!

Sure

Rocky - poor adjustability, expensive at $355

Lelit P53 - stepless adjustability, great grind quality - super affordable at $229

Iberital Challenge - stepless high quality grind - $320 on that link, but can be found for less if you look around

Baratza Preciso - about 6-7x the number of steps of the Rocky, can be bought as refurb direct from Baratza for $239

Baratza Vario available as a refurb direct from Baratza for $360 ($5 more than the Rocky, but its a staggeringly better grinder).

I could go on. Add to that the ready availability of good quality used Mazzers for much the same price as the new Rocky and it is frankly staggering that anyone would choose to buy the Rocky these days. It only survives off the back of uninformed users and people reading decade old reviews on sites like coffeegeek.

As a general purpose grinder, it is expensive for what it is, but can certainly do a job. For espresso there are much better options for your money.

You'll definitely want to upgrade to a quality burr grinder. I've never made espresso with a blade grinder but I imagine it would be pretty difficult. To use a non-pressurized portafilter you'll really need a decent grinder like one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Preciso-Coffee-Grinder-685/dp/B003JFCRN6

Grind is one of the most important things for espresso. Good grinders range from $100 all the way up to $2k and more. A Baratza Encore is about $120 and a great starter grinder and would work great with a pressurized portafilter. That is actually what I use at home.

Fresh ground

French press

Costa Rican Britt

I have this one have used for 1 year now.

yeah, i think it's basically just your body saying "something's not quite right, get this out of me!" but if you do a little more research i'm sure there's a better explanation.

also, the taste can be... an experience. i would highly suggest getting a small coffee/spice grinder if you don't have anything similar already. that way you can turn them into a fine powder, take them all at once. they're usually a pain in the ass to chew, very tough and fibrous, and turning them into a powder will probably ease any digestion or gastrointestinal issues.

i usually kinda enjoy how strong they taste, but the last time i had some, you should've seen my face. like i was just eating the least enjoyable thing a person had ever put into their mouth, hah. they were the best ones i'd ever had, though. look up a "lemon shot" they're pretty good.

I've used this. It's a modded Hario knockoff. Only $17 right now. I paid double when it was first released.
Probably better than an unmodded Hario. Probably not as good as a modded Hario. Either way, the difference between any of these is minor compared to getting the next step up in grinder range (well worth spending more, the difference is eye opening).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013RGGFZM/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EPRFKO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_mkKUDbJE5WJ70

The problem with most entry level burr grinders is that their grind range is not all that great. The coarsest setting is too fine for a French press, and the finest setting is too coarse for decent espresso ... but there are a dozen totally useless settings in between, save for the single one you like for drip.

That being said, my Krups is juuust versatile enough to handle both extremes acceptably.

I've only had it for a year, but I expect it to last. My Krups blade grinder saw daily service for 25 years. It only gave up when a house-swap guest burned it out grinding dried chickpeas, because she wanted to make felafel and thought the ready-mix packet was too expensive.

this is what i was talking about.
http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-SG-10-Electric-Spice-and-Nut-Grinder/dp/B001C2GWTI

It's awesome. Much better than a coffee grinder for large amounts, I can grind 500g of sugar in about 15 minutes.

I use a spice and nut grinder that is awesome for grinding whole spices. It’s not overly expensive nor space consuming, but I did mainly get it for making indian food, that requires more fresh whole spice grinding, or for grinding things like toasted coconut flakes. I have also used it for grinding toasted nuts for desserts. It cleans up fairly easy with a damp wipe (for the non-dishwasher-safe parts).

I used this when I was still in school and couldn't splurge on a nicer grinder. Its better than most blades and a snap to clean.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07CSKGLMM?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title

Thats the one I use and I love it. 100+ reviews with 4.5 stars and 99.99. It's also quieter than any grinder ive seen

Everyone is telling you to get a pour over but this french press method is as good as just about any pour over I've had. Takes awhile so maybe not the best method if you're pressed for time but I've been doing it for 3-4 months now pretty much daily.

I agree that you should get a burr grinder though. Baratza Encore is what most recommend but I have the Capresso Infinity and have had zero issues with it. I bought an open box one off Amazon for $60 and at the price I'd say it's the best bang for your buck. There's a silver refurbished one on Amazon for $60 right now.

I have been using the same one for about a year. I clean the machine with a brush after every grind, and run grindz through the machine every now and then. I've replaced the outer burr twice.

Pros: grind consistency is fine, IMO. I think the machine is starting to work much harder for finer grinds, but since I mainly do Chemex cups, I don't have a problem with it. The price was affordable at the time, and it is easy to clean (brush it, pat it a bit, and done).

Cons: My biggest issue is how it maps to the Encore and others. Most coffee blogs provide the grind setting for the Encore as "the standard" which is frustrating when I try to match the cups the writers produce. I also don't enjoy the static cling of the hopper.

Overall, if you want a cheaper grinder (it is $100 right now on Amazon), I can easily recommend it. If you want to take the next step, perhaps the Encore or Lido are better but can't comment to them at this point in time. I don't think hand grinding would be a chore I'd like to do every morning, though.

My Krups

I started with this entry level conical burr grinder and it's still working 3 months of daily grind later https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0001I9R8C/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

As for brewing, the aeropress makes good coffee for cheap but only 6-8oz cups at a time.

French press is the best brew I've had outside of an extravagant espresso machine.

Edit: ive heard of "cuppings" where a coffee house will brew the same coffee in a variety of grind sizes and methods to help you compare. I haven't found one yet. Perhaps more useful would be a coffee flight where you get eapresso-sized shots of many types of beans, not sure if those exist but they would likely break the bank. If you have a grocer with fill-your-own-bags then you could get a bunch of bean samples that way

the grinder will 100% solve your problem, no matter how much you don't want to admit it. Coffee grinding is without a doubt the most important thing about making espresso. There's no way your preground coffee is fine enough for espresso and even if it was, there is a lot of finessing to do depending on how dark the beans are roasted and how long ago they were roasted. I'd recommend the rocky rancillio.

Breville Smart Grinder
and
KitchenAid Pro Line

Just for your convenience!

Some sort of burr grinder such as the Capresso 565 Infinity Conical Burr Grinder, or going up a level, the Baratza Virtuoso.

For the price you're not gonna get better than Handground.

https://handground.com

https://www.amazon.com/Handground-Precision-Coffee-Grinder-Ceramic/dp/B01GQOZH8I

Honestly, take this from someone who has had cheaper machines, get an Aeropress and if you want to use beans, get a Hario MSS-1B 1-Piece Coffee Mini Mill Slim Grinder https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001804CLY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_hZaCybJYJWTPD or a Rhinowares Hand Coffee Grinder https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00M0NS8A4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_o0aCyb1WY52X2

I've owned both grinders and they're both great, though price prevails here and the rhino is better. Honestly get these, then a cheap milk frother... Its makes a mean coffee and latte! :)

At home I use one of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VAWXOU/ref=twister_B001GCTT6M?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I've worked in the coffee industry for a few years now, and this honestly isn't much different from what I use at work. Easier to take apart than my machines at work so clean time is ~5 minutes. Its nice to be able to turn the switch and letting it grind while I can go about and finish prepping the rest of the brewer. Highly recommend.

Nope - the capresso linked above is the flat burr, if you're going Capresso (not that I'm RECOMMENDING it) you want the conical burr below which you can find around $80 if you watch for a sale:

http://www.amazon.com/Capresso-560-01-Infinity-Grinder-Black/dp/B0000AR7SY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406432825&sr=8-1&keywords=capresso+infinity+conical+burr+grinder

If you have extra cash, go for the Baratza or even the Breville Smart Grinder - I know several people who love theirs:

http://www.amazon.com/Breville-BCG800XL-Smart-Grinder/dp/B0043EWFAM/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1406433363&sr=1-1&keywords=breville+smart+grinder

In my opinion, it just simply does not allow you the control over the quality of the grind that is necessary for a consistent pour over (I only do pour over as of now.). I actually own a hario ceramic grinder. I bought it cause it looks super nice and people gave it good reviews on amazon. But I found that it left behind an unacceptable amount of large chunks and fines for the kind of coffee quality I want. If you truly only care about how your final cup tastes, you probably wouldn't hate a hand grinder. I have yet to do a side by side comparison of my hario grinder and my baratza vario, but getting the vario certainly hasn't revolutionized my end result. But I warn you, I thought I wouldn't mind the manual grinding, and it became something I dreaded doing when I wanted to make coffee. Don't get me wrong, any hand grinder is infinitely better than pre-ground or a blade grinder. I just wanted something that gave me more grind options and better quality. And I wanted to enjoy the process of making coffee and not have to dread grinding my coffee. For me, buying a nice electric burr grinder was completely worth it to actually enjoy making my coffee and to have at least one of the many variables in the process finally under control.

I use a food processor for flakes, but bought this grinder from Amazon recently for fine grind and it works great for small batches, https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B001C2GWTI/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_N2SwDbYJZF553

I mostly use either a small mortar and pestle (small amounts) or a cheap blade-style coffee grinder - ideally, get one with a removable metal bowl, which makes it way easier to clean.

PRECISO OR BUST

IIRC you'll have to go with a manual at that price point. The starting point for a burr grinder is typically the Krups GVX for $40 from Amazon. I had one of these for almost 2 years before I moved up.

Yea, I'd be weary of beans in Amazon's warehouse too, although knowing Amazon I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't drop shipped from Intelli or wherever.

That said blow it all on equipment. A scale is a great option, a grinder is too. I like the Capresso Infinity because it comes with a postcard to order replacement parts for it, like new plastic bits or new burrs. Nice cups / mugs aren't a bad idea either.

I have a Krups GVX1-14 (Amazon US) that works well for everything I've thrown at it (mostly pour-over and french press), although I haven't tried an espresso grind. It's not available via Amazon UK, but its successor, the GVX231, is.

I had one of those! My cat kept breaking it though, and after several times replacing the upper glass piece, I finally got rid of it. I did, however, pick up this thing a couple of weeks ago. One thing that I've noticed with the siphon brewer is that you can vary your extraction a bit by playing around with the grind size and the steep time. I usually do a smaller grind (bigger than espresso, 5 clicks on my Virtuoso as opposed to 0 clicks for espresso), and steep for 60 seconds.

As for your grinder question, I had a couple of inexpensive burr grinders that did an ok job. This seems to be the one that people like on here, but I have never owned one. I have hand grinded coffee a few times, and it takes several minutes to grind enough for a couple cups. I have owned this, which wasn't great, but worked well for medium sized grinds. I also had one of these, which performed about the same as the black and decker, ok for medium sized grinds. If you aren't going to be doing espresso, then a cheap-o burr grinder will probably get you by, since you aren't going to care about getting a really fine grind, but will be concerned with having a nice even medium sized grind. But, that's just my two cents.

Damn, was available this morning, oh well. So I was thinking of ordering these.

press ginder pot

Only thing I am unsure about is the grinder.

Right, I think most coffee grinders are a bit too small. I've cracked the plastic housing of one before by putting in a whole cinnamon stick - like an idiot.

Now I use this spice grinder, not quite powerful enough for heavy nuts grinding, but it easily replaces the mortar and pestle for dry spices (which I still use for crushing herbs and garlic).

There's this new one. It's a bit better than the Skerton in my experience. They're on Amazon too

>conical burr grinder

Any reason why I should rebuy a grinder over the cheap grinder I have?

The only thing I wish it had was the ability to grind more beans at once since I do cold brew and each batch uses ~285grams of coffee.

It's all relative. Finer than you are currently grinding. Pick a starting point, and adjust it from there. Change one variable at a time. It seems like the setting you are currently using is too coarse, so just try slightly finer than that and see if you notice any difference. If not, keep adjusting. It may take several cups before you get things dialled in.

I should caution that if you get your beans pre-ground, they will be stale by the next day.

In addition, you really do need to make several adjustments before you find what works for a particular bean and roast. You can't adjust the grind if you do it all at the store ahead of time.

I strongly recommend considering picking up a hand powered burr grinder: https://www.amazon.com/Grinder--Original-EvenGrind-Stability-Guaranteed/dp/B013RGGFZM/

This way, you can get whole beans and grind them fresh on demand, and also adjust the grind as necessary to get an appropriate extraction and the flavours you most enjoy.

does anyone have any experience with this grinder, the EvenGrind?

It essentially seems like a Hario, but it has some added points that add stability to help with the wobble grinders like the Hario seem to have.

Would love to hear if it is a good buy.

Any small, cheap coffee grinder will do.

​

Like this.

Here is my coffee setup. My inverter is so large because I also use an induction cooktop. You could get a 1kw inverter. I got pure sine wave. Not sure if it is needed for coffee equipment, it is for the cooktop.

Bodum BRAZIL Coffee Maker, French Press Coffee Maker, Black, 34 Ounce (8 Cup) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00430C92U/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_wvpXAbW92EBHZ

Bodum 11452-01US BISTRO Water Kettle, Electric Water Kettle, Black, 34 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00851LSAC/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_XwpXAbDEAN6HY

Bodum BISTRO Blade Grinder, Electric Blade Coffee Grinder, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0043073WQ/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_FypXAbQCNKFDN


Power TechON 2000W Pure Sine Wave Power Inverter 12V DC to 120V AC with 3 AC Outlets + 1 5V USB Port, Remote Switch and 2 Battery Cables (4000W Peak) PS1003 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0131NFWX2/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_BzpXAbZCE8T42

http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-80365-Hands-Free-Platinum/dp/B000FBYRMQ/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1301365141&sr=8-8

I have that model hamilton beach blade grinder and I also agree with shaking it to improve consistency. I know it's not the best grinder but I'm under employed right now and can't afford better. As soon as I get a decent IT job a burr grinder will be the first lifestyle upgrade I'll purchase so this thread is being saved for future use.

I currently brew with a french press, an aero, a bodum mocha pot and a shitty drip brew. The mocha is my favorite, I just wish it was a bit bigger so I could get a full mug.

What do you think of this grinder friend?
KitchenAid BCG111OB Blade Coffee Grinder - Onyx Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003WIZ5PC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JEtFDb9Y283KK

Kuissential EvenGrind is $22 on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013RGGFZM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_dy8nRjMZDc7po

I picked up this one a while back for camping, and it worked really well. It slides into the Aeropress tube for easy packing.

Although it looks like that model might be discontinued now, there does appear to be many other grinders that use the same shape like this one but I cannot speak for it firsthand.

[It was this one](OXO Conical Burr Coffee Grinder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CSKGLMM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_oDXLBbE5N8940)

Not sure what issues you had but this one grinds better, makes less mess, makes less noise, holds more beans, makes much better coffee than our last burr grinder. Can't remember what kind so I don't want to guess and bash the wrong company but it was a real piece of shit lol

You can buy it on ebay. Here is one offer.

Also found it on Amazon

This is the one I purchased last time. Hario has an official Amazon store. Spend more through their store but they are authentic and not knockoffs.

Hario Skerton Pro Coffee Grinder,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXJI90S?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

bodum burr grinder?
https://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Bistro-Electric-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B0043095WW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487042949&sr=8-1&keywords=bodum+coffee+grinder

Or Bodum blade grinder?
https://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Bistro-Electric-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B0043073WQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1487042972&sr=8-2&keywords=bodum+coffee+grinder

If it's the blade grinder that's pretty standard.

Hario Skerton Pro <$60usd

Edit: link

The general consensus here seems to be to aim for a Gaggia machine as the absolute minimum. Preferably a Gaggia Classic (~$388).

I've heard people recommend the lower priced Gaggia New Baby (~$300) to try out espresso and to help decide whether "to get a real espresso machine".

A step up from that, the recommendation seems to be the Crossland CC1, but that's in the $600+ range.

To save some money, you might do better finding a used machine or see if they're on sale at different sites.

If you want to go cheaper than that, people have recommended the MyPressi ($170), but I have not seen that in stock anywhere recently. There's some buzz regarding the MiniPresso (Preorder at $39), but that won't be out until 2015. So there won't be any reviews regarding it for a while.

As for grinder, if you're looking for cheap, you might have to make do with a hand grinder, either Hario Skerton (~$35) or Mini (~$26) or Porlex (~$43). The cheapest acceptable electric grinder seems to be the Baratza Preciso at $300.

This is the information I've gathered anyway. I don't have any personal experience with an espresso machine, but I hope this helps. If you decide to go with something, post your experience and help some people out.

Personally, I'm thinking of saving up for the CC1 and Vario (~$1000) combo...

This one is good too Capresso 560.04 Infinity Conical Burr Grinder, Stainless Finish https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QTVXCS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_4slozbF9YCT67

Encore for $139 is a good recommendation people have made. For reduced static electricity design and coarse grind I'd also recommend Oxo's burr grinder. Normally $99 Amazon has it for Black Friday for $79, and if dissatisfied Amazon will let you return it. I've made several French Press coffees using this unit and it was a nice, uneventful, fairly quiet experience.

Lots of good advice here already but I'll throw in my two cents.

I use a Rhinoware hand grinder for my aeropress. It's small, lightweight and stainless steel. I bought it primarily because I needed it for travel, taking to work etc. It's very affordable (https://www.amazon.com/BrewGlobal-Rhinoware-Coffee-Stainless-RWHANDGRINDER/dp/B00M0NS8A4) and from the research I did at the time was equivalent to the Porlex which others have mentioned. If I recall it was a toss up between the two but I picked up the Rhinoware on a good deal at a local coffeeshop. Anyway, I've had it for over 2 years and it is still working fine with daily use. I think for your use something like this or the Porlex would be the way to go. It should be pretty clear from other commentators that these grinders are entry level - you can make a decent cup with them but you're not going to be entering competitions or anything.

It sounds like you're at a point where you want to improve your coffee game and I think gradual steps is the way it works with most people. I'm the same - I started messing around with an aeropress using preground supermarket beans, then using better beans and a home grinder, then a burr grinder with scales etc. I'm now at the point where I'm ready to invest in a better grinder and some more equipment to refine things. I'm happy at this pace. Plus my wife would slap me around the head if I dropped a car payment on a hand grinder 😀. Do some research and go with what you're comfortable with.

I used to use this one: https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Skerton-Coffee-Grinder-Black/dp/B01MXJI90S/ref=lp_289750_1_16?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1539633391&sr=1-16

It worked great. I no longer use the french press method for brewing coffee because I broke my french press a while ago and haven't cared to get a new one since I have an aero press and a coffee machine as well.

Thanks for the heads up. Was just sticker shock I guess.

This is the model my friend recommended, thoughts?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VAWXOU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ISOWBb7EHSBZG

For a coarse grind for French Press? Kuissential EvenGrind. It is a knockoff Hario Skerton with a pre-installed stability cage to reduce burr wobble.

This manual one by Cozyna is on Amazon for $20:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U7WRUNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_WjY8wbYC5Z09B

I've been using it at work for the past month or so and it's great. Very minimalist design but very well put together. I use it for Aeropress coffee so the grinding goes pretty fast, not sure how it compares in terms of speed to more expensive models.

https://www.amazon.com/Grinder-Original-EvenGrind-Stability-Guaranteed/dp/B013RGGFZM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1501253997&sr=8-3&keywords=kuissential

I got this brand the other day and i'm happy with it so far!

Basic technique including my favorite beans:

beans

grinder

french press

boil 3.5 cups water.

fill grinder even with top and grind. just a few seconds. Don't powder it. pour in french press.

pour water over ground beans, stir, put the lid on but don't plunge.

After four minutes, plunge.

Heaven.

Oh, no I didn't get one of those I don't think. It looks like a really simple piece though, wonder why it's not just a standard part of the product if it helps so much.

Here's the one I just ordered;


https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01MXJI90S/ref=pe_3034960_233709270_TE_item

A manual coffee grinder, to be specific. You can adjust how fine you want the grind. I use this, but, there are cheaper ones.

Here's a similar one I found that you can get in the US: https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-80335-Fresh-Grind-Grinder/dp/B005EPRFKO. It works great!

31 days for Augustus.

August is amazing as on the 11th there of it I celebrate my having grace the world with birth. It is a beautiful day, celebrated by all. After all, the gift of Kim is the gift that keeps on giving.

I just went to Costco thus morning. I'm in the San Francisco area, they have the Krups Burr grinder for $30. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001I9R8W/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_zp0BwbFSF554Q

This is the best home grinder I have ever used.

Most cost effective burr grinder out there. $40 bucks at costco or on amazon.

I have had mine for 2 years- just keeps on grindin...

http://www.amazon.com/Krups-GVX1-14-KRUPS-Burr-Grinder/dp/B0001I9R8C

Woah the handground is $80 on amazon now: https://smile.amazon.com/Handground-Precision-Coffee-Grinder-Ceramic/dp/B01GQOZH8I?sa-no-redirect=1

And the Infinity is just under a $100 on amazon (the cheapest black/plastic 560 version).

Not sure of the Handground is really worth it for most people if they can wait a little and get the Infinity!

I was really hoping for a Encore level grind with "LIDO easiness" due to the shape/design of side crank at $80. Looks like I still need to pick between the LIDO and the Virtuoso!

That may be true but I'd start disregarding amazon reviews for the most part. Some good grinders score lower than they should and many MANY crappy grinders score better than they should

For instance https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-BCG111OB-Blade-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B003WIZ5PC

This grinder is a not good at all. Incredibly inconsistent and terrible, I'd have my coffee preground before I bought this grinder. 4.5 stars from over 1000 people

This grinder on the other hand :https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00LW8122Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481243469&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=baratza+encore&dpPl=1&dpID=41g1KqxBoRL&ref=plSrch

This is the best entry level grinder for less than 200 usd, only 4 stars. Just ignore those reviews

i use this one https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-SG-10-Electric-Spice-and-Nut-Grinder/dp/B001C2GWTI. Not only does it grind spices well, but i use it to chop small amounts of herbs, puree a tomato or two, make small amounts of Indian chutneys, make garlic-ginger paste, and much more.

Do you know which is the main difference between the Breville Smart Grinder and the Breville Smart Pro

For sure. I use this krupps grinder. It's the #1 seller on amazon, works like a boss. It can grind 2-3tbsp at a time. I think they sell it at stores like wal-mart, target, and dept stores.

I also had the bodum (bought it at whole foods for about $20) and it was great.

If you get a vitamix, I would recommend a refurbished model. I've bought 3 (2 for me and 1 for a friend) and they're all perfect, and like 5-6 years old. You can find discounts all the time, too, just search around for a code. Like this one. And FWIW, I bought mine for like $290 with some kind of code, and sold my previous model for like $250 on craigslist, so they hold their value really well. Basically upgraded from the old to the new model for $40!

Vitamix is definitely worth it. I waited a while to buy one because they were so expensive, but it's one of the few necessities in my kitchen now.

Yep ! Or get one of these grinders

Hot Sale! Premium Ceramic Burr Manual Coffee Grinder. Large 100g Capacity Coffee Mill. For Espresso, Pour Over, French Press, and Turkish Coffee Brewing. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010UJZ5XW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_M6TVzbW9K003B


I plan on putting my dried Reapers in an old empty sea salt grinder however.

:/ cheap one

http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-80365-Hands-Free-Platinum/dp/B000FBYRMQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376327553&sr=8-2&keywords=Coffee+grinder

Ive also been using the second to coursest setting which could be another problem right?

Is this the 25 skerton you're referring to?
https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Grinder-Capacity-Espresso-Brewing/dp/B010UJZ5XW/ref=sr_1_6?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1479422952&sr=1-6&keywords=hario+skerton

I just ask because this is the one that I've been mostly seeing.
https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Skerton-Ceramic-Coffee-Mill/dp/B001802PIQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1479422952&sr=1-1&keywords=hario+skerton

What's the difference? Is the $15 worth the extra?

I use this cheap Cusinart grinder. Works great for spices as well as nuts. (I use it for grinding espresso beans, too, and I'm happy with the results, though most coffee geeks would probably not find this use acceptable.)

It has metal blades, not ceramic, and a very shallow bowl that's removable, so it's easy to clean. You want a small grinder for spices, because you usually grind only small amounts, and you want the blades to reach everything. Food processors are too big, even smaller ones like the NutriBullet.

Thanks for the link, that was interesting. Had to search around a bit for the video to which they were referring, so here it is for anyone else who's interested.

Also, seriously, burr grinder is the way to go. I have two, an expensive one that I use for espresso (Rancilio Rocky), and a cheaper one that I use for French press (an older version of this Capresso Infinity). The Capresso grinder still runs upwards of $100, substantially more than blade grinders that go for as little as $15, but it's well worth it in my opinion.

We've had a great experience with our Breville Smart Grinder. I grind right into my portafilter, and my wife grinds right into a drip filter as she holds it there with her hand.

I used to have Bodum's grinder and it's great as a entry level conical burr grinder. However, at it's finest setting it still wouldn't choke my espresso machine and had limited adjustments in the "espresso range". Not so great if you're trying to dial in the appropriate grind setting.

I recently upgraded to Breville's grinder and have been very happy with it. It has at least 10 notches (out of 25) that are usable for espresso and will easily choke my espresso machine at about 23/25.

I agree with this guy full heartedly. Another option would be to spend $100 on an electric bur grinder and get a siphon coffee brewer instead. Just as quick if not quicker, you'll make a way better pot of coffee, and you get to impress your friends with your snobbish coffee methods all at the same time.

Or get an aeropress which isn't as fancy but still makes a killer cup of coffee and lightning fast.

Also buy a scale.


Here's all the stuff I just mentioned:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002CVTKVK/ref=cm_sw_r_an_am_ap_am_us?ie=UTF8
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0012N1NAA/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1368034775&sr=8-2&pi=SL75
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000VAWXOU/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1368034899&sr=8-3&pi=SL75
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0018RY8H0/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1368034972&sr=8-2&pi=SL75

If you'd use a tortilla press, then you'll probably get a lot of use out of a citrus squeezer. I feel like the lever kind gets you the most juice, and the orange ones do lemon and limes just as well.

Microplane -- great for citrus zests, spices, ginger and garlic. I like to have one with slightly bigger holes for cheese as well --- the microplane makes really fine, fluffy cheese that basically disappears when it melts, and sometimes that's not what you want.

Seconding a cast iron skillet --- great for so many things, searing steak, frying chicken, bacon, stews.

Tongs --- tongs, a spatula and a wooden spoon and you can basically cook anything

Fine mesh strainer --- can use for pasta or whatnot, but it's also great for things like gravy or pan sauces where you want plup to get through but no chunks of stuff

probe thermometer --- super handy for meats.

Nice to have: Coffee grinder. Awesome for spices --- you can buy whole spices, which keep their flavor much longer and are way cheaper. The difference between, say, cumin from a jar and cumin seeds you toast and grind fresh --- it's ridiculous. Mortar and pestle, same deal --- there's some kinds of sauces, like mole or Thai curries, that you get much better flavor when you use a mortar and pestle. You can usually get them pretty cheap at Asian or Latin American groceries.

If you're starting out, there are two sub-$100 grinders I consistently recommend:

• The Bodum BISTRO (around $80)
  
• The Capresso Infinity 560 ($80-120 depending on color and material desired)
  
  I tend to recommend the Capresso as my first choice. In part because it's not continuously adjustable (there are 16 discrete settings). Continuous adjustment is desirable for coffee geeks, but I've found it's often frustrating for people who just want a decent cup and/or only really use one or two brewing methods. YMMV, of course.

About 6 months ago I asked on this subreddit for a suggestion. This is what I ended up buying. I have zero complaints.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00M0NS8A4/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I was using this low cost Krups burr grinder http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001I9R8W was very happy with the results when used with the ROK Presso. The Presso has the big advantange that you can control the pressure. If the shot is running to fast you can ease off the pressure, if it is too slow you have to work the muscles a bit.

Also I never had digital scales at the time of owning the Handpresso, but I seem to remember the basket was very small. I normally do around 18-20g of coffee in the Presso, don't think you could get anywhere near that into a Handpresso.

This one is amazing: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01GQOZH8I?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title

Been using my Gaggia classic for about 2 months now, took a while to get it down but I love it now that I have my grinder dialed in.

Speaking of grinders, I never realized they were just as expensive as the brewers. I'm using a hand grinder my friend recommended years ago when I got my first french press, it seems to work really well for espresso. Eventually I'll be able to buy a real grinder.

Edit: Found my grinder on my amazon history. It has a few shortcomings (grind size is awkward to adjust because of the way the screw is set) but it works pretty consistently after dialing it in as I said above.

I live in NYC. There are many awesome espresso places here and probably more concentration of roasters than in most other parts of the US(?). However I can't find anything smaller than 12 oz bags.

Here is my setup:

• Nuova Simonelli Oscar Pour Over Espresso Coffee Machine
  
• I grind with the Rancilio Rocky
  
• I store my beans in a Coffeevac 1/2 lb

I'd check out the evengrind for a grinder. Good luck on your coffee adventure

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B013RGGFZM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482259752&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=evengrind&dpPl=1&dpID=51T-qel871L&ref=plSrch

Try this little guy, quietest grinder I've used!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VAWXOU/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00

I'm happy with the Hario Skerton Pro which Amazon is selling for $53.50. The "Pro" fixes the stability problem of the vertical shaft on course grinds and improves the grind adjustment mechanism.

This is what I have: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VAWXOU

The Handground is a great option if you want manually grind your coffee beans. You can put up to 100g of coffee beans and easy dialing based how how coarse you want your beans to be. You can also buy it on Amazon.

It may be below your budget, but I've been very happy with a Rancilio Rocky for espresso. I love that it can grind a single dose at a time, because I make 2-4 shots total on a typical day.

https://www.amazon.com/Rancilio-HSD-ROC-SD-Espresso-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B00H1OUW24

It's weighty and won't move around, and the grind settings are adequate.

The grinders in question, with Amazon links and ratings:

• Capresso Infinity
  $99.95, 4 stars, 1962 customer reviews
  
  
• Baratza Encore
  $129.01, 4 stars, 268 customer reviews
  
  
• Bodum Bistro
  $127.99, 4 stars, 840 customer reviews
  
  
• Breville Smart Grinder
  $199.90, 4 stars, 506 customer reviews

The most beginner friendly device in my opinion is either the french press or the clever dripper. The most interesting may very well be the aeropress since there's a lot of options available. But if you want no frills, very good coffee consistently, pick either the french press or clever. Clever will produce a cleaner cup, where the french press makes a bolder cup (with a bit of grit due to some grounds getting into the cup).

One caveat on the Clever. It can make up to 15oz at a time. If you are the type to brew a huge mug of coffee (>20 ounces), then go for the french press. Aeropress makes even less. Some people argue you can make an 8oz cup of concentrate that you can add equal parts water to, but this is totally not worthwhile.

For grinder, get this instead:
https://www.amazon.com/Grinder-Original-EvenGrind-Stability-Guaranteed/dp/B013RGGFZM

Best bang for buck for starter manual grinders. Enjoy!

Chemex, Bonavita kettle, skerton grinder, knock off scale

So you def pay a little bit for the Chemex aesthetic, but I think it makes a pretty smooth cup and is somewhat forgiving to beginners.

The skerton pro is an excellent hand grinder, when my electric broke I used the hand grinder every day for a semester and had absolutely no problem (I honestly enjoyed the process for a while).

The scale will feel like a knockoff because it is, I got a very similar one (but payed extra for a reseller to put a fancy label on it because I’m not the brightest) and while it works, you’ll def want to invest in something more if you catch the coffee bug

https://www.amazon.com/-/es/gp/aw/d/B074TB9L2D/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

https://www.amazon.com/Chemex-Classic-Pour-over-Glass-Coffeemaker/dp/B0000YWF5E?th=1&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Skerton-Manual-Grinder-Ceramic/dp/B01MXJI90S

https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

Bodum is a good beginner brand. I've had mixed results with some of their products, but the French press is solid. I would not recommend the basic coffee grinder as it does not produce uniform grounds. Their pourover is pretty good if you use a filter in addition to the metal one. If you're set on going with Bodum, check out your local Marshalls or HomeGoods. They always have Bodum coffee products for sale for cheaper than retail.

Amazon has the Capresso Infinity for $61 right now, which is a great deal on a decent grinder. For anything other than espresso it does a great job IMHO.

I have one of these. https://www.amazon.ca/KitchenAid-BCG111OB-Coffee-Grinder-Black/product-reviews/B003WIZ5PC/ref=dpx_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1

Would not recomend it. Kind of a pain to use and grinds it uneven.

There are a bunch of articles on better inexpensive grinders. Advice like stay away from electric blade-style grinders.

I got a cheap ceramic burr grinder and have honestly been pretty happy with it. It is hard to spend $195 for a Lido 3 or something.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B010UJZ5XW