I really don't know which grinder to choose. I have read through many reviews, but I am not clearer. Which grinder is considered to be a good beginners grinder - good enough to start but not breaking the bank. Your advice is much appreciated. Gerard

Being in the same process as you... I am down to two grinders.

Baratza Vario or La Cimbali Max

The Max is a lot more expensive but I think that it is the better grinder for my purpose. The Vario is getting almost nothing but great reviews and is very much cheaper.

I know that my two options are not even comparable but one is for the love of coffee and the other is financial reason.

Don't know what you would consider not breaking the bank. But I guess that if you are looking for a starter grinder, I think that you should try to go for the Vario. I am sure that many Vario owners will chime in.

I can speak to the problem. I have a Mazzer SJ and a Faema MPN plus a Vario. The commercial grinders have new burrs and are scrupulously cleansed. If you are planning making less than about 6 or so drinks at a sitting, the Vario will be my choice hands down. I like the fluffiness of the finer grinds for my lever machines and I have heard of no-one that didn't like the machine. All the grinders are worth buying used if you have the chance and burrs are easy to come by for about 50-70 dollars a set. There are quite a few FAQs and Tips about each model. If you are not good with your hands at fixing small things it is best to go for a new grinder.
The little Le Lit and the Mini Pro..they appear to be same grinder, noisy but grind well. At one time the LeLit could not be adjusted fine enough for my lever machines. It may have improved since then. I had a Rocky but traded up quickly. A Rocky can be a good buy but for the little price differential, I really like the Vario best of those I have, and have tried. It may save a case of early "upgraditis!"
my 1¢
-Richard

I just saw that the Vario goes under the name Mahlkonig Vario (approx. £300) in the UK

Gerhard, exactly how big is that "bank" that we should try not to break?

Only as a suggestion,
You are very welcome here! Keep us posted about your journey! You also might try the TMC forums (Too Much Coffee) Being in the UK the deals made and prices asked for used equipment will be more valuable to you! Click Here
There will be a window on the upper right side of the page to explain how to register.
They are a great group of folks that have a good deal of fun in the process of learning from and teaching each other about coffee. You may join and then watch the Members' Clubroom section. Most of us on it have one leg a bit longer than the other from approaching a sacred cow a bit too closely! Many of us often post here and there to ask and learn.
Above all, have fun!
-Richard /espressme

Guys, many thanks for your reply. All very helpful! I guess, that like other newly aspiring espresso lovers, we concentrate on the machine and not the grinder. It is just chilling to see how expensive those grinders are. At least i have something useful to ask for xmas! And I have to increase my budget from £200 upwards. many thanks again for all your help. Gerard

Hi Gerard!

You can pick up a used Super Jolly grinder on UK ebay from between GBP150 and GBP200. There are at least a few up for sale every week at the moment.

The cheapest place for a UK grinder is Coffeehit.co.uk where you will also get good advice and good back-up. Paul who runs it is experienced, bullshit-free and won't try and make you spend more than you need to - quite the reverse in fact. He also sells and likes the little Mahlkonig Vario. There is even a review of it on his blog site. For a while they weren't in stock in the UK, but I believe a new consignment has now come in. If you look at the relevant page on the Coffehit site, you will see they are expected to come in around the 25th or something of this month: http://www.coffeehit.co.uk/PRD_ProductDetail.aspx?cid=82&prodid=580&Product=Mahlkonig-Vario-Coffee-and-Espresso-Grinder

The alternative would be to get a really good hand grinder (such as the Prolex from Coffeehit or a beautiful reconditioned one from Orphan Espresso http://www.orphanespresso.com/ in the States), which will give you comparable quality in the cup to most grinders up to and including the Vario/Super Jolly but for much less money - and if you ever do decide to upgrade, one of these little gems will make for a very handy (pun intended) 2nd grinder, including for travelling. They are great way of saving money in the short term without wasting it in the long term.

Cheers

Mike

Not to argue with you Mike but I saw the Vario for less at Bella Barista. There out of stock too.

http://www.bellabarista.co.uk/coffeegri ... rioGrinder

I go on that site because they have very good reviews.

Gerard, I will add to Mike very insightful comments that the Vario is much smaller and kitchen friendly, it is also an auto grind per dose and doserless. All these attributes make it a better, more flexible, starter grinder. All this without much if any sacrifice in the grind quality.

I have now convinced myself that if I were in the market for a new grinder, the Vario would be it. The sheer weight of positive opinion arising from perhaps the most reviewed piece of coffee equipment on the planet has worn me down! Considering its size, adjustability and of course grind quality I am a convert, with the only remaining variable yet to be proven is its longevity.

In Europe at least, they are going like hotcakes. You would want to ensure that you have the latest model update, as there has been well documented glitches which should have been ironed out by the latest release.

Buying it from Coffeehit would ensure this, and my one and only dealing with them I was also left impressed with the proprietor who was refreshingly honest and open. I did not quite get that from other UK sites it must be said, including Bella Barista, although I do not doubt the quality of their stock.