I have to get the wife a good coffee grinder. Actually I want one too so I can have a decent cup of coffee every once in a while. I know my espresso grinders, but a stand alone for just coffee would be great. I would use my SJ, but isn't running multiple bean types through it going to "flavor" my espresso?

Any outstanding machines I should know about?

Just to clarify, you want a grinder for vac pot, drip, and French press?

alex e wrote:I have to get the wife a good coffee grinder.

What for? Espresso, french press/drip? You could choose, for example, either http://www.orphanespresso.com/OE-PHAROS..._3977.html or http://www.baratza.com/products.php?id=31

Electric Drip 95%. I want to try a ceramic dripper though.

Dude that Pharos is bad ass looking!

i wouldn't suggest a hand grinder since i would imagine that your wife brews larger portions in her electrical drip brewer and might not want to turn the crank for ages before having coffee.

The baraza vario is definitely an option, since you could also use it for espresso.

Mark Prince also wrote a review about the Baratza Virtuoso Preciso, which might be a fairly inexpensive solution for good drip coffee. http://coffeegeek.com/proreviews/quickshot/baratzavirtuosopreciso

best grind quality for drip you will get with large shop grinders like Mahlkönig, Ditting or Bunn (depending on overall and burr condition), but new they are way to expensive. you might be able to pick up a used on ebay or craigslist at a reasonable price, but a new burr set alone will be in the same price range as the Virtuoso Preciso. also your wife might object to having a monster like that on your kitchen counter... (mine certainly raised a few objections)

regards
Georg

I picked up a BUNN on eBay for drip/press work. Works very good but it took a lot of work to strip and clean up. Also keep in mind that you will want to replace the burrs. While you may be able to pick up a used BUNN bulk grinder for $200-250, the burr sets are over $200. A new grinder is $500 and you end up with $475 in a used grinder after you replace the burr set. I got lucky and picked one up for sub 100 so I had no issue with replacing the burrs. Keep that in mind when you are looking at grinders.

I know if I bought home a big bunn or ditting for my wife to grind drip, she would think I was crazy (more so then usual )

I would look at the Baratza line of grinders.

The vario is good, but is kind of overkill for just drip, one of the lower end models will do fine

Randy

Baratza has returned grinders on their website shop as well. I had a good experience picking up a used maestro for just the purpose you are suggesting. Baratza's customer service is top notch as well. There really doesn't seem to be a credible alternative to their lineup these days for a decent drip electric grinder to use in your kitchen.

randytsuch wrote:I know if I bought home a big bunn or ditting for my wife to grind drip, she would think I was crazy (more so then usual )

I would look at the Baratza line of grinders.

The vario is good, but is kind of overkill for just drip, one of the lower end models will do fine

Randy

I agree, you could probably just buy a Maestro Plus.

i use my Baratza virtuoso for non-espresso duties and am happy with it. 143 refurb is hard to beat especially with baratza's great customer service.

jim