I am putting together a small ebook for a 30 day challenge and wanted to get some opinions from the group. The book will be aimed at those who are looking for a relatively quick and easy method to get better coffee, not the fanatics like us.

The book will outline things like fresh coffee, good water, water ratio, temperature etc. Then there will be a section that will describe what type of equipment a person would need based on type of coffee they want, budget, and special conditions like office workers and traveling.

When I (quickly) decided on this topic, I thought it would be easy to write as I have been reading about and using this type of equipment for years. But trying to actually write the book showed me that I have not kept up with things as much lately, and not in the detail that I used to.

So I was hoping to get recommendations. I am looking for specific grinders and brewing equipment, but not espresso at this time. The breakdowns will be something like this:


$60 Budget:
Hario Mini
Aeropress or
Clever Coffee or
French Press

$150 Budget:
Baratza Encore
Aeropress or
Bonavita Immersion or
French Press or
Chemex for larger amounts

$300 Budget:
Baratza Virtuoso
Same brewers as above

$500 Budget:
Baratza Preciso
Same brewers as above or
Technivorm Moccamaster
(maybe Bonavita?)

Unlimited Budget:
Not really sure?

Office Worker:
Hario Mini
Aeropress or
Clever Coffee

Traveller:
Hario Mini
Aeropress

Other Categories?:


Most of these are what I recommend to friends who ask me. But I am guessing there are newer alternatives for some of these categories. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Vince

No point on the Preciso recommendation. Unless you like having a weaker adjustment ring that will break easier than the Virtuoso for everything except espresso.

CaptainCowpie wrote: Unlimited Budget:
Not really sure?

A Blossom brewer, a Clover, or an Alpha Dominche Steampunk. Or all of them, for variety.

For grinding, a Marco Uber Grinder, or Ditting Model KFA1403.. Both, for backup.

CaptainCowpie wrote:The book will be aimed at those who are looking for a relatively quick and easy method to get better coffee, not the fanatics like us.

$60 Budget:
Hario Mini
Aeropress or
Clever Coffee or
French Press

If you really mean "not the fanatics like us," forget manual grinding. You will lose 90% of your readers right there. An electric blade grinder, especially if it is shaken while grinding, is what you want for the under $60 budget.

I wouldn't leave hand grinders out of the upper categories - people hand grind coffee for many reasons, sometimes not related to coffee at all, and there are several better grinders than a Hario Mini.

orphanespresso wrote:and there are several better grinders than a Hario Mini.

Hmmmmm... I wonder which ones.

Intrepid510 wrote:No point on the Preciso recommendation. Unless you like having a weaker adjustment ring that will break easier than the Virtuoso for everything except espresso.

I wasn't aware there were problems with the Preciso. Anything in that price range that could replace it?

tamarian wrote:A Blossom brewer, a Clover, or an Alpha Dominche Steampunk. Or all of them, for variety.

For grinding, a Marco Uber Grinder, or Ditting Model KFA1403.. Both, for backup.

Yeah, I should have thought about the Clover and Blossom. Never heard of the Dominiche but it looks like a great machine.

Marshall wrote:If you really mean "not the fanatics like us," forget manual grinding. You will lose 90% of your readers right there. An electric blade grinder, especially if it is shaken while grinding, is what you want for the under $60 budget.

That is a point that I've mulled over a bit. I just have a hard time recommending a whirly blade grinder because of all of their drawbacks. The under $60 is a tough price range but I know there are people looking in that category.

But there are techniques and methods that are less sensitive to grind. (note: I said "LESS" not "INsensitive")

If you're careful, you can still get a whirlyblade coffee chopper to work fine for French Press.