Hi,

If you store ground coffee in the freezer, does it give you 8-second blonde gushers?

So I figure I need to get my own grinder. The question is, what grinder < $200 should I get?

Someone has something bad to say about every grinder until you get to $600. You shouldn't buy the Solis, because you might as well spend an extra $50 for the Gaggia. But why buy the Gaggia when for only $50 more you can get the Rocky? But if you're buying the Rocky, you might as well spring for the Mazzer...

I just need something to get me started that's better than a blade grinder. I'm almost tempted to just get a Maestro as a throwaway to learn on...

Any advice?

Thanks!
Steven

p.s. This is for espresso only...

Hi,

What espresso machine are you using?

I've never frozen ground coffee, but as it defrosts it'd probably get damp / clump together, which wouldn't help matters.

You do need a grinder, and fresh roasted beans. You will only get what you pay for, and in the long run it is far better (and saves you money) to spend now on a good grinder than to buy a cheaper one and find you need to upgrade it in a couple of months. For example I had a solis/dualit to start with because I didn't know enough to realise the extra money for an MDF was worth it.

The solis only really has one or two usable settings for espresso -you'll realise quickly that you need a good range of settings - and produces inconsistent grinds because the burrs are poorly held in place. I also keep getting static shocks off it although it's a perfect grinder for french press. I now have a Rocky, and realise I should have gone for this in the first place.

I think the minimum you should be looking at is the Iberital MC2 (not sure if this is under the same name in the US?), the Gaggia MDF, or Rocky. In my opinion it is not worth learning on the solis just to upgrade later. Save the money, wait a bit longer if you have to, put it towards a better-spec grinder, and learn on that.

Good luck!

element533 wrote:Hi,

If you store ground coffee in the freezer, does it give you 8-second blonde gushers?

The freezing is irrelevant. As regards espresso, ground coffee has a shelf life of maybe 2 minutes, regardless of how you store it.

ken

element533 wrote:Someone has something bad to say about every grinder until you get to $600.

p.s. This is for espresso only...

Without a decent grinder, regardless of everything else: coffee, machine, technique, you are not making espresso, but merely a dreadful facsimile.

element533 wrote:Someone has something bad to say about every grinder until you get to $600.

The thread Best Inexpensive Grinder offers value-priced suggestions.

As an interesting side note, one of the best espressos I sampled during the recent SCAA conference wasn't from a big name roaster booth or even one of the US Barista Championship competitors, but from Jim Schulman's travel kit of an eBay La Pavoni Europiccola, Metropolis' Redline blend, and Lux grinder; proof positive that you can make very good espresso on a budget.

As far as grinders go even the $1200 range will have people who have bad things to say about the grinder. Many of the grinders in the 200-300 $ range will give you everything you need while you are learning about espresso. Several good grinders pop to mind. The Nemox lux, is probably the lowest priced, that has enough of an espresso range. One that is right near the Rocky side of things is the Ascaso I-1 or I-2. If you want conicals the I-2 is one of the few options at the lower price point. These Ascaso grinders are also stepless which is a big plus for dialing the grind.

Something to consider when buying a lower end grinder is that someday you may be able to use it for travel, or as a dedicated decaf grinder. Some of these grinders can also pull double duty for drip or french press.

In the long run though if you don't plan on ever needing a dedicated decaf grinder or a small travel grinder, it might be better for you to just spend the money on the mazzer or macap. This will be an investment in your espresso future. Are you the type that will get upgrade fever in a short time?

You can also find some good deals on Mazzer Super Jollys on ebay if you are patient, and have the space for one.

Wow, thanks for the replies everyone!

I'm using a Delonghi EC460 espresso maker. I'm probably going to upgrade this at some point, but it seems to have enough temperature and pressure for now.

I just tried "thawing" out my grinds and when I made my normal double-shot this morning, I got another beautiful 30 second extraction. Of course, I still have a lot to learn, but that will have to wait until I get my own grinder.

I wouldn't mind getting a Rocky, but every review I've read says $200-$250, whereas I can only find it for $290 with shipping. Three hundred bucks is like half of an entry-level Cannon SLR, so it's hard for me to justify. I guess, though, if I do the math:

1 Starbuck's Americano / day @ $2.30 ea. = $839.50 / yr

versus

1 Rancilio Rocky grinder = $290
2 shots / day @ 7g / shot = 14 g / day = 1 lb / month = 12 lb / yr @ $11 / lb = $132 / yr
Total after 1 yr = $422

- or -

Number of days it takes for Rocky to pay for itself = 148

Plus I get to choose how my coffee tastes and I don't have to wait in line to get it... So, I guess it makes sense!

BTW, thanks HB for the link. I knew that thread was somewhere, but I couldn't remember where I had seen it!

element533 wrote:Number of days it takes for Rocky to pay for itself = 148

It's even better than that. The resale on quality espresso grinders is very good; you could sell Rocky a year or two later at 60-70% retail. The guy who bought my Rocky sold it a year later for the same price, and his price was a "friend's discount."

element533 wrote:1 Starbuck's Americano / day @ $2.30 ea. = $839.50 / yr

versus

1 Rancilio Rocky grinder = $290
2 shots / day @ 7g / shot = 14 g / day = 1 lb / month = 12 lb / yr @ $11 / lb = $132 / yr
Total after 1 yr = $422

- or -

Number of days it takes for Rocky to pay for itself = 148

That's comparing apples and lemonrinds. Here was my math:

Drink coffee from Starbucks each and every day, three and a half to seven bucks a day.

vs

Put all the money I can spare in a pile and spend it ona grinder and a decent espresso machine, and take advantage of a great coupla deals and upgrade to a pro two-group and twin pro grinders for under three grand once I'm a junkie and drink espresso that is at least comparable (I use the same beans and pro gear, but I have a bit more time to fiddle) to the best espresso available in the county, and better than two-thirds of all coffee shops in the world, priceless.