Best "starter" burr grinder

[Alex]

We've been French Pressing coffee in the office for a couple of months
now and are ready to take it up a notch. Know that fresh grinding
makes a difference and need a burr grinder to get a consistent coarse
grind for the FP.

So, here's the question: what burr grinder would you recommend as a
good starter machine. Price range between $50-100 max, looking for
quality, reliability and easy to keep clean.

As a sidenote, I'm considering a hand crank grinder since we'll be
doing it in the office and it would be quieter. Anyone have any
experience with hand grinding? Curious about effort, time and
quality.

Thanks for your wisdom...

Alex

[Marshall]

Post by Alex
We've been French Pressing coffee in the office for a couple of months
now and are ready to take it up a notch. Know that fresh grinding
makes a difference and need a burr grinder to get a consistent coarse
grind for the FP.
So, here's the question: what burr grinder would you recommend as a
good starter machine. Price range between $50-100 max, looking for
quality, reliability and easy to keep clean.
As a sidenote, I'm considering a hand crank grinder since we'll be
doing it in the office and it would be quieter. Anyone have any
experience with hand grinding? Curious about effort, time and
quality.
Thanks for your wisdom...
Alex

For an office? I'd recommend the (discontinued) Solis Maestro, now
available as a clearance item for under $110 at several sources (e.g.
1stline.com). It's quiet, CLEAN and makes a very nice grind. All of
the grounds fall into a receptacle and stay there until you dump them
neatly into your brewer. No mess on the coffee room counter. Did I
mention it's very clean and neat?

Marshall

[David M. Lewis]

Post by Marshall
For an office? I'd recommend the (discontinued) Solis Maestro, now
available as a clearance item for under $110 at several sources (e.g.
1stline.com). It's quiet, CLEAN and makes a very nice grind. All of
the grounds fall into a receptacle and stay there until you dump them
neatly into your brewer. No mess on the coffee room counter. Did I
mention it's very clean and neat?

I'd agree with that, with the additional note that the importer,
Baratza at <http://www.baratza.com/>, often has refurbished units that
are, to my eye, indistinguishable from new ones. My Maestro was $75
that way back before there was a Maestro Plus.

Best,
David

[D. Ross]

***@nathcomm.com (Alex) wrote:

| We've been French Pressing coffee in the office for a couple of months
| now and are ready to take it up a notch. Know that fresh grinding
| makes a difference and need a burr grinder to get a consistent coarse
| grind for the FP.
|
| So, here's the question: what burr grinder would you recommend as a
| good starter machine. Price range between $50-100 max, looking for
| quality, reliability and easy to keep clean.

Usual rec in this range for drip and FP is the Bodum Antigua at around $60.

- David R.

--
http://www.demitasse.net

[David G. Imber]

Post by D. Ross
Usual rec in this range for drip and FP is the Bodum Antigua at around $60.

The problem with this unit is that it's not as well made as it
should be. I was warned that the device would become debilitated and
unusable within a year, and that would undermine its good value. I bought
it anyway and got eight good months out of it.

DGI

[Linda Scott]

Post by David G. Imber

Post by D. Ross
Usual rec in this range for drip and FP is the Bodum Antigua at around $60.

The problem with this unit is that it's not as well made as it
should be. I was warned that the device would become debilitated and
unusable within a year, and that would undermine its good value. I bought
it anyway and got eight good months out of it.
DGI

I've had mine for around 2 years, grind approx. 90g per day (non-espresso
purposes only), and haven't had any problems. The grind still looks even,
and no dust. One thing I remember reading somewhere (here, I'm sure) is
that some units are made in Germany, and some in China. Mine is
German-made.

[David G. Imber]

Post by Linda Scott
I've had mine for around 2 years, grind approx. 90g per day (non-espresso
purposes only), and haven't had any problems. The grind still looks even,
and no dust. One thing I remember reading somewhere (here, I'm sure) is
that some units are made in Germany, and some in China. Mine is
German-made.

Don't know about mine, but the first unit I bought was
dead-on-arrival and I had to replace it immediately.

DGI

[Clare]

Alex wrote:

~ We've been French Pressing coffee in the office for a couple of months
~ now and are ready to take it up a notch. Know that fresh grinding
~ makes a difference and need a burr grinder to get a consistent coarse
~ grind for the FP.
~
~ So, here's the question: what burr grinder would you recommend as a
~ good starter machine. Price range between $50-100 max, looking for
~ quality, reliability and easy to keep clean.

I haven't bought it yet but I'm going to get a Dualit/Solis 166/Starbucks
Barista. In my research it has consistently good reviews, nothing below
6/10 on Coffeegeek and an average of 8.5/10. It's £50 here but I think
it's $120 in the US. Other machines in my price range have a mix of very
good and very bad reviews.

~ As a sidenote, I'm considering a hand crank grinder since we'll be
~ doing it in the office and it would be quieter. Anyone have any
~ experience with hand grinding? Curious about effort, time and
~ quality.

I would have gone for one of these cos they're so cute but I don't know if
I could handle the exercise first thing in the morning. By the time
people get to the office they'll be more awake so I think that could be a
good idea. You could have a daily grinding rota, I think it would be fun
:o) Everything I've read says they are excellent quality and a perfect
grind. No static with them either. Also dead simple to clean because
there's nowhere for grounds to build up. It's just the early morning
exercise that put me off.

Clare

[Sonam Dasara]

Clare, I don't blame you! I have enough trouble at 7:00 AM watching the
glass of my A-9 grinder fill to the mark and measuring the water for my auto
drip! I can not imagine how these guys with the Rocky/Sylvia pull a shot at
that hour! I wish one of them were my neighbor so that I could drop in for a
morning cup!
--
Cordially,

Sonam Dasara

ask-at-electric-hyphen-ink-dot-com

Post by Clare
~ We've been French Pressing coffee in the office for a couple of months
~ now and are ready to take it up a notch. Know that fresh grinding
~ makes a difference and need a burr grinder to get a consistent coarse
~ grind for the FP.
~
~ So, here's the question: what burr grinder would you recommend as a
~ good starter machine. Price range between $50-100 max, looking for
~ quality, reliability and easy to keep clean.
I haven't bought it yet but I'm going to get a Dualit/Solis 166/Starbucks
Barista. In my research it has consistently good reviews, nothing below
6/10 on Coffeegeek and an average of 8.5/10. It's £50 here but I think
it's $120 in the US. Other machines in my price range have a mix of very
good and very bad reviews.
~ As a sidenote, I'm considering a hand crank grinder since we'll be
~ doing it in the office and it would be quieter. Anyone have any
~ experience with hand grinding? Curious about effort, time and
~ quality.
I would have gone for one of these cos they're so cute but I don't know if
I could handle the exercise first thing in the morning. By the time
people get to the office they'll be more awake so I think that could be a
good idea. You could have a daily grinding rota, I think it would be fun
:o) Everything I've read says they are excellent quality and a perfect
grind. No static with them either. Also dead simple to clean because
there's nowhere for grounds to build up. It's just the early morning
exercise that put me off.
Clare

[Steve Wall]

Post by Clare
~ We've been French Pressing coffee in the office for a couple of months
~ now and are ready to take it up a notch. Know that fresh grinding
~ makes a difference and need a burr grinder to get a consistent coarse
~ grind for the FP.
~
~ So, here's the question: what burr grinder would you recommend as a
~ good starter machine. Price range between $50-100 max, looking for
~ quality, reliability and easy to keep clean.
~ As a sidenote, I'm considering a hand crank grinder since we'll be
~ doing it in the office and it would be quieter. Anyone have any
~ experience with hand grinding? Curious about effort, time and
~ quality.
I would have gone for one of these cos they're so cute but I don't know if
I could handle the exercise first thing in the morning. By the time
people get to the office they'll be more awake so I think that could be a
good idea. You could have a daily grinding rota, I think it would be fun
:o) Everything I've read says they are excellent quality and a perfect
grind. No static with them either. Also dead simple to clean because
there's nowhere for grounds to build up. It's just the early morning
exercise that put me off.

I'd be more concerned about the folks in the office using it right.
I have a Zass. hand grinder and even my wife can't seem to adjust
it right. Somehow she manages to torque the adjuster down fully
each time she uses it, generating coffee powder at a painfully slow
rate. An office full of folks seem likely to compound this problem.
Get something with an easy grind adjuster and a dial that indicates
grind setting.

Steve Wall