Coffee grinder recommendation

Veloce

Hi all.

I'm looking for an auto coffee grinder. Total newb so I don't know exactly what I'm looking for. From what I've read online a burr type grinder is what I should be looking at to get the best quality grind?

I have a DeLonghi EC685 espresso maker.

Thanks in advance

Richard Roma

What’s your budget?

Veloce

Richard Roma wrote: »

What’s your budget?

Well I'm a newbie so perhaps something under €100.. If that's even possible to get something somewhat decent.

Mr Magnolia

You need a conical burr type grinder really. Any of the whirly blade type yokes aren't suitable.

You can pick up a manual conical burr for about 40 kids but an automatic will cost you €160 new minimum I reckon. It's worth checking out done deal or adverts for some good value second hand grinders. A lot of coffee folk upgrade regularly so good value can be had.

Prenderb

How about something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Krups-Expert-GVX231-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B0002H2IOM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521931257&sr=8-1&keywords=Krups+burr+grinder

Available in B&M shops too, like in Kildare Village.

Austin1

Prenderb wrote: »

How about something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Krups-Expert-GVX231-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B0002H2IOM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521931257&sr=8-1&keywords=Krups+burr+grinder

Available in B&M shops too, like in Kildare Village.

I bought two of those in a row. They sell them in Debenhams also and you'll pick one up for €40 - €50 if there's a sale on. They are definitely good value at that price as they do a good job and are fairly reliable( I got about three years out of each one, using them pretty much everyday.)

Enrico Palazzo

Unless you frequently make a lot of coffees at once (like for a whole family), consider a manual grinder, as you will get more quality for your money than with a similarly priced electric grinder. Aergrind by Knock should just fit into your budget, shipping included. The benefits are a tiny footprint, stepless grind setting, only microscopic grind retention, easy cleaning, portability, far less noise, expected higher reliability. Grinding in these is almost effortless.

Alanstrainor

Enrico Palazzo wrote: »

Unless you frequently make a lot of coffees at once (like for a whole family), consider a manual grinder, as you will get more quality for your money than with a similarly priced electric grinder. Airgrind by Knock should just fit into your budget, shipping included. The benefits are a tiny footprint, stepless grind setting, only microscopic grind retention, easy cleaning, portability, far less noise, expected higher reliability. Grinding in these is almost effortless.

I would disagree. I had/have a burr hand grinder, it produces a lovely grind and it is portable and everything. But at the end of the day it's a pain. Mine took a minute or two to grind for one serving. If you're making two cups it's doubly painful.

I think they do have a purpose, if you have limited space or want the portability. But given the OP has an espresso machine I would imagine that this is not a huge consideration.

Enrico Palazzo

I don't think it takes me longer than some 40 sec to grind 9g of beans for pourover. Knock works perfectly for espresso too and I doubt you can get a comparable precision with an electric grinder at this price range, unless it's a second hand bargain. Now, grinding with something like Hario does take some work indeed, but Knock and the likes are in a different league.

megaten

I use this one and it does the job for me. (mostly French Press & Aeropress)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002OHDBQC/ref=dp_cerb_2

ray o

Austin1 wrote: »

I bought two of those in a row. They sell them in Debenhams also and you'll pick one up for €40 - €50 if there's a sale on. They are definitely good value at that price as they do a good job and are fairly reliable( I got about three years out of each one, using them pretty much everyday.)

Same here, I have two on the go for the last 5+ years and no issues. I use it for aeropress.

Krusty_Clown

I have two hand grinders (Hario Skerton and a Handground) and a electric grinder. The two hand grinders are used every day (Aeropress, pourover), but only the electric grinder is used for espresso as the hand grinders would require too much effort (3-4 family members and maybe 10 coffees a day at weekends) and switching the hand grinders over to espresso and getting consistent results would be too much effort.

If the OP has a similar profile (multiple espresso users), I'd lean towards getting a good second hand electric model. Just bring a bag of coffee beans with you when inspecting, and put it through its paces!

Veloce

Many thanks for the responses everyone.

I thought I should add - I bought a cheap manual hand grinder from eBay last year. Unfortunately, the burr itself is plastic and when rotating the handle it does not seem to have an even rotation even when adjusted. I ground some beans a few days ago and put them into the porta filter basket only for the machine to get blocked (ie no water came out). On closer inspection it appears that the grounded beans vary from being extremely refined to larger amounts clumping together. I need a better quality grinder - I think.

Zagato

Is it just set too fine? I tend to distribute the coffee in the portafilter with a toothpick to break up the clumps, before tamping. Maybe one day I'll get a proper distribution tool

alec76

Veloce wrote: »

Many thanks for the responses everyone.

I thought I should add - I bought a cheap manual hand grinder from eBay last year. Unfortunately, the burr itself is plastic and when rotating the handle it does not seem to have an even rotation even when adjusted. I ground some beans a few days ago and put them into the porta filter basket only for the machine to get blocked (ie no water came out). On closer inspection it appears that the grounded beans vary from being extremely refined to larger amounts clumping together. I need a better quality grinder - I think.

Surely no such a thing like a plastic burr?
Definitely ceramic burrs.
It is Chinese version of Hario , I could imagine and it is set too fine as mentioned above.

Veloce

It could very well be ceramic - it just looks plastic. and yeah it is very similiar to the Hario one.

I might have a play around with the tension / spacing of the burr as yeah it must be too fine if it's blocking the flow of water out.

I'll try that toothpick trick as well to break it up.

alec76

Veloce wrote: »

I'll try that toothpick trick as well to break it up.

Don’t bother ,you’ve got pressurised portafilter anyway.
it is basic knowledge really , espresso shot (30-60 ml ) has to be pulled in 25-30 seconds .If you getting it slower- grinder set to fine,
faster than that , too coarse.

Veloce

Thanks Alec - that is useful info. I have a lot to learn.

mad m

Have an opportunity of grabbing one of these

https://www.warriorcoffee.com/product/137/mahlkonig-vario-home-coffee-grinder--free-250g-coffee

For a good price 2nd. Has anyone got one? Any problems with it?

golfpaul

No problems, a great workhorse, I've had mine years with no issues. Use it mainly for espresso, 15-20 week.

The high horse brigade

I'm in the market for a good grinder in the 150-200 sterling range. There are a few on amazon. Can anyone advise?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00P81AQUU/ref=psdc_3544814031_t1_B00CS2DAEG
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LSQHB1Q/ref=psdc_3544814031_t1_B00P81AQUU
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CS2DAEG/ref=psdc_3544814031_t2_B00P81AQUU

I'm not tied to amazon but shop there a lot and am very happy with their returns policy

uncle_sam_ie

The high horse brigade wrote: »

I'm in the market for a good grinder in the 150-200 sterling range. There are a few on amazon. Can anyone advise?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00P81AQUU/ref=psdc_3544814031_t1_B00CS2DAEG
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LSQHB1Q/ref=psdc_3544814031_t1_B00P81AQUU
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CS2DAEG/ref=psdc_3544814031_t2_B00P81AQUU

I'm not tied to amazon but shop there a lot and am very happy with their returns policy

What type of grind do you need it for? Is it for espresso?

The high horse brigade

uncle_sam_ie wrote: »

What type of grind do you need it for? Is it for espresso?

Yes. I've not got the espresso machine yet but I plan on buying a grinder first next month, then buy the machine the following month. I have a cuisineart bean to cup machine that I'll use in the mean time but I want to upgrade

uncle_sam_ie

I did many hours of research last year on this.
First, I'd stay away from the the Sage. I had my eye on that one too because they had it in Harvey Normans. But it has known issues, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lL8BInrki8 ( Sage by Heston Blumenthal is the UK operating name for the Australian manufacturer Breville.) Reading many reviews on Amazon.com has lead me to believe that Sage/Breville has serious quality control issues.

For your price range I'd look at the ASCASO product range like the step less Ascaso I-Mini I1 Flat Burr Grinder,
http://www.myespresso.co.uk/shop/browse-by-brand/ascaso/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITznLUWlWUU

I ended up buying a grinder second hand on Adverts.ie, a Rancilio Rocky for 150 euros.

http://www.myespresso.co.uk/product/rancilio-rocky-doser-coffee-grinder-2015/

Don't be afraid to look at second hand grinders. . Especially the Italian ones like Mazzer. They are rock solid old school quality made products that will last forever.

If you can stretch your budget a bit the Mazzer's are the way to go. The Rolls Royce of coffee grinders. https://www.adverts.ie/business-shop-fittings/mazzer-coffee-grinder/14789054

Good luck,

alec76

I wouldn’t be buying Doser Coffee Grinder for the Home ... or almost any commercial grade grinders ... it is just mad in a terms of coffee retention.
I like my coffee fresh .
Get decent On demand Grinder (used Rocky Doserless will do, too much clumps though )
Sage grinders just alright , I have one of those as a second grinder .
Baratza Vario/Mahlkönig Vario probably one of the best grinder for the home use.

The high horse brigade

Thanks for your suggestions but they are well over my budget, the Baratza Vario is 700 odd sterling

alec76

I would consider some great deals on Adverts :
https://www.adverts.ie/small-kitchen-appliances/rancilio-silvia-espresso-plus-ascaso-mini-grinder/15456523
simply bargain, offer accepted though.

alec76

The high horse brigade wrote: »

Thanks for your suggestions but they are well over my budget, the Baratza Vario is 700 odd sterling

It is €450 brand new actually , unless you are up to Vario W model.
https://www.homecoffeemachines.ie/products/mahlkonig-vario-grinder-lll

Danantmcs

Hi

Has anyone any recommendations on where is the best place / website to order a rancilio rocky ?
Thanks !

Zagato

If I was thinking about buying a grinder now I would join Coffee Forums UK. About a hundred members have backed the Niche Zero on Indiegogo and have just started being fulfilled over the last week. There will be lots of people looking to sell their well minded grinders of the for sale section.