A good grinder for under $100 ?
I've been researching this for almost a week now. I need a burr grinder (currently using a blade grinding spice mill at home) and it makes me cry.
I thought for sure I could find a decent burr grinder for under $100 these days; with Krups and Braun and Bodum all getting in on the market... But from what I've been reading on CoffeeGeek and Home-Barista, I don't think I want any of these electric models. They seem to all be either too loud, too messy, inconsistent and they break easyily.
I really don't need to grind espresso - I don't make that at home, so I don't want to spend the kind of money on a Baratza Virtuoso, Maestro or even a Capresso.
So I've started looking at hand mills. Zassenhaus is pretty and old school looking, but I really don't like the idea of having to get the coffee out of a square wooden box (messy, residue, hard to clean). The Kyocera looks really hard to use and small volume. I saw a really scary video of someone using a Hario and it took like 2 whole minutes of grinding for one shot. Now I guess it would take less time to grind coarser for coffee, but still - I just cant see myself doing that first thing in the morning.
I'm very confused now.
Does anyone know, isn't there a burr grinder out there somewhere that's reasonably priced and well-designed?
I thought for sure I could find a decent burr grinder for under $100 these days; with Krups and Braun and Bodum all getting in on the market... But from what I've been reading on CoffeeGeek and Home-Barista, I don't think I want any of these electric models. They seem to all be either too loud, too messy, inconsistent and they break easyily.
I really don't need to grind espresso - I don't make that at home, so I don't want to spend the kind of money on a Baratza Virtuoso, Maestro or even a Capresso.
So I've started looking at hand mills. Zassenhaus is pretty and old school looking, but I really don't like the idea of having to get the coffee out of a square wooden box (messy, residue, hard to clean). The Kyocera looks really hard to use and small volume. I saw a really scary video of someone using a Hario and it took like 2 whole minutes of grinding for one shot. Now I guess it would take less time to grind coarser for coffee, but still - I just cant see myself doing that first thing in the morning.
I'm very confused now.
Does anyone know, isn't there a burr grinder out there somewhere that's reasonably priced and well-designed?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Benis on
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If you like the look of the Zass grinders get one, especially if you're not particularly interested in grinding for espresso. The little drawers pull out and you can then dose into whatever you are making your coffee in using a teaspoon or scoop doser. You can also tip the grounds from the corner relatively neatly. And if none of that sounds reassuring, you can of course weight your dose of beans before putting them in the grinder and then empty the drawer onto a piece of paper and wind that into a cone to pour it neatly into your coffee maker or you can buy the rather neat equivalent gizmo for sale from Orphan Espresso, who also sell new and restored hand grinders (and are great people to deal with).
The Porlex hand grinder is another good choice and easy to clean - very portable too. But it's no quicker than the Kyocera.
A good hand grinder will give performance comparable with cheap domestic grinders costing more than twice as much - and will last much longer into the bargain.
Cheers
Mike
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Permalink Reply by Joseph Robertson on
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Laura,
Again Mike B is on target as far as I'm concerned. We sell a 40.00 electric burr grinder here at our shop. But all my friends know if I'm making a cup for my self at home I use an old Zass and a AeroPress. I have done this for 3 years now. Grinding the coffee became part of my wake up routine. Sorta a Zen thing. Plus the smell as you know is dream inducing. Especially if you roast your own at home which is what got me hooked on the third wave thing.
Cheers,
Joe
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Ambassador for Specialty Coffee and palate reform.
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Permalink Reply by Laura Heyda on
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That's exactly what I want to do next - I'm thinking to try a small batch in a wok - outside. How do you roast?
Joseph Robertson said:Laura,
Again Mike B is on target as far as I'm concerned. We sell a 40.00 electric burr grinder here at our shop. But all my friends know if I'm making a cup for my self at home I use an old Zass and a AeroPress. I have done this for 3 years now. Grinding the coffee became part of my wake up routine. Sorta a Zen thing. Plus the smell as you know is dream inducing. Especially if you roast your own at home which is what got me hooked on the third wave thing.
Cheers,
Joe
--
Ambassador for Specialty Coffee and palate reform.
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In the Sweet Maria circles...This method is refered to as HGDB. Google Sweetmaria's and get on their list and you will be surprised how many roast their coffee this way.
Great list and fun folks to exchange info with.
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Laura,
I'm sorry, HGDB refers to heat gun dog bowl. It takes a high or good quality heat gun and usually a stainless steel bowl and a lot of pratice. This is probably the most economical way to roast I have seen yet..
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I've seen pictures of HGDB - I thought it was a joke :) I will join Sweet Maria's blog.
Do you know anyone who uses a Capresso Infinity? I'm hearing good things about them...
Joseph Robertson said:Laura,
I'm sorry, HGDB refers to heat gun dog bowl. It takes a high or good quality heat gun and usually a stainless steel bowl and a lot of pratice. This is probably the most economical way to roast I have seen yet..
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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Conley on
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The Hario Skerton runs for about $35-40. They're really not as hard/trying to use as they seem.
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I wouldn't bother with the Infinity. I don't think you'll be that happy with it in the long run. If you're mainly grinding for yourself, just go with one of the hand grinders mentioned. The cheap burr grounders don't offer anything much in the way of consistency or longevity until you get up to something like the Nemox Lux, which is over $100.
Only need to rethink would be if you have dinner parties of 10 coffee drinkers and don't want to let them enjoy the thrill of each grinding their own :-)
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Permalink Reply by Brandon Malcolm on
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I have a Bodum Antigua grinder that I have been using for about a year now and it has held up pretty well. good consistent grind. definitely not for espresso but gets the job done for most other brew methods. I typically chemex or use a melitta pour over and can get a good grind for those. the only real downside that I have run into is that its kinda loud. its not unbearable but it doesn't purr. I think it's a good step up from your spice grinder. I was doing the same thing and when I got this grinder it was like going from a Kia to a BMW. definitely gets the job done. I found mine on eBay for $70.
I have heard a lot of good things about the Baratza Maestro which runs about $100.
best of luck! let us know what you end up deciding to do!
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Ayers on
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While I use a mini at home, I have three friends who all have Capresso Infinity grinders and, for under $100 they are well worth it. They have all had them for over two years, and they still continue to work. They're not the best out there, but, for your price point, I wouldn't recommend anything else.
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