Espresso Enthusiasts

[Shrink]

nice, thanks Shrink! i'll be sure to post once I make my first cup. I like that price better too.

Really...wait for a bit. There are others here who know a lot about equipment.

I'm sure that there will be at least 2 or 3 (or more) other folks with viable suggestions.

Give it a day for the others to give you some additional ideas. I'm fine with my suggestion, and I'm sure you will be happy with it....but just wait a little and see what others might have for you to consider.

The good thing about the low price is that it gives you a bit of room if you decide to go for a starter grinder. SandboxGeneral has a dandy, inexpensive grinder with an excellent attachment ideal for espresso, and the two items will only take you a bit over your original budget.

I'm sure that he, and several others, will have some really useful advice for you.

 

[musicjunky]

Well, anyone in/around Potrero Hill in SF would do well to check out Front. I had a very fine Yrgacheffe drip today from them.

Apologies for the smudged lens and rotated picture!

Thanks for this! I walked by once and was intrigued, but it was late afternoon and I didn't partake. I forgot the name of the place and you reminded me. Must make a trip out for this, intrigued!!

 

[S.B.G]

nice, thanks Shrink! i'll be sure to post once I make my first cup. I like that price better too.

The machine Shrink recommended is the one he recommended to me back in January. If you have an Amazon Prime account it will cost you only $90, a $120 savings!

I've been using it all year and it's easy to use and works well. One thing though, the directions do not tell you to prime the steam wand before first use. It won't work until you do so. If you do buy that one, let us know and we can help you with priming it.

Next, as he mentioned, a grinder is a must! My life has been greatly improved because I get to drink *FRESH* coffee every time now. I drink mostly regular drip coffee too, like you. Having the freshest coffee possible makes a huge difference in the taste. You can see all of my coffee gear including the Encore grinder I am using here on my coffee gear page. It's reasonably priced under $200 too.

Oh, and welcome aboard!

 

[mobilehaathi]

The machine Shrink recommended is the one he recommended to me back in January. If you have an Amazon Prime account it will cost you only $90, a $120 savings!

I've been using it all year and it's easy to use and works well. One thing though, the directions do not tell you to prime the steam wand before first use. It won't work until you do so. If you do buy that one, let us know and we can help you with priming it.

Next, as he mentioned, a grinder is a must! My life has been greatly improved because I get to drink *FRESH* coffee every time now. I drink mostly regular drip coffee too, like you. Having the freshest coffee possible makes a huge difference in the taste. You can see all of my coffee gear including the Encore grinder I am using here on my coffee gear page. It's reasonably priced under $200 too.

Oh, and welcome aboard!

At $90 it's hard not to buy one myself.....

 

[S.B.G]

At $90 it's hard not to buy one myself.....

It's a deal that shouldn't be passed up!

 

[mobilehaathi]

It's a deal that shouldn't be passed up!

Has it always been that price on amazon? I'm traveling a lot next two months and would prefer to pull the trigger in the new year...

 

[S.B.G]

Has it always been that price on amazon? I'm traveling a lot next two months and would prefer to pull the trigger in the new year...

I bought it at that price in January 2013 and the few times I've gone back to look at it, it's been the same.

 

[mobilehaathi]

I bought it at that price in January 2013 and the few times I've gone back to look at it, it's been the same.

Ok I'm going to risk it.

But you should anticipate questions in January!

 

[S.B.G]

But you should anticipate questions in January!

Looking forward to it! This thread is like a coffee lovers support and therapy group!

 

[mobilehaathi]

Looking forward to it! This thread is like a coffee lovers support and therapy group!

Hello, my name is mobilehaathi, and I'm a coffee-holic. It's been 5 minutes since my last cup.

 

[Shrink]

Hello, my name is mobilehaathi, and I'm a coffee-holic. It's been 5 minutes since my last cup.

Ahh...not that kind of support.

We support increased addiction...

We are evil enablers!

But very nicely done...5 minutes is a good start!

 

[musicjunky]

Sipping coffee and reading this thread at work. Feeling very peaceful.

 

[S.B.G]

Sipping coffee and reading this thread at work. Feeling very peaceful.

I'm doing the same only at home. It's a wonderful thing, isn't it?

 

[Shrink]

Ok I'm going to risk it.

But you should anticipate questions in January!

BWAHAHAHA!

We got another one!

Down the slippery slope...

Ask all the questions you want...it's so much fun to help another soul descend into....well, you know!

 

[mobilehaathi]

BWAHAHAHA!

We got another one!

Down the slippery slope...

Ask all the questions you want...it's so much fun to help another soul descend into....well, you know!

I've been wanting to pull my own shots for a while, then I got distracted with the low entry cost of a decent drip set up (and for many years as a graduate student we had a machine in lab, rendering a home unit superfluous). But if I can get a solid introductory machine for $90, well....

 

[S.B.G]

Fun With Grinder Settings

It's a peaceful Saturday afternoon here, "Chill Out Jazz" iTunes Radio station is playing and I finished creating a latte.

I used the Silver Bridge beans today for the espresso and tried the grinder on setting '5' like I did the last time for the Tim Hortons beans. The Tim Hortons beans worked very well on '5' and extracted quite well.

With the Silver Bridge beans I decided to try the grinder on '3' to see what happened. It was a very fine grind and when I put it through the espresso machine, it struggled with it and extraction was very poor. It reminded me of the days when I would have the store grind my espresso for me which led to the same extraction problems.

This time however, I can adjust my own grind! Hooray! I then set it to '5' and pulled a shot and it was still under-extracted, but not nearly as bad. I moved the setting to '6' and pulled another shot and the extraction was "good enough" for making a latte. Next time I'll try the Silver Bridge on '7' and I bet that will be its sweet spot. The sweet spot for the Tim Hortons beans seems to be '5'.

As Shrink has beaten it into my head over and over again, with a hammer, I realize the extreme importance of having ones own grinder. Plus taking notes for the different beans and grind settings is also a very good idea.

 

[Shrink]

It's a peaceful Saturday afternoon here, "Chill Out Jazz" iTunes Radio station is playing and I finished creating a latte.

I used the Silver Bridge beans today for the espresso and tried the grinder on setting '5' like I did the last time for the Tim Hortons beans. The Tim Hortons beans worked very well on '5' and extracted quite well.

With the Silver Bridge beans I decided to try the grinder on '3' to see what happened. It was a very fine grind and when I put it through the espresso machine, it struggled with it and extraction was very poor. It reminded me of the days when I would have the store grind my espresso for me which led to the same extraction problems.

This time however, I can adjust my own grind! Hooray! I then set it to '5' and pulled a shot and it was still under-extracted, but not nearly as bad. I moved the setting to '6' and pulled another shot and the extraction was "good enough" for making a latte. Next time I'll try the Silver Bridge on '7' and I bet that will be its sweet spot. The sweet spot for the Tim Hortons beans seems to be '5'.

As Shrink has beaten it into my head over and over again, with a hammer, I realize the extreme importance of having ones own grinder. Plus taking notes for the different beans and grind settings is also a very good idea.

Nice going, Mate.

I think your post is a wonderful explanation of how to use a grinder to pinpoint the correct grinder setting for your particular machine using a new bean blend.

The hammer, below, required only a gentle tap...

 

[mobilehaathi]

It's a peaceful Saturday afternoon here, "Chill Out Jazz" iTunes Radio station is playing and I finished creating a latte.

I used the Silver Bridge beans today for the espresso and tried the grinder on setting '5' like I did the last time for the Tim Hortons beans. The Tim Hortons beans worked very well on '5' and extracted quite well.

With the Silver Bridge beans I decided to try the grinder on '3' to see what happened. It was a very fine grind and when I put it through the espresso machine, it struggled with it and extraction was very poor. It reminded me of the days when I would have the store grind my espresso for me which led to the same extraction problems.

This time however, I can adjust my own grind! Hooray! I then set it to '5' and pulled a shot and it was still under-extracted, but not nearly as bad. I moved the setting to '6' and pulled another shot and the extraction was "good enough" for making a latte. Next time I'll try the Silver Bridge on '7' and I bet that will be its sweet spot. The sweet spot for the Tim Hortons beans seems to be '5'.

As Shrink has beaten it into my head over and over again, with a hammer, I realize the extreme importance of having ones own grinder. Plus taking notes for the different beans and grind settings is also a very good idea.

How do you like your burr grinder? If I'm going to start pulling shots in a few months I'd like to switch from my Bodum blade grinder to something that can precisely and uniformly grind (and also not heat up the grounds).

 

[S.B.G]

How do you like your burr grinder? If I'm going to start pulling shots in a few months I'd like to switch from my Bodum blade grinder to something that can precisely and uniformly grind (and also not heat up the grounds).

I like it a lot so far. I have no complaints with it.

It is my understanding that you need to switch from that blade grinder to a burr grinder immediately for the sake of your beans, your coffee and your sanity.

Cue Shrink...

 

[Shrink]

How do you like your burr grinder? If I'm going to start pulling shots in a few months I'd like to switch from my Bodum blade grinder to something that can precisely and uniformly grind (and also not heat up the grounds).

Oooh...blade grinder bad!

Ruin beans!

OK for chopping herbs...not for coffee beans!



SBG has a dandy starter grinder. I think he posted the link a few posts back...I'm sure he'll be along soon and help you out.

----------

I like it a lot so far. I have no complaints with it.

It is my understanding that you need to switch from that blade grinder to a burr grinder immediately for the sake of your beans, your coffee and your sanity.

Cue Shrink...

I was typing when you posted...we ought to take this show on the road!

 

[mobilehaathi]

Oooh...blade grinder bad!

Ruin beans!

OK for chopping herbs...not for coffee beans!



SBG has a dandy starter grinder. I think he posted the link a few posts back...I'm sure he'll be along soon and help you out.

Yes indeed, I know I know!

Perhaps I'll get myself a burr grinder sooner than later. I've put it off for a year now.

 

[S.B.G]

I was typing when you posted...we ought to take this show on the road!

We could make quite a lucrative living at it.

 

[Shrink]

Yes indeed, I know I know!

Perhaps I'll get myself a burr grinder sooner than later. I've put it off for a year now.

Sorry...I didn't mean to be a jerk...it's just my natural state!

It's just that blade grinders are so awful for coffee beans...no matter production method you are grinding for.

I'll try to manifest a modicum of self control in the future....


Right...

 

[mobilehaathi]

Sorry...I didn't mean to be a jerk...it's just my natural state!

It's just that blade grinders are so awful for coffee beans...no matter production method you are grinding for.

I'll try to manifest a modicum of self control in the future....


Right...

No no, I deserve to be shamed!

 

[Kurwenal]

Perhaps I'll get myself a burr grinder sooner than later. I've put it off for a year now.

Put your money to a grinder before you put it to an espresso maker. It's incredibly important. I prefer the Mazer line, especially the Mini. Not cheap, but they are built like a tank and you can find good reconditioned/used versions if you look around.

For less sticker shock, the model linked by SBG is a great choice. It replaced the Baratza Maestro line (thus the "Encore" name), which was highly popular and for years was the best entry-level grinder around, hands down.