Best Grinder for $500-$700

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

I guess I should stipulate: Im really looking for perfection.

Therein lies the rub...you are looking for perfection but your budget is limited. You might be best going towards the really high end hand grinders (e.g. HG-1) if you want to stay close to $1100 and are really prioritising the grind quality. Otherwise, at that price, you'll probably pay for a grinder that handles commercial volumes but doesn't beat your $500-$700 grinders in terms of what's in the cup.

[natecap]

I guess I should stipulate: Im really looking for perfection. I know how to tamp, I know what the grind should look and feel like. I know how long a shot should take to pull through. I can see 1kg of beans at week 3 out of 4 noticeably change in consistency due to the beans being that little bit older, so I adjust the grind. I do get consistent coffee and know when I purchase beans from certain outlets I do get better, more consistent coffees overall. I just want to notice the smaller differences a better quality grinder should surely give.

[natecap]

Originally Posted by timdimdom
..........another issue could be retained grounds in the chute or doser (assuming rocky grinder?). do you tend to pull better shots if you make more than 1 in a row?

I'd personally lean towards the fact that the grinder might not be up to scratch. If youre getting good shots between bad it doesnt mean it cant be the grinder... and even if it wasnt, a better grinder would still go a long way in helping consistency ........

..........assuming you've done your homework though, then you're probably struggling with grind settings set too far apart? maybe you can try a stepless mod?............

Thank you for all of your thoughts and input. The quality of the beans I've been using of late are not amazing. Stale after a short while. I have obsessed with the coffee making procedure ever since I started researching before my purchase. That being said I will stick to "the equipment is at fault and not the operator" ...

I can bump my budget up by $400 although was hoping there would be several options and recommendations for a little less than $1000. I was looking at the macap and mazzer mini and would like some feedback in regards to which one of these or any other recommendations as to where to invest my hard earned dollars.

Im based in Thornbury 3071.

Regards,

Nate

[TOK]

..........another issue could be retained grounds in the chute or doser (assuming rocky grinder?). do you tend to pull better shots if you make more than 1 in a row?

I'd personally lean towards the fact that the grinder might not be up to scratch. If youre getting good shots between bad it doesnt mean it cant be the grinder... and even if it wasnt, a better grinder would still go a long way in helping consistency ........

..........assuming you've done your homework though, then you're probably struggling with grind settings set too far apart? maybe you can try a stepless mod?............

Hi.

Some further thoughts.

I think in terms of the level of importance placed on it in these pages, the "retained grounds" discussion is a furphy and falls directly under the operators responsibility in terms of his management of the (or any) grinder. Additionally if the OP is indeed using a Rocky doser, there really shouldn't be any significant grind retention OR to place this in another perspective, there would be far less possible grind retention than there would be if the OP were using a rocky doserless (grind on demand) grinder OR any really expensive and bigger "grind on demand" grinder.

Rocky is a bit "old school" in regard to the steps in its adjuster and still has reasonably "wide" steps (while most other manufacturers have over the years, reduced the size of steps in the adjustment of their grinders to a level where it has become quite insignificant as a possible source of problems for inexperienced operators). However a knowledgeable operator will easily work around that to make consistent coffee. That is in the baristas brief. Ergo, train the operator, rather than blame the tools .

Hope that helps.

[timdimdom]

another issue could be retained grounds in the chute or doser (assuming rocky grinder?). do you tend to pull better shots if you make more than 1 in a row?

I'd personally lean towards the fact that the grinder might not be up to scratch. If youre getting good shots between bad it doesnt mean it cant be the grinder... and even if it wasnt, a better grinder would still go a long way in helping consistency

TOK is still right though, a lot of it could be down to how you've set up your routine. dosing by weight/sight? tamp consistent? how are the grounds looking when you pull those shots?

assuming you've done your homework though, then you're probably struggling with grind settings set too far apart? maybe you can try a stepless mod?

500-700 isnt going to very much higher than what you already have though, your rocky is already pretty close to that budget bracket. unless you can wait for a second-hand to pop up along the lines of a mazzer mini/jolly, compak, macap or vario. maybe you can up your budget by trying to sell the rocky?

from what i've read the compak and macap are pretty close in price and performance (personal preference is the macap - appears to be more consistent with reviews but is also the pricer one). the vario i've played with was surprisingly easy and clean to use - all while still delivering on the shots, and the micro adjustments are pretty darn close to each other.

sorry, Ive said all this and still havent really given you any recommendation that falls within the price range.... =p

just my 2cents =)

[TOK]

You haven't told us what type of rancilio doser grinder, but essentially it doesn't matter.

Quote "...Sometimes I am able to produce a good coffee, although most coffees produced are reflected in the grind. I am tired of being disappointed with my coffee and would like some consistent results...."

Even at the most "basic" level, you may have a Rancilio Rocky grinder, which is perfectly capable of producing good consistent results. As you go up from there, any other commercial type Rancilio doser grinder is also going to be able to produce good consistent results.

In which case my vote goes for spending some of your available funds in getting some training with acompetent professional trainer (where are you?). And thereafter when you are able to get repeatable, consistent results from your Rancilio grinder, you will be able to duplicate that with any other good grinder.

If your ability and understanding of the relationship between the beans, grinder and machine are already spot on, and assuming you are using a reliable source of roasted beans, then the only reason you wouldn't be getting good consistent results from your current grinder would be if the grinding plates are beyond their serviceable life and should be replaced.

Multiply your average weekly use of coffee beans by the number of weeks since you bought the grinder new (or last had the plates changed out). If you haven't reached say, 300 kilos use, then the grinding plates should be ok. If you bought the grinder as an older used grinder and have no idea how many kilos have been put through, then there could be a case for changing out the plates regardless so there is a known starting point.

Otherwise, repeating.....you should be getting good repeatable results form your current grinder and if you can eliminate the grinding plates as a possible cause, I would look at training, otherwise any "upgrade" may still disappoint.

[mikejoc]

I have a Mazzer mini paired with the same machine. I couldn't be happier (unless I had a Mahlkonig - but that's worth more than the Giotto) and I'd have change left over on your $700 budget with a mini!

[natecap]

Hi to all coffee snobs.

I upgraded 2 years ago to a Rocket Giotto Premium Plus V2. The coffee machine is great, however it is paired to a Rancilio doser coffee grinder.

Sometimes I am able to produce a good coffee, although most coffees produced are reflected in the grind. I am tired of being disappointed with my coffee and would like some consistent results. I have done loads of research around all things coffee and know where I need to be to produce great coffees, although I have no idea which grinder to buy for my budget.

I would like some feedback and direction as to where my money would be best invested as far as coffee grinders in this price bracket are concerned. I am aiming for a huge difference in what I have been able to produce with my current setup.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated