Small burr grinder recommendation

[rawill]

I have a campervan and want a small burr grinder to go with my EM4800.
Currently I have a modified BCG450, which is OK, but it is a bit bulky.
I do not want an EM480 as that is what I have at home and it is a bit big for the campervan.

I have a small blade grinder, about the right size,
but do not like using it, it gives such inconsistent results.
More guess and hope, in my view, but it does work, after a fashion

I am using a Naked P/F, single walled Breville basket (single shot) hopefully soon to be a Krupps basket when I can find one.

Pointers and comments welcome.

[readeral]

If the EM0480 and the BCG450 are too big for your campervan, then your options are really limited. Your most portable, cheapest option would be a hand grinder, I can vouch for the Hario ceramic hand grinders. We took one on a trip through New Zealand and it was perfect. Also much quieter than an electric grinder for a small caravan space, so my opinion is that they (or any hand grinder really) would be ideal. If you get one that has a detachable hand winder, then people have tended to get a small drill, connected it to the shaft and used that instead of hand winding it. The increase in speed plus whirring would make it a little bit noisier than by hand, but still relatively quiet.

Otherwise, and I can't vouch for them, but maybe the Baratza machines might be slightly smaller (at least shorter) than the other options?

[LeroyC]

Small burr grinder recommendation

Yeah there's really nothing smaller than the BCG450 in conical burr grinders. The only other option in electric grinders is a flat 'burr mill' style grinder like the Petra or Emide. The Emide is still available but I'm not sure about the Petra. Just be aware that they won't perform as well as your BCG450. Better than a blade grinder, but probably not as good as a half decent hand grinder.

[rawill]

Ah well thank you guys.

I had to ask incase there was something I had missed.

Maybe I will have to put up with the BCG450, and spend some more time tinkering with it to get it perform better.
Cardboard washers, insulation tape etc to hold the top burr, the stops have been taken off, and the align mark comes right around to the while line mark in the front window.
I want to get the pour from the EM4800, with the naked P/F to be as good as with my EM6910 with the naked PF and VST basket.

I have just sourced a Krupps 51 mm single walled single shot basket for the EM4800.
So I will see how it all goes with the grinder I have.

I can grind fine enough in the EM480 to choke the EM4800, so I know I can achieve what I want with that grinder.

[nick_g]

I liked my solis maestro as a first purchase

[LordL]

How many coffees a day do you make when you're in your van?
A decent hand grinder will produce ground coffee which is head and shoulders above anything you will get from your Breville.
As an owner of a camper van who enjoys coffee when I'm away from home and uses a Porlex, ( and incidentally am familiar with a modded BCG450) I know from direct experience that even the humble Porlex will produce a better grind than your current grinder.

[mmmcoffee]

I'm with you Lordl I have a hand grinder for work at love it! Make sure you pick up a good one- I also use a Porlex awesome for camping too. Ceramic burrs, compact, good looking (well for a hang grinder��), super consistent and great unit!

[rawill]

How many coffees a day do you make when you're in your van?
A decent hand grinder will produce ground coffee which is head and shoulders above anything you will get from your Breville.
As an owner of a camper van who enjoys coffee when I'm away from home and uses a Porlex, ( and incidentally am familiar with a modded BCG450) I know from direct experience that even the humble Porlex will produce a better grind than your current grinder.

Thank you, I will take a look for one of those.
I only make 1 or 2 coffees a day, usually only 1 for my morning coffee.
Her indoors does not like coffee that much but occassionally likes one.

On my BCG450, my modifications.
Both stops gone, cardboard washers between the hopper and top grinder, and the adjuster brought right around to the front window alignment mark mean I can grind fine enough to choke an EM5600, naked P/F, with a Krups single walled single shot basket, 16g coffee, progressive tamp.

I did that this morning making my morning coffee with my campervan coffee machine.
Preinfusion, stop for maybe 10 seconds, a drip appeared in the coffee mug so I restarted the pour.
The pour was a few dark drips, then a dark stream before going darkish honey coloured.
It was nearly as good as what I get for my morning coffee as I get from an EM480, EM6910, Naked P/F 7 gm VST basket.

I just looked at a review of the Porlex coffee grinder.
Looks great, very compact, looks like it does a good grind.
I see them for sale in NZ for just under $80.00 new (Trademe)

[LordL]

My reply was partly based on knowing how important space is in a camper van.
The Porlex is my choice for travelling, and when I'm camping away from the city, I find that hand grinding my beans can be a zen like experience that adds to my enjoyment.

[rawill]

Again many thanks.
Although I have tweaked my BCG450 enough to get a good grind I think I will by one these Porlex grinders to give it a go.
If I don't like it I have a daughter who would like it because she only had a little blade spice grinder to grind her beans.

But it is small too, and has travelled all over the world with her, so she will not be getting rid of it anytime soon!
It has been to South America, UK, Czech Republic, Croatia, Italy and Cambodia! On and on it goes.
She was the one who convinced us to become international travellers too!!

[LeroyC]

Thank you, I will take a look for one of those.
I only make 1 or 2 coffees a day, usually only 1 for my morning coffee.
Her indoors does not like coffee that much but occassionally likes one.

On my BCG450, my modifications.
Both stops gone, cardboard washers between the hopper and top grinder, and the adjuster brought right around to the front window alignment mark mean I can grind fine enough to choke an EM5600, naked P/F, with a Krups single walled single shot basket, 16g coffee, progressive tamp.

I did that this morning making my morning coffee with my campervan coffee machine.
Preinfusion, stop for maybe 10 seconds, a drip appeared in the coffee mug so I restarted the pour.
The pour was a few dark drips, then a dark stream before going darkish honey coloured.
It was nearly as good as what I get for my morning coffee as I get from an EM480, EM6910, Naked P/F 7 gm VST basket.

I just looked at a review of the Porlex coffee grinder.
Looks great, very compact, looks like it does a good grind.
I see them for sale in NZ for just under $80.00 new (Trademe)

Stuff Trade Me. No need to line Fairfax's pockets when you can get Porlex grinders off good local coffee suppliers. C4 have them and also do free domestic freight!!

[kaanage]

Lux or Isomac Gran Macinino / Professionale