Ugh.... another "which grinder" thread I hear you say! Sorry in advance 
My grinder journey has been as follows:
So, back to the EM0480 for now. You know how I said earlier that I thought the EM0480 did a good job? I think it was a case of ignorance is bliss when using it. I suppose it comes down to the method too, whereas earlier it was for AeroPress etc, now I am using it for espresso and it is flat out sub par. I have found the sweet spot for my current batch of beans.... right between two notches!
After too much research (wife: "Are you on that site again?!"), I know a bit more about the options out there. My budget was ~$500ish. In that bracket I was looking at a Macap M2M or Compak K3. Here is the wrinkle - I am slowly finding myself justifying to myself more expensive options! I'm sure this is familiar to many on this site too! Now I find myself considering things much more than $500 - maybe a Macap M4D or a Compak E5.
I always see on here that I should buy the best grinder that I can afford. While I understand the night and day differences between an EM0480 and say a K3, I am unsure if I should be even tempting myself with the ~$1k bracket machines.
I like the features of the more expensive machines, like timed dosing, but really my core requirements are to be as clean, quick and quiet as possible. Is there a discernible improvement for the $1k machines over the $500? Is there anything else I should be considering?

My grinder journey has been as follows:
- Sunbeam EM0480 used for Moka Pot & AeroPress - this seemed to do those jobs for me, whether or not I knew any better is another story all together.
- Lelit Combi (PL43MMI) - did a great job. I could really tell the difference over the EM0480. But I will be selling it soon as I have a new baby (coffee machine that is).
So, back to the EM0480 for now. You know how I said earlier that I thought the EM0480 did a good job? I think it was a case of ignorance is bliss when using it. I suppose it comes down to the method too, whereas earlier it was for AeroPress etc, now I am using it for espresso and it is flat out sub par. I have found the sweet spot for my current batch of beans.... right between two notches!
After too much research (wife: "Are you on that site again?!"), I know a bit more about the options out there. My budget was ~$500ish. In that bracket I was looking at a Macap M2M or Compak K3. Here is the wrinkle - I am slowly finding myself justifying to myself more expensive options! I'm sure this is familiar to many on this site too! Now I find myself considering things much more than $500 - maybe a Macap M4D or a Compak E5.
I always see on here that I should buy the best grinder that I can afford. While I understand the night and day differences between an EM0480 and say a K3, I am unsure if I should be even tempting myself with the ~$1k bracket machines.
I like the features of the more expensive machines, like timed dosing, but really my core requirements are to be as clean, quick and quiet as possible. Is there a discernible improvement for the $1k machines over the $500? Is there anything else I should be considering?
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