[Closed] CoffeeGrinder Trackworld

You may think this one is over your budget from [url= http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/ ]Happy Donkey[/url] but if you buy their Italian and/or Brazilian blends from them you'll save money, have the best coffee ever and soon realise that the grinder is more important than the espresso machine.

The MC2 is great because it dispenses fresh grounds straight into the filter holder so no going stale and not a grain of waste.

I found the Krups one to be utter dog toffee. Save up for a better burr grinder. Krups as a name means nothing these days.

We have one of those - it's OK but I have nothing to compare it to

Hasn't broken in about 3yr lightish use. I use it for an aeropress, as they said on the JL website, even on "coarse" seems a fairly fine grind, prob for espresso really I suppose. It's a bit inclined to stop unless you stand and hold the catcher in (there's a contact switch behind it somewhere)

I had one of those krups grinders. It wasn't any use for espresso as it would not go fine enough.

I went for a Rancilio Rocky as it matched my machine. It is good but a step less grinder may have been a better choice.

[url= http://www.johnlewis.com/dualit-burr-coffee-grinder/p231458809 ]This one from Dualit is doing the business here.[/url]

I like my Krups but use it for an aeropress or French Press.

Those Krups grinders are sold under lots of brands (starbucks, dualit... ).

You can modify most of them to do good espresso grinds. As standard they're a bit crap. But obviously if you modify it there's no warranty.

Anyway ours lasted 3 years (modified). We replaced it with am Iberital from happy donkey - works great out of the box.

Details of the krupps mod here:

http://www.ineedcoffee.com/07/hack-starbucks-grinder/

I've got one of those Iberital MC2 Grinders and the Krups GVX2. The first is used for espresso grind, the second now solely for French press. I would say having used both with the Gaggia that the extra £80 is worth it.

I went for a [url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hario-Skerton-MSCS-2TB-Coffee-Mill/dp/B001802PIQ ]Hario Skerton[/url] ceramic burr hand grinder, (was £38 when I bought it, £24 now). It gets through beans in good time, even to an espresso grind.

It's not perfect - the steps between settings are a little coarse, and apparently the lack of bearing below the burr is a bad thing, but I've got used to it and make shots I'm happy with, day in day out.

You'll probably get some good use out of the bog standard Dualit burr grinder (as said above, a quick mod will get it grinding fine enough for espresso), wear it out then replace it with a MC2 or something, so might as well just get a good one now 😉

I picked up a cheap commercial sized grinder (Rossi RR45) from a cafe that was closing. It's great but too tall for the kitchen where I live now. Replaced it with a little Mahlkonig Vario which I like a lot but it's had a run of bad luck and jammed up on two stones, no big deal as the motor gear is designed to shear in that scenario but it meant waiting on a replacement gear (FOC mind) from Germany.

Hario/porlex or an MC2 I wouldn't spend less than the cost of an iberital on an electronic grinder. There are some baratza grinders now being imported (previously only available from the U.S) that are meant to be good but I'm not sure of the price. I photographed one last week for a review and it seemed reasonably well made though not in the same class as a swiss made mahlkonig vario that it's based on but being made in China means it will be cheaper (conical burrs not flat though)

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Porlex grinder is great if you're only making coffee for one or two doubles at a time. I bought one to go with a Gaggia Baby class and, having a tiny kitchen, I like that it doesn't take up anywhere near as much space a decent burr behemoth would.

burr behemoth you say, I think you want this....

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The only reason we were given it is because it has the initials of my wife and I which happens to match those of the manufacturer. If mcmoonter had a coffee fetish, this would be the grinder he would use.

On a more useful point this grinder has no adjustment that I can find but it is still WAY better than using pre-ground stuff in my stovetop pot.

If you are a Luddite then you want this niche anodised aluminium STW pleaser

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I find the Krups one just great even for espressos.