Need some input

[Costa]

Hey guys; coffee machine crapped out. I am in need of a new one. I'd love an espresso/coffee maker that will grind as well. But I hear bad things about them (quality of espresso). Should I keep them separate? Any recommendations? TYIA and happy holidays.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by Costa

Hey guys; coffee machine crapped out. I am in need of a new one. I'd love an espresso/coffee maker that will grind as well. But I hear bad things about them (quality of espresso). Should I keep them separate? Any recommendations? TYIA and happy holidays.

It begins with the budget, Costa. Then there is the grinder. It ends with the budget.

What is the budget (and don't forget Christmas is coming)?

Actual, good worthwhile espresso means good grinder ($$$), a pricey machine ($$$) and a substantial amount of bother; nearly espresso (but satill quite good) means a passable grinder ($$-$$$) and a very modest brewer ($$) like a mokapot or an AeroPress. Excellent brewed coffee, non-pressurized, means a modest grinder ($$-$$$) and a french press ($$) or a manual dripper or manual pourover filter ($-$$).

There are many routes to coffee nirvana but they all require good quality, freshly roasted coffee, a little attention to brewing details and, if at all possible, a good conical burr grinder.

[Costa]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

It begins with the budget, Costa. Then there is the grinder. It ends with the budget.

What is the budget and don't forget Christmas is coming.

Haha, so true. Ok Mister Moo, here it goes; after researching for hours and hours, I now realize my journey to coffee/espresso nirvana has to start with a grinder. I am willing to make the investment in a good one, followed by getting the beans somewhere other than the super market. I will be a drip coffee maker during the week, and may play around with the French press on the weekends. I may have to wait to make the big investment for an espresso maker. So let me know your thoughts Mr. M on the following:

1) grinder; I have read all about the burr grinders, etc. What do you recommend as one that I will buy once and be done?
2) probably won't be roasting, so where do you recommend getting the beans via online? I like a STRONG cup.
3) whats your thoughts on a Technivorm and a Capresso MT500? Both seem to nail the proper temp. and like I said, I will always need a drip to fill my during the week needs.
4) espresso machines; whats the price range to get into a good one?
5) I have heard a lot about this, and was one of TIME magazines best new inventions of the year: http://www.mypressi.com/
What are your thoughts?

Thank you again for your time!

[floydpink]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

It begins with the budget, Costa. Then there is the grinder. It ends with the budget.

What is the budget (and don't forget Christmas is coming)?

Actual, good worthwhile espresso means good grinder ($$$), a pricey machine ($$$) and a substantial amount of bother; nearly espresso (but satill quite good) means a passable grinder ($$-$$$) and a very modest brewer ($$) like a mokapot or an AeroPress. Excellent brewed coffee, non-pressurized, means a modest grinder ($$-$$$) and a french press ($$) or a manual dripper or manual pourover filter ($-$$).

There are many routes to coffee nirvana but they all require good quality, freshly roasted coffee, a little attention to brewing details and, if at all possible, a good conical burr grinder.

Oh no, I have 58 mm burrs that are flat and I thought I had hit nirvana.

I couldn't be happier with my Mazzer killer, I mean Macap M4 stepless and doubt I will ever buy another grinder.

No need to tell everyone how far from an expert I am, but would give serious thought to just plunking down 2 grand and getting a great grinder and an espresso machine ( I am biased to HX E61 types now) and never think about coffee eqiuipment again until someone brings up Regbarber tampers.

[mosesbotbol]

Keep them seperate. Mazzer or Rocky grinder will do the trick for life. Both are worth their price. The Rocky has a lot of plastic around it which "could" crack, but the guts are commerical grade. The Mazzer is all that, but so is the price.

As for machines, it depends on how much you want to spend.

I have the Rocky/Silva set for a decade now and it has been pretty solid. Two group head gaskets and one thermometer. I plan to step it up some times if 2-3K falls into my lap.

[Costa]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Keep them seperate. Mazzer or Rocky grinder will do the trick for life. Both are worth their price. The Rocky has a lot of plastic around it which "could" crack, but the guts are commerical grade. The Mazzer is all that, but so is the price.

As for machines, it depends on how much you want to spend.

I have the Rocky/Silva set for a decade now and it has been pretty solid. Two group head gaskets and one thermometer. I plan to step it up some times if 2-3K falls into my lap.

Thank you so much bud! So, for the coffee only maker, whats your take? It seems to me my choice is the Capresso MT500 or the Technivorm, based on what I've read pertaining to temperature.....thoughts?

Boy, am I upgrading.....lol.

[Costa]

Ok, pulling the trigger on a Rocky. What is the difference between these two; they are about the same price, and I can't read the difference in their description...........let me know if one of these are a good choice, I will be waiting with CC in hand....lol. Thanks again guys, as if I did not spend enough on cigars already......haha.

[floydpink]

One is doserless and puts the grinds directly into the portafilter. I've read that doserless grinders are harder to deal with clumps.

[floydpink]

A friend of mine owns an English pub and always served coffee. The coffee shop next door went out of business and he picked up this Kony for about 700 bucks and it only had about a year use on it.

Probably overkill for home use, but it is sweet. Kinda looks like a giant crystal in the throat of the grinder.

He also got one of those big machines with the brass top on it for a couple grand.

All in all he has a nice setup now on the bar.

http://www.espressoparts.com/MAZZER_KONY

[mosesbotbol]

Get this one if you are ever going to buy an espresso machine. Even if you just use this grinder for French Press or drip, the doser is a big help.



Buy the grinder first and I would strongly suggest one with a doser. No opinion on which machine to buy. Really depends on your budget. Silvia will get you going, but some of the 1000-1500 machines are real nice. The temp's and pressure are more steady.

A friend of mine has the Mazzer without the doser and it's a pain to fill the portafilter and very messy. You'll find making espresso a dirty job in general.

[Costa]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Get this one if you are ever going to buy an espresso machine. Even if you just use this grinder for French Press or drip, the doser is a big help.



Buy the grinder first and I would strongly suggest one with a doser. No opinion on which machine to buy. Really depends on your budget. Silvia will get you going, but some of the 1000-1500 machines are real nice. The temp's and pressure are more steady.

Fantastic, ordering it now! How about straight coffee maker? The machine (espresso) I will attack sometime this late spring, but would like to get a coffee machine that will give me the best coffee for the money; any input on that one? And again, thank all of you guys so much for your time....

[floydpink]

Why don't you consider a moka pot or a pour over for the coffee and wait to buy an espresso machine?

For some strange reason, I see coffee roasting in your future.


I'm the same way about the investing for the long run and firmly believe a couple hundred extra on a grinder puts you in a whole different league, and wouldn't write off refurbished equipment which, in many cases, was simply a return. Not that the Rocky won't serve you well for many years. It sure has a lot of fans and combines with the Silvia in many happy homes.

In my case, after a long and grueling grinder research, the 2 I came down to were the Mazzer Mini and Macap M4 stepless. The Macap ended up on my counter next to my Brasilia and I am very happy, but a little broke.

I did some mods on my Macap, like taking off the "beauty ring", or the useless black numbered ring that you can't read the numbers on for the adjustments, painted it silver, and then put in black lines so seeing the tiniest adjustments was easier. You may be able to see the white arrow I put on it to show my "point zero".

Every grinder, in my opinion, has one or two design flaws that really should be improved.

[Costa]

Originally Posted by floydpink

Why don't you consider a moka pot or a pour over for the coffee and wait to buy an espresso machine?

For some strange reason, I see coffee roasting in your future.


I'm the same way about the investing for the long run and firmly believe a couple hundred extra on a grinder puts you in a whole different league, and wouldn't write off refurbished equipment which, in many cases, was simply a return. Not that the Rocky won't serve you well for many years. It sure has a lot of fans and combines with the Silvia in many happy homes.

Mainly based on my weekly schedule; I work 12 hours per day, and the gf does not get as anal about things as I do....lol. Still the quick cup of coffee that will satisfy my needs and hers from the best (drip) maker I can get. And I travel as well, so when she is alone, she can make a pot of coffee.

I just googled moka pot, and that looks like the fastest route to espresso until I buy my "machine". The Rocky should cover my grinding needs for that, correct?

Boy, I feel like the days when I first started diving into my cigar habit head first; ignorant......but VERY excited. You guys are the best. I can remember my frantic post's with every question cigar related many years ago, and some of you same guys sending me down the slope...lol.

Can't thank you guys enough. This machine breaking I think will be the best thing that could have happened....haha.

Would you say the moka pot is the best route to good stove top espresso?

Also, any leads on where to buy beans for when the grinder comes in? Give me your favorite one's, I'm into trying anything!

Thanks again, all of you!!!

[Costa]

Originally Posted by floydpink

Why don't you consider a moka pot or a pour over for the coffee and wait to buy an espresso machine?

For some strange reason, I see coffee roasting in your future.


I'm the same way about the investing for the long run and firmly believe a couple hundred extra on a grinder puts you in a whole different league, and wouldn't write off refurbished equipment which, in many cases, was simply a return. Not that the Rocky won't serve you well for many years. It sure has a lot of fans and combines with the Silvia in many happy homes.

In my case, after a long and grueling grinder research, the 2 I came down to were the Mazzer Mini and Macap M4 stepless. The Macap ended up on my counter next to my Brasilia and I am very happy, but a little broke.

I did some mods on my Macap, like taking off the "beauty ring", or the useless black numbered ring that you can't read the numbers on for the adjustments, painted it silver, and then put in black lines so seeing the tiniest adjustments was easier. You may be able to see the white arrow I put on it to show my "point zero".

Every grinder, in my opinion, has one or two design flaws that really should be improved.

HOly cow, thats awesome looking! Man! Do you think I should jump up a notch other than the Rocky?

Originally Posted by Costa

HOly cow, thats awesome looking! Man! Do you think I should jump up a notch other than the Rocky?

Man You already have the sickness,

Just wanted to give you some pricing info before you go too nuts:

This is my grinder, which is better (I say) or slightly worse (Moo says) than a Mazzer:



You're talking 6 Bills plus to make the next move up from a Rocky.

Here's my espresso machine:



That's another 1,500 beans


That's a setup that will last you the rest of your life, you'll never have upgraditis, but it isn't cheap. It all depends on how much you want to spend, and if you suffer from upgraditis or not

[ashtonlady]

I have a Capresso Drip. It works great for daily stuff. I enjoy my french press when I have the time on the weekends. As far as beans go. I am a home roaster, which opens up another door of toys.

[Costa]

Originally Posted by ashtonlady

I have a Capresso Drip. It works great for daily stuff. I enjoy my french press when I have the time on the weekends. As far as beans go. I am a home roaster, which opens up another door of toys.

Excellent, thank you. Is it the MT500?

[mosesbotbol]

The Rocky is quite easy to adjust from French Press to Espresso or even Turkish Coffee.

[mosesbotbol]

If you want to save money... Have you checked Craigslist? Grinders and machines come and go all the time.

The Rocky is stepped. When the grind comes to espresso, you still have a swing of 3 steps in getting the grind "just right", so although it is not infinite, you'll hit the sweet spot. The Silva does maintain temperature as steady as the high end machines, but you still end up with a nice espresso.

I am not as perfection obessed as I use to be with espresso. As long as it comes out within in time, I am happy. If the comes out more on one side than the other, I don't shed a tear.

[floydpink]

I'm completely anal and obsessed.

I can't get over it if my espresso pull is faster than 25 seconds to make 1.75 oz shots, 30 seconds being optimal. I have a timer and push it the second the shot starts and break stuff if it comes out too fast. 22 second pulls go right into the sink.

The Macap allows exactly 5 seconds to be added or subtracted by one complete rotation of the worm drive.

I only floss with one type of floss, oh forget it. Buy what you like, not what me and Vic use.