Coffee machine recommendations?

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#3025490 22-Jan-2023 14:49

Thanks @Senecio and @Handle9 for feedback on the Specialita; for my purposes it does seem like a stepped grinder is the way to go. (Even if I go away from single dosing I’ll always be using decaf as well as caf beans.)

The Niche Zero is simply too much coin, even if it was the perfect grinder; I also do want the option of conventional dosing with a decent-sized hopper and with a timer, as I’m sure there’ll be a day that I get sick of single dosing.

The difficultly is finding a grinder that can do it all and at a totally affordable budget - surely I don’t ask for too much?!

I’ll start digging around further to see if there is such a machine that’s ok for conventional as well as single dosing - whether that includes adding in bellows and/or using a smaller hopper (I’m fine with that and don’t care too much about the looks, provided it’s effective/). But if anyone has recommendations I’d appreciate it.

Senecio

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#3025575 22-Jan-2023 17:47

I know it sounds silly but for your use case two seperate grinders would be ideal.

I do have a Rancilio Rocky doserless sitting in storage which is a reasonable stepped grinder if you’re Auckland based.

jonathan18

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#3025784 23-Jan-2023 14:50

Thanks for the offer, but I'm still going to try to find the grinder that can do it all!

With a bit more digging I've come across the DF64E, which is a re-worked version of the DF64 - no longer angled, and seems well set up for both conventional and single-dosing: it has a double timer; large hopper; and bellows for single dosing. Stepless, but adjustment seems straight-forward compared to the Eureka.

Another key difference is that, with the design change, it's only suitable for espresso - but that's really not an issue as it's only once or twice a year I may need to grind for moka pots or french press (ie, when making for heaps of people). (Can either keep the SGP for these times or, god forbid, get out the spice grinder!)

I know it's not going to be perfect and buying it from o/s does come with risks, but I'm yet to find anything else that'll be as flexible for our needs.

https://df64e.com/

MiiCoffee DF64E Electronic Dosing Espresso Grinder 2023 Turin DF64E Espresso Grinder | Electronic Dosing & Single Dosing – Turin Grinders

NadjatheVampire

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#3025857 23-Jan-2023 16:24

This one from Krups Krups GVX231 Expert Burr Grinder, Black/Silver : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen ($110 NZD)

We're on our 2nd of these, the first gave 12 ish years of daily use, this one is still going strong, and they're still making the exact same model. Can't believe there is nothing available at a reasonable price point in NZ. But then I'm currently trying to find a half decent kettle for less than $100, failing there too, and wishing I could just get one from Currys.

Handle9

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#3025873 23-Jan-2023 17:00

NadjatheVampire:
This one from Krups Krups GVX231 Expert Burr Grinder, Black/Silver : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen ($110 NZD)

We're on our 2nd of these, the first gave 12 ish years of daily use, this one is still going strong, and they're still making the exact same model. Can't believe there is nothing available at a reasonable price point in NZ. But then I'm currently trying to find a half decent kettle for less than $100, failing there too, and wishing I could just get one from Currys.

That grinder isn’t an upgrade on the Smart Grinder Pro. If it works for you that’s great but it’s not in the same class as the types of grinders OP is looking at.

tweake

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#3025883 23-Jan-2023 17:40

i'm actually looking at getting grinder myself. just starting off so looking for a good entry level machine.

so far i've come across the Baratza Encore https://dipacci.co.nz/products/baratza-encore any thoughts on it?

Handle9

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#3025885 23-Jan-2023 17:44

tweake:

i'm actually looking at getting grinder myself. just starting off so looking for a good entry level machine.

so far i've come across the Baratza Encore https://dipacci.co.nz/products/baratza-encore any thoughts on it?

What are you making? Espresso or pour over?

At that price point the Breville Smart Grinder Pro is almost unbeatable. It's got a great mixture of features and really decent performance.

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tweake

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#3025933 23-Jan-2023 21:59

Handle9:

tweake:

i'm actually looking at getting grinder myself. just starting off so looking for a good entry level machine.

so far i've come across the Baratza Encore https://dipacci.co.nz/products/baratza-encore any thoughts on it?

What are you making? Espresso or pour over?

At that price point the Breville Smart Grinder Pro is almost unbeatable. It's got a great mixture of features and really decent performance.

at the moment i'm using a moka pot so not really disadvantaged by the baratza.

i've just ordered the baratza. the breville has some poor reviews as far as reliability goes. a few disassembly pics shows worn parts that apparently you cannot buy. the baratza has a reliable reputation and availability of parts.

Handle9

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#3025937 23-Jan-2023 22:13

Baratza is owned by Breville so support is pretty similar.

If I was buying a Baratza I’d start with the Sette 270. It had a lot of reliability problems early on but it’s a grinder you can use for espresso if you go in that direction.

Edit: I should add that I'm referring to local support. If you are willing to wait for parts from Europe/US then Baratza does sell anything and everything. Breville has very good support if you engage with them directly.

jonathan18

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#3026140 24-Jan-2023 12:05

jonathan18:

With a bit more digging I've come across the DF64E, which is a re-worked version of the DF64 - no longer angled, and seems well set up for both conventional and single-dosing: it has a double timer; large hopper; and bellows for single dosing. Stepless, but adjustment seems straight-forward compared to the Eureka…

Right, taken the plunge and spent an amount of money I never expected to on a grinder to buy one of these DF64Es - came in at $768 delivered (provided I don’t get hit with GST) from this site. Ordered it in black as anything other than that or white is made on request - while no extra cost it’s a 12-week wait. My biggest concern remains product support if anything goes wrong, given the company I bought it off is Singapore-based.

I’m arranging a 1-on-1 training from a local roaster to improve my skillset so it’ll be good to do that with the new grinder; I’ve been feeling like I’m at the very edge of the current SGP just not cutting it (literally - grinding at or close to its finest for decaf, including adjusting the internal burr settings), and having to tamp really hard to get appropriate pressure.

tweake

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#3026662 24-Jan-2023 20:22

Handle9:

Baratza is owned by Breville so support is pretty similar.

If I was buying a Baratza I’d start with the Sette 270. It had a lot of reliability problems early on but it’s a grinder you can use for espresso if you go in that direction.

Edit: I should add that I'm referring to local support. If you are willing to wait for parts from Europe/US then Baratza does sell anything and everything. Breville has very good support if you engage with them directly.

that grinder is double the price. i'll stick with entry level first. if one day i go to espresso i'll get a more suitable grinder then.

we shall see how this part of the journey goes first.

Handle9

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#3026672 24-Jan-2023 21:04

tweake:
Handle9:

Baratza is owned by Breville so support is pretty similar.

If I was buying a Baratza I’d start with the Sette 270. It had a lot of reliability problems early on but it’s a grinder you can use for espresso if you go in that direction.

Edit: I should add that I'm referring to local support. If you are willing to wait for parts from Europe/US then Baratza does sell anything and everything. Breville has very good support if you engage with them directly.

that grinder is double the price. i'll stick with entry level first. if one day i go to espresso i'll get a more suitable grinder then.

we shall see how this part of the journey goes first.

Yeah it is double the price. That’s why I said the smart grinder pro was the standout in that price point. Then encore is a good grinder but it’s limited in what it can do.

Handle9

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#3026673 24-Jan-2023 21:07

jonathan18:
jonathan18:

With a bit more digging I've come across the DF64E, which is a re-worked version of the DF64 - no longer angled, and seems well set up for both conventional and single-dosing: it has a double timer; large hopper; and bellows for single dosing. Stepless, but adjustment seems straight-forward compared to the Eureka…

Right, taken the plunge and spent an amount of money I never expected to on a grinder to buy one of these DF64Es - came in at $768 delivered (provided I don’t get hit with GST) from this site. Ordered it in black as anything other than that or white is made on request - while no extra cost it’s a 12-week wait. My biggest concern remains product support if anything goes wrong, given the company I bought it off is Singapore-based.

I’m arranging a 1-on-1 training from a local roaster to improve my skillset so it’ll be good to do that with the new grinder; I’ve been feeling like I’m at the very edge of the current SGP just not cutting it (literally - grinding at or close to its finest for decaf, including adjusting the internal burr settings), and having to tamp really hard to get appropriate pressure.

The DF64E looks nice. I hadn’t seen they’d released an updated version.

You should have lots of fun setting it up and it looks like a great all rounder now it’s got time control as well as being a single dose machine.

tweake

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#3029021 29-Jan-2023 19:04

small update: the Baratza Encore came. it seams to work well. not as noisy as i was expecting. however the seal on my moka has split and i'm having trouble finding a replacement. i think it was made in the 70's and the brand no longer exists. tho i've got new moka pot on order but thats probably next week sometime. playtime will have to wait.

tweake

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#3031660 4-Feb-2023 10:29

update on the journey: after waiting a week i ended up ordering another moka pot form another company, larger size to replace the broken seal one, and while i was at it splashed out on a aeropress. the small moka pot arrived and an hour later the large moka pot and aeropress arrived, so i've had plenty of toys to play with.

the aeropress is interesting and spending a lot of time figuring out a brew to suit the beans. i had a lot of issues with sour tasting ie under extracted. so far i've ended up doing the inverted method, 10g of fine ground coffee (about a 6 on the encore), 200g water, 2 min steep, swirl (degass) then 1 min settle, then tip and slow plunge.

its a work in progress.

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