Grinder Buying Guide - Part 2 of 3

Ah - well if you try it out let us know how it goes - Kat

what is doserless and stepless grinder?

Doserless means the grounds do not grind into a dosing chamber, just straight out of the machine into your portafilter and/or container. The stepless refers to the fact that they have infinite grind adjustments, instead of notches (liked stepped ones) that they settle into. Stepless allows you more control over the grind setting, while stepped grinders are a little more rudimentary but work great if you want to be able to switch between espresso and something else -- french press, etc. - Kat

thx kat and i also wanna know more about the mazzer mini grinder

We will be doing a review, look for it within the next few weeks. - Kat

Thanks so much for posting these videos, you guys. They're incredibly useful for those of us who don't live near a decent coffee / espresso equipment retailer.

You're welcome! Glad you're finding them useful. If you have questions on anything not covered here, don't hesitate to ask -- feel free to send me a message. - Kat

oh no! now I don't like my 80 bucks grinder anymore....I blame it for everything that happens to my espressos.....:(

Well, the grinder does play a HUGE part in making good espresso. I think that you will notice that when you get the non-pressurized basket; the pressurized basket you're using isn't going to show the variables as much. - Kat

You're welcome! Happy we could help :) - Kat

Hi there! No, we are unable to ship for free to Canada and since these are manufactured outside of the US they can sometimes have pretty hefty duties. If you can find it locally, it would probably be worth it :) - Kat

Anytime! - Kat :)

Hey Kat, i have a gaggia baby espresso machine and i was wondering if there was a particular grinder you'd reccomend i get to go with it? ive been using pre-ground illy coffee up until now, will a grinder offer much of a difference in terms of the quality of espresso i get? Any help would be great :D thanks

Love your vids! Was considering the Rocky but found a killer combo package where I can get a better one for not much more. With the Rocky's, isn't it advised that you only change settings while the machine is on? One of the complaints I hear about them is the fact that you have to essentially have to have three hands to do it: one to hold down the power, one to hold down the adjuster button and one to rotate the hopper. Some folks have changed the power button so that it stays on. Any thoughts?

I would get at least the Baratza Virtuoso; if you do get a grinder, you will notice a significant improvement in your shot quality over the pre-ground that you're using now. - Kat

This is true - you have to have it on when you're making the grind finer because you need to make sure you don't get beans caught between the burrs. But this is true for all grinders, it's just a bit more of a PIA with the Rocky doserless because you do need to be an octopus to pull it off. - Kat

Ok, so I'm really confused now. If I want an espresso machine grinder what type of grinder should I buy? What about coffee for drip coffee(filter machine drip thing coffee

@Diffrentjamsith I would go with at least the Baratza Virtuoso; for drip or press pot coffee, the Baratza Maestro is an excellent choice, but will not go fine enough for espresso. The Virtuoso would cover both basis. Or, depending on your budget, you could get into the Baratza Vario ($450) or Rancilio Rocky ($350-ish) that would cover both brew methods as well. Let me know if you need more clarification - Kat

@SeattleCoffeeGear I might just go with a Rocky for Espresso, but, should I buy a Francis Francis X7 or Gaggia Baby Doser or Gaggia Baby Twin or Rancilio Silvia?? I live in norway so price is not important in this matter because in dollars i'll probably pay more or less...

@Diffrentjamsith I think the Silvia is probably best in that class, as far as price/performance/longevity. - Kat

@bigbooktim1 Yeah - especially dark/oily roast beans, we see this often. - Kat

@harshgriev We haven't tested this, it's not ideal for any high capacity commercial applications, however, and it can heat up with extended use. - Kat

Why is belt drive better

@exc123 It's not better by most people's standards; some folks worry it's a failure point. We haven't seen that on this model yet, though. - Kat

@eeshew I think the Vario - Kat

@ninouvita1 The Rocky's flat burrs grind a little bit more consistently than the Virtuosos; also, it's built with more commercial components so is likely to last longer. If you're looking for a step in between these two, check out the new Virtuoso Preciso which was just released and has been performing well so far. - Kat

@ninouvita1 If you search for 'Preciso' in the navigation bar search box, it will come up (I can't post links in comments). It's $299 right now. Let me know if you need more assistance - Kat

What do you recommend? The Preciso or the Rocky (Doserless)

@caffe1nated The burrs on the Rocky are a bit better grade than the Preciso, but the dial-in on the Preciso is nice. However, you kind of need that on the Preciso but not so much on the Rocky. Footprint is a consideration, too, as the Rocky isn't something you can/want to easily move around. Tough call! I'd say if you're sticking with espresso, the Rocky; if you want to use it for pour overs or drips, too, the Preciso. - Kat

@SeattleCoffeeGear Thankyou!

I'm looking to enter the espresso market and was originally scoping out the Ranchilio Silvia. Now I might be convinced to go bigger and get the Rocket Giotto. What would you recommend as a suitable grinder for the Rocket? Would the Baratza Vario compliment this machine or are they in different leagues? Thanks!

@MrWakester The Vario is a great choice if you want to be able to use the grinder to switch between disparate grinds (say for espresso and pour over). If you are only going to use it for espresso, a stepless is your best bet as far as getting an excellent shot from the machine. If you can swing a Mazzer Mini, that would be ideal, but the Vario is a great choice, as well. - Kat

@joeldamianicigan Stepped are just easier to adjust between disparate grinds, but the majority of the grinders we talk about here are mostly focused/ideal for espresso and they can get pretty inconsistent at coarser grinders. The Vario is the exception; for a grinder under $1k that will give you good consistency all around, that would be the best choice. - Kat

@joeldamianicigan These are considered more commercial grade and most commercial applications have different types of grinders for espresso vs. drip vs. pour over, vs. press pot, etc. Probably the Pro M is the best multi-functional model available right now. The Rocky isn't super great with coarse grinds, starts to get pretty inconsistent. - Kat

@SeattleCoffeeGear Is the consistency of the grind as important for french press type coffee? I thought it was more important with espresso as it requires more precise technique to get the best shot?

@streamr89 I think consistency is important across all preps because if you have variable extraction rates, that will vary the flavor in the cup. Obviously not as much of an impact that with espresso, but still worth consideration - Kat

@KnqsX Thank you!!! I do try to stump her but never manage to! :D - Kat

Is there much of a quality-grind difference between the preciso and the rocky, i am stuck between these two, mainly on which one to get.

Well, the burrs are different sizes so the consistency on the Rocky is a bit better, but the Preciso will allow you to adjust between the steps so you can dial it in a bit more precisely. - Kat

Which grinder would you recommend ceramic conical and which one? That is in the at the low end of the price range? I have an older ECM espresso machine.

I've only used the Baratza Vario's ceramic flat burrs ... they're great! If you're looking for a budget espresso grinder, check out the Virtuoso or Preciso. - Kat

I love you guys! I just started looking for an espresso maker and grinder and have learned so much from your videos! Thank you! I wish I lived in the area to actually visit and learn more!

Thanks! Come visit any time! Seattle is great :) ~ sam

Both machines look great and I can see its a tough call. As I have said before I am mostly a coffee drinker with my 15 cup Mossamaster CDt- Grand, i am currently using Bunn filters because my filter well is big and they work and are cheaper than Moccamaster filters. I suppose with my machine grind consistency will be the biggest issue because 15 cups requires a lot of ground. So based on that I am wondering what your recommendation would be between two machines? Liking these videos : )

I still think the Baratza Virtuoso is a great choice for you - Kat

Thanks, I will put this one one my coffee list. You and Gail have talked about the "Twilight" Coffee before, is that something available on your SCG site? Also I was wondering for those of us who large brew baskets, do you see a difference in the quality of paper filters and do you think Moccamaster paper are worth the much higher asking price? Will you be doing paper filter comparison tests, since Gail seems to prefer them over the wire style? Many people seem divided on this issue. Thanks.

Yes - the Twilight is by Velton's Coffee and is available on our website. I hadn't thought of doing a paper comparison video, but I'll add that to the list :) - Kat

There will be some build-up on any grinder, but the standalone models that you are looking at are easy to clean / care for, so it's not as much of a concern. Do you have access to Baratza grinders where you're at? If so, I'd suggest the Baratza Preciso as a great pair for your Gaggia. If not, maybe the Rancilio Rocky? Let me know if you need more suggestions. - Kat

I do like that some of the more expensive grinders have the anti-static collection bins. That is a real plus.

ceramic totally lasts longer than stainless steel..... lol