A Beginner's Guide to Coffee Grinders

[@efa666]

I just put the beans in a ziplock bag and smash them to bits with a heavy saucepan. Coffee so good it wakes up everyone in the house.

[@sebaba001]

I chew them, shit them out then wash them and dry them under the sun.

[@kaihablak5369]

@@sebaba001 poor man's cat shit coffee

[@duffpaddy3996]

Might be the grinding that wakes everyone up...

[@keertihardasani4228]

@@duffpaddy3996 😂😂😂

[@sharvo6]

Oh, awake for sure, and I bet with your name on their lips LOL

[@MedievalFolkDance]

In France as a kid, I remember grinding beans being almost a community activity. My dad used to sit in the garden with a few neighbours, they'd each have a wooden box hand cranker. They'd be out there for hours, drinking wine, smoking ciggies and generally having a good old time of it. It may or may not have been entirely about grinding beans, but, we always had fresh coffee.

[@steve101968]

My French grandmother used to make the best smelling coffee. I never got to have any though. My mum and dad would a bowl of black coffee with a croissant in the morning. They had a wooden grinder but they always woke up too early for me to see it.

[@iSAAConrad]

This type of thing, in general, is what the modern world is missing.

[@CrimeVid]

I still have a wooden box type grinder, It is very sloooow ! And I don’t use it much, it’s sort of an ornament now.

[@CrimeVid]

The real pleasure of coffee has gone away, the smell as your local coffee seller roasted the coffee, it used to permeate the whole area in the mornings.

[@Tharrel]

@@CrimeVid same! I sometimes use it for grinding spices. It has this adorable little wooden drawer to take out the grinds. Love it

[@mortviolette284]

As someone who accidentally purchased whole bean coffee last week, doesn’t own a grinder, and resorted to using a mortar and pestle this morning to grind my beans, I found this extremely helpful!

[@andrewg8090]

and? how did it go ??

[@tammyrobinson6409]

I did the same thing. I used my Ninja blender. It worked decent enough but I’m in the market for purchasing an inexpensive but sturdy coffee grinder

[@zacharybennett3249]

As someone who has a good handgrinder: I was tempted to try this out of shear curiosity. How did it go?

[@aargh93]

@@zacharybennett3249 I've done it once as a test, if you have the patience to do it will make a very fine grind. but it is messier than handgrinding and takes more effort.

[@zacharybennett3249]

@@aargh93 So it would be worth it for a turkish coffee but probably too much for an espresso without putting it through a sifter?

[@Talsbynians]

My favorite aspect of James Hoffmann’s videos is that he never sounds condescending to people like me who’re just getting started. Even in videos that aren’t just getting started guides, I don’t feel like he’s letting snobbiness overtake educating

[@hardlife507]

Yeah all those other coffee influencers come off very snobby and many of them are also paid by certain companies to push certain products/grinders.

[@Hatsumi-ht7ku]

James Hoffman talk too fast with an accent and hard to understand, I’m sorry, that’s just me

[@dugldoo]

I have a 40 + year old Krups 203 blade grinder (serial number 410) that I could barely afford to buy as a poor college student. I learned to rapidly pulse, rotate and shake the little Krups as I ground the beans to get a surprisingly uniform grind. I also learned never to overload it so the ground coffee wouldn't heat up or get compacted on the bottom and sides. I lived in a little house in the hills outside of town and made my coffee from a mountain spring. Fellow students and professors who came out to the house for extended discussions under the trees, including seasoned and prideful coffee aficionados, said I made the best coffee around. The Krups 203 is still going strong, now mostly as a spice grinder.

[@enesjei]

I've been binge watching this channel for few hours already, I don't even drink coffee... It's fascinating that there's so many tools to just create a cup of coffee.

[@turtleanton6539]

Indeed there is

[@Pur9leRain]

That’s ironic and endearing at the same time.

[@meowfia4032]

Its not just drinking coffee, making coffee is fun as well

[@ginasworld6119]

Me too 😊

[@Setsuna51]

I think it’s Mr. Hoffmann’s voice lol. It’s super relaxing yet strong and interesting

[@seanbaron6434]

I am someone that becomes very easily overwhelmed with the many choices I have as a (coffee) consumer. I appreciate how relaxing, informative and balanced your walkthrough is here, so thank you for that!!

[@jackmace6531]

This video must be your nightmare then... haha

[@kevindaley9266]

James has a way of pulling you in to his videos. I can spend hours watching his videos and nobody comes close to him with his depth of knowledge, research and presentation manner and delivery. A real pleasure to listen, watch and learn. Thank you!

[@adamrenissance3322]

At 75 I am enjoying learning about coffee with your video's. Thank you. Over the years I have owned two coffee grinders. A Breville Smart Grinder which failed after several years due to it's electronic. I currently have a Capresso Infinity and enjoy it's simplicity. I make single serve by weighing my beans. Thank you for helping me understand dosing. The Capresso is simple to just turn the switch to 9 and let it grind until it clears. I can hear when it is finished. I tap the catch cup with my knuckles to clear the grounds. Otherwise the left over grounds wind up on my counter.

[@IvoPavlik]

= Theory = 01:23 Why do we grind? 03:24 Quality pre-grind vs. cheap fresh grind 04:08 Grinding uniformity 05:15 Grind size control 05:59 Skillshare ad. 06:44 Blade grinder 08:00 Burr grinders = Hand Grinders = 08:19 £40 09:27 £100 10:47 Expensive = 11:25 Electric Burr Grinders = 11:39 £125 12:47 £250 13:52 £350 Classic espresso grinder 15:24 £400-£500 Modern universal grinders 16:13 Retention 17:56 Conical vs. flat burrs 18:37 Replaceable burrs 19:26 An expensive grinder

[@miksUSA777]

much appreciated 🤗

[@thesmiffable]

thanks, saved me some time

[@geetmadan1991]

Thank you!

[@ncz1-tv8tt]

非常感谢你分享这些精彩的理论和经验，我认为磨咖啡豆的正确方式是非常重要的，这直接影响着咖啡的味道和口感。我也看过那个Skillshare广告，有点长，但很有用！

[@malinalipacheco3895]

you’re awesome, thanks

[@yetanotherstronk]

You have a talent for going into a lot of technical detail while keeping the content entirely accessible and interesting. Clearly a lot of thought goes into exactly how things are explained. Bravo!

[@reuireuiop0]

Indeed if he hasn't already, James might show up on TV one time and tell us all about the advantage of elliptic burrs over logaritmically shaped ones. Bad joke, that, yet Mr Hoffman would lay out the difference like they were glass beads. A stroke of talent besides that of brewing the most decent of cups !

[@jpkatz1435]

@@reuireuiop0 talent and very intense and consistent preparation and rigorous editing, this is not "off the cuff" ,spontaneous, "Hay, let's riff on coffee."Mr Hoffman is thoroughly perpaired, and that takes a lot of time and effort.

[@Electrastar]

I never considered buying a grinder until I started following this channel so that has been very informative.

[@Emil1978-b3q]

Did you use grind coffee?😳 It's impossible to get any decent result

[@gamercatsz5441]

James is the head of the secret underground burr grinder maffia.

[@TripleDDDD]

A common problem with JH videos: I always need more expensive gadgets after watching :-)

[@POVShotgun]

I used to have my coffee ground at a local cafe. Stored it in a ziplock bag and I could always tell it was stale within a few days. Got so bad I would make cold brew right away instead.

[@Packersin4convo]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXvIZXZ-bJ2Fn7c

[@waynekapukare6669]

I discovered James Hoffmann 4 weeks ago and yesterday, I bought my French Press. I want a hand grinder next. Here in Namibia, it's next to impossible to get one

[@AyAy008]

Good thing is, uniformity isn't the most important thing when it comes to French press brewing. If it's almost impossible for you to find a burr grinder, just use the next best thing.

[@9abe9]

Do you guys have aliexpress there? If positive, there are a few awesome options there, from Timemore C2 (50 to 70 USD), through 1zPresso K-plus (350 USD), and many more

[@napatt.7943]

I think you can actually use a mortar for frenchpress. Good brewing!

[@eulerization995]

As others have said, a mortar and pestle can grind fine enough for French press. Hope you enjoy!

[@cjj7107]

Really?? Oh, how I want to send you one.

[@FriedNugget2]

In the Netherlands, we don't really value coffee for its quality but more for the caffeine. It was beyond eye opening when I went to Indonesia and had amazing quality coffee. Ever since then, to keep things simple, I have owned a blade coffee grinder and a French Press. Up until I discovered your channel I hadn't considered the grind uniformity at all and just thought that the finer the grind, the better the coffee. I'll be looking for a hand grinder to give me a much better grind uniformity.

[@leonaardegraeve9242]

Of course! In the Netherlands there isn't much value for gastronomy in general! Any country in the world is an incredible source and eye-opener for the Dutch. Greetings from Belgium.

[@kleopatra-n7y]

The Nehterlands is the land of Senseo investors. I wasn't even into espresso like I am now but when I drank it I wanted to change my nationality.

[@Herfinnur]

10:25 I finagled the mechanism on mine so that I can grind with a power drilll. It's a cheap and efficient upgrade, and as a bonus I get to find more out about people by whether they react with glee or disgust when I make them coffee for the first time

[@TheRyanCamwell]

Genius… just saved me £400

[@Lance54689]

I stumbled on a Japanese-market hand grinder at a thrift store, and it turns out I really enjoy the process of hand grinding. It also slows me down, each cup I make takes longer, each cup is an event. Helps me keep my consumption down to two cups a day.

[@turtleanton6539]

Very real😊

[@JadeCroft]

I really really appreciate how your beginner's guides are actually for beginners, no overly complicated coffee language or making me feel dumb or anything, just very helpful information! ☺️❤️

[@BravoLeader117]

Incredible timing on this video, because my coffee grinder just broke yesterday and I'm in the market for a new one.

[@underscrutinyallnight]

Couldn't have come at a worst time. My coffee grinder broke and I just bought one yesterday

[@windowdoog]

@@underscrutinyallnight I’m sure the Aldi Crack o Matic will serve you well.

[@underscrutinyallnight]

@@windowdoog the burrs sound like putting razor blades in a garburator

[@isaaco89]

Same here! I’ve been looking for an upgrade and this couldn’t have been a better surprise!!

[@underscrutinyallnight]

After watching the entire video, this is pretty basic information. I thought he was going to get into more detail like motor wattage or clean up

[@hschwartz9277]

If I saw that last grinder in someone's kitchen my first thought would be "that's a cool telescope"

[@rerikm]

"microscope" come to my mind. I though he would compare the different textures or something crazy like that. hehe

[@nl3712]

🤣🤣🤣

[@hothmobile100]

Telescope would be cheaper.

[@AnaiAnay]

@@rerikm yes!

[@kevinji7285]

@@hothmobile100 not if it is a Leica XD

[@ginnungagap9793]

Well, Ive been drinking black coffee since I was... I want to say, 15-16 (and I'm 23 now) because my grandparents always drank a pot or two of Folger's Columbian Black Silk coffee between them every morning. Then, a couple of years ago, I discovered your channel; and at first I was honestly rather skeptical of the idea that coffee could have a flavour that wasn't just the bitter flavour of a dark roasted, pre-ground, rather cheap coffee. But I loved it, even though with having ADD it has never really given me boost of energy that most people experience when drinking coffee. I just loved the flavour, the roastiness, and yes, even the bitterness. There's just something comforting about a cup of coffee drank with loved ones; and even though I no longer live with my grandparents, it's a very strong reminder of simpler times. Despite my skepticism, I became very interested in the videos your team produces, and the passion that you show for coffee and how it can have more complex flavours than I ever thought imaginable. So began my search to find better coffees, better roasts. Living here in America, and being on a poor man's budget, I settled on a compamy called Black Rifle Coffee Company who produce (in my opinion) very nice pre-ground roasts; brewed with the coffee maker that my grandfather gave me that he used to use while he was a truck driver for 40 years; that being a small (2 cup) "cowboy" coffee brewer. I thought it tasted far better than any of the drip coffee brewers I had come to know, and for a few years, was my go-to brewer for a cup of coffee. Recently, I moved to a different state for my new family (my wife and my son), and while walking to the store we passed by a garage sale where a man was selling his recently passed away mother's belongings, and there on the table was a (rather cheap) hand grinder; and I said to myself, "Now I can finally try out whole bean coffee, get in on this whole coffee thing for real." It took a number of months afterwards to be able to afford a whole bean roast (a poor man's budget had turned into a poor family's budget, after all). With some money I was sent for Christmas from my mom, I was able to purchase a nice whole-bean light roast Yirgacheffe, and a (again, rather cheap, being only $10) French Press because I saw it there and I said to myself, "Well, if I'm going to make this coffee taste good, I might as well have something that can brew it very well." Despite the fact that my recently acquired hand grinder is very cheap, being made of mostly plastic (even the burs seem to be made of plastic, though I can't confirm because it just cant be taken apart fully), leading to some rather lacking uniformity in grind size, I searched for your video of the best French Press technique and my foray into the coffee world offically began after 7 years of drinking the same kinds of coffee. After I poured into the hopper what I felt was a decent dose of coffee (for I dont have a scale of any kind to measure it with), boiled about 20oz (566.99g, according to a quick Google search), and used your technique to brew using the French Press I got, I poured it out into my mug and took a sip of the absolute best coffee I'd ever tasted (and this is saying something considering I had been to a coffee shop in Kansas City Union Station that does pour-over using a V60, and the barista did an amazing job with the technique). I could tell right off the bat that it was very over-extracted because I had used too much coffee in my dose, *but the strangest thing is* that it was pleasantly floral, it had notes of sweetness I never expected to exist in coffee, it wasn't insanely bitter like some of the dark roasts and even medium roasts I've drank for my entire coffee life, there was this body that I've never felt before. It was, again, the absolute best tasting cup of coffee I had ever had. So, I just want to thank you and your team for every video that you produce, and the care that goes into those videos, because without them I wouldn't have ever considered anything but a Folger's Dark Roast.

[@susumu12]

Glad to see 1Z Presso getting some exposure. Have had a JX for about a year, performing solid. And remember, they are from Taiwan and 1 in Chinese is pronounced like the letter E. Its easy-presso, not One Z-presso. Thank you past me for choosing to minor in Chinese, it finally paid off.

[@rowanmfrancis]

waiting for mine to arrive .. gonna be a bit of a long wait , but hopefully worth it ..

[@susumu12]

I bought one when a local place became their Canadian distributor. I sort of wish I future proofed myself with a JX-Pro, but espresso grinding is a bit much by hand with lighter roasts. I definitely agree with Hoffman about an electric for daily use, but the JX is perfect for my aeropress and moka pot routine.

[@TheAndrewc5120]

the jx-pro is phenomenal. I use it for v60, aeropress, clever dripper, and flair. i've gone through a couple cheap ceramic burr hand grinders and own a baratza, the jx-pro is faster by quite a lot. I've timed 11g, 15g, and 30g grind time and the average speed is like 1g/1.6sec (maybe twice as long for espresso settings). and the uniformity is just about at the commandante level for 100 dollars less (im sure there's some observable difference that is some marginal diminishing return).

[@TZerot0]

Yeah I have a JX pro, really great results from it. I prefer it over most of the commercial espresso machines I've used that haven't been maintained to the extent they should be. Also with darker roasts it makes pour overs that stand up to an ek43 (I prefer the ek43 for nice fruity light roasts still).

[@cbrines]

That little Q2 in the video is a fantastic travel grinder. I kinda laughed a bit when James compared the construction materials of the C40 and the Q2.

[@peacenzmiddleast]

Invested in a Bratza Encore this winter and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done for my morning coffee routine. Even convinced my 65 yr old mother that fresh ground coffee is better and she’s been a pre-ground die hard my entire life.

[@mrmovieguy1000]

I think it's definitely important to mention the time difference between ceramic and metal burrs I bought the cheapest manual grinder on Amazon and the ceramic burrs took almost 5 minutes just to grind 1 cup for myself (that was about €17). I then upgraded to a hero S01 steel burr grinder which chewed through the beans by comparison, finishing in about a minute, so much nicer to use (for about €40/50) and well worth it.

[@manojlds]

Yeah I had given up on cheap manual since my ceramic was so bad and time consuming. Move a slightly more expensive metal one and it is perfect.

[@alexcarra918]

Are you able to make espresso with it?

[@mrmovieguy1000]

@@alexcarra918 I'm not sure tbh since I don't have an espresso machine but I think it might not be that fine

[@Koutsimouka]

Hi mate, I have a Bialetti Mokka Express stovetop cafetière.. I’ve been using ground coffee but I’m just wondering how fine does this £40 grinder make your coffee?

[@FernandoRivera-f9y]

Here I am looking for a cheap manual grinder cause I've just bought myself a 300 espresso machine thinking that was the most expensive thing to buy in order to make some espresso .... huge mistake 😂. Thanks for your very helpful videos !!

[@spicytuna62]

James, I want to thank you for helping me get into making better coffee. I never knew how much of a difference grinding my own coffee at home from whole beans instead of using pre-ground coffee would make. I got a Hario Skerton Pro on sale and brewed a small pot after running through a few grinds to find the size I wanted to use, and I think for the first time since I started drinking coffee about 10 years ago, I'm drinking a cup of black coffee that I can honestly call delicious. I'm not using the fanciest equipment money can buy. I'll probably step up to a metal grinder one day, but good lord, I never realized that coffee could actually be so good. For all of my coffee-drinking life, it's been either horridly bitter or about 30% cream and sugar by weight. I'll probably stick to manual grinders since there's just something primordial about doing something manually. Turning a screw, opening a can...that kind of thing. Plus, they're smaller, and my coffee station needs to take up less room in the kitchen or my wife might be a little unhappy about it lol

[@Anarchsis]

I started watching James during lockdown last year after I purchased a cheap espresso machine, by the beginning of this year I became a Patreon member of the channel, had bought a La Pavoni Europiccola and the Professional, a Bezzera grinder, a manual puq press and a Genecafe roaster, I’m going to do a coffee course if my state of Victoria,Australia would stop going into lockdown! I must say I’m still learning all aspects of coffee roasting and making, but thank you James for constantly piqing my interest.

[@davids9552]

Like I'm looking in a mirror from England! 😂😂

[@royvan6224]

Well that escalated quickly

[@AtheistRising]

I had a little hario for about 4 years and was very happy with it. I recently bought a wilfa uniform and the pleasure it brings every morning made it completely worth the money. It's so quick and easy I love it.

[@dportass]

James Hoffmann: Here's another 20+ minute video about something about coffee... Me: You had me at James Hoffmann

[@derek7284]

OMG Did you really say that?!?

[@jaduvalify]

When I first bought a coffee grinder I was very impressed with the noticeable improvement in the flavor of my coffee using fresh beans. I didn't care about the grind consistency at first. But then, very quickly, I noticed how the finer coffee particles would silt up the bottom of my cup, as I use a metal mesh filter with the pour over / emersion method.. The coffee I like needs to be ground between fine and medium. In order to grind most of the particles to the best size, I end up grinding almost half the coffee too fine and it passes through the filter mesh. I can't stand to buy paper filters. They reduce some of the flavors in the coffee. And I really just want coffee making to be super simple. I should probably get a dual mesh stainless steel filter. I never thought I was into being a perfectionist about making my morning coffee. Now I'm shopping for a new grinder because it actually matters. Great video.

[@ahmettanriverdi5238]

Witch grinder do you have now? I have a Bratza encore, but I don't like it.

[@alphakowaclips]

Welcome to the rabbit hole of coffee making at home 🤣👌

[@mediocreman2]

Just be mindful of those diterpenes.

[@MegaJORB]

Found this channel a few months back now and it sparked my interest in making good coffee at home. I've since bought my first espresso machine and grinder and I'm having a blast! Thanks for all the help and info James 🙂

[@sergiogodinho9992]

I'm in the same journey but in a way previous phase (just starting actually). any tips/gear recommendations? I'm thinking I should start with a french or aeropress and am now looking into grinders

[@RobertitoAtlas]

@@sergiogodinho9992 If budget isn’t a thing, I recommend the best in the market, the Comandante C40, mine have been around for 3 years already, still rocking it. I have went through aeropress, v60, slow drip cold brew, and now espresso with it. Best hand grinder in the market imo.

[@sergiogodinho9992]

@@RobertitoAtlas unfortunately , budget is a major thing as I'm just starting out , but definetly appreciate the tip !

[@Packersin4convo]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXvIZXZ-bJ2Fn7c💪

[@James7104]

What machines did you decided to buy?

[@TheOwlol]

I heve the comandante C40, extremely satisfied and will recommend it. I don't do espresso, so I can't comment on that. Have a nice weekend you guys.

[@bogstandardcobber]

Comandante smashes Espresso fine grinding. Had some delicious espresso from it. Great, versatile, and durable

[@069ban9]

@@bogstandardcobber True! I didn't consider the commandante as useful for mel until I saw the guys at Barn Berlin pulling espresso shots from coffee ground by the commandante.

[@_iching]

I started with a skerton, for...8years before upgrading to a Niche Zero...it changed my life in the morning..

[@ximono]

Skerton for me too. Upgraded to Wilfa Svart. Next step up will be Wilfa Uniform.

[@fargoflagrant7796]

James: the joy of grinding coffee me: * carefully spinning the handle of my fragile cheap hand grinder for several minutes * haha... yes... the joy :')

[@fadelpw511]

me a beginner: bought a 5 dollar Chinese knock off hand grinder and i spun it with as much power as possible, if it broke i can justify buying a new electric grinder

[@adewilliam9047]

biggest part of why i often drink instant nescafe coffee even though i have beans, grinder, and whatnots

[@susumu12]

When you upgrade dont throw it out! Makes for a terrific pepper mill.

[@manojlds]

I have outsourced it to my daughter these days.

[@jorismak]

The 3rd handgrinder he shows is a izpresso q2. Even on finer end of filter coffee that thing churns through 15gr of dense beans in like 20 seconds. Do yourself a favor and make an upgrade:). Do check if it holds enough beans for you

[@alexan3688]

James calmly describing a blade grinder as performing “acts of violence” on coffee beans is exactly why I watch this channel.

[@Mazeboxx]

I just love youtube. I don't drink coffee, never cared for it. But I find the window into other communities absolutely facinating.

[@tombrown407]

I splashed out on the Porlex mini last week based on an old video review, and so far it has been an absolute joy. I did think James was overstating the pleasure of grinding your coffee by hand in the past. Taking something he personally enjoys and assigning significance that was undue. I was a fool, I wish I could have guests round so I could grind more bean.

[@keegancurry2593]

It's also always an added joy with guests, especially when they're not "into" coffee. My friends realizing that I'm about to put in extra work to make them a great cuppa always starts an interesting conversation. Converting them all one cup at a time.

[@leigh3850]

I use the porlex mini with my Rok espresso machine. Its such a good grinder. Couldn't recommend it more,. Obviously if I was getting a more expensive commercial / or home espresso machine would get a better grinder. But this little manual one for a manual machine is fantasric and will last!

[@richardemerson8075]

I went for the Porlex Tall. It's excellent. But for some reason it doesn't come with the rubber strap thing that you get with the Mini (why??). So you have to order that as a spare part, but it only costs like £1.50. Without the rubber strap, it's not so easy to grip the thing while you're grinding.

[@keegancurry2593]

@@richardemerson8075 I have a commandante and this is my only complaint about it. The metal surface is quick slick and that makes it hard to hang onto at times, especially at espresso level grinding. Almost impossible. Thankfully the radius is perfect for slipping on on those rubber 'livestrong' style bracelets, which helps a great deal.

[@lyndonlives638]

As someone who just bought a Specialita after spending the first year of making espresso with only a hand grinder, it was nice to see it representing the 'traditional' style of espresso grinder in this lineup. One thing I've particularly liked about it aside from the quality of the grind is that it is wonderfully quiet. Going from a hand grinder which obviously has no motor noise whatsoever, I've been pleasantly surprised!

[@murraythebaker]

I just have the crono and it’s fantastic! (Not to say I’m not saving up for a new one! 🤣🤣

[@ns_mizou]

@rogue I recently got a Specialita and I typically get 18g in 7 seconds. I may have more tinkering to do with it but I am only using it for espresso. I have an Encore for coarser grinds.

[@marsrocket]

I get 20g in 9.2 seconds (typically, it varies with each different beans) on my Specialita.

[@marsrocket]

@rogue Or the motor is running too slow. Maybe a 230V model running on 120V?

[@afamaafama4056]

Specialita here. 16g in 10.5 sec. You can open the top, de-install the upper burr - usually you have to do anyway for cleaning from time to time - and just re-install. Videos existing on YT. Maybe it´s getting to a more usual grinding duration.

[@martinmilek3572]

Love this Beginner's guide series. Would love to see an episode, that we could call How to prioritise when starting with specialty coffee. Where's the biggest return of my investment? Is it worth spending a so-so amount on everything (beans, brewer, grinder, filter water, scale...)? Or is it better to make a bigger investment up front into one of these, while the others can be a cheaper option? Is it worth spending big money on beans if I have a cheap grinder? Or is it most important to focus on training my taste buds and bettering my brewing methods?

[@mabelleth]

Yessss I’m just starting out and I don’t know what to get/ progress! I only have a grinder and a basic filter coffee machine that pours water

[@martinlwf1]

Grinder > everything else. Next would be the brewer. Depends what you want - if filter, there’s little point spending more than a simple aeropress. For espresso then you need to spend min £400 for entry level prosumer machine. Scale v marginal benefits beyond a £5er. Beans marginal benefits once you’re buying speciality coffee roasted c2 weeks ago. Water marginal benefit once you’re using appropriate water eg Volvic or Ashbeck.

[@nickyates_music]

Grinder! Is the most important thing to spend money on

[@RumoHasIt]

Definitely the grinder!

[@mahlonrhoades4509]

I'm with the grinder team. If you don't start with good beans (means whatever roast and taste you prefer!) and a fresh (means immediately before preparation) consistent grind appropriate to your brewing method, you will never get optimal results no matter how sophisticated your brewing gear.

[@robertjason6885]

James...this is a most generous use of your time...and indispensable to those just getting started on their coffee journey. Been there, done that...and wish I would have had this as a reference 30 years ago!

[@BillHicks420]

This video currently has 2.7 million views, I'm sure he's getting compensated for his time (and expertise)! :)

[@robertjason6885]

@@BillHicks420 As he should. He EARNED the respect.

[@BillHicks420]

@@robertjason6885 Of course? I never said otherwise. He deserves all the views he gets.

[@notanotherusername]

Today I used my burr coffee grinder for the first time and it has made such a huge difference compared to my blade grinder. The smell actually came out of the beans and the room smelled like coffee. That didn't used to happen with my blade grinder. Back when I thought that a blade grinder was a coffee grinder lol

[@israelbraha8426]

James, the thing you do here its an academy level educational content with the highest production value could be found on KZbin, super great job!!!! thank you! and please please please, stay fancy...

[@IanLoughead]

I started with preground, then got a blade grinder which lasted me a long time and worked fine for my French Press. Finally a few years back I upgraded to the Barazzta Encore and while by no means a super high end machine, it certainly made a huge difference in my coffee. We tend to use the Aeropress and the a French Press, so quite different grind sizes, and it seems to do a really good job at both.

[@BenCotten]

The Encore is a fantastic value and it's my go-to recommendation for most people.

[@spamcan9208]

@@BenCotten oh good, because I just got mine and I'm still nervous that I paid too much money for something that I'm not good enough to use lol

[@wesleypederson5497]

@@spamcan9208good luck. Figuring out what grind makes the best coffee is one of the joys of grinding yourself

[@silviap4478]

Such a great video! There is another good reason for a handgrinder: less space is needed. I have a huge kitchen, but I hate cluttered counters. So I have a Commandante and it sits on top a live edge little walnut shelf that looks so pretty. I also just drink two cups a day and I love the grinding by hand. It so rewarding

[@loganbryck]

Also for anyone who has to move a lot! For someone like a college student who’s moving from dorm room to apartment to another apartment and then maybe off to grad school, with trips back to the parents’ place and summer internships and who knows what else... it’s great to have a grinder that can fit inside a shoe when packing up a suitcase to fly across the country yet again

[@darkim1777]

but not for serving more than 5 cups for guests.. but yeah commandante is a heck good grinder

[@mutepoet_]

I’m here after watching your appearance in Tom Scott’s video. I’ve had an interest in making my own coffee and what excites me about watching your videos is envisioning my self discovery and journey of finding the different grinds and methods of coffee I personally enjoy. I’ve watched your French Press video before this one and I’m thinking that style of coffee is both the most affordable as well as enjoyable path for me at the moment. I’m looking forward to seeing how diverse my taste tolerance is along with learning different methods of brewing coffee that I can enjoy practicing.

[@joshua7913]

Gives us an update in one year on money spent 😆😂

[@jpdemer5]

I just recently started grinding my own espresso beans, and the difference in flavor is considerable - exactly the sort of big step up that James is talking about. Settled on a Capresso ceramic burr grinder, which does the job quickly and quietly for well under $200. Perhaps most importantly, your partner can sleep through the process. Retention is resolved with a couple of firm taps w/ my coffee cup (works with the stainless steel version; maybe not the best idea if you get the plastic case.)

[@mccrispy]

What I need is a "taste off" between - say - a Comandante, a Uniform, a Niche Zero and an EG-1. Some of that exists, but it's the comparison of the hand grinder against the electric models that is interesting

[@MVargabass]

A blind test

[@Adam-vx6to]

High end hand grinders compete with electric grinder up to about the $600 mark. The niche zero is only slightly better than something like the c40

[@dtonpbac]

You have to look for commercial-grade electric grinders to fully beat a quality from Comandante. For home set-up, grinders like Baratza Forté or Niche Zero are perhaps better than Comandante but they are still very comparable in terms of grind quality.

[@Adam-vx6to]

@@dtonpbac the forte is noticeably better than the c40

[@dtonpbac]

@@Adam-vx6to Not really, if you compare their grind size distribution analysis.

[@SilverBrumby165]

This lead me to the blade grinder hacks video, which is great because it's all I can afford. Together with the coffee buying guide from a couple of weeks ago and the aeropress series I now feel equipped to make great coffee even on my budget. Thank you.

[@phosphor8416]

A great video. You smoothly achieved the balance between rough overview / big picture and the essential details of each price category. I can see the amount of work that has gone into the script. You put yourself into the shoes of the aspiring newcomer or advanced espresso aficionado, and this helps to tailor the videos language for the intended purpose. Well done. You may consider teaching / designing scripts / teaching concepts.

[@aaronbuck6161]

Just discovered your channel and I am so happy that I did. About to binge watch a bunch of these episodes. Thanks for including the full range of grinders all the way to the top tier, it is very helpful to see what the top quality looks like to acquire a better understanding and gauge the differences between them. Thanks for the great content!

[@GoldaaSmith]

I just purchased my first grinder (the first one you showed) last week and it's perfect for me. I love it and I appreciate your simple yet very informative explanation.

[@davids9552]

All my current coffee equipment I have because of James Hoffman. When I discovered him a year ago I had pre-ground coffee (from a good quality coffee shop, mind you) and a Bialetti Venus stovetop coffee maker. My first improvement was to invest in a Comandante C40 hand grinder. I lived out in the countryside in a small cottage and didn't have the counter space for an electric grinder, and I wanted to make espresso, not filter, so the Comandante seemed like a great choice. Instantly my coffee tasted better; fresh ground coffee is so much better. I was using the same technique, and I matched the grind size to what the coffee shop used to sell me pre-ground. The second thing was I started getting coffee direct from Square Mile, freshly roasted. Coffee flavour went up another huge leap. Third thing that happened was I realised I wasn't actually making espresso, stove tops can't do that (no, I didn't realise), but I still had the no counter space issue and certainly no budget for the kind of espresso machines James says do a decent job. So, forth thing was investing in a 9Barista stove top espresso maker, which actually makes espresso! And it does! It obviously comes with some control limitations, but the step up in flavour was incredible. Now I was making espresso. Yes, they all tasted disgusting for about three weeks while I actually got used to how get the best out of the 9Barista, and how the different coffees I was getting needed to be ground, but once dialled in, super improved coffee. My issue now is that I wish my Comandante wasn't a stepped grinder. I have since moved from the complete middle of nowhere countryside to a lovely country village which actually has a few shops, one of which is a coffee shop, and damn it, they make exquisite coffee! I regularly visit a majorly coffee loving city and get high quality espresso there, but this guy in his tiny coffee shop in my tiny village blows them out the water. He nails it every time. So now I get a coffee from him every day. Sometimes weeks go by without me using my Comandante or my 9Barista, and that is a sad, sad story. But the coffee shop guy's coffee is so much better! Final part, despite all this, I still want a Zero Niche.

[@CoffeeReviews]

One of the most important lessons I learned very early in my coffee journey is how important a quality grinder is. Every bit as important as the coffee you're buying

[@spamcan9208]

I'm hoping my Baratza Encore will serve me well. I've never had a grinder so I'm a bit nervous. I can't physically hand grind so I had to get a machine but from another of James' videos I decided to skip the cheaper "entry level" burr grinders. From what I could tell this is also an entry level grinder, but for serious grinders.

[@danieldurling]

@@spamcan9208 loved my Encore had if for a long time, enjoy!

[@mariosavva999]

@@spamcan9208 I am also about to purchase my 1st electric grinder, how are you finding the Encore? I am very interested in the Encore too but the reports of it being a very messy grinder are putting me off, can you shed any light on whether these reports are true? Does it leave coffee grounds all over your kitchen worktop everytime you use it?

[@spamcan9208]

@@mariosavva999 I'm really happy with it. I've been using it anywhere from 1-4 times throughout my day for the past 6 months now. Having your own grinder is like unlocking a game level. You can buy one bag of whole beans and use it anything from the Aeropress to V60 and everything in between. It also allows you to tweak settings, if for instance your Aeropress is too easy when you push, you can grind a little finer. As for your concern about being messy, I don't have that problem but I think I know why other people are: retention (and perhaps letting the machine over fill the bin past the white line.) I noticed that this machine can hold onto a lot of grinds if you are grinding >10 on the settings (especially the more oily beans.) If I don't account for that by giving a 2-3 taps on the side and 1 on top of the hopper and go to move the grinder without its bin in place then yeah, it can get a little messy. You can use a flashlight to check if the discharge chute is clogged/starting to clog. Which reminds me, get a set of straw cleaning brushes that are used for sports water bottles. You can bend them to fit up the chute better and they (should) have something protective on the tip to keep the metal wire from gouging the plastic. You'll see what I mean with the included brush. A can of compressed air can also be handy but only do that outside! (I've used a squeeze bulb designed for camera lenses inside, however it can still make a mess if you're not careful.) I clean mine once a month, sometimes more, but I also use it a lot on a very fine setting and it's also the type of person I am. You might be fine every 3-4 months. Protip: weigh the grinds not just the beans going in the hopper. You'll not only ensure you have the correct amount for brewing but if you lost a gram or two inside the machine that tapping didn't get out. I made this mistake in the beginning and was wondering why my coffee was so inconsistent at times. Another HUGE plus to this machine is that EVERYTHING is available, from parts (you have access to everything that was used to build that machine) to diagrams and how-to's if it breaks, from Baratza themselves. It's all on their website. Even how to test the motor with or without a multimeter! It's been designed with home diyers in mind, including upgrading the burr set if you want. You can also send it to them for repair. It was it hard to make the jump and click "buy now" but I'm so glad I did. Can it make a mess, absolutely but I think that goes for all grinders because even those thousand dollar plus ones require you to clean them out every so often and nothing is immune from retention.

[@mariosavva999]

@@spamcan9208 thanks so much for your very detailed response! I decided to buy one! It has just arrived today, looking forward to giving it a go and seeing how it improves my coffee! I also hate mess, so will follow your advice to try and avoid it...have you been using the water on the beans trick to avoid any static? Yes the fact that this grinder is so serviceable was one of the deciding factors.

[@ClariMatt05]

I was excited seeing a 1Z Presso grinder featured! I got my JX-Pro in January and I love it. I started with a Hario Skerton in college and then a couple years later got a Handground (not really much of an upgrade but I really liked the idea of a crowd funded coffee grinder). If I could go back I would’ve skipped right to the JX-Pro. It’s definitely more expensive but with it I’ve been making the best coffee I’ve ever had at home.

[@GabrielGGabGattringer]

Sounds familiar to me! I´ve used a Hario Skerton for 4 years until I fnally upgraded to the 1ZPresso Q2 in March 2021. Grinding beans has never been such a quick and enjoyable process before.

[@nhlm4257]

Very happy with my regular JX as well (very quick!). Not doing espresso so perfect one for me. Will probably never have to upgrade which is a nice feeling.

[@ZayasRaymond1]

Love my JX-Pro, amazing grind quality and so easy to use.

[@danielbrett1750]

James, I’ve just managed to make my first delicious cup of coffee at home, and I e been making coffee at home for years, but after buying a new grinder and following your moka pot advice I’ve just had the best home brewed coffee of my life, thanks man! Exciting new coffee journey awaits! 🎉

[@VB2095_]

Which grinder have you bought?

[@Sparts17]

James, I think yours is the very first channel I’ve ever subscribed to, and I’ve been using KZbin since it first came out. I think my blood pressure drops 20 points while watching. Really appreciate your expertise.

[@lancegordon5492]

IMO a good grinder is the most important piece of equipment. Everything else can be pretty satisfactory if inexpensive- grinders are the difference between good and great coffee results

[@tristanjl]

I started off my coffee journey with an entry level grinder and espresso machine (both sunbeam in Australia). For me, that was a great entry as it got me used to the process of making coffee and the pressurized portafilter allowed to not worry too much about messing up. I've since upgraded both machines (to the minon specialita and a better sunbeam espresso machine) and it took a while to adjust. But because I had previous success and knew what I was chasing, I started to have sucess. Once I started to have good result with light roasted coffee in a proper portafilter basket, that's when I really started tasting the difference in the upgrade, but I don't know if I'd have been ready if I started there.

[@Shadowguy456234]

Interesting, we have Sunbeam in the US as well. I'm also curious, are Breville products popular in Oz or is it like Foster's, where the... let's diplomatically say "low end" is exported to the world? 😂 (Note I actually don't have anything against Sage/Breville, I just bought a waffle maker and am heavily leaning towards getting the BDB ;) )

[@tristanjl]

@@Shadowguy456234 Sunbeam Australia is a weird offshoot of the US company, but I think the espresso machines they make are just for Australia (and they have quite a range actually). Breville is Australian? I just assumed they were an overseas company.... Yeah, they're very popular here.

[@covali69]

I have the Wilfa Svart (first electric grinder in this video), and am 90% happy for pour-over coffee. It was a huge update to not having a grinder at all and for more than a year I can keep on chasing delicious coffee. Bought it based on James's review and am not disappointed. This channel has taught me very much about delicious coffee over the past couple of years.

[@mariosavva999]

Glad to hear this, as I am just about to purchase a Wilfa Svart as my 1st grinder too :)

[@Dj_Noah_GR]

I just bought the Eureka Mignon that you presented in your video (the one with the touch screen) and I can say that this grinder is perfect for home baristas!!!! The grind coffee is in perfect shape and at the same size and the flavor is quite strong. I have a full body in my coffee. One of the good things with Eureka Mignon is that the motor is not noisy! Well, the most important for new buyers is that they have to find their own size of grind, because if we buy different variety of coffee, it needs to change the grind size every time! Thank you for your helpful video!

[@juantheron358]

James, as a coffee farmer in Panama i find your videos very funny, in a good way. My wife and i have a coffee company and are involved in the whole process from bean to cup.

[@michelles2299]

Funny why?

[@Riverpeth]

1Zpresso JX Pro has become my favourite grinder by far, it's just addictive and works so well!

[@manuelpenaruiz3694]

I've heard is even better than comandante

[@desertrainfrog1691]

I have the 1ZPresso Q2 and it also works pretty well for any kind of filter coffee. It's not quite as nice as the JX Pro of course.

[@Stebanoid]

The ultimate grinding technic for the cheap conical grinder: The uniformity of grain size produced by my cheap-ass soviet plastic conical grinder with aluminum grinding "stones" can be improved dramatically by doing grinding twice! The first time I grind the coarsest possible particles the grinder can produce. The biggest size that goes through is probably 1/8 of a whole bean size. Almost no dust is generated during this step. The second time I grind the desired granularity. There are no big hard beans that cause the cone to rock from side to side during the second pass and the smaller grains are distributed uniformly around the cone, centreing it and making grinding even more uniform. If you are not in a hurry (I am personally not in a hurry if I start my coffee), then you should definitely try this out!

[@kurtlayman1481]

good tip! I use my cheap electric grinder on course, then finish with my cheap hand grinder on the final setting desired. Better coffee, no. time adjusting grinds, less effort with the hand grinder and extended time being cheap before buying the higher priced toy!

[@sergiovr3]

interesting technique. I'm really surprised that james showed the EZpresso Q2 which I own, but even that metal grinder can produce a lot of fine coffee dust.

[@MissDarknSpooky]

Thanks for the tip! It's greatly appreciated

[@michelt4390]

Best grinder we've used, is one of those SPONG #1 cast iron coffee grinder. We've had ours for over a decade, and it's still going strong.

[@claudiogrosman7259]

I did the same

[@breadman86]

Last month I went from that exact KRUPS grinder and finally upgraded to the $150-ranged electric grinders, and got a Baratza Encore. I have no regrets at all, the coffee has been great, and honestly I'm kind of wanting to spend more money on better locally roasted coffee now because I know I'm getting much more out of eat bean quality wise with the better grinder. I've also recently been using my AeroPress + Fellow Prismo to make faux-espresso shots for drinks, and that really wouldn't have been worthwhile with my previous blade grinder. I do wish the $150 could go finer than it does, but the reality is I don't have room for an espresso machine anyways so it's not like I truly need espresso fine grinds for those faux-espresso aeropress/prismo shots. The encore does get very fine, just not quite there, but fine enough for my purposes. Thanks for the great video! I'm even more convinced I invested in the right $$ range based on my needs, though I perhaps should have considered manual more than I did.

[@markmitchenall5948]

This definitely has convinced me to stick to just upgrading my hand-grinder a little. From your advice, I'd already started hand-grinding, and it really has changed my coffee experience for the better. Might have also been good additional physio as I was recovering from broken wrist. But hate the sound of electric grinders anyway, plus space they take up. But that extra minute to two weighing and grinding the beans, and getting those additional aromas, plus, being able to have few different bags of beans on the go, just can't be replaced now! Thank you so much for improving my home coffee making!

[@bornwestusa]

Wow. I've been drinking coffee for 45 years and I know nothing. This journey will continue thanks to Mr James. I currently grind beans the night before in a Krups grinder, then put them in a drip coffee maker. so that is my start point, and as I'm learning my NEED for an education!

[@FelixTheG]

The amount of amazing content James puts out is just incredible!

[@starmartyr]

For sure, I can see why he has such a devoted fan base. His stuff is so well produced, well spoken, and informative. I'm sure he wouldn't want people taking his word as gospel though, as many seem to now. Preferences and differing opinions are important!

[@MrArdytube]

I love reading the comments in his videos…. Then I realize how manny innocently hilarious things he says

[@theJade]

1Z Presso is great value and also a necessity for me when I travel. It is machined phenomenally. Ergonomically though, I never understood the desire (besides aesthetically and maybe ease of machining) for perfectly round, smooth finished hand grinders. When your hands are a little greasy or just slippery, gripping the thing can be difficult even with the slightly textured cork "grip".

[@StillAliveAndKicking_]

Very informative, thanks. Some people really have too much money. That last machine is hugely over engineered, I’d love to see a blind taste test with it up against a handheld grinder, and a £250 electric one. That’s the only way I would overcome my scepticism that it is no more than an overpriced lifestyle accessory for rich people with Smallbone kitchens and Range Rovers. A colleague roasts and grinds beans at home. He brought in some ground coffee , and we each made ourselves a filter coffee. I was completely unimpressed with the taste, it was nothing special, in fact I found it bland. However, I was very high from the caffeine, so much so that I felt seriously uncomfortable. It was very unpleasant.

[@DarrellGrainger]

Your videos have been really helpful. Over the last 15 months I've been forced to make my own coffee. I had no idea what to buy because I always relied on a local coffee shop to make my coffee for me. I tried using a hand grinder but with no idea how they actually worked or what made one better than another I had a horrible experience. With no idea what justified the price, an electric grinder just seemed really expensive. In the end, I used a blade grinder because the price was right; free. My plan was to use it until I could figure out how to select a proper grinder. Now that I've watched your video, I have an idea of what I'm looking for. Thank you so much.

[@rodneymounsey4168]

Wow, just thought I might find out how to make better coffee by grinding my own beans. That was amazingly clear and informative and so well presented without any of the artisan palava. It’s gotta be one of the best information deliveries on any subject I’ve seen on KZbin. Thanks James

[@reuireuiop0]

Yeah wish James would do more on grinders, coz you often end up in those hipster infused coffee sipping testing, while I'm more interested in how well it works and it's maintenance. James presentation is always clean, and I do wonder when BBC will contract him to do this type of consumer show on TV

[@johnioannidis6466]

I have the commandante c40 with the red clix and I can thoroughly recommend it! Takes a bit of elbow grease compared to a powered one but it’s superbly consistent, zero retention and easy to dial in and clean! Absolutely love it! If you make coffee twice a day the effort for an 18gr medium roast for espresso is around 40-50secs, and the result is worth it for the price. Tip: it comes with two glass containers, I use the clear one for catching the ground coffee (as intended) and the brown one for dosing coffee in. This way you avoid the pop corning of beans that happens when you try to dose directly in the grinder and I find it easier to just flip and attach the brown jar on the top of the grinder

[@Dralbastaki]

I dont hav red clix, can i still do it?

[@johnioannidis6466]

@@Dralbastaki For sure! You can dial in the grind setting to what you feel is the best and then play with the 0.1gr of coffee weight you’re putting in to get the flow you’re looking for. Even without the RedClix you can get fine enough adjustments

[@markrocks692]

I bought my first grinder, a Baratza Encore, about a year ago. It makes great tasting coffee, is easy to use, clean and is nicely made. I'm not interested in making Espresso at home so the Encore works well for me.

[@dodaexploda]

I'm similar to you. I got a Baratza Virtusoso as my first grinder. I'm wondering if Baratza doesn't exist in the UK as we've never seen James with one.

[@onipise]

Yep, the Encore does a fine job on most lazy days. For workout days, the 1zpresso JX steps in to team up with my arm and keep the good coffee coming. Both at affordable prices.

[@markrocks692]

@@dodaexploda James did a Wilfa Svart v Baratza Encore grinder head to head. They both did a fine job though James' preference was for the Wilfa. I thought the Wilfa was too fussy so went for the Baratza . I bought my grinder in the UK online. I presume it's a euro model as I have to use the included ac adaptor to plug it in to the wall. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5jQZ4iceZ6kicU

[@dodaexploda]

@@markrocks692 ahhh, that's from 2017 which is why I haven't seen it. Thanks for the link.

[@markrocks692]

Sorry @@ringtangting just spotted your question. What did you go for in the end? I liked the simple grinds bin of the Encore and James's negative points like the controls haven't been negatives for me. A year or so on I'm still happy with my decision. Since then Santa brought me a Moccamaster so for the moment the Encore/Moccamaster is my morning go to combo. I do love the aesthetics of the Niche Zero grinder but if my wife discovered I spent £500 on a coffee grinder I'd be in big trouble.. 😁

[@jak50n]

I had a Rancilio Rocky grinder for several years now, and have been considering upgrading to a Niche Zero for the reduced retention, and hopefully improved grinding. As always, James Hoffmann is influencing my increasing obsession with the pursuit of the Holy Grail of coffee, the perfect cup.

[@VinceM797]

Did you upgrade and was it worth it?

[@jak50n]

@@VinceM797 I recently did upgrade, and the difference is night and day. Was it worth it? In my opinion, yes.

[@VinceM797]

@@jak50n thanks! I'm using a rocky now for both drip and espresso. Like it a lot but the niche and specialita I can't decide. Seems the niche keeps coming up as a good all around. Thanks for the help!

[@jak50n]

@@VinceM797 I was pushing the limit of the Rocky’s grind settings for espresso, but no such problem with the Niche

[@britishstudio1825]

I have had inittially a cheap Porlex coffee grinder. I could not get good coffee and I could not understand why. Recently I bought a Commandante. The difference is night and day. When James says “nice, balanced, sweet coffee” I can truly understand what he means now, and could not before. My setup is simple, Clever Dripper, Commandante grinder and Hario scale. You can get amazing coffee with this setup. This guy’s passion for coffee shows in his videos. Well done James!

[@EwanMatheson]

This beginner series has been an education!! I love coffee but have been settling on rubbish pods for ages, one thing that would be really useful for me (and if it exists I'll find it!) is a full recommendation on a beginners set. As far as I can gather the cost of entry for decent espresso (grabbing one of the higher end hand grinders and trying to get a used deal on something like a Gaggia) could still run into the £300-£400. That being said, if that's the cost then that's the cost! Any tips on reducing that cost of entry for a newbie would be great!

[@farihahanjum]

if you found any such video or something please drop the link.... i have just been drinking instant Nescafé till now and since i found videos of professional and roasted coffee i just really wanna have that experience but every video i watch is sooooo expensive i just cant fathom or afford spending so much money on the machines stuff.

[@smartin5534]

I've been grinding my coffee manually every day for about four years now and one thing I will add to the manual grinder discussion here is that manual grinders that have a handle that moves vertically are unquestionably easier to use than the ones that are horizontal. A grinder like the ROK and others, with vertical movement, is a more natural motion that takes a lot less work and is a lot more fun. I look forward to hand grinding every morning, getting that first blast of aroma as your hand sweeps by the hopper and feeling the different resistances that various varietals, process and roasts will give you. There are coffees out there that grind like a hopper of feathers and others that go down like petrified wood. It's amazing and you can't experience this tactile distinction with an electric grinder.

[@Alessandro---]

You are absolutely right about the Rok, I had one (with matching lever 'presso machine) and it is true that it's a bit like meditation. Except that I like coffee to wake up, so the whole "slow coffee workflow" meant that I ended up making good coffee only at the weekend, and using my press-button bean to cup the rest of the time (or worse, a Nespresso at the office). One day I upgraded the machine to a LaPavoni, and the grinder to a Specialità (the one in the middle beside the one with the bellows). Life changing, very quiet, very fast, very precise. I'm using a separate grinder for filter and V60 though.

[@loganweber7488]

So happy to see a 1Zpresso grinder on the table, I've loved my JX grinder

[@kruks]

Something I'd take note of when choosing a grinder, particularly something like a hand grinder, is ease of changing the grind settings. If going between espresso and filtered coffee, ease of changing those settings can be important. Some grinders (hand grinders in particular) don't have any obvious indication of what setting they're on; it's trial and error. While stepless adjustment gives the maximum amount of control, some grinders feature easy to read numbers or wheels to change the setting and can save a lot of headache. I ended up choosing the 1Zpresso K-Plus not only because of the improvements in design (the alternating magnet twist release for the chamber is brilliant), but because the 90 steps on the grinder is so effortless to use and keep track of settings when switching from the Aeropress (at work) to the V60 (at home), and I'm hopeful that the 90-steps will give me the refinement I'll need when I get a good espresso machine (until I'm willing to spend $1000+ for a grinder, anyway).

[@HuslWusl]

I just recently upgraded to a metal burl handgrinder from Silberthal that only cost about 40€ compared to the old wooden metal bur grinder my mom got from a colleague back from the 70s. I must say it's much more enjoyable grinding with the new one as I can actually adjust grain size rather nicely (though in steps) and it's a lot less noisy (which is amazing for me) and takes only 1 minute at most if I go for an espresso grind compared to at least 2 minutes with the old one.

[@Frexus0]

I bought a cheap Hario Mini Slim as my first real grinder, couldn't be happier. When I'm tired of using my own muscle to grind, I just pull out my cordless drill, set it to high torque gear and off we go, no more manual work! 7mm socket fits the Hario very snuggly :D

[@Iconoclast1919]

You attach the 7 mm to the center point where the handle is connected or does the handle come off? Where do you attach the drill?

[@Frexus0]

@@Iconoclast1919 the handle originally is detachable (it's actually how you put the beans in the grinder) and sits on the 7mm. So just removing the handle allows you to attach any 7mm tool, including a drill.

[@Iconoclast1919]

@@Frexus0 Awesome!!! I have the tools to do this, so thank you very much for posting this suggestion and for answering my question. Coffee lovers unite! 😄

[@amacluskie]

James just called using a blade grinder an act of violence 😂😂 He's not wrong.

[@IncertusetNescio]

Bean flavor death by a thousand whacks.

[@joeees7790]

I love them for spices.

[@IncertusetNescio]

@@joeees7790 He mentioned that. I agree. Spices that are coarse by default (whole ones for freshness I think) are HELL to grind yourself. ~15-30 seconds with cinnamon or nutmeg electrically is much nicer than minutes by hand.

[@feralkitty33]

they work good for herbs, making powdered sugar and when you want a thinner granule flour

[@richardemerson8075]

I accidentally bought a blade smasher once and took it back immediately. The shop people were slightly taken aback by how cross I was about it. I refuse to call it a "blade grinder" because it doesn't grind anything. Useless machines.

[@Martin-vc6by]

I use a Kinu M47 Simplicity hand grinder for espresso and it’s fantastic. It was Hoffman’s number one choice in his review of hand grinders.

[@JanPopieluch]

One thing I wish you had mentioned is where those hand grinders fit in terms of uniformity. I was recently wondering for example how much money would you have to spend on an electric grinder to preserve the grind quality of Comandante.

[@meredith18352]

After upgrading my coffee machine it didn't take me long to realise that my old grinder wasn't capable of grinding fine enough to do it justice so ended up with a reasonable 64 mm flat burr grinder. It took me a couple of weeks to work out grind but the pair now work seamlessly together and my coffee tastes better than I get at most cafes. I guess it depends what you want but at $5 or more per cup of cafe coffee, it doesn't really take that long to get your investment back.

[@TonyTugwell]

Just bought my first burr grinder after decades of using a blade grinder. OMG, the flavour of my morning French press coffee is just at a whole new level. Thank you!

[@BuIIet]

Surprised not to see the Timemore C2 here, I think it would be a formidable $65 contender. Metal burr, grinds about 22g (two cups for me) in 20 seconds. It's my first and only grinder but I'm really happy with it. I also enjoy loading it up and grinding it every time. I feel like there's so many things to spend a lot of money on that just take up more space and at best automate a minute out of your day. I don't need a big electric grinder.

[@MasValderramitas]

I have the specialita, I recommend it for all types of grinds. It might be difficult to change the espresso grind size to v60, but if you know your machine, it's not a big deal. I also did an upgrade to the hopper and have a single dose with bellows and have zero retention. Pretty, quiet, very helpful and with a great community; I recommend it 100%.

[@RedRoverTW]

Couldn't agree more. Can't beat it for the price, or even a few hundred dollars more.

[@bigglyguy8429]

Exactly the same, got my doser and bellows from Etsy. I would prefer it if it had a bigger adjustment wheel and 0 calibration, but it's not worth spending more for anything else.

[@Dustybutdigital]

One thousand percent agree with this. My mignon has been a joy to use. Just upgraded to a rubber bellows too from Etsy and it’s even better!

[@bigglyguy8429]

@@Dustybutdigital My Etsy bellows are working fine but I have also ordered a rubber ball type, as I'm a bit concerned my current bellows might not last. The material seems flexible but very thin. Quite satisfying to fump the bellows and see that half teaspoon or so of 'extra' purged - and it adds to the kitchen's aroma!

[@Dustybutdigital]

@@bigglyguy8429 yeah the original bellows broke on me twice but this dude is now making rubber bellows. Same design and so far so good! www.etsy.com/listing/923944178/eureka-mignon-single-dose-hopper-and?gpla=1&gao=1&&EAIaIQobChMI_vKb4_WP8QIVRR-tBh3yoAE7EAQYASABEgLoLfD_BwE_k_&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_vKb4_WP8QIVRR-tBh3yoAE7EAQYASABEgLoLfD_BwE

[@be5952]

I appreciate James's assessment of the *_value_* of the 2nd and 3rd last grinders (the pricey ones) compared to the _crazy pricey_ last grinder. His crystal clear appraisal of the only reason(s) one could possibly _"need"_ such a grinder are refreshingly lucid. It reminds me of a similar *sliding scale of wristwatch quality.* As a newby interested in watches, I've read similar assessments that from a certain price bracket (a few hundred dollars) jumping up to (I forget how many thousand dolllars---maybe $2000 to $3000?) one generally gets a big increase in build quality. But between the 1st 'jump' and the next big price increase, the benefits are marginal or, sometimes none at all.

[@reuireuiop0]

There's need, yes And then there's the argument of, well " Oh yeah, I still _do_ grind my Beans in this machine here. Cost about 5 grand but hey the bouquet ", Signed Banksy drawing hanging on the wall above. That sort of thing

[@margaretwilson8736]

I love the aesthetics of your openings!! And you've gotten me passionate about the simple pleasure of a good cup of coffee in the morning.

[@okc4029]

Honestly, i never thought buying expensive grinder would be important. I started my coffee journey with a Oxo Conical Burr Grinder which is highly rated. For moka pot, it was good and french press all worked fine. However, i finally got an entry level espresso machine with the Lelit Anna 2 and the Oxo grinder was not able to grind fine enough even tho specs mentioned it could be used for espresso. I went for the Eureka Mignon Silenzio which is the same as the Specialita but without the numeric face and can tell it was a game changer! It grinds fast, consistent and most important really quiet compare to other model i’ve checked! Personnally, once you get into this hobby, sky is the limit!!!

[@amanda121905]

As someone who just switched to fresh ground a year ago and got a free Nespresso Vertuo last week I am diving into the world of coffee. I still use a blade grinder, and the difference between fresh and pre-ground is so massive I am excited to up my coffee game to get an even better experience.

[@DavidRachlinMLIS]

Even an inexpensive burr grinder will improve your coffee flavor by an order of magnitude over a blade. Especially if you're making drip or filter coffee. My cheap espresso machine works great with an inexpensive burr grinder. (A much finer grind would make better coffee and require a machine at least 3x the cost of what I have)

[@amanda121905]

@@DavidRachlinMLIS maybe one day I will have it in my budget to get a burr grinder. That would be awesome!

[@WhoLetTheElephantOut]

@@amanda121905 fully recommend. Blades tend to burn coffee during grinding

[@Crustee0]

@@amanda121905 you can look up timemore chestnut c3. Its like 40-50$ here, not sure how it is priced in your region. Heard tons of good stuff about that grinder even though im not really into coffee haha

[@bitcoins3212]

I remember James Hoffmann's advice on where to spend your money (on a good quality grinder) during your adventure with coffee when I started in the fall of 2020. That is why I am so pleased with my first and only grinder: Niche Zero. Thanks for another great video reinforcing that.

[@benyeung9879]

I am an engineer, and I grind coffee beans everyday with a hand grinder with using an electric drill rather than elbow grease. The one that I am using is the one next to the blade smasher shown on the table. My coffee brewed with using an electric drill often shocked my teammates.

[@misobeno]

I’m glad I’m not the only one who does this.

[@caffeineaddict213]

This is genius!

[@hotsupper1516]

I did the same! I ruined my hand grinder though by doing this :( so I bit the bullet and bought a Eureka Mignon Specialita. Hopefully I'll hand it down to my grandkids.

[@sleepyredmoo]

I do this as well! I have a Hario Conical Ceramic burr grinder, and I just take off the handle and stick my DeWalt drill on it, and it seems to be much better than what I can do with my hands lol

[@DiVO4271]

Надо пойти дальше: создать на штативе держатель для корпуса кофемолки и держатель для дрели. Чтобы уже совсем ничего руками не удерживать. И автонажиматель на курок дрели с регулируемым усилием. Мммм, красота получится для кухни. А главное, если суммировать стоимость всех компонентов, получится даже не намного дороже какой-нибудь Eureka Mignon или Baratza Encore.

[@jamesanderson2176]

I've owned a Baratza Encore conical burr grinder for many years now and have been very satisfied, overall. The quality is good - it has ground a great deal of coffee with minimal issues. The grind is also pretty consistent, within a particular coffee. The differing hardness of various beans does show off its lack of internal stiffness, though. A harder bean will result in a coarser grind, with the same setting. It is a bit noisy and unpleasant to listen to, but acceptable for the price. Its biggest weakness, to me, is that the inlet hopper is significantly larger that the outlet bin. If you fill it and walk away, you WILL come back to a horrible jam, often requiring disassembly to clear.

[@MsBluefox101]

I initially wanted to get a Niche Zero for my first grinder, but it's very expensive in my country (nearly twice the price mentioned in this video) and out of stock everywhere. Finally I ended up with Eureka Mignon Specialita and very happy with it. It's small, silent, fast and accurate. I think Eureka Mignon is one of the best choice for beginner up to prosumer. Niche Zero is also very good choice if you can find one.

[@ohheccitsbecc8578]

This video taught me that I am far too poor to care about coffee grinders

[@LIPOHIKE]

This video taught me only with $3000 for grinder, you just need only £300 left for an espresso machine

[@WarriorofCathar]

​@@LIPOHIKEsorry. For the $3000 grinder, you must use the $20000 espresso machine.

[@LIPOHIKE]

@@WarriorofCathar grinder is matter

[@ykhemani]

Thank you for the video, James! Great introduction! I mostly make espresso with a manual lever espresso machine, and I use a manual hand grinder. I really enjoy the manual workflow, as well as the results. In a time when the world is so focused on automation, that manual ritual provides a wonderful start to my day! However, I can also say that the best espresso I’ve ever had, ever, was made with that same manual lever espresso machine coupled with the Niche Zero grinder rather than the manual hand grinder I normally use. So I have a Niche Zero on pre-order. I also have another manual lever espresso machine on order (the Flair 58), so I’m looking forward to enjoying the results from that new setup as it comes together. Thank you, again!

[@Waffles783]

Any news on the Niche or 58? I'm on Comandante and Flair Signature for around 2 years now. No complaints but curious if you think an upgrade is worthwhile.

[@sildeweerd2344]

I have a question, he points to the 40 pound grinder as the cheaper one. For me, this is already above my budget. What is better in you guys opinion, buying a cheap grinder and grinding myself, or let my local coffee shop grind it for me but it takes a couple weeks for me to finish a bag.

[@ginamarten6646]

Always a quality review, James. As I'm about to upgrade my hand grinder, I have returned here and will now go find your reviews on individual grinders. Thanks for keeping it real.

[@murrayjoe7]

I don’t know the first thing about making coffee & I’ve always been more of a tea drinker, but since this man showed up on my recommended I’ve been completely hooked