[magpie]

There must be someone on here, you have all other foodie / boozy topics covered.

I need to buy a birthday present, a coffee grinder to be precise but I don't drink the stuff so have no clue what I am looking for.  Something good quality but not too expensive would be ideal.  I'll also need beans I guess.  Any suggestions?

 

[SA Chris]

dunno about grinders, but I get my beans ground when I buy them, usually from Whittards of Chelsea.

As far as beans themselves go, I prefer full roast, usually Columbian, always fair trade. But this is a matter of personal taste.

If you are looking for a present, how about one of these http://www.smartcafe.co.uk/products/hot_cafetiere_mugs.asp

I live and die by mine.

[(woz)]

What is the grinder for? An espresso machine or a press pot or something else?
The cheapest electric grinder that is any good for espresso is probably one of the Iberital models. I have an MC2 that ended up being around £120, although I think they do a cheaper model at around £70 with the same burs in.
If this is too much then there are always loads of hand grinders on ebay - but its pot luck whether you will get something good. Not really suitable for an espresso machine, but would still be better than pre-ground. Sorry I can't recommend any specific ones.

As for beans, you can't go wrong with hasbean.co.uk. They will roast and post on the same day for maximum freshness.

Try asking on toomuchcoffee.co.uk. You are bound to get an in depth response there.

dan

[Sloper]

speak to imperial tea and coffee on steep hill in Lincoln.

Whittards is shite

[magpie]

If you are looking for a present, how about one of these http://www.smartcafe.co.uk/products/hot_cafetiere_mugs.asp

That looks ace, thank you, does it have a little filter bit in the lid, or is it just for drinking out of?  Looks great either way 

What is the grinder for? An espresso machine or a press pot or something else?

One of those plunger things a cafetiere (is that what they are called?) to begin with.  Possibly for a filter thing at a later date, but initially for the plunger one so what ever is best with that really, I think.  Can you tell I really have no clue.

Thanks everyone for the links, I'll go and have a look on them and further highlight my ignorance, you're all lovely! 

[Houdini]

If you were buying a grinder for a  s e r i o u s  coffee snob you would by a hand grinder.  An electric grinder generates heat as it grinds w/ a commensurate loss in flavour.

Whittards?  I wouldn't feed it to orphans.

[SA Chris]

If you are looking for a present, how about one of these http://www.smartcafe.co.uk/products/hot_cafetiere_mugs.asp

That looks ace, thank you, does it have a little filter bit in the lid, or is it just for drinking out of?  Looks great either way 

It got a built in cafetiere, so you can have hot filtered coffee on the go. You fill it with hot water and ground coffee, then press it down like a glass cafetiere. Just don't overfill it like i do.

Fuck me there are some snobs on this site. Explain what's wrong with Whittards? Isn't Lincoln a portal to hell, why would I go there to buy coffee?

[(woz)]

If you were buying a grinder for a  s e r i o u s  coffee snob you would by a hand grinder.  An electric grinder generates heat as it grinds w/ a commensurate loss in flavour.

But hand grinders make a range of particle sizes from coffee dust to relatively large particles - leading to a difference in extractions (some bitter/some bland). The bigger burs of a good electric grinder can do a much more even job, and unless you are constantly grinding, (e.g. in a cafe) then the temperature increase isn't going to be an issue.
Whittards isn't that bad imo; you just don't know how long the coffee has been sitting there for.


sorry to magpie for the shamelessly nerdy hijack...

[magpie]

sorry to magpie for the shamelessly nerdy hijack...

I expected no less, that's why I asked, I knew there had to be at least a few 'experts' on here. 

You've all been very helpful so far, lots of ideas, I'm more than happy for you to argue about beans while helping me out if it makes you all happy 

If you were buying a grinder for a  s e r i o u s  coffee snob you would by a hand grinder. 

He likes good coffee but I wouldn't say he's that into it or a serious snob by a long shot, it's more I am stuck for what to buy as a present and he's mentioned he'd quite like to have fresh ground beans.  I have a present buying reputation to uphold you see

[magpie]

Look at this, lots of real coffee snobs really rate it for coffee on the go, just in case I'd put any of you in the mood 

[tommytwotone]

dunno about grinders, but I get my beans ground when I buy them, usually from Whittards of Chelsea.

As far as beans themselves go, I prefer full roast, usually Columbian, always fair trade. But this is a matter of personal taste.

If you are looking for a present, how about one of these http://www.smartcafe.co.uk/products/hot_cafetiere_mugs.asp

I live and die by mine.

A vote from me on the cafetiere mug - got mine a year ago and have rarely been without it. An excellent invention to have in an office where the in-house coffee machine served utter bilge.

[rc]

The cheapest grinder that is worth buying is this Dualit one.
Pretty much universally "the cheapest worthwhile grinder" on various geeky coffee forums for making espresso. Also does a perfect job for filter, cafetiere, whatever you like.
It does feel a bit plasticky but then it is the cheapest burr grinder around - also can be found under the name of Solis and was once sold at starbucks under their own brand but it's all the same thing.
I've used this myself and have recommended it to friends who have been happily using one daily for a year or two.

Cheaper options are worthless. You only have food processor style whizzy blades grinders - as mentioned above, not fit for purpose.
Hand grinders - destined to be used twice and left on the shelf, unless the person is absurdly into hand grinding.

If you were buying a grinder for a  s e r i o u s  coffee snob you would by a hand grinder.

You are presumably only talking about people making coffee where there is no electricity? A quick review of several coffee psycho sites leaves me unable to find anyone serious about making coffee who hand grinds - even Schomer recommends commercial electric conical burr grinders.

Whittards: expensive for that quality but at least they put the roast date on their beans.

[slackline]

at least they put the roast date on their beans.

That must take ages. 

[(woz)]

This one goes out to my homeboy rc...


represent

[Fatleg]

I would like a home espresso machine. Any suggestions - I had a small dualit one- which was about 8 years old, but its broken and I want to replace it.

[rc]

woz: very nice. We are brothers of addiction 
I might have to wander over to Opposite right now and get a fix!

[fatdoc]

Look at this, lots of real coffee snobs really rate it for coffee on the go, just in case I'd put any of you in the mood 

I'm getting me one of them, they look ace.

As for the general nerd rating of this thread - i'm impresssed! learnt a bit as well.

Ta!

[Monolith]

Not much to add to what's been said really. Like others here, I've bought beans from Whittards in the past and been sorely disappointed. Despite refrigeration, they had a tendency to go off quicker than other beans I've bought.

Nowadays, I go to a supplier in town who provide a good array of varieties  and  at a good price. The smell of walking into a roasting room is unbeatable, I'd highly recommend  you try it.

In case anyone is after a supplier (I'm sure they will do mail order to non-trade individuals):

Bellews Tea and Coffee Limited
5 Hope Way, Liverpool, L8 7PH
Tel: 0151 709 4004

[magpie]

The cheapest grinder that is worth buying is this Dualit one.

Perfect, I am still swithering over what to do and this one was a possibility but I wasn't sure if it was worth the extra cash, I kept getting lost on all the coffe sites and not getting anywhere.  You've pretty much made up my mind for me.

As for the general nerd rating of this thread - i'm impresssed! learnt a bit as well.

You can't beat a bit of nerdiness and it has prooved most useful for me too. 

Expect me back with bean questions at a later date 

[webbo]

this pseudos corner.you'll be discusing bottled water next.

[rc]

Fatleg

I would like a home espresso machine. Any suggestions - I had a small dualit one- which was about 8 years old, but its broken and I want to replace it.

Depends if you want to make espresso or not.
I reckon the cheapest way to make espresso at home is
1. Buy a grinder: minimum being the £55 Dualit grinder I mentioned above.
2. Get a half decent espresso machine. How much to spend is tricky. I've enjoyed decent shots from a reconditioned gaggia that cost about £130. This is probably about the minimum spend.

It would be awesome to hear of a way to get a decent espresso shot from a cheaper rig than this!! 

The international standard coffee geek home set up is no doubt the classic "miss silvia" espresso machine (~£300) coupled with a decent commercial burr grinder (~£170 for the rancilio rocky or the mazzer mini for ~£340).

Beans: Check out hasbean.co.uk - once you have a decent home set up and can actually taste the coffee, its a case of finding out what you like. Hasbean seem to provide good quality, fast turnaround (from roast date to arriving at your door) and reasonable prices, with a good range of beans. Their premium espresso is a great blend and a good place to start.

[(woz)]

I've got one of these:

with one of these:


Pretty basic as far as coffee set ups go, but it can make a decent espresso. I would recommend.

rc: have you got any other hasbean recommendations? I usually get the espresso blend, but am on monsoon malabar at the mo. yum.

[rc]

woz: I'm a run of the mill geek with the default rancilio rocky+silvia set up. It's been reliably churning out good shots for nearly 5 years now...must be time to upgrade soon!
Hasbean - I've been through a large part of their catalogue! I am terrible at remembering what was what, but I remember liking the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe and the Brazilian Perfetio. The dotcom blend is also worth a go.
I've not had much luck with java from any supplier - hasbean old brown j didnt quite hit the spot and was a pain in the arse to get the grind right. Saying that, when I run out of beans my emergency plan while waiting for the mail order to arrive is whittards santos & j which I've always found perfectly agreeable.

[lagerstarfish]

I have a basic Krups vivo 15 bar espresso maker going spare at the moment - nowt special, but does the job ok. Was about £80 new and has had little use. PM me if you are interested.

[(woz)]

In case anyone didn't feel like a coffee already...