Coffee - do you and how do you consume it?

[Doodski]

Is a ceramic cutting head recommended or is that inferior to steel? I'm looking at hand grinders. I can take it with when I go hiking and make coffee on the way when I cook lunch. Walking will be a big part of my day soon so a hand crank model actually fits the bill very good.

 

[xray]

What is a cutting head worth for a large size like the DF83 uses? Then compared to a DF64 cutting head. Would it be as expensive as a upgrade to a bigger cutting head that lasts longer?

The difference in burrs boils down to a few considerations

• speed
  • larger sizes grind faster, the longer it takes the warmer the burrs get and heat is never good for beans prior to brewing
  • In a commercial environment speed means you serve customers faster
• quality
  • this is one case where you generally get what you pay for
• availability
  • if you want choices in design and material you need to look at commercial sizes
  • if you want replacing a burr set instead of buying a new grinder then you need to buy a higher end grinder

-

 

[Doodski]

The difference in burrs boils down to a few considerations

• speed
  • larger sizes grind faster, the longer it takes the warmer the burrs get and heat is never good for beans prior to brewing
  • In a commercial environment speed means you serve customers faster
• quality
  • this is one case where you generally get what you pay for
• availability
  • if you want choices in design and material you need to look at commercial sizes
  • if you want replacing a burr set instead of buying a new grinder then you need to buy a higher end grinder

-

IC. Cool... This seems like a decent portable grinder. Steel cutting edges.

1Zpresso Q Air Hand Grinder

The 1Zpresso (pronounced "Easy Presso") Q Air hand grinder was designed with affordability and portability in mind. Built to the same quality standard as the other 1Zpresso grinders, but more compact and with smaller burrs to make it budget friendly. The Q Air even fits perfectly inside the...

coffeeaddicts.ca

 

[xray]

Is a ceramic cutting head recommended or is that inferior to steel? I'm looking at hand grinders. I can take it with when I go hiking and make coffee on the way when I cook lunch. Walking will be a big part of my day soon so a hand crank model actually fits the bill very good.

I bought my daughter a ceramic hand grinder when she went off to University and it works well for making single servings. It's a smart way to start because when you buy an electric grinder later you can still use the hand grinder for travelling as you already mentioned.

BTW, good people at Coffee Addicts, I was just there last week and that's probably where I'll buy the DF83 if I pull the trigger.

 

[ryanosaur]

Similar conversation about flat vs conical burrs. Conical is slower, but supposed to be more precise. Again… most of this comes into the territory of minutiae.
Many of those little hand grinders can be pretty solid. A crank is nice vs some other options I’ve seen.
Using something like that will teach you about controlling grind size and keeping things clean. Those lessons transfer directly to using bigger and more expensive grinders, too.
I’ve considered getting a hand grinder for those Irish-y days that happens every now and again.

 

[antcollinet]

or a Aeropress and then get a inductive kettle with temp control, weigh scale, proper grinder and suitable dose cup and whatever other little accessories that I need to operate a V60 or Aeropress.

I have an aeropress (for when we are away from home - yes I do go to friends and family homes equipped with my own coffee facilities), and don't use any of that stuff.

It makes perfectly acceptable coffee (not up to the standard of my E61 group espresso machine - but good) using supermarket ground coffee and little fuss needed. If using at home, you might get better results with fresh ground coffee, as you can with pour. over, or drip - I don't know, I don't use it at home. BUT - it is not like an espresso machine which doesn't work well at all with supermarket ground coffee.

EDIT : Oh, and it can also make espresso strength coffee if you like milk based drinks. It's not espresso (no crema so texture is wrong) but it is OK in milk.

 

[Neddy]

Yep. The only equipment you can't skimp on is the grinder. Even then a quality hand grinder is better than a cheap electric one that may cost twice as much. If you don't need to make espresso then pour over, French press or moka pot are inexpensive options that can made good coffee. Good water, good beans and achieving proper water temperature are essential but really don't factor into much of the cost. If you want espresso then that's another story as far as equipment costs.

I got one of these to review Amazon.com: TIMEMORE Manual Coffee Grinder
and have been quite impressed with it. I think it exceeds my ability to discriminate between minor settings.

I use it mostly for afternoon decafs, but also for use with the Crucial Orb One Orb One review - CoffeeGeek for 'espresso' shots.
(Lost most of my sense of smell and taste to covid, but do still get the initial whiff/sniff (briefly) ok, but the actual 'drinking of' is less of a joy than it used to be.)

I've learned a lot from contributors to this thread, plus the J.Hoffman posts and sampling/testing exercises (I 'attended' both of the last two).

I use a (cheapest) Jura for daily morning brews, and have been quite happy with it...the simplicity of it (aside from the 'maintenance nags') is a relief.

As a teen, I worked at an A&P and loved fiddling with the big grinders and huge bins of coffee there, which led me to Braun blade grinders and drip coffee makers (in the late 60s).
I think I still have one of the blade grinders, and the 'last' drip coffee maker for use at the cottage finally bit the dust just in the last year or so.
I still have not lost my fondness for the drink, in spite of the recent 'loss of taste', the pursuit of that 'perfect magic coffee smell' still exites me.

Whoa. Lot's of "I"s there!....

 

[Doodski]

Hey Doods. Is espresso bean when ground coarser OK for pour over coffee drinking? I have access to 907g bags of espresso roast for a good price and I'm thinking of adding it to my shopping list. Then there is this and this coffee. I watched a video review and apparently it tastes pretty good!

 

[Somafunk]

Is a ceramic cutting head recommended or is that inferior to steel? I'm looking at hand grinders. I can take it with when I go hiking and make coffee on the way when I cook lunch. Walking will be a big part of my day soon so a hand crank model actually fits the bill very good.
View attachment 382144

When I was out in the hills on multi day biking trips I used coffee bags as lightweight/convenience trumps barista quality, such as these below

There was no point in having a 21lb titanium bike, 9lb pack weight whilst carrying a grinder

Coffee bags

 

[Doodski]

When I was out in the hills on multi day biking trips I used coffee bags as lightweight/convenience trumps barista quality, such as these below

There was no point in having a 21lb titanium bike, 9lb pack weight whilst carrying a grinder

Coffee bags

Thank you. Yes, I saw similar product when I was surfing amazon for bean and a V60 pour over funnel thingy. I am just hiking around the city river valley and will go to a picnic area and then walk up the hillside stairs or pathway to home. Maybe a 1.5 miles hike away from home but still in the city. If my arthritis flames up I will call a cab. So a coffee grinder, backpacking stove, titanium mug, a cooking pot and a Samsonite backpack is light enough for me. I can manage a few pounds with something to cook and make coffee for something to do. I'm really looking forward to getting some nature even if it's only a walk from home.

 

[Somafunk]

Ahh I see, I was not aware you had arthritis - it’s a cruel illness ….apologies

 

[Anthony LoFi]

NEW TOPIC
Why does a double Group produce a better crema than a single ?

I get better shots from a my double than single.
Ive tried dialing in grind size but still the same results.

 

[Sal1950]

Wow, all these coffee connoisseur's here.
I've used Folgers Classic Roast in a 4 cup Mr. Coffee for more years than I remember.
Brew it to High Octane 44 Magnum level using about 6 tbsp for a 3 1/2 cup load of water.
After it's cooked, I may or may not add just a pinch of sugar but do add a load of 1/2 & 1/2 to make for a smooth taste,
what used to be called Boston style.
After all, what are you brewin it for, the caffeine kick, something to get your heart pumpin first thing in the morning.
I grew up on my folks coffee, don't remember the brand they used but it was done in an ole stove top purculator.
Just leave it pumpin till the brew you can see in the glass knob on top looks good and black my dad said.

 

[Doodski]

Ahh I see, I was not aware you had arthritis - it’s a cruel illness ….apologies

O' yes I was diagnosed by my doctor about 2 months ago, went in for ultrasound and X-rays that confirmed it. Then I went in for steroid injections for each hip and the back had 4 injections and that made life wayyy better. Way better. So I can't take up in-line skating like before but I can walk, weight lift and swim too.

 

[Sal1950]

O' yes I was diagnosed by my doctor about 2 months ago, went in for ultrasound and X-rays that confirmed it. Then I went in for steroid injections for each hip and the back had 4 injections and that made life wayyy better. Way better. So I can't take up in-line skating like before but I can walk, weight lift and swim too.

Good to hear Dood, arthritis's a real bitch. I've been living with it and using some form of pain relieve for decades. Today it takes me about an hour in the morning of taking the meds and moving around until the joints start to loosen up.

 

[Doodski]

Wow, all these coffee connoisseur's here.

I'm trying to be one! LoL. Let's get technical!

I've used Folgers Classic Roast in a 4 cup Mr. Coffee for more years than I remember.

I smelled it and had it many times at work. It's not bad. It's palatable.

Brew it to High Octane 44 Magnum level using about 6 tbsp for a 3 1/2 cup load of water.

I do that too and it seems I don't get a good cup of Joe.

After it's cooked, I may or may not add just a pinch of sugar but do add a load of 1/2 & 1/2 to make for a smooth taste,
what used to be called Boston style.

Not me Mr! I am a 3 to 4 sugars and double cream sorta guy.

After all, what are you brewin it for, the caffeine kick, something to get your heart pumpin first thing in the morning.

I'm using the caffeine to stay awake through the day. In the morning after I splash my face I am awake but coffee would make it much better in the morning so I can get light footed and active longer.

I grew up on my folks coffee, don't remember the brand they used but it was done in an ole stove top purculator.
Just leave it pumpin till the brew you can see in the glass knob on top looks good and black my dad said.

Haha we had the same all glass percolator style model so one could see everything inside.

 

[Doodski]

Good to hear Dood, arthritis's a real bitch. I've been living with it and using some form of pain relieve for decades. Today it takes me about an hour in the morning of taking the meds and moving around until the joints start to loosen up.

That sounds brutal! I get really stiff and sore in the hips with a aching pain and the lower back @ the tailbone region shoots me with pain spurts so that I thrust my hips forward so that I can escape the pain position. Now after the injections I can manage this no problemO. I'll see in the next years what comes but I'm not going to worry too too much about it.

 

[Somafunk]

O' yes I was diagnosed by my doctor about 2 months ago, went in for ultrasound and X-rays that confirmed it. Then I went in for steroid injections for each hip and the back had 4 injections and that made life wayyy better. Way better. So I can't take up in-line skating like before but I can walk, weight lift and swim too.

I hope you’re on a bike, as a non weight bearing exercise it’s very hard to beat. If not get yourself an e-bike, it kept me able to cycle from 2015 to 2020 till my spms finally killed me.

I’m a double espresso x 2 so 40g of fresh ground bean when I finally get up and moving each day as I need all the kick up the arse I can get, and it can help shock my non functioning colon/bowels into action (damn spms finding yet another way to fu** with me)

 

[VMAT4]

That sounds brutal! I get really stiff and sore in the hips with a aching pain and the lower back @ the tailbone region shoots me with pain spurts so that I thrust my hips forward so that I can escape the pain position. Now after the injections I can manage this no problemO. I'll see in the next years what comes but I'm not going to worry too too much about it.

Good luck to the two of you.

 

[Doodski]

I hope your on a bike, as a non weight bearing exercise it’s very hard to beat. If not get yourself an e-bike, it kept me able to cycle from 2015 to 2020 till my spms finally killed me.

I bought a new Kona mountain bike hybrid ~3 years ago. I managed about 6 miles over a few days and my tailbone was aching badly from the arthritis and at that time I was unaware of that. I sold the bike because I knew I would not be riding with that condition. The arthritis diagnosis confirms I was right about that.