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I just received a lovely Gaggia espresso maker and Espresso Forte. What should I look for in a proper grinder? I understand a conical burr grinder is probably the way to go, but what are the main differences between one selling for $100 and another for $300? Basically, for someone who wants a good, but simple espresso experience, what type of grinder do you recommend? Thank you, Jon
by Jon, 03/15/2009
Kristen Nelson
Coffee Trainer
, Peet’s Team Member since 1999
It sounds like you've done your research and have already begun to come to some of the same conclusions I'm going to recommend. First of all, if you are brewing espresso using a pump (like your Gaggia) or piston driven machine, you definitely need a good quality burr grinder and those generally start at about $100. Anything less expensive than that will not permit you to modulate the fineness of the grind to match the brewing conditions to the degree that is essential to pulling consistently great shots of espresso.
What this means is that you should avoid buying a low end burr grinder. These have become fairly ubiquitous in the marketplace and generally range in price from $40-$60. The range of grinds is generally minimal, and the variance between settings is woefully larger than what espresso requires and what you'll get with a better (and more expensive) grinder.
A grinder that retails for $100 should do the trick, though as you increase in price you'll generally notice the addition of some of the following features: sturdier housing (steel as opposed to the hard plastic of less expensive models); better range of grinds and ability to better dial in a grind that can accommodate the natural changes in the flow of espresso due to changes in temperature, humidity, age of the coffee, etc; and dedication to brewing espresso alone, the same as a commercial grade espresso grinder.
We carry the Gaggia MDF grinder online at peets.com, which is a dedicated espresso grinder, meaning that you can only use it for espresso, which could be perceived as a negative, but the positive is that because it's designed for espresso alone, it serves that purpose very well. It’s a great grinder and it's so well build that you'll be able to it with you on your espresso journey for many years to come.
If you'd like more specific recommendations, check out the guide to buying an espresso machine on www.coffeegeek.com. In that section, the reviewer talks about grinders as well, because you truly can't talk about the espresso experience without talking about the importance of purchasing a good quality burr grinder. His point of view is pretty interesting and I completely agree - having a good quality grinder is so important to brewing great espresso that you should plan to spend about half of your "espresso machine" budget on the grinder! That’s telling for sure.
Question 2 of 6
Comments (1)
Matt Smith Denver, United States August 29, 2010
I got a refurb'd Breville BCG450XL Conical Burr Coffee Grinder cheap from ebay and I couldn't be happier with it. If you drink black coffee every day, then it is well worth the $100 from amazon over the $15 blade grinder at target. Disclaimer: I use it for french press rather than espresso. No experience with $300 grinders either.
I think the big advantage is that you do not heat the beans as much as from whipping them around and whacking them with a sharp object repeatedly. This is gentler on the flavor. Less grit, too! (though that partially still depends on beans)
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