[tiltowait]

I’ve used a little $20 blade grinder. The difference between it and a $200 grinder was night and day. Then I tried a $400 grinder. It was definitely better than the $200, but the diminishing returns were stark. Ultimately I kept the more expensive unit, though, because it generated about 1/10 the mess, was easier to clean, was faster, and ran much more quietly.

That’s my limit, though. All my research indicates you can get “better” cups by spending (a lot) more, but the difference is slim and possibly nonexistent if you aren’t some aficionado.

[espressow]

Todays <$100 electric burr grinder is the same tech as the $400 burr grinder from 15 years ago

Fanboys get obsessed with the story telling; except hollow body electric guitars, the wood makes no difference to sound; it’s all the electronics. People have setup body less electrics and get the same recorded wave form. But humans reduce the truth to manageable snippets to circumlocute

[pixelatedindex]

Definitely not true. If you want espresso, you’re going to be spending $200 at the absolute minimum, unless you get an 1zpresso hand grinder (but you can only do about 20g and making for >1 person is a hassle).

I have a $100 burr grinder (OXO) and the grinds are not very consistent. The Barratza Encore produces a slightly more consistent grind, and is $50-$80 more. The Encore ESP can also do espresso but the regular one cannot. Most cheap grinders cannot do espresso. Turkish coffee grind is even harder.

We have an expensive grinder at work (I think it’s a Mahlkonig?) and the build quality is night and day. The higher you go up in price point the better materials you get.

[espressow]

Oh sure if you go up the price chart today, cheap grinders get blown out

My point was the Baratza I bought over a decade ago for $600 is $250 for similar build quality now. And the $600 one now comes with a bunch of electronics and lights I don’t need.

2010s $250 grinder is $99-ish. Unless someone is putting in the effort to build the palette and notice the difference, anything over that is wasted.

Pin stripes, LED case fans add horse power!

[pixelatedindex]

> Baratza I bought over a decade ago for $600 is $250 for similar build quality now.

Maybe the exterior build quality? I highly doubt that the $600 grinder and the $250 grinder has similar internal construction. I'm not complaining if it's true, but I find it hard to believe they didn't save on cost somewhere. Maybe they're cheaper because of how ubiquitous it is now?

But yeah... those electronics and lights are an absolute waste.

[talldrinkofwhat]

Nice things I own:

1. 1zpresso hand grinder

2. 1974 Honda CL125S

3. Black totem cam x 2

Everything else can go to the dump as far as I'm concerned.