When you start reading about how to make great espresso at home, the first thing you find is that you’re going to need a great grinder. Everyone seems to agree that the grinder is the most important part.
The Grinder
I read comparisons, reviews, and recommendations. I was positive that I couldn’t afford the top-of-the-line, “pro-sumer” grinder of all coffee dreams. Despite being broke, I reasoned I should not let that prevent my pursuit of gourmet coffee in the home. So, I set a price ceiling of $50. I really had no idea how expensive grinders could get. I didn’t even think to look at the big competition sponsors. So considering these factors, the grinder that kept coming up in my search efforts was the Cuisenart, DBM-8, Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill Grinder. This was over 5 years ago, and Cuisenart is still manufacturing this model and has new ones for sale on their website. So, it must be a good “earner” for them.
It had great reviews on all the sites I looked at. Many people commented that it was very powerful and produced consistent grinds.
When I got it, I was very happy with its small size (6.00″ x 7.13″ x 10.75″). It doesn’t take up any counter-space and it is light weight. You can control the amount that is ground with the start button and the volume switch. Even if the smallest volume setting still grinds too much, you can switch it off manually before the setting’s “time-out”.
There were only two drawbacks to this grinder for me.
- It was a little loud. But that is because the motor is very powerful. You can tell.
- After a year of use, I really wanted to give it a thorough cleaning, but I could not figure out how to get the bottom, internal burr out to brush it off.
Other than that, it was easy to maintain and I was very happy with the grounds. For espresso, I actually didn’t use the very finest setting. I adjusted it up 2 or 3 notches to keep a very minimal amount of grounds making it into my cup.
The Espresso Machine
As a “beginner”, my requirements for an espresso machine were:
- consistent heat
- consistent pressure
- something easy to clean
- AFFORDABILITY (should have listed that first)
From my limited searching, I was pretty sure that I wasn’t going to find a machine for less than $100, but felt really lucky when Woot.com offered this Kaloric machine as a daily deal for $50! A quick review of the Kaloric.com site reveals this machine is no longer available. The Woot write-up stated 15 bars of pressure, and I had read somewhere that only 9 were necessary. I thought the appearance was very nice, as I am easily hypnotized by shiny, chrome plating.
This machine would heat up quickly and was ready to start brewing within 5 minutes. It didn’t take up much space on the counter either. Over the 5 years I owned it, I never tried to descale it or get inside of it to clean it, but I never detected that it needed it. Keep in mind that I didn’t use it regularly over those years.
I have sense sold both items on Craigslist for the same amount I paid for them! They held their value and they were still performing well. I learned some things I want in a grinder and an espresso machine. For instance, I want a stainless steel, 58mm portafilter, with a permanent, fixed basket. That is what is used in the cafes and conveys to me a sense of durability. Most consumer grade machines come with chrome plated brass, and eventually the brass makes it to the surface and affects the coffee taste. I’ve also learned that I want a grinder that doses directly into the portafilter, and only the amount that I grind for. So, that is what I’m looking for in a setup now.
What was your first setup? Do you have a recommendation for a home machine? When did you buy your first set?