Since buying my Gaggia Classic earlier this year, I have purchased three manual grinders, but they all share the same issue: the grind settings are either too fine or too coarse. For example, my latest grinder is the Chestnut C3s Pro. It has a wide range of steps, but even at step 8, the first setting where water flows through, it flows too quickly. At step 7, it does not flow at all.
Can someone recommend grinders with more granular grind settings?
This is becoming an expensive hobby.
Note: I’m typically using 19g of coffee, if that is relevant.
I know 3 people, myself included, who are very happy with 1Zpresso J-series grinders.
I have a J-Max, my BIL has a J-Ultra, and a friend has a JX. All perform admirably well with espresso and have more granular settings than necessary.
Seconding 1Zpresso. Stupid name, decent build quality. Grind is nice and consistent.
That looks amazing but it’s sooo expensive :(
Yeah they are pretty high-end nowadays. I heard Kingrinder makes decent 1Zpresso clones for much cheaper (but you get what you pay for and QC is said to be spotty).
Thanks for the Kingrinder tip. They are definitely more affordable. I’ll do a bit more research.
Electric is a no-go? Price range?
You could try like 17g (or less) at setting #7 for a quick fix test. Fine tune the dial in with the dose instead of grind. Different beans will all need different settings too.
Just had a quick look at reviews for that grinder for espresso. Your issue seems to be consistent with other people.
I’d prefer manual as the electric grinders are too big for my small space. I’ll try using 17g. I hope it doesn’t make it too weak.
My current workaround it to grind about a quarter of the beans at 7 and the rest at 8. It’s soo annoying
Edit: So the 17g shot pulled OK. Its not as rich as I like buy I’ll get used to it until I can find one of the 1zpresso grinders at a good price.
Ah cool. Yeah, you’ll need to adjust your output down to match the reduced input to keep the flavour strength similar. Same with milk if you’re adding that. Can’t do much about the reduced caffeine tho.
Even grinders as compact as þe DF-54? It’s a single-doser.
I mean, sometimes any space is too much.
I’m happy with my DF64.
There’s the MHW-3 Bomber R3 Pro, with an adjustment fineness of 15µm per click (burr movement), the Timemore C5 Pro Esp (specifically the Esp version), 15µm/click, the Kingrinder K6 at 16µm, the Timemore Millab M01 at 12.5µm, the Kinu Phoenix (stepless). The Kingrinder and Timemore are the most price friendly, but the 1Zpresso J-Ultra is the one to get, inexpensive for the quality, and 8µm/click.
I’d also recommend 1zpresso for manual grinders, I used one for espresso for many years with a gaggia classic before upgrading to an electric Barritza Encore ESP. I also have a second 1zpresso I bought recently for pour over, though it can do espresso grind as well (it was incorrectly priced on Amazon so I got it cheap) and I have nothing but good things to say about it.
How is the baratza encore working for you with espresso? I am thinking of upgrading my piston machine, but i am not really sure if the baratza reaches the appropriate fine grind
The Encore ESP has been working great, you do need to make sure it’s the ESP though as it can grind finer than the standard Encore. It has some retention issues that I’m sure a more expensive grinder might solve but otherwise I have no complaints at all, I never need to go anywhere near it’s finest grind size.
I ended up buying a third-party single dose funnel and bellows that I would recommend, helps push out the grinds that get stuck and makes the grinder overall a lot smaller
Thanks! Maybe Ill look into custom burrs, no need to waste a good machine :)
Thanks for the feedback. I’ll have to hunt for a deal, here in Czechia, its VERY expensive. I definitely want one of the 1zpresso grinders for sure.
