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Grinder suggestions......

Cuir BelugaCuir Beluga
edited January 1970 in Grinders
Hi all, I am after a grinder suggestion for my mum.

She is predominantly an instant drinker but last week bought an Icona, don't laugh, but has no grinder.
I don't think it will get a whole lot of use but regardless, she needs a grinder. I myself have the SmartGrinderPro and am steering her in that direction but wondered if there was anything similar that would give a fine grind without having to worry about shimming and the like for a bit less $$?

Does anyone know anything about the Breville BCG600?

TIA Sue :).
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Comments

  • Brett HBrett H
    Nup!  Buy an Iberterial Challenge, Nemox Lux or Isomac Professionale.  They're simple, will last forever (mine's coming up to 20yo) and will grind consistently in their life for any extraction style!  They are a bit dearer than the sunbeam or Breville for good reason.  You rarely get them second hand because they're just so good people tend to hang on to them for ever!
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  • MoonMoon
    The Sunbeam 0480 grinder rrp $199 got some good reviews - but then I looked further and some didn't like it. Getting the grind fine enough to slow down the pour to say 25 secs would most likely be the downside of buying a cheap grinder. I had (still have it) the DeLonghi KG100 rrp $179. Not sure whether the grind would be fine enough on the finest setting though. I had problems with the pour being too fast when using the DeLonghi with my Gaggia Baby. if you don't live far away .. an option could be to purchase the beans and grind them on your smart grinder. You'd get a better grind and save her the mess and trouble of fiddling around .. unless your Mum doesn't mind doing that. Being a Nescafe drinker .. being pre-ground and losing a bit of freshness and flavour shouldn't be a problem at this early stage. Your Mum can then focus on working the machine ... and then later progress to a grinder if she is interested.
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  • LacehimLacehim
    I like my breville BCG800 smart grinder.  It has minimal mess, easy to use, easy to adjust the dose, and grind.  Personally heard way too many issues with the Sunbeam ones.  Any cheaper and your wasting your time/money. The BCG800 is an entry level grinder.  I actually had a Vario for a few years, and it was better but so messy, and a fiddle to get fine enough. :(  All the grinders that Brett mentioned will last longer than the Breville, but it depends on the budget. Now if someone can build a grinder that has a nice burr set, better quality (read repairable), and no messy or prone to holding lots of ground coffee in the shoot, I'll buy it.
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  • Cuir BelugaCuir Beluga
    on 1426579723:
    Nup!  Buy an Iberterial Challenge, Nemox Lux or Isomac Professionale.  They're simple, will last forever (mine's coming up to 20yo) and will grind consistently in their life for any extraction style!  They are a bit dearer than the sunbeam or Breville for good reason.  You rarely get them second hand because they're just so good people tend to hang on to them for ever!
    Thanks Brett :). If I had my time again they are the sort that I would be going for, I was actually thinking of giving her my SmartGrinderPro and buying something myself like what you mentioned above.
    on 1426585534:
    The Sunbeam 0480 grinder rrp $199 got some good reviews - but then I looked further and some didn't like it. Getting the grind fine enough to slow down the pour to say 25 secs would most likely be the downside of buying a cheap grinder. I had (still have it) the DeLonghi KG100 rrp $179. Not sure whether the grind would be fine enough on the finest setting though. I had problems with the pour being too fast when using the DeLonghi with my Gaggia Baby. if you don't live far away .. an option could be to purchase the beans and grind them on your smart grinder. You'd get a better grind and save her the mess and trouble of fiddling around .. unless your Mum doesn't mind doing that. Being a Nescafe drinker .. being pre-ground and losing a bit of freshness and flavour shouldn't be a problem at this early stage. Your Mum can then focus on working the machine ... and then later progress to a grinder if she is interested.
    Thanks Moon, I had thought of pre-grinding and then giving it too her, we don't live far apart and she probably wouldn't notice the difference, neither would I  ^-^. I have a spare herb/coffee grinder kicking about that does a reasonable job, I could lend that out in the interim.
    on 1426590261:
    I like my breville BCG800 smart grinder.  It has minimal mess, easy to use, easy to adjust the dose, and grind.  Personally heard way too many issues with the Sunbeam ones.  Any cheaper and your wasting your time/money. The BCG800 is an entry level grinder.  I actually had a Vario for a few years, and it was better but so messy, and a fiddle to get fine enough. :(  All the grinders that Brett mentioned will last longer than the Breville, but it depends on the budget. Now if someone can build a grinder that has a nice burr set, better quality (read repairable), and no messy or prone to holding lots of ground coffee in the shoot, I'll buy it.
    I quite like my Pro too Lacehim that is why I thought it would be good for her. I picked mine up for $199 at the beginning of the year from Myer, the cheapest I can find it for now is $250 from HN. This is the crazy thing, budget wise they could afford anything they wanted but as with everyone I guess they choose where they spend the bigger $$ and I am pretty sure coffee making equipment won't be it  :laugh:. Thanks guys :).
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  • KevohereKevohere
    on 1426627661:
    I have a spare herb/coffee grinder kicking about that does a reasonable job, I could lend that out in the interim.
    No, no, no, no and.......  :pan NO! They're choppers, not grinders!
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  • Cuir BelugaCuir Beluga
    on 1426628185:
    No, no, no, no and.......  :pan NO! They're choppers, not grinders!
    :laugh:, never fear, we are off out to buy a grinder later on today. I have kept the herb chopper/spice grinder "just in case"  >:D.
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  • MoonMoon
    Yeah .. the ol' herb grinder sent shivers down my back too Kevo ... blimey ... well .. ok .. I admit I've bean there  :-[ If I was out shopping .. what would I encourage my Mum to get  :question: Slam dunk that. Obviously one that meets my standards when I'm over visiting and making a coffee for myself.  :coffee2: Yep .. a $250 smart grinder. You'd be paying $180 for the DeLonghi KG100 which won't do the job well .. so it's only another $70 to get a decent one that will. No brainer  8) but hey .. I'm sure there are many who have the odd skeleton in the closet when it comes to choosing coffee equipment, especially in the early days.  >:D  It's all part of the journey.  :angel:
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  • Cuir BelugaCuir Beluga
    A cranberry coloured SGP it is, she is happy and at least I know how to use it  :P.
    on 1426647178:
    Yeah .. the ol' herb grinder sent shivers down my back too Kevo ... blimey ... well .. ok .. I admit I've bean there  :-[ If I was out shopping .. what would I encourage my Mum to get  :question: Slam dunk that. Obviously one that meets my standards when I'm over visiting and making a coffee for myself.  :coffee2: Yep .. a $250 smart grinder. You'd be paying $180 for the DeLonghi KG100 which won't do the job well .. so it's only another $70 to get a decent one that will. No brainer  8) but hey .. I'm sure there are many who have the odd skeleton in the closet when it comes to choosing coffee equipment, especially in the early days.  >:D  It's all part of the journey.  :angel:
    My herb/spice/coffee grinder has had all sorts in it. I ground up some cardamom pods in it a few years back and I have never been able to get rid of the residue. Mmmm, cardamom infused coffee  >:D. On a side when we went to HN to buy the grinder it was wall to wall Nespresso machines. There was a couple there getting "advice" on which Nespresso would be best for them, I couldn't stand the sales girl spiel I had to retreat- quickly. I know nothing but I know when people are talking crappola  :head:. I also had a nosy at the higher end Brevilles, no, I'm not tempted, but they seem quite solidish little machines, on the outer anyway.
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  • Dry_bean.Dry_bean.
    on 1426647973:
    My herb/spice/coffee grinder has had all sorts in it. I ground up some cardamom pods in it a few years back and I have never been able to get rid of the residue. Mmmm, cardamom infused coffee  >:D.
    Would like to tell you its an original Sue, they've been doing it in the Middle East since biblical times, Turkish coffee with cardamon is an acquired taste, I enjoy it from time to time.  :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardamom
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  • Cuir BelugaCuir Beluga
    I love cardamom both the taste and smell. I might have to have a tinker one day  :P.
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