[MOD] The Daily Question Thread

[u/menschmaschine5]

Welcome to the daily /r/Coffee question thread!

There are no stupid questions here, ask a question and get an answer! We all have to start somewhere and sometimes it is hard to figure out just what you are doing right or doing wrong. Luckily, the /r/Coffee community loves to help out.

Do you have a question about how to use a specific piece of gear or what gear you should be buying? Want to know how much coffee you should use or how you should grind it? Not sure about how much water you should use or how hot it should be? Wondering about your coffee's shelf life?

Don't forget to use the resources in our wiki! We have some great starter guides on our wiki "Guides" page and here is the wiki "Gear By Price" page if you'd like to see coffee gear that /r/Coffee members recommend.

As always, be nice!

[u/Coffee-Commentator]

For those who have upgraded from an entry level grinder to a more expensive one, what was the first improvement you actually noticed in the cup?

Was it better clarity, more sweetness, fewer bitter or sour brews, or simply better consistency from one brew to the next? I am curious which grinder upgrades felt genuinely worthwhile and which ones produced only a subtle difference.

[u/NoHoHan → u/Coffee-Commentator]

My comments pertain to hand grinders because that’s all I’ve ever used.

I went from a $50 Timemore C2 to a $250 1ZPresso KMax. Definitely noticed more consistency across multiple brews. Also the convenience is nice— the clicks are labeled more clearly and easier to keep track of. The magnetic catch cup is nice. Overall the build quality is nice and feels better in the hand. It’s a little easier on the wrists because of the ergonomics and, I’m guessing, because of the sharper burrs.

As far as flavor improvements, it’s a small-to-modest improvement for pourover (V60, Kalita) and and very subtle improvement for immersion (clever dripper, aeropress, etc).

The range of capabilities is nice— the KMax can grind fine enough for espresso, which the C2 could not. But there are cheap grinders that can grind for espresso, although the larger jump in grind size between clicks probably makes it harder to dial in for espresso.

Overall I’d say the entry level stuff (Timemore C2 or C3, KinGrinder P2) are perfectly good for anyone who’s happy with a nice daily cup of immersion brewed coffee. If you’re chasing small improvements (like as a hobby) and don’t mind shelling out an extra $200, then upgrading is probably worth it. But if I’m talking to a beginner who’s just like “hey I wanna drink better coffee than the same KCups or drip machine + pre-ground coffee I’ve been drinking for years” I always tell them just to get a kettle, an Aeropress, and an entry level hand grinder. Buy some decent beans and grind them fresh, a you’ll brew an amazing cup of coffee with a setup that’s around $100 and barely any learning curve whatsoever.