Baratza Virtuoso Grinder
Last Updated on Monday, 3 May 2010 04:36 Written by bjcoffee Monday, 3 May 2010 04:35
Looking for a great grinder, and want to avoid the problems with most entry level grinders? Then the Baratza Virtuoso Grinder
Baratza is a well respected name in higher-end grinders. If you are looking at a Baratza, expect to pay a little more. But you will get a level of quality and consistency that you won’t find in your average $100 grinder. And the proof is in the grind.
The aptly-named Virtuoso is advertised as a special grinder due to its low motor RPM, between 405 and 495. This means you will get all the benefits of a great burr grinder–low heat, which will leave the grind’s flavor intact; low noise and vibration; and less static, making clean up that much easier.
The Virtuoso is high enough quality that we would rate this unit good enough for use in a coffee shop where you will be grinding regularly. As a commercial user, the price will be a big benefit–as a home user, you will enjoy the level of quality built into the grinder.
We found the Virtuoso lives up to the manufacturer’s hype as a great model that is easy to use and easy to clean. The grind, performed by Baratza’s quality ceramic burrs, is astoundingly even and the flavor of the grounds is rich and undisturbed by heat.
The bottom line–if you have a few extra dollars to spend on a top-notch grinder, you will not be disappointed by the Baratza Virtuoso. It has the right mix of features and quality to keep you satisfied for years.
Gaggia 7002 Burr Grinder, Black
Last Updated on Friday, 30 April 2010 05:07 Written by bjcoffee Friday, 30 April 2010 05:07
Introducing the Gaggia 7002 Burr Grinder, Black
WHAT? A unit from Gaggia that is under $100??? Don’t get excited, like we did. Most of you are probably familiar with the Gaggia name. They are renown makers of high-end coffee makers and grinders. The thought of a sub-C note grinder from Gaggia had us drooling.
But then we tried it. And tried it again. And tried it some more. And much as we wanted to like it–we didn’t.
As you have to expect from a less expensive grinder, the quality has to be compromised, and that means plastic instead of glass, which in turn means static. Clean up was messy, and the hopper honestly just feels cheap. This in and of itself is not the end of the world.
But then comes the grind. And there is where we felt completely let down by our friends at Gaggia. Several of us own more expensive Gaggia grinders, so our expectations were that the grind would be in the same ballpark, which it is not. Grounds were not especially consistent, but worst of all, the fine grinds had marked differences in size. Against our better judgment, we brewed with the grinds to complete the review, and found the flavor lacking. In the Gaggia’s defense, the engine stayed cool, meaning that we were not losing flavor to heat. But, that is all the more reason we would expect more.
Playing devil’s advocate, we had to ask ourselves–do we hate the 7002 because we hate the 7002, or do we hate the 7002 because we expect so much more from Gaggia? Would someone who had never heard of them like this unit more or less than a comparably priced unit from another maker? We think you will like it less. There are several other units on this site around $100–any one of which we actually preferred. We actually believe you may be paying something for Gaggia’s name without getting any of the benefits.
The bottom line–if you really want an entry level priced grinder, this is not the way to go. Go with a different manufacturer, or save up for a next level up Gaggia.
La Pavoni PL-16 Lusso Chrome Automatic Espresso Machine
Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 April 2010 04:53 Written by bjcoffee Wednesday, 28 April 2010 04:53
OK, we know the La Pavoni PL-16 Lusso Chrome Automatic Espresso Machine
Good espresso machines are out there. Lots of them. But great machines for under $1,000–that is all but unheard of. So when we decided to branch out and take a look at the PL-16 Lusso, it was with some trepidation that the machine might not live up to the La Pavoni name.
As you can imagine, people who review coffee grinders are pretty passionate about coffee; and people who love coffee can’t go long without a fix of espresso. Having to go out for espresso is a pain, but most people refuse to spend the big bucks it takes to get a really great espresso maker.
If this sounds like you, don’t even bother reading the rest of this review–just click the link and grab a PL-16. The design is beautiful, day-to-day maintenance is a snap, the unit is easy to clean, and having a maker like this in your kitchen so you can have national coffeehouse chain quality espresso anytime you want–this is espresso nirvana!
The unit also comes with an attachment allowing you to use coffee pods if you wish. As coffee grinders, this thought seems crazy to us, but the option is there for you. You can also make cappuccino with the frothing adapter, so you have several options from the single purchase. The frothing function worked well enough, but our real love was the espresso.
Bottom line–if you want a great espresso maker with the taste of espresso from a thousand-dollar machine, look no further!