New grinder recommendation

Bah! Forgot a crucial point.

Grinding will probably be about 75% french press, 25% espresso, so I need something that will spread across the range easily.

Solis does seem to get good general mentions. Otherwise, go up to one that'll last a lifetime .. the Rancilio Rocky.

Forgot to mention.... For a more authoritative and considered opinion from some real experts, try the key newsgroup for this topic, 'alt.coffee'. I found this newgroup by accident .. the alt.coffee site is the one for regular visiting.

Can't afford the Rocky, at nearly twice the price of the others, much as I'd like it. The Baratza seems to be a newer, upgraded version of the Solis, but it's very new, and I don't know if they've improved it or screwed it up.

Hmm. Think I might take this conversation over to alt.coffee.

Thanks, Colin

Wow, that's a 180 degree shift. It used to be that serious coffee discussion took place here, and alt.coffee was filled with nothing but spam, flames, and idiocy. Of course, that _was_ a decade ago...

Thanks, Colin

Oh, it still has its share of all that (this is Usenet, after all...), but it also has a lot more traffic with plenty of people who know coffee & equipment.

From the list you mentioned most people will recommend either the Gaggia MDF or Virtuoso since you'll also be doing espresso. I have the Capresso Infinity and it's great for drip & press, but probably is not consistent enough or have enough settings for espresso.

Yes, I've struck some v. idiotic people at alt.coffee, but in far less numbers than in some other sites I frequent, partic. dvd user groups. For the most part, ask a sensible Q at alt.coffee, and expect mainly sensible answers, unless you strike the occasional lunie with a particular (coffee) axe to grind.

get a refurb virtuoso from Baratza direct... $149