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’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.