I finally understood the difference between a cheap grinder and a real one

For years I used a $30 blade grinder from a big box store. Last month, I borrowed my friend's Baratza Encore for a week. The first morning, I brewed the same beans I always buy from the local roaster. The coffee was smoother, no bitter bite, and I could actually taste the fruit notes on the bag. It was all about the consistent grind size the Baratza gave me. Has anyone else had a similar jump in quality from just one gear change?

3 comments

3 Comments

grace_bailey7d ago

That upgrade shock hits for coffee, knives, pillows... everything.

anderson.david7d ago

Gotta push back a bit here. A lot of that perceived upgrade is probably just the placebo effect from using a new, fancy gadget. Sure, a consistent grind helps, but it's still just ground coffee. The water quality, brew time, and even your mood that morning play a bigger role than people admit. Spending hundreds to chase tasting notes on a bag seems like overkill for a daily habit. My old blade grinder makes a cup that's just fine for waking up.

amy_foster793d agoMost Upvoted

Honestly, "just fine for waking up" is the real truth for most of us. Tbh, my mood in the morning is the biggest factor, way more than any gear. I used a blade grinder for years and it did the job. Ngl, sometimes I miss not overthinking it.