How to explain to non coffee lovers that the first pic setup beats the second pic setup by a mile ? What's your opinion on 1 vs 2 ? Any manual lovers here ? My kinu just arrived and pulled a light roast, amazing notes and aroma was on point.
by ak47grills
11 Comments
If you served me your best shot from both, I doubt I’d be able to taste the difference. I like my pump machine + electric grinder for ease of use and knowing that my fiancée will use it. Otherwise I’d be right there with you.
What’s the water capacity on the robot?
I think I see a kinu m47? I’ve not used mine for over a year 🙁
What’s your set-up on the first pic ?
I can’t agree with a manual grinder being better than an electric, although your specific electric might get beat by that manual one.
The Robot is legendary for a reason. However, I don’t think it’s the manual pressure aspect that limits it. It’s the fiddling around with a kettle and limitations on puck size, and the lack of milk steaming that do.
(I’ve always had a secret hankering for a La Pavoni Lever though).
Surprised with a robot over Christmas. Still yet to pair it with a suitable grinder!
Let’s just say, that unless I’m commenting on a Flair subreddit or something, I generally expect to get downvoted for expressing my preference for manual lever machines, but since you’re asking, here goes:
It’s hard to beat the quality/price ratio with a manual setup. It would be arrogant of me to say that the quality of espresso that I produce on a manual machine is unquestionably better than a shot from a semi auto machine, but with so many variables that can be tweaked with a manual lever machine it’s easier for me to make espresso exactly how I like it. So even though I have a favorite coffee shop in town that can pull some really good exotic single origin shots, and I do go there a few times a week, I still tend to prefer the espresso from my Flair 58.
People also talk about the hassle of manual grinding, and heating up water separately, but I feel like that’s less of a thing in the pour over community, since you hear less people arguing in favor of drip coffee in place of a Hario V60
If you don’t mind the physical effort involved, there’s a lot less that can go wrong with a fully manual setup. Every time I entertain the idea of getting an electric grinder, I start reading all of the things that can go wrong with electric grinders and the hassle of modding them, calibrating them, etc, Then I realize that neither my Kingrinder K6 or my 1zpresso J Ultra has ever given me any problems or required any maintenance other than a very simple initial calibration on the J Ultra. I also haven’t heard or seen evidence that an electric grinder would notably improve my grind quality.
I’m pretty sure I could be convinced to get a high end electric grinder, or semi auto machine, and in theory I like the idea of doing so, but thus far I haven’t seen a need to go that route.
I am loving mine, but I wanted that color (or lack thereof)! Don’t you love it?
“How to explain to non-coffee lovers?” By making them taste your products. Isn’t that true with any edible/drinkable stuff?
I haven’t tried manual espresso, but I’d love to get a Robot and give it a try.
I do enjoy a lot slowing down and manual grinding when doing pourover.
Love it. Try to buy one in the States though.