What would you do?
I love my Americano in the morning. I was reluctant to purchase the home espresso machine, but am now glad I did. We even got a good one. I’m troubled though and need some advice from our wonderful readers. I don’t have an espresso grade coffee grinder, so rely on the local coffee shop to grind my coffee. 99% of the time, I have been getting the pre-ground coffee (Stumptown’s Holler Mountain Blend) at one coffee shop. I make my espresso and am happy. Yesterday though, I purchased my grounds at a different coffee shop. Still independent and still Stumptown. Well, this morning, after repeated attempts, I am unable to make espresso. The grind is just to fine and my machine doesn’t have the power to push the water through. It becomes mud. I know it isn’t the class of my machine as I have been making really great espresso for over a year now.
My issue is this. Do I return it? I’m torn as this is 1lb of beans they can’t sell as it is already ground. In addition, I can’t find fault with them as they just put their machine to espresso grind and ground the beans. Lastly, I used some (not much, but a little.) Ugh. I’m torn. Help me out good readers. What would you do?
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I’m not sure what you should do with that bag, but you should seriously consider a home burr grinder. We got one a few months ago–after our cheapo spinning blade one finally kicked it–and it’s amazing what a difference it makes to grind the beans just before you brew (even as opposed to the day before).
I can give you my coffee grinder. I used to have a home espresso maker, but had to give up coffee as it made me grumpy. I’ll bring it to the meetup. I don’t know what to tell you about the beans. Maybe you could barter with someone who does drip. Even that fine it would work for a drip filter, if not a bit strong.
i bet if you went in there and said you didn’t like the grind, brought the bag, told them it f-ed up your machine. asked for maybe an equivalent weight in less fine ground beans… well, they might do something.
but yea, money back.. thats too far!
PS, my new favorite coffee experience in the neighborhood is heading over to the Ethiopian market on killingsworth and buying the beans green. pan roasting per pot.
its a whole nother world of flavor. you get all the most volatile stuff cause you are drinking 5 minutes after you roast. just great fun. and you get to totally smoke up the house.
Yeah George, I wasn’t going to ask for money back. That would be taking it to far.
Amy, how much does a burr grinder run?
Kai, thank you for the offer. Is your grinder a burr grinder for espresso or a normal coffee grinder. I have a normal coffee grinder, but am unable to get the grind right for espresso.
Dieselboi-
Clearly, you get your grind right, you get your mind right.
Do you garden? Might just have to write that bag off and consider it compost.
Then again, I’m also one of those guys who won’t return a meal at a restaurant even if it’s completely different from what I ordered…
Unless it was out of my way I’d go back and say that the grind didn’t work. Didn’t create espersso, created mud. Period. (nicely though)
I would imagine if the business has any interest in seeing you again… they would assess possible problem with previous grind, make an educated guess on a solution (new beans new grind), and send you home happy.
Go for it, and let us know how they respond.
Diesel, they need to recalibrate their grinder–you’re absolutely entitled to take the beans back. I used to train people to grind coffee for Starbucks when they started in the UK, which included calibrating grinders. It was shocking how many stores were getting the calibration wrong and sending customers home with “espresso ground” coffee ground either way too coarse or way too fine.
But in any case, if you wait longer than an hour after grinding the beans to make the espresso, you’ll lose flavor since moisture in the air attacks the flavor in the grounds quicker than in a whole bean (there’s more surface area). You’ll probably notice less crema on the espresso, too. So you have to buy a grinder of your own.
A Gaggia burr grinder is $99 from Target, and has adjustable grind settings on there so you can get it perfect every time. I’ve had mine for a year and it’s still in good condition.
i’ll buy the bag off you if you want… i was there when you bought it, so i know it’s still good.
I would think they would want you as a repeat customer . . . and as it stands right now - it’s doubtful you will return unless you can trust you’ll get what you want.
If I was a shop owner I would want my customers to come back . . . .
I’d return it
So, here’s the scoop. Jonashpdx offered to buy the 1lb of coffee from me, so he’s going to get it. That prevents any awkwardness between me and the coffee shop. While I agree that the shop would want to know about this, I just don’t want to deal with it and be “that guy.”
I will choose to purchase my espresso beans at this point from the shop I normally purchase from as their grind is perfect for my maker. I will also investigate purchasing a burr grinder per Amy and Matt’s suggestions.
Thanks everyone for you suggestions and comments.
Dieselboi,
I’m going to save you a lot of money, so maybe I get your bad grounds in return ;)….
Costco sells a Cuisinart burr grinder for under $30 (!!). I’ve had mine for almost two years… no probs. It’s adjustable but a little loud. But I just couldn’t justify spending 100 bucks for an effin’ burr mill.
Here is a pic of said grinder:
http://cuisinart.com/catalog/product.php?product_id=415&item_id=415&cat_id=3
Pay another $50 and you get the sleek, modern design of the Gaggia. I mean, it’s your choice, Diesel, but if you go with the Cuisinart, well, I won’t be your friend any more.
I geeked out and read a million product reviews before we got our grinder (I had to make the case to Sonia, and get a decent deal). We went with a Capresso 560 ($90 at amazon right now, but they have kitchen appliance deals all the time). It’s small, not too noisy, adjustable, doesn’t make a mess of grounds all over the counter… and grinds coffee well!