First "Good" Grinder

[peter]

In the long run, I think you'd be better served by the KA.  Burrs can be replaced for ~$30 in a matter of minutes, parts should always be available, and it'll outlive most of us (especially that ol' Texan)      I'd bet most of those grinders around $100, i.e., Saeco, Baratza, Capresso, etc., if you took them apart you see the same motor, the same burrs, the same plastic.  But I'd shop around and wait for a deal on the KA; if you're going to pay more than $150 for one you may as well spend a little more and get something even better.

Yeah, and some folks have modded the KA PL into a good espresso grinder by making it stepless and swapping the stock burrs for Mazzer mini burrs. And this ol' Texan has very slim hopes of outliving a housefly! 

Now you have my ears perked up!  I wonder what it takes to swap Mazzer burrs into a KA.

[MMW]

Me too.  I'd drop my Rossi in a heart beat if the KA could be made to do real espresso.  I really like the foot print of the KA 

I had one of those cheap Capresso mills before the KA...I hated it with a passion.  It was loud.  It was messy.  And you could never, ever get that thing clean enough.

[cycler2]

Thanks, everyone, for your helpful ideas all of which I considered.  I spent far too much time looking for a used Mazzer, but could not find a suitable one.  I also thought hard about the $99 Capresso but, in the end, I decided on the KA.  I found one at everythingkitchens.com for $159.99 with free shipping.  I ordered the onix (black) version, which looks way cool.  It should be here next week. 

Now I need to replace my aging Krups Aroma coffee maker.  I know there's another thread here on this topic.  I'll just say I may bite the bullet, pony up for a Technivorm, and avoid my usual endless research.  But maybe I'll look at the Krups Power Brew, or...  Stop me before I use too much bandwidth.   

Thanks, again, for your help.

[peter]

You may want to start a new thread, you'll get more input based on thread title.

How much coffee do you need to brew?  Does it have to be a typical dripper?

[MMW]

Brewers that operate at 195-205 F

That ought to get you started. 

(Here comes the manual pour over brigade  )

[Tex]

Yeah, and some folks have modded the KA PL into a good espresso grinder by making it stepless and swapping the stock burrs for Mazzer mini burrs. And this ol' Texan has very slim hopes of outliving a housefly! 

Now you have my ears perked up!  I wonder what it takes to swap Mazzer burrs into a KA.

Two links about modding the KA PL grinder to use Mazzer Mini burrs;
http://www.home-barista.com/grinders/modifying-kitchenaid-proline-to-hold-mazzer-mini-burrs-t2811.html
http://coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/grinders/323700

remember, Google is your friend!

[John F]

(Here comes the manual pour over brigade  )

Unbeatable.    

The new kid looks really good too. More class and heat retention...why haven't I ordered yet? 

[harryho]

From reading those mods, I take it that the reason why the Kitchen-Aid does not grind fine enough to grind for espresso is that the burrs do not get close enough.

I wonder if fixing that problem would be enough instead of going through the process of this mod.

[MMW]

(Here comes the manual pour over brigade  )

Unbeatable.    

The new kid looks really good too.

Hate to say I told ya so, but...

[yorel23]

(Here comes the manual pour over brigade  )

Unbeatable.    
The new kid looks really good too.

Hate to say I told ya so, but...

Can't argue with excellence!! :notworthy:

[John F]

Hate to say I told ya so, but...

I am an ambassador for the truth.  

[YasBean]

From reading those mods, I take it that the reason why the Kitchen-Aid does not grind fine enough to grind for espresso is that the burrs do not get close enough.

I wonder if fixing that problem would be enough instead of going through the process of this mod.

Wow!  That KA looks suspiciously like my Flying Eagle grinder from Taiwan.  I have been wondering about switching out the burrs, as mentioned here.  In fact, the Flying Eagle burrs have two holes, too, and the burr size is 58mmx33mm.  Hmm... To drill or not to drill?