Now for the derail. I'm sorta in the same boat as the OP, tho' at a higher price point.
I really enjoy an espresso OCCASIONALLY but investing $2k on a Mahlkonig isn't justifiable for the occasional weekend where I pull ~6 shots. $700 on a Mazzer isn't quite so irrational, but seems over the edge to me.
A Baratza Sette 270 w/ both the AP & BG burr sets looks very attractive but ....
- many reports that it lacks range on the coarse/drip range, and that the BG burrs aren't a complete solution (too many fines on coarse).
- there are a LOT of reports of infant-death. The machine just stops spinning. Seems to be a headache w/ the DC motor. *MAYBE* recently fixed, Baratza has good support, but ...
Baratza Vario ~$480 ?
- several burr choices, from a default ceramic to a (+$60) steel replacement that promises to do manual/coarse better ? Good enough ? Reputedly hard to dial-in for espresso.
A Super Jolly ~$700 for a 90% drip/manual operation sounds like a bad idea tho' probably a superior solution for espresso. Comments ?
Should I just get an Encore or Virtuoso and a Lido hand-grinder (maybe $430 total) ? BUt that's more $$ than a Sette 270 + BG burrs I have to crank the beast.
I'm not a Baratza fanboy, but they seem to have a number of reasonable grinders. More than willing to look at better options.