Spent $45 on a hand grinder and it completely changed my morning routine.

The slower, more even grind gave my pour-over a flavor I didn't know my cheap beans could have, so what's one small upgrade that made a big difference for you?

3 comments

3 Comments

colescott16d ago

That hand grinder upgrade is a perfect example. I had the same thing happen with a simple gooseneck kettle. It was maybe thirty bucks, but having real control over the water flow made my pour-overs go from a mess to actually consistent. It felt silly that a different spout was the missing piece, but it totally was. The cheap gear gets you started, but one good tool in the chain changes everything.

the_mia16d ago

Totally get what you mean about the "one good tool" idea, @colescott. It's like the cheap stuff works until you hit a wall. My old blade grinder made coffee that tasted like dust no matter what I did. Swapping just that one thing for a decent burr grinder was a night and day difference. Suddenly I could actually taste the notes on the bag. It's wild how a single upgrade can unlock everything else you're doing. What was the last thing you upgraded that made you kick yourself for not doing it sooner?

fisher.thomas16d ago

Worry we're all getting a bit too deep into the gear sometimes. I mean, I used a basic kettle for years and my coffee was fine. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like @colescott's thirty dollar spout is cool if you're really into it, but most people just need hot water. My buddy swears by his fancy scale for grams, but I just use a regular spoon. It tastes like coffee either way.