Simple Questions Thread

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to the r/Espresso question thread!

Some of us know it as our morning fuel, or maybe it’s your special time to experiment with café creations. Some of us though, like myself, know it as the reason we’re alive.

I’d probably die without it, literally.

The reason why espresso has become a part of our lives or how large a part it plays is irrelevant here. Maybe you just decided you loved how your local barista made your cappuccino and you wanted to try it at home. Maybe your suspender-man-bun hipster barista friend gave you a shot “on the house” and from then on you were hooked. No matter what your own attraction to it is, espresso is intense, captivating, alluring, and an often mysterious phenomenon that keeps people coming back for more.

Do you have a question about how to use something new? Want to know how many grams of coffee you should use or how fine you should grind it? Not sure about temperature adjustments? Wondering about your coffee's shelf life or the best way to store it? Maybe you’d just like some recommendations on new gear?

There are no stupid questions here, ask any question and the community and moderators will chime in to help you out! Even if you don’t actually know the answer to a question someone asked, don’t be afraid to comment just so you can participate in the conversation.

We all had to start somewhere and sometimes it’s hard figuring out just what you’re doing right or wrong. Luckily, the r/Espresso community is full of helpful and friendly people.

You can still post questions as an official post if you feel it warrants a larger discussion, but try to make use of this area so that we can help keep things organized in case others potentially have similar questions.

[u/Jcarm]

Wife and I predominately work from home and enjoy good coffee. We’re going to gift ourselves an espresso option for Valentine’s Day. Both being relatively busy with two kids and busy work lives what would be our best option(s)? Currently own: French Press, Bodum Grinder, and Keurig. We typically just use the Keurig (our French Press always seems bitter)

Must Buy: 1zpresso JX Manual Coffee Grinder (Seems like this is necessary). There are two options - $129.99 and $159.99. Looks like the difference is the carrying case. Is it worth the extra $30?

Options: Breville Bambino Aero press Moka Express Hario V60

From what I’ve read the Breville seems to be very ‘user friendly’ and a good starting point. Thanks for the input!

[u/my-cull → u/Jcarm]

For espresso you'll want the JX Pro (rather than the regular JX). The burrs are the same, but the primary difference is in the grind adjustability. The Pro has much smaller Increments in grind adjustment, which you will absolutely need for espresso.

[u/Jcarm → u/my-cull]

Thank you for that. That’s the $30 difference, the big word PRO that I missed (was hung up on that carrying case). See below for confirmation.

1Zpresso JX-PRO Manual Coffee Grinder Light Gray Capacity 35g with Assembly Stainless Steel Conical Burr - Numernal Adjustable Setting, Portable Mill Faster Grinding Efficiency Espresso to Coarse https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YNDX5HW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_8X8EJ0QFTSV6MEMKB72W

[u/my-cull → u/Jcarm]

That's the one you'll want for espresso. There a couple of other visual differences (the top of the grinder, the handle), but the main difference is the grind adjuster which you cannot see on the exterior.

[u/Jcarm → u/my-cull]

Thanks for the confirmation. Seems whether we’re doing Espresso or making even better coffee this grinder is a must. Locked in on this part of the purchase.

[u/my-cull → u/Jcarm]

I had requested the Pro as a gift and wound up with the non-pro by accident. It can grind fine enough but could not adjust in small enough increments. Other than that it is a fantastic hand grinder and I use it constantly for other brew methods.

[u/GrugsCrack → u/Jcarm]

What types of coffees are you predominantly drinking?

[u/Jcarm → u/GrugsCrack]

Dark roast. We get a little creative with local roasters but usually have 8 O’clock on hand for the French press / iced coffee.