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Debate: spending $250 on a proper grinder vs. buying pre-ground from the roaster?

I dropped $250 on a Baratza Encore about 6 months ago. On one hand, my morning pour-over tastes way better now (like, actually tasting the notes the roaster describes). But on the other hand, I could have bought 50 bags of pre-ground coffee for that same money. Some folks say the grinder is the most important tool, others say it's a waste if you're not a total snob. Which side are you on? Have you ever regretted going cheap or splurging on a grinder?
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2 Comments
joseph_ellis85
Is it really that deep though? Like yeah fresh ground tastes better, but I bet most people couldn't tell the difference in a blind taste test anyway.
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terryk10
terryk1012d agoTop Commenter
Oh man, I've been exactly where you're at. So here's the thing with the Encore - I bought mine used for like 120 bucks off Facebook Marketplace and honestly that's the move if you can find one. I tried the cheapo blade grinder route first and let me tell you, my morning coffee tasted like sad dust mixed with random chunks. With the Encore I actually get consistent grounds and my French press went from drinkable to actually enjoyable. But you gotta be real with yourself - if you're using a Mr. Coffee drip machine and just want caffeine, pre-ground is totally fine. The difference really shows when you're doing pour-over or espresso style stuff where grind size actually changes the whole extraction.
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