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Best hand grinder for french press

I am currently trying to take my first steps into home brewing. I currently use a keurig and just can't stand it anymore! I have already found a fresh certified organic whole coffee bean seller in my area. I also found the french press I want which is the bodum chambord 34oz. I am now having difficulty picking a grinder. I want a hand grinder, which is consistent. A fellow member named turtle said the skerton or cm-50, however I heard they can be inconsistent. I was thinking lido 2, but other members said that is for users wanting to reach espresso level. So any feedback would be appreciated:thumbup:
 
You may want to look at the Bodum Colombia or the Frieling presses. I've moved away from the glass ones, even my double wall Chambord has sat unused for the past 2 years.

I just got in an 8 cup Colombia yesterday to go along with my 4 cup that I have had for a while.

Understand when a manufacture says "cup" they are talking about a 5 oz Tasse à café European cup, not a 10-12 oz American mug. A 4 cup press will make 2 US cups of coffee.
 
Ok what about the sterling pro double wall 1 liter? That was the original one I was going to go with until I saw how much bodum is used
 
What other brew methods have you used besides the Keurig?

Have you tried using a refillable Keurig cup using fresh roasted coffee?
 
I have. I have the newest keurig out and it is all automated. I bought the keurig attachment and keurig refill cup so I could grind my own coffee and use different style k-cups. However anytime you use it, it causes the machine to clog immediately. It barely allows water to pass.
 
I have. I have the newest keurig out and it is all automated. I bought the keurig attachment and keurig refill cup so I could grind my own coffee and use different style k-cups. However anytime you use it, it causes the machine to clog immediately. It barely allows water to pass.

My sister has a Keurig and it needs a grind just a tad finer than press (rather coarse). If you are putting fine ground coffee in it you will have problems.

Have you used a Melita pour over? I would suggest you look in your local grocery store for one of those. When I travel I take a Beehouse which is a Japanese porcelain copy of the Melita dripper as Melita filters are easily sourced "on the road" and Melita makes one killer pour over. I brew directly into a pre-heated 1 liter thermal carafe. This would give you a "taste" of pour over for around $20 (dripper and filters). If you like it, you can move to one of the porcelain copies. Porcelain is nice as when you rinse the paper filter you warm the porcelain at the same time. One of the things you want to NOT happen is to have your brew water drop in temp as you start so warming the dripper to 195-200 makes for a better tasting brew.

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The Lido-2 is a good general purpose grinder if you are considering hand grinders. It should work well for French Press as it has a stable burr holder. I use mine when making press coffee, but that is less than 10% of total brew orders at cafe StillBrewing. The cross brace holding the bottom burr is main culprit in collecting a few extra grinds in between uses...perhaps only 0.1 grams at worst, but something that encourages one to give the grinder a shake/tilt after grinding to minimize what the crossbar and static electricity will try to hold back.
 
I would recommend the Lido 2 also but if you only use it at home I think I would get the Pharos, also from Orphan Espresso.

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French Press requires COARSE grind. Not sure if Lido 2 can deliver that.
I use a Kuissential Even grind http://kuissential.com/product/eveng...offee-grinder/ but not sure if currently available.
A Hario works nicely for french press too (modified to stabilize bottom bracket- see shapeways link below or google Orphan Express).
http://www.shapeways.com/product/JLU...bottom-bracket
http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Ceramic-.../dp/B001802PIQ
Both are manual grinders, inexpensive and durable, both VERY consistent grinds.
Best,
Mike
 
I use the Lido for French press at home. No problems. We also take it on the road for camping etc. The Pharos looks awesome, but it's more money and quite a bit larger.

Super quality from these folks - I can see the Lido being passed on to my kids.
 
+1 for the Hario Skerton with Orphan Espresso's lower bearing upgrade kit. Used daily for many years now, mostly for aeropress, but some french press too. Over all, very happy with it. Good consistancy. Makes for a nice clean cup on the metal filtered aeropress, but I still get a touch of fines with the Bodum, and I do mean just a touch... very minor.
 
+1 for the Hario Skerton with Orphan Espresso's lower bearing upgrade kit......... I still get a touch of fines with the Bodum, and I do mean just a touch... very minor.

Are you using a Bodum Colombia press? I've found that since switching from a Frieling to a Colombia I don't get the fines in my cup any more

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My Bodum is an older Chambord, 34oz. Actually thinking I might try the Espro 32oz with its double filter system, and thermos-like construction.
 
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French Press requires COARSE grind. Not sure if Lido 2 can deliver that.
I use a Kuissential Even grind http://kuissential.com/product/eveng...offee-grinder/ but not sure if currently available.
A Hario works nicely for french press too (modified to stabilize bottom bracket- see shapeways link below or google Orphan Express).
http://www.shapeways.com/product/JLU...bottom-bracket
http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Ceramic-.../dp/B001802PIQ
Both are manual grinders, inexpensive and durable, both VERY consistent grinds.
Best,
Mike

Just ordered the Hario, much appreciated.
 
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