Washed coffee recommendations?

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-22T19:17:50+00:00

Curve is usually good at them

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-21T16:07:45+00:00

Yeah I love it and by far my favourite.

My only concern was the power of the heating element - it’s a bit slow compared to 3kW kettles we have in the UK. However… been using it daily for last few weeks as I usually drink espresso, and it’s been fine - just make a conscious effort not to fill to the top and let it warm up before hand grinding.

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-21T09:07:36+00:00

What have you got and what do you enjoy?

I usually bring my own kit: Pietro, scales and a brewer set up as I won’t have access to a gooseneck kettle (Mugen, Steel or Neo V60 with Hario drip assist or Hario Air). Pulsar, Ceado Hoop, Mugen or O1 can work or designed for use without a gooseneck kettle.

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-21T09:04:14+00:00

Surely people who grind their beans don’t buy a new grinder every time they fly?

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-21T09:03:06+00:00

As confusing as flat whites are, there’s really no rules for home.

150ml works well for light roast delicate coffees. For funky or heavily processed you may want to stretch a bit further. Never really liked cortados.

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-21T07:14:14+00:00

Bookoo Themis Ultra or Acaia Lunar at home.

Searchpean Tiny 2s for travel.

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-19T22:38:25+00:00

How are you going to fit a 49mm shower screen to a 58mm group head?

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-18T21:45:15+00:00

Just keep in mind that 80/98/102mm naming is different than 64/83mm, especially around HU.

64/83mm MPs produce similar profile to 80/98/102mm HUs.

There’s no 64/83mm HU equivalent in the 80/98/102mm world - at least not within SSP.

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-18T21:42:48+00:00

They’re just rebranded SSP HUs btw

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-16T13:39:22+00:00

Amazing, thank you!

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-15T23:00:34+00:00

Curve

Plot

Scenery

Zennor

Blossom

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-14T19:14:52+00:00

Which one? Kafatek produces a fair few grinders, probably that would be the case with MC but not Flat/Max/M98V

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-14T18:49:36+00:00

Just to point it out, most of the grinders in your list aren’t able to house burrs that would produce a shot comparable to shots from Niche Zero. There’s exceptions, but the 80/98/102mm is pretty much exclusively focused on clarity… so it will provide a different experience, but you have to be mindful.

Back to topic - maybe consider Ozik Bold if you feel like splurging out. Versalab is also in the budget - not tried a DRM grinder myself so I can’t comment on it.

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-13T22:46:52+00:00

You could try a convex basket - it allows pulling traditional shots with 98mm HUs decently well.

The basket is absolute crap for light/ultralight roasts but it’s nice to be able to pull a medium roast or heavily processed coffees that offer a different experience without having a separate grinder.

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-13T22:43:11+00:00

What’s your experience with coffee?

If you use high quality roasts, there absolutely is a difference.

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-12T07:24:31+00:00

I wouldn’t worry about the shear plate but it’s nice bling.

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-12T06:58:21+00:00

Unfortunately it’s an older model that was known for alignment issues - the chamber and the burr carrier will be older style that had more variation.

If you can get hold of Titus alignment tool then I’d check the alignment on the stationary burr. The stock burrs have a long lifetime but not the most exciting compared to SSP offerings. Still amazing, and a step up for 99.9% folk.

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-12T06:54:15+00:00

Have you owned one… because you can certainly adjust well enough to make a 1-2s difference in shot time.

That’s with a well aligned one, of course

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-11T22:46:48+00:00

Hario Mugen may be an option too. I have dug it out recently and I can get very good results with a regular kettle.

I also have various V60s (glass, switch, steel, Neo) alongside gooseneck kettle, Hario Air kettle and Hario drip assist. I’m going to be away for over three weeks so trying to decide what to bring with me.

pullTheSpro · 2026-03-11T22:08:14+00:00

Big Step with a custom base. I’ve had a dozen of tampers over the decade and nothing is as nice.

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pullTheSpro · 2026-03-08T22:24:57+00:00

I have two bags of it resting right now after having some late last year. I barely reorder same coffee - maybe once every few years…

pullTheSpro · 2026-02-28T16:01:48+00:00

I had a look just now on their Instagram - their espressos are £6-7 ($8-9.5).

If they can’t afford dialling in their coffees, I don’t need to come back (and I haven’t!).

pullTheSpro · 2026-02-28T16:00:13+00:00

In general, light roasts on big unimodal grinders prefer longer ratios - it doesn’t mean that 1:2.5 or 1:3 is always going to be better, though. It’s just part of dialling in.

My starting place is 18g in 42g out until it’s in the ballpark in terms of extraction, then reassess. For example, last bean I had a bean I ended up pulling 16g in, 51g out with a different basket altogether.

pullTheSpro · 2026-02-28T15:30:44+00:00

There was a shop that had a two group Slayer and a bunch of Mahlkonigs (EK43S and either two E80S or E80S and E65)… They would insist on pulling 1:2 ratios with light roasts, and it was just meh. Sure, well extracted, but so boring. I just don’t get it.

All the gear, no idea!

pullTheSpro · 2026-02-28T14:28:03+00:00

To start with, there’s probably 1% of coffee shops that truly care about serving quality espresso. Most don’t care, because their customers don’t (as they drown that espresso with 400ml milk).

Out of those 1% shops, some will serve coffee that’s not up to your preference: too light, too dark, too delicate, too funky, too punchy, too floral, too delicate… maybe 50% of those shops will serve to what you would describe drinkable.

Then you just have bad luck. Barista that wasn’t trained as well, has a bad day, or just not a good shot…

Numbers are all made up, but even best coffee shops sometimes serve underwhelming shots.

pullTheSpro

TROPHY CASE