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$800 for a grinder and espresso machine? That's not bad at all. Compare with someone who gets a starbucks coffee once per day, they'll make back the $800 in sav

$800 for a grinder and espresso machine? That's not bad at all. Compare with someone who gets a starbucks coffee once per day, they'll make back the $800 in savings in like 4 months.

roflyear 4y ago
Classic "get into espresso to save money" lol. Espresso is definitely a pretty expensive hobby (tho doesn't NEED to be). But coffee can be cheap. $100-200 BIFL hand grinder, and like $50 for a brewer + tons of paper filters.
- SECProto 4y ago
  > But coffee can be cheap. $100-200 BIFL hand grinder, and like $50 for a brewer + tons of paper filters (if you're trying to do decent coffee for cheap, a $40 hand grinder and a $10 french press is fine once you get a good technique.)
  - roflyear 4y ago
    I am not sure I am aware of a great $40 hand grinder. I'd at least go for the Q2 Heptagonal, which is like $80-$100 depending on sales. Used I think you can pick one up for $60-70. But I agree on the french press. It is really forgiving. Worth buying a cheap electric kettle for convenience.
    - SECProto 4y ago
      Hario Mini Mill Slim. It's not fantastic, but it's a burr grinder, and it's consistent enough for french press in my experience. Too slow for fine grind settings though. Bought one as a student ~15 years ago. Options were much more limited i.e. nonexistent at that time, but it's still my camping/travel hand grinder. 1zpresso grinders are fantastic and (as you said earlier) a buy-it-for-life thing. But if you're struggling with cost, a Hario is much better and not much more than an electric blade grinder.
      - roflyear 4y ago
        Yeah. The 1zpresso grinder is really another level tho. The coffee will be much better than the mini mill. But I won't really knock it. I'd just suggest the upgrade if you can afford it.
        SECProto 4y ago
        I've used their grinders before and loved them, but they have some newer models since I last looked. The Q2 Looks like a great upgrade for my travel setup, and I'm at a financial place in my life where I can afford to do that (so likely will). I have a younger relative who drinks instant or preground, maybe if I give him my hario he'll start grinding fresh
        roflyear 4y ago
        See if you can get one used for like $60 - maybe join the "Espresso Aficionados" (not just for people who like espresso) discord. They have a buy/sell section, you can make a post that you're looking for one.
ambrose2 4y ago
This comparison never sits right with me because no one I know has ever bought coffee out every day. Everyone I know makes coffee with a machine, French press, aeropress, moka pot, or pour over at home. So an espresso machine is more expensive period.
- Gigachad 4y ago
  I know several people who go for a coffee once or twice a day at a cafe. Personally I do it whenever I’m away from home. Been going to the cafe every day for the last week. I’d say this is very normal behaviour in Australia.
  - TheHappyOddish 4y ago
    There seem to be a lot of Aussies here who do so and a lot of Yanks who don't (assumedly because they don't understand what good coffee is).
- TheHappyOddish 4y ago
  Most people I know buy coffee every day and are middle class, almost all of them are buying machiattos, flat whites, lattes or capuchinos. Most of them could save money - especially in the morning and on the weeknds - with an espresso machine and a decent grinder. Many of them have found the easy in between solution of a pod machine.
- joshlemer 4y ago
  Before I worked from home, when I'd commute downtown I'd usually end up buying a coffee on my way in, and then it grew to morning and lunch/early afternoon. Yeah if this isn't you then the comparison is void.
- justsomehnguy 4y ago
  There was a time when my morning routine included a visit to McD for breakfast and a cup of coffee. It's not StarBucks level of expenses but yet.
- martyvis 4y ago
gnicholas 4y ago
No one's saying that getting Starbucks every day is in the price range of a barista either (though they can probably get free coffee if they are still in that line of work). The relevant comparison is to the less expensive alternatives, like a hand grinder.
kevviiinn 4y ago
Or you can get a $150 burr grinder and a $30 pour over/French press. Why even bother with a whole machine like that?
- joshlemer 4y ago
  I mean, if you like French press then that's great! I used to, but am not such a fan these days. The press takes a lot more babysitting and futzing around. Grind the coffee, pour it in the thing, and the water, leave it for 5 minutes, come back and break the top with the two spoons. You've now dirtied 2 spoons, the container, and the press, so you gotta clean those. If you made too much for a single cup the rest will get cold and also too bitter. All of the batch will be silty if you're not careful. I just like the taste of an americano better, and I can make one in about 30 seconds, and dirty no dishes other than the coffee cup. The pour over is better than the press but still, you're futzing with the filter holder, using a filter, pouring over for a few minutes, and I just like espresso.
  - QuercusMax 4y ago
    Maybe you should try Aeropress then. So quick and easy.
  - brewdad 4y ago
    You greatly exaggerate the difficulty of a French press. My morning routine: fill and start the kettle. Feed the cats. Open my laptop and check email from overnight or start my Wordle. When the cat that hates the sound of the burr grinder is done eating, press the start button. ~15 seconds later pour the grounds into my press. Go back to the laptop. When the water is done boiling, wait a few seconds and then fill the press. Tell Alexa to start a 4 minute timer. Sometime in the next 30 seconds to 3 minutes, give the press a stir to mix in any grounds still floating on top. Go back to the laptop. When Alexa chimes, tell her to shut up and plunge the press. Pour 2 mugs and take one to my wife. Done. When the pot is cool, pour the grounds in my countertop compost and rinse the plunger and base. Wash it with soap if I feel like it or put it in the dishwasher if I’m really lazy. Set aside to dry until tomorrow morning. Whole thing takes about 15 minutes and 10 of that is for the kettle to get to boiling. Meanwhile, I’ve fed the cats and got my Wordle score posted to my friends.
yt-sdb 4y ago
What? 30 * 4 * 3 = 360. So someone could buy a coffee every weekday for 10-20 months before equaling this one capital expense, and that’s your argument for why wage workers shouldn’t consider it expensive?
- joshlemer 4y ago
  I mean, a grande americano at Starbucks here is $5, and supposing your partner or roommate uses it too, and that maybe a third of days you have 2 coffees, that would cost average of $13/day so yeah, you'd make it back in 800/13 = 62 days. But look, if you don't want to drink coffee this often, or are even less precious with how you like your coffee then it may not be worth it, I'm not judging!
  - epicureanideal 4y ago
    And you can eliminate the last 5 minutes of human interaction outside of work that you get in your day! What a win! /s When buying coffee outside the home, it's also for the change of environment, like renting space at a table in a third space.
    - ineedasername 4y ago
      I don’t want to pay $5 for the 15 seconds human interaction it takes to make my coffee order and silently pick it up when the very busy barista shouts my name. The 15 seconds are usually pleasant enough, a smile, please, and thank you. But human companionship at the equivalent of $1200/hour is pricey.

$800 for a grinder and espresso machine? That's not bad at all. Compare with someone who gets a starbucks coffee once per day, they'll make back the $800 in savings in like 4 months.

roflyear 4y ago

Classic "get into espresso to save money" lol. Espresso is definitely a pretty expensive hobby (tho doesn't NEED to be). But coffee can be cheap. $100-200 BIFL hand grinder, and like $50 for a brewer + tons of paper filters.

SECProto 4y ago
> But coffee can be cheap. $100-200 BIFL hand grinder, and like $50 for a brewer + tons of paper filters (if you're trying to do decent coffee for cheap, a $40 hand grinder and a $10 french press is fine once you get a good technique.)
- roflyear 4y ago
  I am not sure I am aware of a great $40 hand grinder. I'd at least go for the Q2 Heptagonal, which is like $80-$100 depending on sales. Used I think you can pick one up for $60-70. But I agree on the french press. It is really forgiving. Worth buying a cheap electric kettle for convenience.
  - SECProto 4y ago
    Hario Mini Mill Slim. It's not fantastic, but it's a burr grinder, and it's consistent enough for french press in my experience. Too slow for fine grind settings though. Bought one as a student ~15 years ago. Options were much more limited i.e. nonexistent at that time, but it's still my camping/travel hand grinder. 1zpresso grinders are fantastic and (as you said earlier) a buy-it-for-life thing. But if you're struggling with cost, a Hario is much better and not much more than an electric blade grinder.
    - roflyear 4y ago
      Yeah. The 1zpresso grinder is really another level tho. The coffee will be much better than the mini mill. But I won't really knock it. I'd just suggest the upgrade if you can afford it.
      - SECProto 4y ago
        I've used their grinders before and loved them, but they have some newer models since I last looked. The Q2 Looks like a great upgrade for my travel setup, and I'm at a financial place in my life where I can afford to do that (so likely will). I have a younger relative who drinks instant or preground, maybe if I give him my hario he'll start grinding fresh
        roflyear 4y ago
        See if you can get one used for like $60 - maybe join the "Espresso Aficionados" (not just for people who like espresso) discord. They have a buy/sell section, you can make a post that you're looking for one.

ambrose2 4y ago

This comparison never sits right with me because no one I know has ever bought coffee out every day. Everyone I know makes coffee with a machine, French press, aeropress, moka pot, or pour over at home. So an espresso machine is more expensive period.

Gigachad 4y ago
I know several people who go for a coffee once or twice a day at a cafe. Personally I do it whenever I’m away from home. Been going to the cafe every day for the last week. I’d say this is very normal behaviour in Australia.
- TheHappyOddish 4y ago
  There seem to be a lot of Aussies here who do so and a lot of Yanks who don't (assumedly because they don't understand what good coffee is).
TheHappyOddish 4y ago
Most people I know buy coffee every day and are middle class, almost all of them are buying machiattos, flat whites, lattes or capuchinos. Most of them could save money - especially in the morning and on the weeknds - with an espresso machine and a decent grinder. Many of them have found the easy in between solution of a pod machine.
joshlemer 4y ago
Before I worked from home, when I'd commute downtown I'd usually end up buying a coffee on my way in, and then it grew to morning and lunch/early afternoon. Yeah if this isn't you then the comparison is void.
justsomehnguy 4y ago
There was a time when my morning routine included a visit to McD for breakfast and a cup of coffee. It's not StarBucks level of expenses but yet.
martyvis 4y ago

gnicholas 4y ago

No one's saying that getting Starbucks every day is in the price range of a barista either (though they can probably get free coffee if they are still in that line of work). The relevant comparison is to the less expensive alternatives, like a hand grinder.

kevviiinn 4y ago

Or you can get a $150 burr grinder and a $30 pour over/French press. Why even bother with a whole machine like that?

joshlemer 4y ago
I mean, if you like French press then that's great! I used to, but am not such a fan these days. The press takes a lot more babysitting and futzing around. Grind the coffee, pour it in the thing, and the water, leave it for 5 minutes, come back and break the top with the two spoons. You've now dirtied 2 spoons, the container, and the press, so you gotta clean those. If you made too much for a single cup the rest will get cold and also too bitter. All of the batch will be silty if you're not careful. I just like the taste of an americano better, and I can make one in about 30 seconds, and dirty no dishes other than the coffee cup. The pour over is better than the press but still, you're futzing with the filter holder, using a filter, pouring over for a few minutes, and I just like espresso.
- QuercusMax 4y ago
  Maybe you should try Aeropress then. So quick and easy.
- brewdad 4y ago
  You greatly exaggerate the difficulty of a French press. My morning routine: fill and start the kettle. Feed the cats. Open my laptop and check email from overnight or start my Wordle. When the cat that hates the sound of the burr grinder is done eating, press the start button. ~15 seconds later pour the grounds into my press. Go back to the laptop. When the water is done boiling, wait a few seconds and then fill the press. Tell Alexa to start a 4 minute timer. Sometime in the next 30 seconds to 3 minutes, give the press a stir to mix in any grounds still floating on top. Go back to the laptop. When Alexa chimes, tell her to shut up and plunge the press. Pour 2 mugs and take one to my wife. Done. When the pot is cool, pour the grounds in my countertop compost and rinse the plunger and base. Wash it with soap if I feel like it or put it in the dishwasher if I’m really lazy. Set aside to dry until tomorrow morning. Whole thing takes about 15 minutes and 10 of that is for the kettle to get to boiling. Meanwhile, I’ve fed the cats and got my Wordle score posted to my friends.

yt-sdb 4y ago

What? 30 * 4 * 3 = 360. So someone could buy a coffee every weekday for 10-20 months before equaling this one capital expense, and that’s your argument for why wage workers shouldn’t consider it expensive?

joshlemer 4y ago
I mean, a grande americano at Starbucks here is $5, and supposing your partner or roommate uses it too, and that maybe a third of days you have 2 coffees, that would cost average of $13/day so yeah, you'd make it back in 800/13 = 62 days. But look, if you don't want to drink coffee this often, or are even less precious with how you like your coffee then it may not be worth it, I'm not judging!
- epicureanideal 4y ago
  And you can eliminate the last 5 minutes of human interaction outside of work that you get in your day! What a win! /s When buying coffee outside the home, it's also for the change of environment, like renting space at a table in a third space.
  - ineedasername 4y ago
    I don’t want to pay $5 for the 15 seconds human interaction it takes to make my coffee order and silently pick it up when the very busy barista shouts my name. The 15 seconds are usually pleasant enough, a smile, please, and thank you. But human companionship at the equivalent of $1200/hour is pricey.