Quick Question Re: French Press Grinder

[mhortsch]

Will a Baratza Maestro eliminate the sludge that I get with every cup of my press? Currently using an old Solis 166. Am sick of the nasty sludge.

[Mister Moo]

Nah. It might alter the quality and quantity of the sludge but won't eliminate it. Even a Mazzer (gasp!) allows some sludge in a press. Not much - but some. Do what we all do - stir or swirl the cup and, at the last gulp, smile at the nice little sludge pile in the bottom. Then, if you're a MAN - - suck it down.

[mhortsch]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

Nah. It might alter the quality and quantity of the sludge but won't eliminate it. Even a Mazzer (gasp!) allows some sludge in a press. Not much - but some. Do what we all do - stir or swirl the cup and see, at the last gulp, smile at the nice little sludge pile in the bottom. Then, if you're a MAN - - suck it down.

Interesting, I wonder what the average 'sludge' amount is. I'd go as far as to say the whole bottom of each cup is coated with a layer for me, that sound about right?

If it won't make much of a dif, I might not splurge on the maestro... although a refurbished unit is pretty affordable.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by mhortsch

If it won't make much of a dif, I might not splurge on the maestro... although a refurbished unit is pretty affordable.

I'm going the other way right now, anyhow. Turkish coffee! We embrace the sludge. We OWN the sludge. It's ALL sludge.

My 166 was barely fair for espresso and, after a year of daily use, it was making a lot of dust - that's what's showing up in your press. The Maestro was a little better for espresso and a little longer lived, I am told. But it won't disappear the problem. WTH? It all sinks to the bottom and only makes the cup taste better. Look at it that way. Or look at it this way: spend $900 for a grinder and you'll still have some sludge in the bottom of your cup. Or, get a Chemex and some paper filters - sludge-free coffee with a flavor close to a press.

Personally, I don't find sludge objectionable. A quick stir and it all spirals to the bottom and pretty much stays there, right?

[mhortsch]

You know, I never thought about reverting the possible Maestro funds over to Chemex.

That would give me one more method for preparing my coffee in the morning.

Good call moo.

[plexiprs]

I own and love my Chemex makers, BUT, they are not good if trying to get coffee out in a hurry or with minimum fuss. Chemex maker, tea-kettle, pouring a little, reheat water, pour some more, repeat.

Great clean pure coffee, just a little high maintenance .....

Embrace the sludge, or go Turkish for a month and you'll then be saying, "What sludge?"

[fizguy]

Originally Posted by plexiprs

I own and love my Chemex makers, BUT, they are not good if trying to get coffee out in a hurry or with minimum fuss. Chemex maker, tea-kettle, pouring a little, reheat water, pour some more, repeat.

Great clean pure coffee, just a little high maintenance .....

Embrace the sludge, or go Turkish for a month and you'll then be saying, "What sludge?"

Hee hee that was my experience too (except I was using my drip coffee maker and pouring over in that) so what did I do? went to espresso. No fuss there! Just

Turn it on, pull a shot to warm the cups, dry the portafilter, grind, distribute, tamp, lock in the portafilter, pull the shot while simultaneously watching the clock and the extraction, then clean it all up.

Then I suck the espresso down in 10 seconds.

[plexiprs]

All things in scale and all things are relative ......

My recent change to a new cappuccino cup ..... being used improperly in this illustration!!



For travel, I now use .....



And for tea ....