Hot take: I picked a $200 manual grinder over a new espresso machine upgrade for my apartment in Denver.

After a month, the pour-overs are noticeably cleaner, but I'm still missing that morning shot, so has anyone else made a similar gear choice and regretted it?

2 comments

2 Comments

oliver2421mo ago

You say you're missing that morning shot, but is a "cleaner" pour-over really a loss? I'd take the control and quiet ritual of a manual grind over machine noise and maintenance any day.

calebrivera1mo ago

My old espresso machine broke down last year and I just never replaced it. Now my morning is just me, a cheap scale, and the Hario V60. That first quiet minute of pouring the bloom and watching it bubble up feels like a tiny win before the day even starts. The cleanup is a breeze compared to descaling and backflushing some loud appliance. Honestly, I don't miss the drama of trying to pull a perfect shot while half asleep.