Picked up an Aeropress and a Comandante C40.
Also pictured is my very cheap kitchen scales, has been accurate enough to measure beans and water.
I know Comandante are expensive, my justification was they are a very well regarded brand and I wanted something I could rely on as I played with different brewing techniques.
Been having a great time, producing some lovely cups, and all cheaper per cup then the Nespresso I was drinking before
I felt like my Baratza Encore was expensive at the time, but after using it daily for a few years I feel like it was totally worth it. If you can afford nice things, they perform well and last a long time, then get the nice things.
I was starting to get into different ways of making coffee with my aeropress, and I had a hand cranked burr grinder. For about 3 days I was hand grinding a lot of coffee finely so I could make espresso-style drinks, and my arm was SORE. It would take me at least 5 full minutes to grind 18g coffee.
Miraculously, I found a working Baratza Virtuoso Preciso at the thrift store for $11. Took it home, brushed out the burrs, and it’s amazing. Best purchase I’ve made. I really feel like that is the best luck I’ve ever had! Well, besides my straight-white-male middle-class American privilege. That’s probably the best luck I’ve had. Gotta acknowledge the privilege.
But the $11 coffee grinder, definitely the sixth luckiest thing that has happened in my life
