arturo7

Recipes 

moto, if you go with a blade you will have quite a bit of dust and fine particles. These will pass through the screen and make your coffee rather bitter. You will probably toss out the bottom 1/4 of your cup as well.

Just FYI, for the french press, a large cupa Joe takes about 40 cranks on the course setting. A double espresso takes about 120 cranks on fine.

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Hey, knock that shvt off. We're drinkin' here.

dataz722

Recipes 

Since you are not a coffee snob and it seems just want some "joe" then why not just use a drip machine? Then you don't have to worry about the size of the grind nearly as much.

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arturo7

Recipes 

That's just a guess. KB1 can probably give a better estimate since he has one.

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Hey, knock that shvt off. We're drinkin' here.

nealf

Recipes 

Actually, when the Baratza Maestro Refurbs are in stock they are only $67. I didn't realize you just wanted a cheapy cheap. I use a Krups whirly blade for my auto-drip and it is very easy to get dust if you grind too long, it sucks I wouldn't rebuy it. I wish I had spent that money on a decent burr grinder.

KingBrianI

Recipes 

It definitely feels like it would last longer than a year to me. Especially if you're not using it every day. I think you would probably decide to upgrade to an electric grinder long before you wore it out.

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motobrewer

Recipes 

i've been using a drip for 2 years. I buy unground for shelf life and taste. i have one of those grind n brew (got it as a gift). complete PITA to clean, and its huge and takes up a lot of counter space.

i got a french press for christmas. i want to still use unground.

40 cranks is manageable. might have to check out the skerton, then.

thanks guys!

Windigstadt

Recipes 

For what it's worth, I use a French press because it's much easier to keep in my office cabinet than a drip machine.

Also, I use a blade grinder and end up with a little sludge at the bottom but it doesn't really bother me. Now the bitterness... I never really noticed it but I guess I'd have to do a side-by-side tasting with burr-ground coffee to determine how much of a difference it makes.

motobrewer

Recipes 

adding a touch of salt to combat bitterness?

bosunbrew

Recipes 

For around $50, this looks like an awesome made-in-the-USA manual burr grinder: http://www.camanocoffeemills.com/blog
I just got a Zassenhaus last week (around $80). I only brew french press. I've found manually grinding to be easy, ritualistic, fun. I'd recommend getting a solid manual grinder (Camano, Zassenhaus, etc.). It will last a lifetime, probably longer.
The Bodum C-Mill (you can find it on the Sweet Maria's site, and elsewhere) is supposed to be a good whirley-blade electric grinder. Around $25, it has a better reputation than others for the price.
If you're looking at a cheap Black-and-Decker electric burr grinder, do some homework, because it might not last as long as you'd expect.
I'm becoming, not so much a coffee snob, but a coffee "adventurer": you might find that, as you learn more about coffee, your taste develops. It's an incredibly complex drink (i.e., hundreds of identified flavors). If you enjoy the complexity of good beer, you might find that tasting coffee with the same intensity is a nice way to start the morning. Sweet Maria's has some very interesting articles, if you're interested. Enjoy!

motobrewer

Recipes 

i ignored all your advice and bought a blade. i set it on the roughest grind.

i immediately regret my decision. there are coffee ground rings just like foam rings, lol. the amount of sludge was very surprising.

i will be buying a burr...