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Starter pack is usually a v60. A lot of places literally do a starter kit with some coffee, the v60 and some filters
https://coffeebrothers.co.uk/product/v60-starter-pack/
https://blackbagcoffeeco.co.uk/products/v60-coffee-starter-kit-coffee-maker
https://fullbloomcoffee.co.uk/products/hario-v60-starter-kit-black
https://www.neighbourhoodcoffee.co.uk/product/v60-starter-pack/You'll need is a grinder if you're not buying pre-ground, but that's totally an option too.
E.g. https://www.ancoats-coffee.co.uk/store/coffee/single-origin/regional/If you do get a grinder a hand one is cheapest, the Hario one is perfectly fine
offeefriend.co.uk/p/manual-coffee-grinder-hario-mini-mill-slim-plus/
But you can always spend more for a better one
https://www.horshamcoffeeroaster.co.uk/products/rhinowares-tall-hand-grinderObviously an electric one is better. I'd say to avoid ones that have blades and are actually a spice grinder but tbh I used one for a while and it's passable if you're not a massive nerd.
https://www.vonhaus.com/vh_en/plastic-coffee-grinder?
A burr grinder is what you really want, there are some cheap-not-great ones and ones that go up to £thousands, but sticking with filter rather than espresso means you can get away with the cheaper end.
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8727866
https://www.nichecoffee.co.uk/products/niche-zeroAlso you should get some cheap scales. A decent one doesn't need to be more than £20
https://caffeinegears.com/product/digital-kitchen-coffee-and-food-scale-with-timer-led-screen-usb-rechargeable/
But I just use some "jewellery" scales
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Kitchen-Jewellery-Weighing-ARIATI/dp/B0B2M47DT8/ref=asc_df_B0B2M47DT8/All that said, you could just use your Bialetti and either buy pre ground or grind your own
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfDLoIvb0w4
My recommendation would be a v60, as fancy a grinder as you want, and watch a Hoffman video on technique/recipe. Once you've got the weights and motions nailed it's under 5 mins to make a brew from scratch.
Sumo-
V60 is ok faff wise...but if you just dump the coffee and water in it's going to be shit. Gotta rinse paper, gentle pour, swirl etc. Plus like you say, need scales.
Aeropress is two scoops of ground coffee for about 15g, then fill it up for about 250ml. No rinsing no swirling no faff.
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good Informative post! but ditch the rhino and get a decent hand grinder from a brand like Kingrinder for the same price or cheaper (if going for a hand grinder).
Scrabble
MCamb
Coffee rookie looking for some advice.
I've migrated from instant to ground in a cafetiere but find it a bit of faff. My girlfriend recently got me a Bialetti that looks great but i'm yet to use it as it seems like more of a special occasion type thing. A long time a go a friend gave me a Gaggia deluxe coffee machine from around 2005. It's been sat in the garage gathering dust but firing it up this morning it switches on and the filter and steamer look to work fine.
I'd like to enjoy coffee more but don't have a lot of time/energy to throw at it right now. Would it be worth getting some descaler/cleaning stuff for the Gaggia and trying that out for size or are the two other options just as good/better for my needs. Alternatively what's the go to starter pack for lazy coffee heads?
Pending feedback i'd probably be happy to let go of the Gaggia if anyone fancies a free clean up project.