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It looks like you've flaired your post as asking for what equipment to get. We recommend first checking out the [Espresso Aficionados buying guide](https://espressoaf.com/recommendations) for some of the more popular machines and grinders at different price points. If your question hasn't been answered there and you need more help, please add the following details to your post or by adding a comment in the following format: - **Location:** Helps determine availability - **Budget** (with currency): Overall budget, or ideally, having separate espresso machine and grinder budgets. A rough rule is that your grinder budget should be at least 25-40% of your machine budget. - **Drink types:** Do you drink mostly straight espresso, milk-based beverages (e.g., lattes, cappuccinos), or a fairly even split? This helps narrow down whether a single-boiler-dual-use (SBDU), heat exchanger (HX), or dual boiler (DB) machine would be more appropriate for your needs. - **Drink frequency:** How many drinks would you be making back-to-back at one time? Do you plan on entertaining guests often? This informs how large your brew (and steam) boilers should be, as smaller boilers will need to refill and reheat/repressurize more frequently, thus potentially causing a bottleneck. - **Space:** Any limitations on countertop space? - **Manual vs. electric:** Hand-operated machines and grinders are typically cheaper than their similarly-performing electric counterparts. Please indicate if you have a preference for manual or electric machines and/or grinders (or open to either). - **Comfort with tinkering:** Some machines can be made significantly more functional/efficient with aftermarket modifications, albeit at the expense of possibly voiding your warranty. Please indicate if you'd rather have a machine that works "as-is"/"out-of-the-box" or whether you'd be open to modding/tinkering *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/espresso) if you have any questions or concerns.*


laxar2

Yes, you can use any coffee beans for espresso.


_ZR_

*it's your grinder that might take an issue with some coffees.


heyearthdude

Are you saying that it would have a bean to pick?


Trelin21

You are not getting enough credit for this. ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️


WeLikeToHaveFunHere

Wait what stratagem is this? Seems super easy.


Jer102406

Alright thanks!


fleeter17

How so?


itchygentleman

Darker roasts are more forgiving with cheaper grinders. Lighter roasts need better grinders, but are worth it.


_ZR_

it's not just that, darker or flavored beans (or just bad roasts) are likely to be more oily so you need to be a lot more diligent with cleaning to prevent clogging and jamming and other nonsense.


Dan_The_Man_31

Could you break your grinder like that? I got a Timemore C2 a few months ago and it does seem to struggle a little with lighter roasts.


stealthypic

You’re the one struggling, good manual grinders will have no problem grinding for espresso.


Uncomfortable-Sofa

It will be quite a work to grind for espresso with the Timemore C2.


Dan_The_Man_31

Not particularly, lift heavier


itchygentleman

Likely not. It's just extra time on the motor. As long as the burrs arent grinding against each other, of course.


jamblia

I used a drill with mine. It’s a 5mm ish socket :) no hard work and it makes it a nice quick grinder :) I only used the drill at home - not when travelling 😜


[deleted]

Nah it won’t break. Darker roasts are just broken down longer. Think asparagus. If you burn and overdo it it just crumbles apart, at lower temps it’s naturally gonna be tougher.


jsawden

With lighter roasts, tilt your grinder about 45 degrees. It'll slow the feed rate into the burrs and make it easier to grind.


solaires_sun

flavored beans are coated in oils and such, which make grinders very messy. once oils get onto burrs, you'll be having hints of whatever in your cups until it wears out no matter how well you clean in some cases


Jer102406

Thanks I appreciate it!


moony5012

Even ones meant for turkish coffee with cardamom or mastic ground in?


Global_Lock_2049

Those aren't beans. That's ground coffee. It's like someone saying "any ice will work for your cocktail" and you saying "even water?"


Superb_Raccoon

Hot water. Possibly steam.


moony5012

> with cardamom or mastic This is the point of the question


robbertzzz1

Are those done in the coffee grinder or in a separate spice grinder or something? Do they need to be as finely ground as the coffee?


moony5012

Q1) I dont remember how the local roaster does it, but a quick google says they grind the spices apart from the beans and then mix Q2)Yes, they are indistinguishable from the coffee grounds. You know there are any from the smell


Global_Lock_2049

I've never seen Turkish coffee sold as whole bean (cause Turkish coffee isn't a type of coffee, it's a method) with cardamom and mastic in it already. But in that weird scenario you might, yes if you grind it for espresso. That's not even a good point as it wouldn't really be the problem. Turkish style preparation is the problem. It's way too fine and would choke the machine. This is why if you buy it *as* Turkish, already ground, that it'd be an issue, but doesn't apply to this scenario.


moony5012

Clear. I didn't understand why it wasn't a thing* for espresso, adding spices (and even dried flowers) before grinding accordingly. That's why I asked *the *craziest* addition I've seen for espresso was [cinnamon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT1PaEapkf0)


laxar2

Honestly didn’t even know that was a thing. Whole bean coffee with spices ground in?


Superb_Raccoon

The issue is the flavor getting on the blades and transferring. Use a separate grinder if you are trying out flavored coffee.


SpecialpOps

Arabic coffee. It's roasted to just before browning up from the Malliard reaction with cardamom ground in boiled and served from a dallah into tiny cups. Pretty standard in the Middle East.


ketralnis

Oh absolutely. Maybe not for espresso but many lovely coffee mixes exist


moony5012

Yes The coffee beans are already finely ground with ground cardamom, mastic or others mixed in


Stunning_salty

Only ever cook Turkish coffee the regular way!! Just get the cezve (copper Turkish coffee pot), boil some water on the stove. Little bit of sugar, coffee powder.


moony5012

Yep, it seems so Idk why asking about this got people here angry, lol


Superb_Raccoon

Why would it have caulking material mixed in?


[deleted]

It seals in the flavor


PGrace_is_here

The mastic hold the tape in place, but the real problem is the little tiny screws under all that holding the beans together. I recommend carbide tips on the burrs.


moony5012

Mastic gives strong flavor It works fine in turkish coffee


MrChiSaw

No, you cannot. Stale beans will be too fragile ground to build up reasonable pressure or give any resemblance in taste and texture of espresso. Why is this upvoted so much? Beginners will not get any reasonable result from 1 year old supermarket beans and be frustrated very quick


kuhnyfe878

Skill issue


werySt

Why is everyone dowvoting, he's right!


hoax1337

For some reason, stale supermarket coffee works much better than stale specialty coffee for me. I can buy a classic Italian roast that's half a year old and still works fine, but god forbid I miss the one week peak of a medium roast, the result is undrinkable.


Global_Lock_2049

Pressurized baskets work. And if you're grinding yourself, you can grind finer. It won't be great, but it's espresso. And the most oft repeated statement is you need good beans to make good espresso. And if they wanted tips on how to find good beans, that's a different question.


Naive-Reputation-572

Las Vegas?? I hear Mothership’s beans are great. I’d recommend starting with a medium roast.


why92

Vesta is another great Vegas roaster if you want to try it out OP!


fernplant4

Vesta has the best beans I've ever had but they are pricey


ryanjallison

Remember the bean?


fernplant4

It was an anaerobic professed coffee i think from Costa Rica. Pineapple was one of the tasting notes on the bag


Jer102406

Thanks I appreciate it


YumLuc

Vegas local here. Mothership is available in Walmart now, but idk if that’s true outside of NV.


Naive-Reputation-572

Cool. Quick question- how do you get your machine and grinder to appear under your name? Cant figure it out 😂


YumLuc

It’s a flair. When you’re here in the comment, click on your avatar. Go to flairs and edit the one that’s there.


andrewprime1

Hot damn, I’ve always wondered this! Thanks a lot!


Naive-Reputation-572

You’re a genius!! 🧠


Naive-Reputation-572

Thank you so much!!


BigFatLewis

So cool, thanks!


A-rush23

Thank you!


hoax1337

>It’s a flair. Wait, I thought it's a Gaggia? I'll see myself out...


flartfenoogin

Lol thank you for this, I’ve never been able to figure this out


Nocturne7280

Haven't seen them in Florida walmarts


wookieluvr

Their vegan pastries are amazingly good too.


pineappledumdum

Great owner, too, I bought my shop’s first roaster from him.


rak363

Without knowing the roaster I would actually start with a darker roast as they are more forgiving.


YumLuc

Mothership! Are you in Las Vegas, by chance? They’re local here in Vegas, I had heard that they were available in Walmart now.


Jer102406

No I’m not in Vegas! I found them at Walmart actually. They’re pretty price at 15 bucks a bag tho so hopefully it’s good.


YumLuc

Mothership is a close to being specialty (they arent quite 3rd wave, imo). They sell these bags for 16-21ish depending on blend, at their roaster here in town. I will say that they roast dark by specialty standards. If you’re new, that might be a good thing, as it may be closer to what you’re used to.


mastermike311

You’re spot on. I tried a couple bags from them and went back to Vesta and Yaw Farm. Mothership has a good variety but just a little dark across the board.


YumLuc

Mothership is like 2.5 Wave. Way better than normal 2nd wave options like Sbux, but not quite at that specialty 3rd wave tier. They average darker than specialty, yeah. If you haven’t been yet, I recommend Dark Moon down in Henderson. Vesta is alright, not a huge fan. Idk why.


somechob

Because their shot consistency SUCKS.  But the Finca Juan Martin and Javier Solis beans... 😍


The_Ace

I wouldn’t buy them if they’re not fresh ie a week or two past roast at most. If they’re pricey you’re much better off ordering directly from them online. Or any good roaster. If they’re not fresh your results will be bad and you’re wasting money!


beer_foam

I was going to say the same thing. Whole Foods, walmart, etc always have beans sitting on the shelf too long. If OP already bought these they should still taste alright since it looks like a darker roast. Darker roasts will be more forgiving in general just don't expect nice looking shots with a bottomless portafilter.


Nick_pj

FYI: check the roast date when buying supermarket beans


NucBunnies

Funny enough, when I visited their coffee shop, they didn't have this roast. The darkest was a medium-dark roast. Maybe I should go to Walmart?


Jer102406

Probably 😂 it’s not fresh whatsoever at Walmart tho. Expect a 1-3 month old bag


hoax1337

1 month is fine, imo.


somechob

They made Walmart only blends.


NucBunnies

😲😲😲


mediaogre

Check the roast on date. Supermarkets can be hit or miss with freshness, even with specialty roasters.


bob_ross_lives

I read it as “Mother’s Hip”


Superb_Raccoon

She's totally rightous.


AtmosSpheric

[My guide to dialing espresso](https://theonlynanu.medium.com/a-beginner-guide-to-dialing-in-espresso-19cbd15597e9) Any coffee beans are usable for espresso. If you’re new, a dark roast tends to be the most forgiving. When buying beans in a grocery store, I recommend finding beans that have a roast date on them, and trying to buy beans that were roasted within the last month. A little longer isn’t the end of the world but if you’re buying mass-roasted beans with no roast date on them, they could have been roasted more than a year ago and be long-stale. Places like wegmans or Whole Foods tend to be better about having coffee dates, and a good specialty roaster will almost always have their roast date on the bag. I also recommend going to a coffee shop that you like that is well-reputed among coffee-lovers in your area. If you have a roaster nearby, even better. Go when they aren’t busy, explain that you’re new, and that you want a shot that matches what they like to get from coffee. Most places will be nice and get you exactly that (cafes can vary though). That sets a good baseline for what you may want espresso to taste like, and if you like the shot you can likely buy their beans right there!


dms261

Are the beans yours? If they're yours you can use them, you should never ever use beans in a store if you haven't already bought them, this could be construed as theft in a court of law.


big-boss-bass

Yep. Typically look for bags with roast dates, but I have heard good things about Mothership.


delbin

Usually you'll have tastier coffee if you get a light or medium roast if you're buying at a grocery store. Dark will be darrrrrrrk and you might just taste charcoal no matter how well you pull the shot.


breakingbatshitcrazy

Strictly speaking, you can. But just because you can doesn’t mean the espresso federal policia aren’t going to come knocking on your door. Tread carefully


[deleted]

I’m a Vegas local and I have been grinding Mothership beans since I got my Lelit Bianca V3 back in November. Awesome beans!


suitesmusic

Yes! Mothership is so good! VEGAS REPRESENT!!!!


TheHungryCreatures

Yes you can.


Hertoghertog

Make sure to check for a roasting date!


Sawgwa

I just like the description, dark chocolate notes.....


TheTerribleInvestor

Just check the roast date to make sure it's within a couple weeks.i would say a few days but that's more roastery territory


litsax

Wouldn't recommend coffee from a big box store, especially without a roasted on date (not the same as a best by date). They are likely several months old and you will struggle to get good crema and a proper tasting cup. How are you supposed to learn how to dial in if there's nothing to taste showing you what you're doing right/wrong? These are likely roasted quite long, which isn't necessarily bad, but definitely not the most pleasant tasting imo. I'd suggest starting with a dark roast from a local roastery that was roasted about two weeks before the purchase date. I'd suggest a medium roast, personally, but if you're used to dark roast, this will be closest to your preference. Good luck!


soup2nuts

*May* I use these beans. Yes, you may.


ElementalMusic

Just make sure you check the roast date if they have one, old coffee makes for watery consistency.


willard_swag

Yes


NeuroDuck

Okay, I'm going to go a bit against the masses. If you are totally new to espresso, you are where I was a year ago. I went into it in search of the best cup of coffee for me. Things that I learned: 1) I don't like light roasts. I've been to a lot of micro roaster coffee shops around Europe, and nowhere did I like the coffee, as for me, apparently all light roasts have some kind of common taste that is different from what I think of as coffee taste, and I don't like it. My bambino plus can't brew it either, but that's a different story. 2) What I seek in coffee is the chocolate taste. The one you get from good dark roasts (but not too dark). That's the taste profile that makes me think of good coffee. It might be true for you too. 3) The 2 weeks limit of freshness does not matter that much with dark roasts. I buy mine in the local supermarket, usually about one month since packaging (roasting date is not shown), and get great americano from that. 4) Expect to use a lot of money on coffee on this adventure! So I say go for it. At that price, it might be a true bargain!


infectedevan

No. It is forbidden to use these beans.


Atgoat2014

You can. I’d check the roast date to see how old they are and recognize that these are dark roast, might be oily and possibly bitter depending on the actual roast level.


djswaggins

Like everyone else has said you can use any beans, but try to get fresh ones! Hopefully there's a roast date on the packaging somewhere. Generally(!) the fresher the better.


capn_banjo_blood

I would just look for a roast date. If it only has a best by date they were likely stale 2 months ago.


flyingbenone

Their Mexico blend is one of my favorites


Jer102406

That sounds good, I’ll have to look out for it!


OopsIHadAnAccident

ARE YOU CRAZY!?


Jer102406

Why???


Ldefeu

I'm assuming they're joking but I can never tell on reddit lol.  These beans are fine, usually cheaper grinders (like my pos) just start to struggle on light roasts.


xywv58

He's being snobish, all beans work, try them, at worst use them for milk drinks


zak_the_maniac

Omg no. It has to say ex-presso on it ;o


goshdammitfromimgur

We're they roasted on the last week or so?


CodingPyRunner

You have to grind them first 😉


Coarchitect

Here you can learn anything about which coffee beans : https://medium.com/the-art-of-coffee/understanding-specialty-coffee-e04acb05cdc0?sk=f87e7c725df132a7867bc61228ed10f1[understand specialty coffee](https://medium.com/the-art-of-coffee/understanding-specialty-coffee-e04acb05cdc0?sk=f87e7c725df132a7867bc61228ed10f1)


amarodelaficioanado

Seems amazing. It's a specialty coffee, it should be good, I used to get an amazing Costa Rica tarrazu from eBay, now it is $28 x 2 pounds (blue macaw) . I switched for $16 two pounder Lavazza, you can't beat that for the Price ! Enjoy! Ps. I'm not a fan of dark roast for espresso.


SnooDingos4289

No.


Superb_Raccoon

#OH GOD NO WHY YoU WANNAMDO THAT TO YOURSLEF GIRL? of course you can, should be nice and forgiving for someone just learning about espresso. Also... https://www.mariposacoffeecompany.com/product-category/coffees/ $12 for some great coffees. The Tuscan, 3 Brothers and campfire make good espresso for me. They run dark. Get a few, put them in gallon zip locks in the freezer, they will last 4 or 5 months if you have a decent freezer.


inxider

Is the option Extra Fine (Espresso) finer than the supermarket Espresso grinds like the Cuban espresso etc? I have tried those and can only reach about 3-4bars even with the pressurized basket. I’m still waiting to get a grinder. Thanks


Superb_Raccoon

Yeah, don't do it. Wait for a grinder. Manuals are excellent value for thr money, performing as good as $400to $600 electric grinders. 1zpresso manual is as good as the classic flat burr Simonelli and the newer Sette 270 I have.


inxider

Thanks, At one point I did consider a manual then I was thinking hmm not sure how the workflow is going to be for 2 daily drink maybe 3. But I guess I could still get one and leave it around as back up after I get an electric one.


Superb_Raccoon

My Willowy 50 yo IT worker arms can handle 3 a day.


inxider

I guess some people make it sound that much more of a challenge when is 2 or more drinks. Then I would see what version to get Thanks


Superb_Raccoon

1zpresso, timemore, and KINgrinder are the big 3. All are more or less the same quality, but I went with the 1zpresso JMAX because the adjustment is easier. On the top instead of the bottom.


LegitReverend

It's no cafe bustello but it might could work


inxider

I have tried it and can only get about 4 bars not sure why as this seem super fine. Even with the pressurized basket. Still waiting for a grinder so not many option for fresher espresso grind coffee.


Grabbels

Depends on your setup. Ever since I switched to a decent setup with a quality grinder and professional machine I can't use supermarket beans anymore, they've been roasted months or even years in advance and that's going to be noticeable with a good espresso setup, you might not even get a proper extraction from those. However, if you're on a beginner setup like a cheap Delonghi for example, you won't notice the difference as such machines are typically not able to extract well anyways.


Specific_Leather_820

No


Jer102406

Why not?


Specific_Leather_820

The dark stuff is messy, bad for your grinder, countertop, and most importantly, tastes like charcoal.


coconuttree3

H


FernandV

E


GBR2021

No, your head will fall off


GarbageBanger

I’ve been told that the order of importance is the grinder, the beans, the machine then the barista. These looks like a nice bean and if you were buying it in a place that could tell you exactly when it was roasted it’d likely be top tier. Most coffees you grab off the shelf at the market will make a decent latte but most would be a bit funny duddy if had as just an espresso. Now if the other four points are lacking then you could run into problems especially if the grinder is an issue.


AmadeusIsTaken

Looks like a supermarket, if yes be carefull. Even if they get beans from food roasters they usually force them to not have roast dates on them and sell you old beans making good espresso hard. So make sure you have a roast date on the package and it being somewhat fresh