I grew up in Kailua-Kona, just a short walk from the beach, and like most people raised here, my first introduction to Kona coffee came early. Back in high school, my coffee-drinking habits were pretty simple, whatever was available, usually with way too much sugar, and even more tragically sometimes from Starbucks.
If you’re a coffee lover, you know that great coffee starts with great coffee roasters. And while there are plenty of coffee subscription services out there, only one truly delivers the best: Trade. Though to be honest up front, they are not a coffee roaster, instead they work to connect you with the best coffee roasters around the country.
For Christmas last year I decided to make the switch to the Fellow Ode Gen 2 from the Baratza Encore, and I haven’t looked back. If you’ve followed my coffee journey, you know I was on the hunt for a grinder that balanced precision, quiet operation, and a clean workflow. (I wrote about my decision-making process here and also covered why I needed the quietest grinder possible here.)
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If you’re in the market for a burr grinder, you’ve probably seen the OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder pop up on a lot of “best grinder” lists. It’s often recommended as a budget-friendly option that gives you an upgrade from blade grinders. But after testing it out myself and comparing it to better options, I can confidently say:
If you’ve followed my coffee journey, you know I’m a bit of a reluctant coffee snob. I love great coffee, but I don’t love the hassle that sometimes comes with it. That’s why I’m always looking for ways to make the best coffee at home with as little friction as possible.
If you’ve spent any time on my blog, you know I love coffee. And if you’ve been to my home, you know how much I love my coffee setup. But what if I told you that SEO (Search Engine Optimization) has actually helped me get free coffee? That it even pays for my whole setup.
As someone who works from home, a good cup of coffee is an essential part of my morning routine. But for years, my coffee ritual came with a downside: noise. If you’ve ever used a coffee grinder early in the morning, you know how loud they can be—jolting the whole house awake before you’ve even had your first sip. One of my first grinders I got at Walmart literally sounded like an airplane was taking off. This required getting a blanket and literally smothering it before turning it on.
Why a whole blog about what setting to use on a coffee grinder? Because when I tried to Google it myself I found there were way to many varied answers and nothing simple and clear. So with some testing of my own I wanted to share it with you.