I've had a Weber EG-1 for a few months now, and was able to view Jupiter with amazing clarity on a light-polluted night. I was also the very first to identify Asteroid 93 Aphrodite, which I also did on my EG-1. I'm going to upgrade it to motor-driven tracking so I can take long exposures as stars track across the night sky.
Ah... i mean a budget car is usually aimed towards manual brewing techniques, put in a lower gear at lower rpm, you'll get some great consistent emission out of ur beans. pro tip- feed them in engine slowly after spraying it with some synthetic lubricant
They even got the same players lmao, with Japan and Germany leading the game, some American oddity popping up and Chinese stuff catching up, wonder if Austria will join the game, or maybe Italians started doing hyper compressed IEMs
they've done it long ago... while I'm sitting here thinking... my coffee is pretty good, I really don't need or have space for proper automatic grinder.
"There are times I wish [the steps] were a little bit smaller, but I'm being very fussy there." I dunno, seems OK to be fussy about a grinder that costs $3500.
lol and I thought selling a grinder for $1500 was a blatant attempt to soak customers with more money than brains. These guys are like "$1500? Hold my beer, I bet there are even dumber customers out there than that". Its a motor and a burr set. Talk about sailing past diminishing returns.
@@carpdog42 I'm not saying I would ever buy this or anything but I mean someone who does buy this isn't buying it because the grind quality of it is going to change their life and make all other coffee grinders look like complete trash. It's in large part for the build quality and design of it and how it all works and looks, and the fact that it is a very small company is going to make costs higher
Well to be honest "more expensive" is not equal to better, and the most expensive one doesn't have to be the best. There is always a sort of point where you mostly pay for things other than quality of the product and its results, such as design, names or more "professional" properties like longevity with high frequency of coffee per day. Super expensive grinders are often not automatically the best at grinding, they are really good combined with nice design, good service and materials. But the grinding often isn't exactly better or more refined than other more simple and less expensive grinders who focussed less on materials and design and more on the core function. The best grinding is not achieved by clever magnets or nice machining of surfaces, as great as they are.
My friends and family: Hey man, maybe you might wanna throttle back a bit on your coffee hobby-- Me: Ha ha! Telescope go *_BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR_*
@@jevenator Its inherent in how it works. I'm not sure if Ultra uses an AC or DC motor, AC motors are more common in industry but require a bigger controller typically then the one shown in their promotion video. Assuming its DC, the speed of the motor is determined by the voltage the controller is giving the motor and the resistance the motor is facing. The controller knows how fast the motor is spinning by an encoder attached to the back of the motor. The encoder sends the current rpm to the controller at some polling rate. If the controller is seeing the encoder say its spinning at 200 rpm but wants 250, then the controller has to increase the voltage to the motor. Says the slow down was caused by it hitting a coffee bean, once the bean is crushed with the new voltage, it will now be spinning at a rate faster than 250. The delay on slowing back down the grinder depends on the latency of the encoder to tell the controller, and then the controller to change the voltage again. Inherent in this system is feedback delay which will causing noticeable rpm changes. The only real way to combat this issue is not with electronics but sheer mass. If you have enough inertia in the grinder to overcome the sudden resistance then the controller doesn't need speed up and slow down the motor, giving you a constant rpm. A bigger, heavier grinder is needed if you want constant RPMs.
From an engineer's prospective, I think floating the power as it experiences different loads is smart and should probably help the longevity of the internal components, especially at higher RPMs. It probably does sound like it's struggling compared to other griders, which from an aesthetic prospective, isn't great for a grider that costs as much as a decent used car.
I have had the EG1 for 6 months. I love the results, love the machine, love how consistent it is and love how easy it is to clean it before changing coffee beans type...and how easy it is to go back to the exact previous setting. I forgot the price soon after getting it. If you can afford it, go for it!
I think the product makes perfect sense. For wealthy people who would have a big house for it. It looks the part and can be displayed like a piece of art work. The mag cover of the burr set allows the owner to impress/show off with ease. For those who are also serious about their coffee, it grinds very well. I’ll probably never buy it but I can fully appreciate the price and target customers.
Lovely to see you review this as I own one! It's mostly great as a coffee lab tool--adjustable, consistent, and relatively fuss free--but I want to note for prospective buyers that it has a jamming problem. I've never seen this in another grinder but at normal espresso settings on lighter roasts the grinder will suddenly stop, forcing me to open up the burrs, grind a bit, close them, and continue in order to finish the grind. It's happened consistently enough at this point that I can work around the issue without it affecting my brew too much but for a $3500 machine with a motor as large as this it shouldn't happen at all. Maybe my experience is unique but caveat emptor!
I visited a coffee shop last night after watching this video and they were using one there!! They allowed me to see it up close and take some pictures, it really is a beautiful piece of tech ❤️
Great review thanks. In the future, in contrast to these high end single dose grinders, I’d love to see a shootout between mid to high level traditional style grinders for home use, like the Eureka Atom 75 or Ceado E37S.
For a second, I thought you said 'Weta Workshops' (who do special effects props and design for films) and I thought "Holy shit, Lord of the Rings prop makers are making coffee grinders now?!".
Funny he mentions a stone getting into the coffee. I found a small stone in my dose of coffee today. I was really glad I noticed it before I tossed it into my grinder!
@@brightfuture0959 IF we're talking about imagej based particle analyzer: tbf, that's ubiquitously used in the scientific community ELSE: I would like to ask for a link or title to that video 😂 edited: i said episode when i meant video 🤦
My old boss had a dedicated coffee corner built into the house we were building for him had all Miele appliances built into the counter tops was really cool to see all set up, this grinder would’ve went perfect in that home.
Love it. With the Lagom, I wasn’t sure why I’d want it over a Niche. With this grinder, the value proposition is clear. It’s for crazily well-machined luxury. It wouldn’t fit under my cabinets or in my budget, and I don’t know that it makes great coffee, but I really appreciate it as luxurious engineering art.
Ahhh just when I remembered the time he uploaded yesterday.. AND HE DELIVERED!! THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE HELL OF A WEEK!!! (Although I don't have cash to buy any of these grinders hahahahahaha)
Drinking an espresso from an EG-1 right now. Good review. It really is a pleasure to use. The chaft spray is annoying. I never noticed the hunting for speed, at least audibly, but I’m grinding at 700-900. Maybe that affects it. I wish the chute knocker worked better. Coffee always gets stuck in here if you do not RDT. It would have made the video longer, but it would have been cool to show how alignment and swapping burs works on this grinder. It’s pretty unique and highlights how well thought out this whole system is.
Nick, I too was frustrated with the chute knocker. Recently I joined the forum on Weber Workshop’s site. That exact complaint was brought up and Doug Webber stepped in to provide a solution. If you check out the instructions page on the site for the EG-1, Doug provided a pdf file for instructions to cutting out a wiper blade for the chute itself. Works pretty well.
@@aidanfinger5934 thanks for the tip! I didn’t realize there was a forum on their site. There goes my afternoon. Edit: I gave this a try and retention and exchange is basically zero now. I still wish it wasn’t needed but this will do! Just be careful using the knocker when the burrs are spinning if you do this mod.
I love to see you beeing absolutely nerdy about everything coffee. Apart from that: Hair from the front -> perfect Hair from the side -> exploded cockatoo Corona got us all, one way or another
I couldn't agree more with your findings so far, the sound is the most frustrating part to deal with for me, it is such a cool design, with some flaws, but everyone that sees it is intrigued and I don't get many complaints about the coffee it produces. Really looking forward to the showdown, the list of grinders you've picked were all on my short-list. The Monolith and Ultra are the one's I can't wait to hear you're opinion on, thanks James for the great content!
I wasn't expecting this video for a couple of days, assuming that James was still editing it. That's the nice thing about being a pessimist: you're either right or you're pleasantly surprised!
One of my previous Creative Directors made and sold a pencil holder, with special consideration given for keeping X-Acto knives sharp. Thing had tension springs, brass screws and built of polished chrome metal. It costed about $800 to do a job a McDonald's styrofoam cup would do. While I appreciate the beauty of such things, I simply cannot justify that kind of expenditure even as beautiful as these creations are.
I have been a fan of this grinder ever since it hit the market. Thanks for the great review, and I look forward to the rest of this week and the head-to-head on Friday. Really interested in how it stacks up against the competition in the range.
7:55 now that sounds like the deepest part of the coffee-grinding rabbit hole. As if just one little chip in your burrs affects the taste of your coffee notably
This gives me a sniper rifle vibe. The sound of metal clinking, the spring loaded actions, the weight of the thing jumping out of the screen, and the fact it has a certain coldness to it. I would buy it if i had 3 grand floating around for coffee stuff. and i would fiddle with it whenever i get a chance.
I've gone from 'oh' to 'oooohh' to 'get out' to 'just ridiculous' in only 11 minutes. Which not only indicates for me that this machine is something else but also that your reviews, James. James. Ridiculous. This is going to be a beautiful week.
I prefer this sound over fake RPM's from other grinders. This has a PID controlling the motor and actually assuring it reaches the desired velocity every time. Amazing
Hey, i think that the way it chases the rpm is amazing, it makes me doubt that other grinders actually manage to be at a constant RPM, it seems like this uses a PID variable frequency drive, and from an engineering standpoint, it is a hard thing to implement and make it as elegant as you see it here. Let me tell you that often, the electric motors used in computer numerical control (CNC) mills and lathes, used for machining parts out of metal like the ones you see in this grinder, use this same style of rotational speed control. In machining applications the rpm of the motor of the spindle is very critical in order to manage the heat produced during cutting as well as the forces that the cutter has to tolerate, and they very often can keep the same rpm within about + or - 50rpm.
Hats off Mr. Hoffman. I've been waiting for a review of the EG-1 and you didn't disappoint. Thank you again for this piece and all the insightful videos you post.
@@azzarooni8532 yes all levels participate... he hadn't bought expensive equipment in a while so I am not surprised he's giving away 5 super expensive grinders... he's not spending his own money, he uses the patreon income to buy stuff and giveaway, and apparently he uses all of it! he also gave away olympia cremina and other very expensive gear...
For *that* kind of price the noise is approaching unacceptable for me purely because it's *possible* to have it be quiet, and for something as expensive as this my expectations are similarly high
Love the video, though the sound levelling is not optimal. In the beginning, the music is too loud vs the voice. Also, there is quite a boost in audio from 6:36 to 6:40
I am fine with my old second hand compak g6 I bought for 50 bucks from one bar, and now I use it for aeropress or cafflano kompresso. both plastic coffee makers that do the job much better than my lascala butterfly e61 machine before (hassle with soft water, water filters, 30 minutes just to pre heat, ...etc.)
Great review! Please, compare those top of the top with more regular once like Ceado e37s (it's $1500 with 83mm! burrs). I would sleep better if most of the price is on the looks ;) My wallet as well!
The only thing more exciting while in lock-down than watching James Hoffmann review a posh bean grinder is spending the balance of the day postulating which posh bean grinder we’re going to see on the next day.
Not sure if it’s exactly the same, but it looks exactly the same the Decent shaker/funnel that I own. And the stopper is just a bit large to be used as a tamper on a 58mm portafilter. This makes sense, and I’m not sure if it could be done differently, because the opening at the bottom of the funnel is designed to sit just inside of the portafilter, and the stopper has to extend just past the inside rim of the funnel in order to not fall out the bottom. On mine, at least, there is also a small hole in the middle, so that’s not great. Two more thoughts. One, it sorta operates as a leveler, if you replace it in the funnel after dispensing the grinds, and if you’re filling the portafilter to that extent. But i tend to prefer my actual leveler. And second, and last, to each their own, but I’m just gonna guess that midlife-crisis-dude with a $3500 grinder (and idk, a La marzocco to match?) also probably already has an unnecessarily fancy tamper setup.
I'm into getting the best coffee I can from a budget limited by a wife who is not as enthusiastic and picky as I am. As an ex engineer there is no doubt that the EG-1 is a lovely machine, but waaay, waaaaaay out of my league! I have just purchased a new grinder, and spent all of £119 on it! It actually replaced a 10+ year old Iberital grinder which cost a little more if I remember rightly, but it had worm-wheel stepless adjustment, which made changing from espresso grind to pour-over grind so tedious as to be impossible. I've bought a Sage "Dose Control Pro" grinder (sold as Breville in some places) - and it is a great little machine. I'm sure it lacks in many ways, but I have it dialled in for both espresso and 'Clever' pour over methods now and am very happy with the upgrade. I'm a little surprised that you have never had it among your lineup of cheap grinders, but there may be reasons that I am not aware of, or have failed to spot it. While it is a conical burr grinder with stepped adjustment, the burrs can be tweaked easily in 10 divisions to subdivide those steps if you want to be really picky, but to be honest, I've found a setting that works well out of the box. Also, used with a stainless steel catch cup (a repurposed toothbrush tumbler thing) I have noticed almost NO mess from it. The Iberital was hopeless for grinds retention and spat them out in all directions. Not so the sage. There is a grind timer if you wish to use it, and I've found that to be very consistent - although I do weigh my beans into the hopper each time, so it's a bit unnecessary for me. At the price, it seems to be more than adequate, although if you had it on your show, I'm sure you would tear strips off it! For those without £3.5k burning a hole in their pockets, and indeed those who would struggle to pull together the funds for even a £200 machine, I think it's worth a look, and certainly, for me at least, it is better than the 'terrible mistakes' available in the £50 category. Am I allowed to post a link to it? Probably not, but I got mine from a certain online ex-book-seller. Incidentally, is the trend for grinders to look like microscopes in UA-cam thumbnails? The P-64 did, and so does the EG-1 Thanks James for your continued entertaining contributions!
Right, so now I'm going to take off my "James Hoffmann is such a nitpicker" spectacles, and put on my industrial designer specs. For 3500 western currency units, I'd want to design something that has the ability to put on a bit of a show. Something to involve the user in its inner workings while it's doing its job. It would be cool to see the coffee dropping into the blind shaker, as well as it giving you visual feedback on when the grinding is done. Is it a potential source of mess, to separate the exit nozzle and the blind shaker? Not if you optimize the flow of grounds exiting the grinder and falling into the blind shaker, and the way the falling grounds are slowed down when they do hit the blind shaker. A more powerful motor would not get slowed down by the beans whilst grinding, meaning it wouldn't need to account for loss of grind speed that much. The unit looks like it fits a rather large motor, so I'm curious what the need for the speed compensation is about. Besides that, there seem to be a few ergonomic flaws, like having to put your finger next to the (hopefully always inactive) burr grinder to take out the front part of its cover. Also, because of the size of the unit, it might obstruct your view on where you're grabbing the blind shaker when you're standing next to it, particularly if you're a tall person. You have to feel for it carefully or bend down to see it. Sorry to be a little harsh, but I think the price justifies the scrutiny.
Shaker holder can be lowered down fairly simply as it “rides” inside the groove and simple push of a button allows user to change height easily. Medium to dark roasts tend to fall nicely into shaker without any mess or any RDT. Unfortunately lighter roasts are totally opposite and if shaker is not all the way up it a fairly messy affair. I use mine at 700rpm and during then grinding process and according to rpm display speed varies 20-30 rpm on either side of 700. Without any beans inside and when on it is whisper quiet and it is very easy to know when grinding is complete as the noise stops...As regards to removal of the bottom collar thankfully fingers don’t go anywhere near the burrs and being able to clean it in 60sec and without need of tooling is absolutely amazing. Just bit of feedback from day to day user
The hunting for the right RPM is probably part of a PID control as you said it's below and above depending on where it is in the grind. Probably in the intergral part of the equation which handles error sum correction. I've been playing around with PID mathematics and I can provide some interactive implementations with each part of the equation graphed out. That error correction is a pain in the ass!
Another thing to add to the list of things I really want but can’t afford! It is a great example of something built to a specification not a price. And that’s why I love it.
I suppose the trade off with the changing speed is that you pay for accuracy with sound. Every grinder is going to change speed as it encounters more or less resistance, but most of them won't account for those changes. Increasing the spindle's momentum by running it faster or bolting lead plates to the burrs ought to smooth it out. Personally, I think that sort of thing is pretty cool - I get to experience how it's working or that it's working or something along those lines.
James: *extolling the beautiful craftsmanship, tight machining, clever design, and wonderful wonderful details.* Me, drinking coffee that's been sitting on a mug warmer for 6 hours and was made from preground cafe bustelo I bought a month ago: but it uglee. I'm so sorry Mr. Hoffman 😂😂😂
When you want to make coffee at 6, but need to fire mortar shells at your neighbour's house at 8
This is the Kalashnikov of mortars
Well, he had it coming
Now I know... "Mr Miser" as in father of Mr heat Miser and Mr freeze Miser... freeze face and heat hair :-)
Love it, love it love it!
And on that bombshell...thank you for watching today's episode!
After pulling an all-nighter looking at distant galaxies through that thing.
I've had a Weber EG-1 for a few months now, and was able to view Jupiter with amazing clarity on a light-polluted night. I was also the very first to identify Asteroid 93 Aphrodite, which I also did on my EG-1. I'm going to upgrade it to motor-driven tracking so I can take long exposures as stars track across the night sky.
Underrated comment
I always thought the design was out of this world.
Interesting! When not grinding my morning cup of heaven, mine can be found laying down a mortar barrage on a nearby battlefield.
I can't find an adaptor for my Sony Alpha or I'd do the same :-)
I thought it kind of looked like a monocular electron scanning microscope
My first car cost 1/7th as much as this grinder although, in all fairness, it did not make very good espresso
yes :Joe but it could take you somewhere that would.
Was that the ol' Chevy on the levee?
Then your first car sucked!
Ah... i mean a budget car is usually aimed towards manual brewing techniques, put in a lower gear at lower rpm, you'll get some great consistent emission out of ur beans.
pro tip- feed them in engine slowly after spraying it with some synthetic lubricant
@@rajrishiparmar1362 most cars' 5th gear setting is at least a passable grind setting for espresso imo
This makes me think that the coffee enthusiasts are catching up the audiophiles...
They even got the same players lmao, with Japan and Germany leading the game, some American oddity popping up and Chinese stuff catching up, wonder if Austria will join the game, or maybe Italians started doing hyper compressed IEMs
they've done it long ago... while I'm sitting here thinking... my coffee is pretty good, I really don't need or have space for proper automatic grinder.
Enjoying music reproduction this is so true it's crazy 🤣🤣
Exactly.... And I'm an audiophile and a coffee snob. Damn, my wallet hurts.
I am both, so naturally I am broke 🙃
Cheers to another entry in "grinders I will never be able to afford week"
I'll still watch every episode though
Same bro
same 😂
We are all here for it
like watching a hooker strip you can never afford
Never say never. I was saying this to myself 3 years ago and now I am considering buying it 😀
"There are times I wish [the steps] were a little bit smaller, but I'm being very fussy there." I dunno, seems OK to be fussy about a grinder that costs $3500.
I guess you could just not move the steps and adjust according to rpm
lol and I thought selling a grinder for $1500 was a blatant attempt to soak customers with more money than brains. These guys are like "$1500? Hold my beer, I bet there are even dumber customers out there than that". Its a motor and a burr set. Talk about sailing past diminishing returns.
@@carpdog42 I'm not saying I would ever buy this or anything but I mean someone who does buy this isn't buying it because the grind quality of it is going to change their life and make all other coffee grinders look like complete trash. It's in large part for the build quality and design of it and how it all works and looks, and the fact that it is a very small company is going to make costs higher
@@evan5557 Your argument would make sense for a $600 or even $1000 grinder. How does that justify more than tripling the price?
@@carpdog42 exclusivity
Next Episode: *Buys literally the best grinder to ever exist, for 1.5 million dollars.*
James: "This isn't quite to my liking."
lol - I just realized that I was watching James' channel as a car show to see what I could never afford - I'm so sad now.
There are things that I like, and things that I like not so much.
You don't always get what you pay for. LOL
At that price, I would demand grinds freshly chewed by a virgin to perfection ...
Well to be honest "more expensive" is not equal to better, and the most expensive one doesn't have to be the best. There is always a sort of point where you mostly pay for things other than quality of the product and its results, such as design, names or more "professional" properties like longevity with high frequency of coffee per day. Super expensive grinders are often not automatically the best at grinding, they are really good combined with nice design, good service and materials. But the grinding often isn't exactly better or more refined than other more simple and less expensive grinders who focussed less on materials and design and more on the core function. The best grinding is not achieved by clever magnets or nice machining of surfaces, as great as they are.
My friends and family: Hey man, maybe you might wanna throttle back a bit on your coffee hobby--
Me: Ha ha! Telescope go *_BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR_*
Top comment
sounds like a goat being castrated
More like BRRrrrrRRrrRRrrrrrRRRRRrrrr
@@Derek-eg9ig LOOOOL
A live RPM display is a brave choice. Other RPM controls are most certainly wandering around in a similar way, they just aren't showing it to you.
How positive are you about this? Have you done tests? What about the Ultra that uses a Servo motor that's used in industrial applications?
@@jevenator Its inherent in how it works. I'm not sure if Ultra uses an AC or DC motor, AC motors are more common in industry but require a bigger controller typically then the one shown in their promotion video. Assuming its DC, the speed of the motor is determined by the voltage the controller is giving the motor and the resistance the motor is facing. The controller knows how fast the motor is spinning by an encoder attached to the back of the motor. The encoder sends the current rpm to the controller at some polling rate. If the controller is seeing the encoder say its spinning at 200 rpm but wants 250, then the controller has to increase the voltage to the motor. Says the slow down was caused by it hitting a coffee bean, once the bean is crushed with the new voltage, it will now be spinning at a rate faster than 250. The delay on slowing back down the grinder depends on the latency of the encoder to tell the controller, and then the controller to change the voltage again. Inherent in this system is feedback delay which will causing noticeable rpm changes.
The only real way to combat this issue is not with electronics but sheer mass. If you have enough inertia in the grinder to overcome the sudden resistance then the controller doesn't need speed up and slow down the motor, giving you a constant rpm. A bigger, heavier grinder is needed if you want constant RPMs.
From an engineer's prospective, I think floating the power as it experiences different loads is smart and should probably help the longevity of the internal components, especially at higher RPMs. It probably does sound like it's struggling compared to other griders, which from an aesthetic prospective, isn't great for a grider that costs as much as a decent used car.
your not getting a decent used car for that price these days...
@@tobiasyoderYou were 3 years ago when the comment was made…
@@Naftoor 3 years ago would be 2021 sometime, so was still after we saw initial big spike in used car prices
Nothing brings me such unfettered joy as unwrapping a fresh hoff vid, this is the best week ever
This video got me ecstatic
where's the wrap... i like unwrapping things.
Freshly brewed Hoff vid*
Found him through his manual grinder series a couple years ago.
This. Week. Wins.
Freudian slip, I read "a fetish hoff vid"
Anyone's noticing too that most of these look like Star Wars props?
For real. Isn't it great?
Or microscopes
@@karlg2009 Bloody big lightsabers
It's not just me, *phew*
I was going to say this looks like it would be Tony Stark’s coffee grinder, if it were red and gold.
I have had the EG1 for 6 months. I love the results, love the machine, love how consistent it is and love how easy it is to clean it before changing coffee beans type...and how easy it is to go back to the exact previous setting. I forgot the price soon after getting it. If you can afford it, go for it!
I too would try to forget the price as quickly as possible.
One day, someone will love you as much as James loves this grinder
Only if we are worth as much this coffee grinder.
but finding someone to love you as much as James loves coffee is another story...
If you make coffee early enough you can take that grinder out to look at the stars
You say that, but with that design this grinder could be a neat addition to a space/astronomy themed cafe.
I think the product makes perfect sense. For wealthy people who would have a big house for it. It looks the part and can be displayed like a piece of art work. The mag cover of the burr set allows the owner to impress/show off with ease. For those who are also serious about their coffee, it grinds very well. I’ll probably never buy it but I can fully appreciate the price and target customers.
Very well stated.
Again no retention discussion! Now I’m convinced James is reserving that part of the conversation for the head-to-head
Lovely to see you review this as I own one! It's mostly great as a coffee lab tool--adjustable, consistent, and relatively fuss free--but I want to note for prospective buyers that it has a jamming problem. I've never seen this in another grinder but at normal espresso settings on lighter roasts the grinder will suddenly stop, forcing me to open up the burrs, grind a bit, close them, and continue in order to finish the grind. It's happened consistently enough at this point that I can work around the issue without it affecting my brew too much but for a $3500 machine with a motor as large as this it shouldn't happen at all. Maybe my experience is unique but caveat emptor!
Never had an issue
That intro with the blue backdrop is stunning James!
He said AeroPress! Oh James, you know just how to tease us
$3,500 and it didn’t even have a marking on its scale for Aeropress!
I visited a coffee shop last night after watching this video and they were using one there!! They allowed me to see it up close and take some pictures, it really is a beautiful piece of tech ❤️
Great review thanks. In the future, in contrast to these high end single dose grinders, I’d love to see a shootout between mid to high level traditional style grinders for home use, like the Eureka Atom 75 or Ceado E37S.
For a second, I thought you said 'Weta Workshops' (who do special effects props and design for films) and I thought "Holy shit, Lord of the Rings prop makers are making coffee grinders now?!".
Funny he mentions a stone getting into the coffee. I found a small stone in my dose of coffee today. I was really glad I noticed it before I tossed it into my grinder!
I just calculated that I could buy enough coffee beans for 9.8 years for the price of this machine.
But you'll have nothing to grind them with
@peanutbutterjelly800 Comment of the Year. All others, just give up.
WTF is this, I want to grind coffee, not to find new galaxies.
That's no moon. It's a space station.
why not both? 🤷♀️
It's the same thing. Hoffman has previously introduced to us a man who applies astro physics software to analyze grind distributions
The galaxy is in the cup. Enjoy
@@brightfuture0959 IF we're talking about imagej based particle analyzer: tbf, that's ubiquitously used in the scientific community
ELSE: I would like to ask for a link or title to that video 😂
edited: i said episode when i meant video 🤦
"So let's talk about the burr set" says James while nonchalantly stirring his espresso
My old boss had a dedicated coffee corner built into the house we were building for him had all Miele appliances built into the counter tops was really cool to see all set up, this grinder would’ve went perfect in that home.
These grinders this week are really good looking!
Love it. With the Lagom, I wasn’t sure why I’d want it over a Niche. With this grinder, the value proposition is clear. It’s for crazily well-machined luxury. It wouldn’t fit under my cabinets or in my budget, and I don’t know that it makes great coffee, but I really appreciate it as luxurious engineering art.
God the design features on this is beautiful! Looking forward to an RPM video
When you want your coffee grinder to double as a telescope
Microscope maybe
They all look like microscopes
I thought that this might be a microscope for viewing coffee samples, and that Hoffman stepped up his game even further to confirm coffee extraction.
Another great video James!
That little masking blip at 5:58 messed with me for a bit! Hah!
Ahhh just when I remembered the time he uploaded yesterday.. AND HE DELIVERED!!
THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE HELL OF A WEEK!!! (Although I don't have cash to buy any of these grinders hahahahahaha)
Ahahahaha
Edit: hahahahaha
I don't know who on the planet actually does. Billionaires maybe?
Drinking an espresso from an EG-1 right now. Good review. It really is a pleasure to use. The chaft spray is annoying. I never noticed the hunting for speed, at least audibly, but I’m grinding at 700-900. Maybe that affects it.
I wish the chute knocker worked better. Coffee always gets stuck in here if you do not RDT.
It would have made the video longer, but it would have been cool to show how alignment and swapping burs works on this grinder. It’s pretty unique and highlights how well thought out this whole system is.
Nick, I too was frustrated with the chute knocker. Recently I joined the forum on Weber Workshop’s site. That exact complaint was brought up and Doug Webber stepped in to provide a solution. If you check out the instructions page on the site for the EG-1, Doug provided a pdf file for instructions to cutting out a wiper blade for the chute itself. Works pretty well.
@@aidanfinger5934 thanks for the tip! I didn’t realize there was a forum on their site. There goes my afternoon.
Edit: I gave this a try and retention and exchange is basically zero now. I still wish it wasn’t needed but this will do! Just be careful using the knocker when the burrs are spinning if you do this mod.
I love to see you beeing absolutely nerdy about everything coffee.
Apart from that:
Hair from the front -> perfect
Hair from the side -> exploded cockatoo
Corona got us all, one way or another
His inspiration is David Lynch, and any fan of Lynch has to be slightly mad. In a good way.
Underrated comment. “Exploded cockatoo” hahaha
I couldn't agree more with your findings so far, the sound is the most frustrating part to deal with for me, it is such a cool design, with some flaws, but everyone that sees it is intrigued and I don't get many complaints about the coffee it produces. Really looking forward to the showdown, the list of grinders you've picked were all on my short-list. The Monolith and Ultra are the one's I can't wait to hear you're opinion on, thanks James for the great content!
I wasn't expecting this video for a couple of days, assuming that James was still editing it. That's the nice thing about being a pessimist: you're either right or you're pleasantly surprised!
One of my previous Creative Directors made and sold a pencil holder, with special consideration given for keeping X-Acto knives sharp. Thing had tension springs, brass screws and built of polished chrome metal. It costed about $800 to do a job a McDonald's styrofoam cup would do. While I appreciate the beauty of such things, I simply cannot justify that kind of expenditure even as beautiful as these creations are.
Cool looking microscope.
This showdown series is going to go down as The Best Thing Ever in the history of the internet. As for the Weber EG-1....wow, a piece of art.
James Hoffman's production quality feels like Weber's build quality.
I have been a fan of this grinder ever since it hit the market. Thanks for the great review, and I look forward to the rest of this week and the head-to-head on Friday. Really interested in how it stacks up against the competition in the range.
7:55 now that sounds like the deepest part of the coffee-grinding rabbit hole. As if just one little chip in your burrs affects the taste of your coffee notably
Man, this is a fire week for the Hoffman channel.
An interesting question for all these grinders might be “how much is a set of replacement burrs?”
Eg-1 burrs core burrs are $250......rated for 5000kg of coffee (10 doubles daily for next 70 years :-)
This gives me a sniper rifle vibe. The sound of metal clinking, the spring loaded actions, the weight of the thing jumping out of the screen, and the fact it has a certain coldness to it. I would buy it if i had 3 grand floating around for coffee stuff. and i would fiddle with it whenever i get a chance.
I literally don't drink coffee any more... And yet here I am, once again
I've gone from 'oh' to 'oooohh' to 'get out' to 'just ridiculous' in only 11 minutes. Which not only indicates for me that this machine is something else but also that your reviews, James. James. Ridiculous. This is going to be a beautiful week.
Came for the ridiculously expensive grinder review. Stayed for the Hoffman hair tsunami. ☕🧐🌊
I prefer this sound over fake RPM's from other grinders. This has a PID controlling the motor and actually assuring it reaches the desired velocity every time. Amazing
Me: *watches a new James Hoffman video"
my wallet: I wonder what he'll buy this time
Also, the main benefit of screwless burrs in an SD grinder is to reduce the retention you would have in the holes for the screws
My wife watched this with me and said "but its just coffee." Its ok guys, she with the angels now
I am with you James...the way the grinder adjusts to keep the rpm constant reminds me of an engine choking on the fuel-air mixture.
Hey, i think that the way it chases the rpm is amazing, it makes me doubt that other grinders actually manage to be at a constant RPM, it seems like this uses a PID variable frequency drive, and from an engineering standpoint, it is a hard thing to implement and make it as elegant as you see it here. Let me tell you that often, the electric motors used in computer numerical control (CNC) mills and lathes, used for machining parts out of metal like the ones you see in this grinder, use this same style of rotational speed control. In machining applications the rpm of the motor of the spindle is very critical in order to manage the heat produced during cutting as well as the forces that the cutter has to tolerate, and they very often can keep the same rpm within about + or - 50rpm.
Hats off Mr. Hoffman. I've been waiting for a review of the EG-1 and you didn't disappoint. Thank you again for this piece and all the insightful videos you post.
I'm joining the patreon for this
I can't believe hes giving away something this incredible to patreons. Is it for any level patreon?
@@azzarooni8532 yes all levels participate... he hadn't bought expensive equipment in a while so I am not surprised he's giving away 5 super expensive grinders... he's not spending his own money, he uses the patreon income to buy stuff and giveaway, and apparently he uses all of it! he also gave away olympia cremina and other very expensive gear...
3:42 that hint of a smile is the a subconscious answer on what grinder you will keep..!
For *that* kind of price the noise is approaching unacceptable for me purely because it's *possible* to have it be quiet, and for something as expensive as this my expectations are similarly high
I really like the design of this one. It's pleasing to look at.
Love the video, though the sound levelling is not optimal. In the beginning, the music is too loud vs the voice.
Also, there is quite a boost in audio from 6:36 to 6:40
nice catch
But you don't have to spend $3500 to watch this video!
I am fine with my old second hand compak g6 I bought for 50 bucks from one bar, and now I use it for aeropress or cafflano kompresso. both plastic coffee makers that do the job much better than my lascala butterfly e61 machine before (hassle with soft water, water filters, 30 minutes just to pre heat, ...etc.)
Great review! Please, compare those top of the top with more regular once like Ceado e37s (it's $1500 with 83mm! burrs). I would sleep better if most of the price is on the looks ;) My wallet as well!
Been waiting all morning for this
"hey we need a coffee grinder"
"What if it looked like a fucking lazer"
The only thing more exciting while in lock-down than watching James Hoffmann review a posh bean grinder is spending the balance of the day postulating which posh bean grinder we’re going to see on the next day.
Hey James, the stopper at the bottom of the catch bin looks like it could be used as a tamper? I was just wondering if you tried to use it as one
Not sure if it’s exactly the same, but it looks exactly the same the Decent shaker/funnel that I own. And the stopper is just a bit large to be used as a tamper on a 58mm portafilter. This makes sense, and I’m not sure if it could be done differently, because the opening at the bottom of the funnel is designed to sit just inside of the portafilter, and the stopper has to extend just past the inside rim of the funnel in order to not fall out the bottom. On mine, at least, there is also a small hole in the middle, so that’s not great.
Two more thoughts. One, it sorta operates as a leveler, if you replace it in the funnel after dispensing the grinds, and if you’re filling the portafilter to that extent. But i tend to prefer my actual leveler.
And second, and last, to each their own, but I’m just gonna guess that midlife-crisis-dude with a $3500 grinder (and idk, a La marzocco to match?) also probably already has an unnecessarily fancy tamper setup.
To be fair, as an EK owner with a toolbox full of Torx hardware to get to the burrs, that's brilliant.
lets go on Patreon, quick
I'm happy with my Baratza 7 Wi, but I enjoy these videos. Looking at space ships won't make my car jealous
Don’t leave unattended unless you want your miniaturised kids to be running around in your garden
I'm into getting the best coffee I can from a budget limited by a wife who is not as enthusiastic and picky as I am. As an ex engineer there is no doubt that the EG-1 is a lovely machine, but waaay, waaaaaay out of my league!
I have just purchased a new grinder, and spent all of £119 on it!
It actually replaced a 10+ year old Iberital grinder which cost a little more if I remember rightly, but it had worm-wheel stepless adjustment, which made changing from espresso grind to pour-over grind so tedious as to be impossible.
I've bought a Sage "Dose Control Pro" grinder (sold as Breville in some places) - and it is a great little machine.
I'm sure it lacks in many ways, but I have it dialled in for both espresso and 'Clever' pour over methods now and am very happy with the upgrade.
I'm a little surprised that you have never had it among your lineup of cheap grinders, but there may be reasons that I am not aware of, or have failed to spot it.
While it is a conical burr grinder with stepped adjustment, the burrs can be tweaked easily in 10 divisions to subdivide those steps if you want to be really picky, but to be honest, I've found a setting that works well out of the box.
Also, used with a stainless steel catch cup (a repurposed toothbrush tumbler thing) I have noticed almost NO mess from it. The Iberital was hopeless for grinds retention and spat them out in all directions. Not so the sage. There is a grind timer if you wish to use it, and I've found that to be very consistent - although I do weigh my beans into the hopper each time, so it's a bit unnecessary for me. At the price, it seems to be more than adequate, although if you had it on your show, I'm sure you would tear strips off it!
For those without £3.5k burning a hole in their pockets, and indeed those who would struggle to pull together the funds for even a £200 machine, I think it's worth a look, and certainly, for me at least, it is better than the 'terrible mistakes' available in the £50 category.
Am I allowed to post a link to it?
Probably not, but I got mine from a certain online ex-book-seller.
Incidentally, is the trend for grinders to look like microscopes in UA-cam thumbnails? The P-64 did, and so does the EG-1
Thanks James for your continued entertaining contributions!
Right, so now I'm going to take off my "James Hoffmann is such a nitpicker" spectacles, and put on my industrial designer specs. For 3500 western currency units, I'd want to design something that has the ability to put on a bit of a show. Something to involve the user in its inner workings while it's doing its job. It would be cool to see the coffee dropping into the blind shaker, as well as it giving you visual feedback on when the grinding is done.
Is it a potential source of mess, to separate the exit nozzle and the blind shaker? Not if you optimize the flow of grounds exiting the grinder and falling into the blind shaker, and the way the falling grounds are slowed down when they do hit the blind shaker.
A more powerful motor would not get slowed down by the beans whilst grinding, meaning it wouldn't need to account for loss of grind speed that much. The unit looks like it fits a rather large motor, so I'm curious what the need for the speed compensation is about.
Besides that, there seem to be a few ergonomic flaws, like having to put your finger next to the (hopefully always inactive) burr grinder to take out the front part of its cover. Also, because of the size of the unit, it might obstruct your view on where you're grabbing the blind shaker when you're standing next to it, particularly if you're a tall person. You have to feel for it carefully or bend down to see it.
Sorry to be a little harsh, but I think the price justifies the scrutiny.
Shaker holder can be lowered down fairly simply as it “rides” inside the groove and simple push of a button allows user to change height easily. Medium to dark roasts tend to fall nicely into shaker without any mess or any RDT. Unfortunately lighter roasts are totally opposite and if shaker is not all the way up it a fairly messy affair. I use mine at 700rpm and during then grinding process and according to rpm display speed varies 20-30 rpm on either side of 700. Without any beans inside and when on it is whisper quiet and it is very easy to know when grinding is complete as the noise stops...As regards to removal of the bottom collar thankfully fingers don’t go anywhere near the burrs and being able to clean it in 60sec and without need of tooling is absolutely amazing. Just bit of feedback from day to day user
The hunting for the right RPM is probably part of a PID control as you said it's below and above depending on where it is in the grind. Probably in the intergral part of the equation which handles error sum correction. I've been playing around with PID mathematics and I can provide some interactive implementations with each part of the equation graphed out. That error correction is a pain in the ass!
That´s how much my car cost me.
Then why did you get the car?
12 X the cost of my car.
@@thejoetandy quickmaths
@@thejoetandy what are you driving?
We got Jeff bezos over here drivin a $3500 car
It sure does look beautiful designed and made...
Caught myself trying to justify this as an essential expense... I am a broke uni student. Tell me I’m wrong
you're wrong, you can get a great grinder for literally a tenth of the price.
Did you buy it
I also like it when the shaker is close to the exit chute to minimise mess..
Oooh, more microscope!
Another thing to add to the list of things I really want but can’t afford!
It is a great example of something built to a specification not a price. And that’s why I love it.
For $3500 I hope it doubles as a telescope 🔭
I never thought I would say this about a coffee grinder at any time in my life but wow this thing is beautiful.
James... you’re really grinding out these videos...
ooooh......
i just had to thumbs down sorry 🤣
I have been staring at this thing forever in every video you have posted. I am happy to know what the hell it is.
Is there a reason why they all look like telescopes?
@@Xzu3 Super interesting! Thanks :)
can i just say I LOVE GRINDER WEEK! Perfect series to drink my morning cup to
I got into Astronomy just recently and srsly thought, James Hoffmann did as well, showing off his new shiny telescope!
Oooooh ... I was so much looking forward to this one. I simply love this grinder, its just gorgeous. :D
I can't help but look at that grinder and think of my Leica T - similarly ludicrously priced, but just holding it is an absolute joy.
JAMES. I can't believe you're sending that one out to your patreon supporters. You're truly a magnificient individual. 😄
I suppose the trade off with the changing speed is that you pay for accuracy with sound. Every grinder is going to change speed as it encounters more or less resistance, but most of them won't account for those changes. Increasing the spindle's momentum by running it faster or bolting lead plates to the burrs ought to smooth it out.
Personally, I think that sort of thing is pretty cool - I get to experience how it's working or that it's working or something along those lines.
James: *extolling the beautiful craftsmanship, tight machining, clever design, and wonderful wonderful details.*
Me, drinking coffee that's been sitting on a mug warmer for 6 hours and was made from preground cafe bustelo I bought a month ago: but it uglee.
I'm so sorry Mr. Hoffman 😂😂😂
On my HG-One, I always referred to the center piece to the tumbler as the "pawn" because of its shape.
The "bean knocker" is my favourite feature.
Loving this series!
The best week ever! Insane lineup.
Even more expensive now. $3,895 USD at the end of 2022, plus shipping.
Love this series. May never be able to afford these grinders but yeah, learning a lot from Sir James!