My buddy Joe told me to use a burr grinder instead of a blade one... I laughed at him for 6 months
I've been making coffee at home for like 2 years now and always used this $15 blade grinder from Target. Thought it was fine. Joe kept telling me I was ruining my beans by chopping them unevenly. Finally grabbed a used Baratza Encore off FB marketplace for $60 last week. First cup I made I could actually taste the difference - my morning brew wasn't bitter anymore. It was like a totally different drink. Has anyone else had that moment where you realized your grinder was holding you back?
My buddy was the same way with his espresso setup. He had this cheap hand grinder that took forever and gave him inconsistent grounds. I gave him a used Breville I found at a garage sale. Next time I came over he pulled a shot that actually had crema on it. He was in shock. What kind of beans are you using with the Baratza now?