I Test Coffee Gear for a Living. Here’s Why I Use a Stand-Alone Grinder for Espresso

I have a confession to make: I’m a former espresso perfectionist. For years, I kept notes on grinder settings for specific coffee roasts and origins, undoubtedly a holdover from my STEM studies. I was the first to say that my mill was just as — if not more — important than the coffee machine itself. I brewed using a compact Breville Bambino, accompanied by a stand-alone Baratza Sette grinder, which I had paid nearly as much for as the machine itself.

Then, I upgraded to the Breville Oracle Jet, which comes with a built-in Baratza grinder. Convenience pulled me in, but I felt apprehensive about the grinder. What if I couldn’t properly dial in different coffees? Was I confining myself to persistently bitter or acidic espresso? And perhaps most importantly, would I miss the ritual of microadjusting grind size?

After several months of use, those fears eased. Yes,...

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