I’ve been meaning to up my coffee game, and now I can after I accepted offers to review a coffee scale and the Chestnut C2 grinder from Lardera.
One of the keys to making a good cup of coffee at home is using the right proportion of grounds to water. I’m now using about 2 g. of coffee per 1 oz. water, and to get that precise measurement, you need a scale.
Lardera’s scale ($59) is light, portable and doesn’t take up much counter space. It’s also very accurate with a sensitivity of 0.1 g.
I use the scale for my pour-over coffee, which allows me to take advantage of the scale’s auto-timer. It automatically begins timing after you pour the first drop of water and stops once you pick up your brewing equipment.
Another key to making good coffee is to make sure you have the correct size of grounds. Here’s where the stainless steel Chestnut grinder ($79) comes in. It has multiple grind settings, including pour-over and espresso, that you control using a dial on the bottom.
The compact body has a capacity of 30 g. of beans and is easy to grip. You pour the beans into the top and then attach the handle. When you’re done grinding, you unscrew the bottom container to get your grounds.
I loved both the Lardera scale and grinder, and I wished they came into my life sooner. Lardera also makes other coffee gear, such as a French press, and it has an exquisite selection of coffee.
For example, the Catuai Anaerobic ($3 for 2 oz., $9 for 6 oz.) from Costa Rica has delightful notes of cherry and passion fruit without going overboard. Meanwhile, the Kenya Washed ($3 for 2 oz., $9 for 6 oz.) from Costa Rica has hints of milk chocolate to it, though I couldn’t detect any of the described juicy citrus flavor.
All Lardera products can be purchased on its website.
Tags: coffee
