My $22 hand grinder finally gave out mid-pour and I almost threw the whole setup off the counter
Was 2 clicks off my usual setting on my Timemore C2 last Wednesday morning, about halfway through a 15g batch of Ethiopian beans, and the burr just locked up solid. I opened it up and found a chunk of the inner bearing race sitting loose in the chamber, so that grinder is done after maybe 14 months of daily use. Now I'm staring at my Aeropress with a bag of whole beans and a kitchen that smells amazing but tastes like nothing. Anyone got a budget hand grinder that actually survives more than a year, or do I just accept buying a new one every tax season?
14 months on a C2 is honestly not bad for 22 bucks, mine lasted about the same before the plastic bits started wobbling. The move is to watch for a used Encore or a 1Zpresso Q2 around 80 or 90, those things take a beating and you can actually get parts for them when something wears out. Buying cheap twice a year adds up to more than just getting one that lasts.