Test Drive: Update Your Grinding With More Comandante Grinder Accessories

Test Drive: Update Your Grinding With More Comandante Grinder Accessories

4 Cool Cafés to Try Out in Bologna

Bologna, the Italian city home to the world’s oldest university, is traditionally famous for its food and drink—and it has some stellar specialty cafés. BY TANYA NANETTI SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Featured photo by Annie Spratt via Unsplash Bologna is home to the oldest university in the world and is the unofficial “capital“ of the porticos […]


What are modular espresso machines & how do they work?

For decades, espresso machine design and technology have been evolving to meet the ever-changing needs of coffee shop owners and baristas. From multi-boiler systems and automation to custom branding, there are now more factors to consider than ever before when it comes to the design of an espresso machine. Many businesses choose to position their […]


Serving Coffee in the Epicenter

The Turkish specialty-coffee community is coming together to support earthquake relief. BY MICHAEL BUTTERWORTHSPECIAL TO BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE When Niji Coffee went live on Instagram, it felt as though the entire Turkish specialty-coffee community was watching with bated breath. Niji Coffee made a name for itself in the Turkish specialty-coffee scene when, as a relatively […]


3 Noteworthy Cafés in the Borough of Brooklyn, N.Y.

We explore three standout Brooklyn cafés: drip, BKG, and Coffee Project New York. BY EMILY MENESES BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE Cover photo by Nelson Ndongala via Unsplash Whether you’re a New York local or planning your next NYC trip, you won’t want to miss out on Brooklyn’s vibrant (and constantly evolving) coffee scene. Today, we’re exploring […]

Test Drive: Update Your Grinding With More Comandante Grinder Accessories

5 Cool Cafés Worth a Try in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, one of Thailand’s most fascinating cities, is home to a vibrant specialty-coffee scene, with many cafés and roasteriess often offering locally grown coffee. BY TANYA NANETTI SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Featured photo by Tim Durgan via Unsplash With a population of 3 million, Chiang Mai is a little (by Asian standards) gem in northern […]


The coffee industry’s biggest competition: The story of the World Barista Championship

Every year, the global coffee industry gears up for one of its most exciting and groundbreaking competitions: the World Barista Championship. For more than two decades, the WBC has been one of the biggest catalysts for change and innovation in specialty coffee, and continues to set even higher standards for baristas around the world to […]


How to Make the Best Coffee at Home By James Hoffmann: Book Review 

James Hoffmann’s new book, How to Make the Best Coffee at Home, is finally out, and is the perfect guide for both professionals and amateurs. BY TANYA NANETTISENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Photos by Tanya Nanetti James Hoffmann is one of the most recognizable people in the world of specialty coffee. His YouTube channel is both informative […]


Design Details: Brewing Reinvented at ULA Café in Melbourne

Welcome to Design Details, an ongoing editorial feature in Daily Coffee News focused on individual examples of coffee shop architecture, interior design, packaging design or branding. If you are a coffee…

Test Drive: Update Your Grinding With More Comandante Grinder Accessories

Toronto’s Pilot Coffee Roasters Acquiring Bridgehead Coffee for $3.6 Million

Toronto, Ontario-based specialty coffee roaster and retailer Pilot Coffee Roasters is acquiring Ottawa-based Bridgehead Coffee in a deal worth approximately US$3.6 million.  Bridgehead, which has 21 coffee shop locations throughout…


Breaking New Ground: A Sicilian Coffee Plantation, Part One

The impacts of climate change are starting to be felt in Sicily, but while they’re causing problems, the rising temperatures are also bringing new opportunities. BY JOSEPH PHELANSPECIAL TO BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE Featured image courtesy of Henrique Ferreira on Unsplash The Sicilian love affair with coffee is known the world over. Sicily, the largest of […]


Understanding the Process: Anaerobic Processing

We continue our series on fermentation with a look at the anaerobic process, which has quickly become a favorite in cafés worldwide. BY TANYA NANETTISENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Photos courtesy of Bram de Hoog for Ally Coffee A simple cup of well-brewed coffee can have endless variations of flavors and aromas. These are closely linked to […]


Study Shines New Light on the Complex Arabica Coffee Genome

Researchers in Italy say they’ve shed new light on arabica coffee’s large and complex genome, which may ultimately help breeders seeking desirable traits such as high quality and disease resistance….

Test Drive: Update Your Grinding With More Comandante Grinder Accessories

Test Drive: Update Your Grinding With More Comandante Grinder Accessories

minimum dose size?

Jan 31, 2024 |

I use the Hario switch to brew my coffee and am trying to reduce my caffeine consumption. Hence I would like to brew smaller cups of coffee. I am currently using 10g of coffee with 160g of water. (1:16 Ratio) I am wondering if there is a minimum amount of coffee...

Test Drive: Update Your Grinding With More Comandante Grinder Accessories

The popular hand grinder has more to offer with a new line of tools and accessories now available.

BY TANYA NANETTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT

Feature photo by Tanya Nanetti

To brew the perfect cup of coffee, it’s important to choose the right coffee equipment. One essential is a reliable coffee grinder. Most coffee lovers start with a simple and affordable grinder. But we often eventually move on to a more professional (and expensive) model, whether manual or automatic. 

Among manual grinders, the Comandante is often awarded as one of the best. It’s handmade in Germany, and easy to calibrate thanks to the practical click counter, which allows you to replicate a recipe and share it with friends. And with its elegant design and multiple colors to choose from, it’s easy to see why the Comandante has become so recognizable. 

A hand holds up a wooden Comandante grinder. It has a large wooden knob on a long metal arm at the top, a wooden middle, and a clear glass bottom. In the background is a dirt trail leading into an evergreen forest.
A Comandante manual grinder in the wild. Photo by Josh Taves.

A good product must not only work well at the time of purchase, but it also must be reliable and efficient in the long-term. Contrary to the many products created on purpose with programmed obsolescence, the Comandante grinder is created to endure. Built with high-quality materials, the goal is that your grinder will last a lifetime.

We’ve previously covered some of Comandante’s accessories, but today we’re looking at some additional tools the company has released. These should help keep your grinder in tip-top shape and ensure that your Comandante lasts for years to come. 

The travel bag inside its cardboard packaging. There is a detailed card with a diagram explaining what the inner pockets are for, and the plain back of the black bag is visible.
Unboxing the C40 Travel Bag. Photo by Tanya Nanetti.

C40 Travel Bag

The perfect companion for traveling with your Comandante, the C40 Travel Bag is the definitive accessory for all your adventures. Specifically designed to store the grinder complete with its crank and two spare bean jars (or, if you prefer, a coffee bag), it can also contain tools like brushes and cupping spoons, thanks to the functional pockets.

Inside the travel bag. There are two rounded pockets to hold the hold the grinder and a bag of coffee. There is a loop with a button snap closure to hold the handle. On the other side, a flat pocket for holding a spoon or other small objects. The bag is closed with a a wraparound zipper.
The C40 Travel Bag folds in half when unzipped for easy access to the functional pockets. Photo by Tanya Nanetti.

Light and soft, but at the same time made of tough cotton, the travel bag is just the right size for your hand luggage, or for your camping backpack. Just store your grinder and the coffee you’ll need, and everything will be perfect for the next trip! 

The front of the travel bag. It has leather handles and a debossed leather Comandante logo patch. The logo is a shield with wings on the side. The shield holds three gears, as if from a clock.
The C40 bag design is minimalistic and functional. Photo by Tanya Nanetti.

Felt Cover

Developed for the protection of the Comandante, the felt “sleeve” is UV light-resistant, air-permeable, and dirt-repellent. It’s perfect for insulating the grinder from excessive temperatures, thanks to its elastic structure (made of 100% fine Merino sheep wool). The cover adheres perfectly to your Comandante, protecting it from accidental scratches, bumps, and abrasions.  

Barista Brushes

Made of wood and natural hair, the Comandante brushes come in different shapes and sizes to best clean not only the different parts of the grinder and the coffee jars, but also to keep the coffee work station tidy. Furthermore, an additional stainless-steel brush is specially made to properly clean the grinder’s metal parts.

Inside the burr care fluid box. There is a glass bottle with a screw on lid, a flat wooden bristle brush, and a cleaning cloth.
Protecting the burrs on your grinder will ensure fluid motion and upkeep of the grinder. Photo by Tanya Nanetti.

Burr Care Fluid Set

Consisting of a Burr Care Fluid bottle, one soft cotton cloth, and a stainless-steel brush, this set is perfect for polishing the burrs and stainless-steel parts of the Comandante. You just need to apply a small amount of oil to the cloth and rub it onto the desired steel surface, using the included brush to clean the steel surface and remove any oxidizing residue. 

Wood Care Balm Set

This set (with balm, cloth, and brush) is perfect for those with a wooden grinder. Simply rub a small amount of the balm onto the wooden surface using the cotton cloth, continuing to reapply the balm until the wood no longer absorbs it. Let the wood rest for a few minutes, then polish it with the included cotton cloth. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tanya Nanetti (she/her) is a specialty-coffee barista, a traveler, and a dreamer. When she’s not behind the coffee machine (or visiting some hidden corner of the world), she’s busy writing for Coffee Insurrection, a website about specialty coffee that she’s creating along with her boyfriend.

The post Test Drive: Update Your Grinding With More Comandante Grinder Accessories appeared first on Barista Magazine Online.

Test Drive: Update Your Grinding With More Comandante Grinder Accessories

Perfect Little Beans

Chinmey Hill Coffee uses specialty-grade beans with zero primary defects (such as black beans or sour beans) and less than five secondary defects (such as broken beans). This is important because primary defects will greatly affect the taste of the coffee. Having zero defects allows the coffee to be the most optimal flavor.

Window for Optimal Flavor

Chimney Hill Coffee ships our coffee the same day it was roasted, so you will receive it before it enters the window of optimal flavor.  This means you’ll never miss the opportunity to enjoy the coffee’s peak flavor.

Coffee Ratings

Coffee undergoes many scoring processes by professionals who achieved their Q Grader certification. Coffee is first graded when it’s green. If there are defects the coffee is determined to be “not-specialty grade”. For those coffees that pass green grading, they are sample roasted and cupped. (Cupping is the official term for critically tasting and scoring coffees. The official cupping form is standard worldwide, and where the 100-point scoring system comes from.) A coffee’s dry fragrance, wet aroma, flavor, aftertaste, body, acidity, balance, and overall impression are taken into consideration while uniformity issues and defects, will lower the overall score.

Specialty Coffee

Specialty coffee, coined by Erna Knutsen in 1974, refers to a coffee that receives a quality grading score of 80 percent or higher. While “premium” or “gourmet” seem like they’re synonymous with “specialty,” they simply are marketing terms with no defined standards. Specialty coffees are grown in specific and ideal micro-climates, and have distinctive and unique flavor profiles, with little to no defects.

Third-Wave Coffee

We’re currently in the third wave of coffee. The first wave of American coffee put pre-ground, vacuum-sealed cans in kitchens across America. The second wave started with the late ‘60s introduction of Peet’s coffee (by Alfred Peet) through the proliferation of Starbucks. The third wave of coffee focuses on origin transparency, nuanced flavors, and artisan roasting. The term “third wave” is synonymous with specialty coffee.

Test Drive: Update Your Grinding With More Comandante Grinder Accessories

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