That one Tuesday my grinder seized mid-pour and the backup saved the day

I run a small cart at the farmers market in Eugene, and last month my Baratza just locked up right as the morning rush started, around 8:15 AM. I panicked because I had 14 drinks on the board and no way to grind. Good thing I kept an old hand grinder in my truck after a tip from a roaster in Portland, that thing got me through 70 cups and honestly the crowd loved watching me crank it. Ever had a gear fail at the worst time, what's your emergency backup plan?

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kelly_rivera20d ago

Keep a cheap hand grinder in your cart at all times, not just in the truck. I learned that the hard way when my main grinder died and I had to run 30 feet back and forth between the cart and my van during a rush. Also, test your backup once a month. A hand grinder that's been sitting too long can get stiff or the catch cup cracks. And if you're doing that many cups, pre-grind a few batches the night before for the first 15 minutes of service. That buys you time to sort out the real grinder without slowing down. The crank show is fun, but you don't want to do it for 70 cups every week.