Reddit reviews Jennings CJ-4000 Compact Digital Weigh Scale 4000g x 0.5g PCS JScale Black AC Adapter

My opinion, for the cost:

Jennings scale
Plastic v60 02 and filters
Encore grinder
I have the Fino kettle but I'm sure the hario is fine
I have a flow restrictor from here
Plus your phone (to time), favorite mug and a notebook to keep notes.

I find .1 to be overkill. Before the Pearl hit the scene it was pretty much the Hario scale and the Jennings CJ4000 that saw major use in coffee shops. I have both of these and an AWS pocket scale and I like the Jennings the best. It may not have as fine a resolution but it's way faster. The Hario scale lags quite a bit.

Grab a jennings it's what is used in a lot of cafes. For ratios I would start at a 1:16 ratio amd adjust from there.

I'm using a Jennings CJ-4000. It's reasonably priced, accurate, doesn't automatically shut off, and can be powered through a wall outlet or with batteries.

Jenning's CJ4000 $26

20 year warranty, .5g resolution, 11 lb capacity, AC adapter included.

Jennings - $27 :: 4000g x 0.5g

Hario - $42 :: 2000g x 0.1g + timer

Brewista - $88 :: 2000g x 0.1 + timer

*I have the Hario and I like it. The time it takes to register weight is a little slow, but I don't care. Also I've spilt water on it (not more than 1/5 cup, and some ended up below it, near the battery) and I immediately clean/wipe and have had no water damage

Edit: Links & Notes

CJ 4000 is my suggestion. Small, battery or wall outlet powered, and really responsive. With the Clever pour speed is not as much of an issue but in the Chemex you'll want the scale to update as soon as water is added. Also it has a cover which doubles as a measuring tray.

Jennings CJ4000 scale: $32 with Amazon Prime, great for pourovers, runs on batteries or adaptor, auto shut-off can be turned off, 0.5g resolution. Pretty much the standard in all cafes

http://www.amazon.com/Jennings-CJ4000-4000g-Digital-Scale/dp/B004C3CAB8/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1373501436&sr=1-1&keywords=Cj4000

As /u/dirtmonger mentioned, you should invest in a scale. I have the cj4000 model and I really like it, I use it for everything from coffee to baking to cocktails and fermenting.

Second, are you using filtered water? Your response to /u/MrMurgatroyd where you mentioned things not fermenting or just rotting made me think that perhaps your issue is chloride/chloramine. It doesn't take a lot of contamination to throw off the lacto-fermentation.

My third thought is the quality of your produce. This is a relatively controversial opinion, but in my experience (and that of big name fermentation folks like Sandor Katz) home grown and organic (read: not walmart organic) produce tends to yield better results. The persistent pesticides present on conventional produce, or even the industrially administered USDA allowed organic pesticides/herbicides, can really mess with your ferment. I've had the best luck using local produce from CSA's and farmers markets. Yes, you're paying a bit of premium, but it seems less likely to fail to ferment and you're supporting local farmers and often times they're growing heirloom varietals that are important for genetic diversity in an increasingly industrial monoculture.

Best of luck, try and remember that even experienced fermenters have failures with some regularity. It's not an exact science.

I think to best answer this request, we'll need a bit more info. Are you ok with a manual grinder, or do you prefer an electric grinder? Do you want a drip brewer or a pour over set up? Are you looking to get into espresso? And, what is your actual budget in your local currency?

And now for a guess at what might work for you...

A [Melitta Plastic Pour Over Dripper](https://www.amazon.com/Melitta-Ready-Single-Coffee-Brewer/dp/B0014CVEH6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527536804&sr=8-1&keywords=mellita) $5 to $6 (a lot of grocery stores carry these in stock)

A box of #2 Cone filters at your local grocery store $2

If you want an automatic drip brewer, and you are making smaller amounts for just you, the [Bonavita 5 cup](https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1500TS-Carafe-Coffee-Stainless/dp/B00SK5IXPQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1527537674&sr=8-4&keywords=bonavita+brewer) is wroth a look. it runs about $66. I have the 8 cup for the wife and I and we love it.

Filters can be purchased, again, at your local grocery store for about $2.

[Brewista SmartPour Kettle w. Thermometer](https://www.amazon.com/Brewista-Variable-Temperature-Kettle-BKV12S02NA/dp/B01CFBBUVY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527537033&sr=8-1&keywords=brewista%2Bsmart%2Bpour&th=1) $40. There are cheaper ones, but I personally have this one and have loved it.

[Scale](https://www.amazon.com/Jennings-CJ-4000-Compact-Digital-Adapter/dp/B004C3CAB8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527537139&sr=8-1&keywords=Jennings+CJ4000) This is a must. $30

[Bratza Encore](https://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Encore-Conical-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B007F183LK/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1527537371&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=baratza+encore&psc=1&smid=A302OQK4GZWXCC) Grinder is the default recommendation around here, and for good reason. It's high quality, and easily serviceable. New they run $139, but you can save $40 and pick up a [refurb](https://www.baratza.com/product/encore-refurb/) (still with the 1 year warrantee) for $99 direct from Baratza.

If you want a cheaper option, and don't mind a manual hand grinder, there are a few options, but the [Hario Skerton Pro](https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Skerton-Ceramic-Grinder-MMCS-2B/dp/B01MXJI90S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527537536&sr=8-1&keywords=hario+skerton+pro) is about the lowest cost / still decent quality grinders, grinder that most would recommend. It runs about $60, and personally, I'd spend the extra $30 on an Encore refurb.

Happy Mug Beans are a pretty great option. I really enjoy the Big Foot Espresso blend (despite it's name) as a pour over, and even like it in my drip brewer. The Inspirational Artist Blend is a great option too. But really just try them out and see what you like. Their bags (for 1lbs of whole beans) run $11 - $13

Hope that helps.

I've had great luck with my Jennings CJ4000.

http://www.amazon.com/Jennings-CJ4000-4000g-Digital-Scale/dp/B004C3CAB8

The temp controlled one is great because it can hold the temperature for up to an hour and it gives you precise temperature control (obvious) which is good for teas or using different brew methods (some aeropress recipes use 175 degree water for instance). Whist I love the variable temp I wouldn't say its needed. As for scales the one I would recommend is the Hario Drip Scale for its water resistantness and its built in timer, but the American Weigh Scale or the CJ-4000 will also work well. The Kalita Wave is also a good recommendation and is more beginner friendly than the v60. I'd still say go with the v60 though, I think it produces a better cup.

The Jennings CJ4000 is a great scale that is found in a lot of coffee shops. It is nicely built, sturdy and can weigh to .5 of a gram. For the cost, I think it's a good buy.

What's your budget? That's going to make a difference in what gets recommended. If you can only spend $100 vs $500 there are going to be some compromises that you'll have to make, especially when it comes to the grinder.

Scale:

• This basic scale does not include a timer, but you could just use your phone or something https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004C3CAB8
  
  
• This scale comes with a timer and some advanced features https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N3U7RKH
  
  
• The Acaia scales are the top-notch pro-level deal which don't really add much compared to the Brewista scale, but people like them. https://www.amazon.com/s/ie=UTF8&search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Acaia
  
  Burr Grinder:
  
  
• Most basic hand grinder that will give you the least amount of problems for the price: https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Skerton-Coffee-Grinder-Black/dp/B01MXJI90S
  
  
• Jump on up to the AerGrind, Feld2, Lido, Helor 101, Kinu M47, Commandante... these hand grinders are top-notch and a great value, giving the best quality grind until you hit the $500-600 price.
  
  
• If you want to go electric, don't get anything less than the Encore which you can get refurb for $100. It won't be as good of a grind as the better hand grinders, but it's a great grinder for the price.
  
  Pour over cone:
  
  
• I really can't recommend anything other than the V60. I don't see an advantage to the Wave or Chemex. They all make the same quality level of coffee, but the Wave filters can be annoying, the Chemex filters are extra thick and you may not care for it, and both Wave and Chemex are more expensive. Get the $5 plastic V60-02 and some white filters for $10 and you're set. Or you can get a fancier glass or metal one if you want. Get a server/carafe if you plan on making that much coffee but it can just sit on a mug. If you want to try the Chemex filters, they fit in the V60-02 or V60-03. If you want to try cloth or metal filters, there are options that fit in the V60's.
  
  Gooseneck Kettle
  
  
• Bonavita Variable Temp is perfectly fine but not amazing quality; mine has lasted a couple years just fine but I can't use my well water in it because it rusts it due to high sodium levels... also it tends to heat the water too much if I don't have at least a pint in it (I often don't). It's not too annoying though, just be aware it's not perfect but is good for the price https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40
  
  
• The Oxo kettle would be the competitor at that price, which I haven't used but it's worth looking at reviews for it https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Adjustable-Temperature-Electric-Pour-Over/dp/B074KHPS7F/
  
  
• For a cheaper kettle option you'd have to go stovetop. Hario Buono is a good one for that.
  
  
• A desirable kettle if you can afford it is the Fellow Stagg EKG.
  
  
  Prioritize the grinder and make that the most expensive part of your setup. You can easily deal with a $10 scale, $5 pour over cone, $35 kettle, but a grinder that is $25 vs $50 vs $150 will make a huge difference in not just the taste quality of your coffee but the more expensive grinders will also reduce your frustration level by giving you less fines and more even grinds so it will be easier to hit the brew times, taste notes, and reduce the bitterness.

You also need a scale and excitement to learn!

SCALE: This scale is somewhat of an industry standard. If you spend more, you won't get much more. If you spend less, you may regret it!

EXCITEMENT TO LEARN: You seem prepared to make great coffee! That's awesome! I think you'll soon realize that is doesn't take much insight to start making better coffee than your local starbucks or even some local third wave shops (good coffee shops). But you also need to be ready to realize when you haven't made the best cup and use it as an opportunity to improve!

This hobby is so much fun. You're going to have an absolute blast!

1. Slightly coarser than right in the middle.
   
   
2. Not necessary. The comparison class of the Bistro is the Baratza Encore and the Capresso Infinity. Most people think the Encore is the best, but I doubt anyone would tell you it's so much better that you should buy one when you already have a Bistro. And if you're using a drip coffeemaker, there's not really a need to step up to the next level.
   
   
3. Use somewhere between a 1:15 and 1:17 coffee:water ratio by weight. It's hard to tell by volume, since dark-roasted coffee is much less dense than light-roasted coffee. (If you don't have a scale, and you want one, this is a good one.) Different beans will work better at different ratios, so experiment!
   
   
4. If you want to step into specialty-grade coffee at a low price, Happy Mug is high quality and well-priced. Or you can check out your Trader Joe's to see if they carry anything locally roasted. Look for a roast date (not a "Use By" date), and pick something roasted within the past 3-7 days.

Here's a link, probably the most used scale in coffee. Pros: It's cheap, reliable, and has a large capacity, very solid build. Cons: Not waterproof (though I've never had trouble with it) and a larger body (compared to the Brewista).

Jennings CJ-4000. I've had one for a few years and it work great. Comes with an AC adapter or can just run on batteries. Has Tare (really, all scales should have that).

I've had the Oxo for years without issue. I use the backlight sometimes but have never had a need to detach the display. I'm probably going to replace it with this one, since its higher resolution. I started really getting obsessed with espresso and would like to measure my coffee to parts of a gram.

My pleasure.

You may not want to hear this (I know my dad didn't), but you really want to be weighing everything (personally, I like the Jennings scale). Its all about the water to coffee ratio (16:1 is my preferred go to).

So if you brew with 720 grams of water then you'd want 45 grams of coffee. I am sorry, I don't know what that is in ounces.

I literally just brewed a Chemex with 25 grams of coffee and 400 grams of water and it filled up my 12oz mug to the brim.

Honestly I think just about any kitchen scale will work. Anything above $30 and you're just paying for something that looks cool. As someone put it in another thread, if it doesn't touch the coffee or the water, it doesn't pay to go high end. I use a Chemex three times a day and I use this scale.

Here's the one I use, complete with an AC power cord - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004C3CAB8/

> Would like to find a digital scale that plugs in and measures in grams ounces fluid ounces at least

A "fluid ounce" is a measurement of volume, not weight; a scale isn't going to measure fluid ounces. https://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-ounces-and-fluid-ounces-224303

Link for the lazy

You will enjoy it. I started with an electric blade grinder and upgraded to the Encore and it made a massive difference. I used to get tons of sediment out of my french press, now I get practically zero.

EDIT: I'm not sure what you're using to measure your beans but this scale has been great:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004C3CAB8/

Both AP and chemex are great methods for great coffee. I have both plus a french press. I use the AP daily because it's the quickest and hard to screw up. I suggest the inverted AP method (google around for videos). The only downside is that you can only brew one cup at a time, and it's not a huge cup at that. Which is part of the reason i bought a chemex, so i could make larger batches for groups of people. I usually reserve the weekends for chemex since it's more involved. It took me several tries before i learned what techniques work well. In terms of which is better, the chemex makes the smoothest cup. I also find the ritual of brewing with the chemex soothing and challenging at the same time.

Equipment-wise you'll need a good scale for both. I use a Jennings CJ 4000 (http://www.amazon.com/Jennings-CJ4000-4000g-Digital-Scale/dp/B004C3CAB8) and am happy with it. Only downside is the 0.5g resolution but I've never noticed it to be a noticeable problem in terms of brew taste/strength. If you go the chemex route you'll also need a gooseneck kettle to ensure precision when pouring. I use the bonavita electric with variable temp (http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40) and I love it, especially for the convenience and price.

So, my recommendation would be to try/get both as they are each suited best for different situations. I'm a fan of having options and am always evaluating other gadgets to add to the collection as i consider it to be a hobby of sorts.

1. Use a calculator such as this one to determine your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure).
   
2. Pick a calorie intake 10-20% below your TDEE to lose weight
   
3. Get at least 0.8 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight
   
4. Aim for at at least 20-25% in fat
   
5. Keep things the same for 1-2 weeks and make adjustments until you're losing between 1-2lbs per week
   
   Use tools such as www.myfitnesspal.com for tracking, use a food scale to measure foods as measuring cups can be inaccurate, and make sure to track everything at least initially. You'd be surprised how quickly things like sauces and whatnot can add up calorie wise.
   

I've had this scale for a few years and haven't had any issues with it. It's nice and sturdy. FWIW, it's the same scale used at a few local thirdwave coffee shops here.

Grinder: https://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Encore-Conical-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B00LW8122Y

Clever: https://www.amazon.com/Clever-Coffee-Dripper-Large-Ounces/dp/B00EOM5RN0

Clever filters: https://www.amazon.com/Filtropa-Paper-Coffee-Filters-White/dp/B0001IXA9O

Aeropress: https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK

Scale: https://www.amazon.com/Jennings-CJ4000-4000g-Digital-Scale/dp/B004C3CAB8

... or $26, or even $17 if you're real tight on cash, but who's counting right?

I like my Jennings CJ-4000, but it seems to be pretty expensive at the moment on Amazon. I got it for ~$26: https://smile.amazon.com/Jennings-CJ-4000-Compact-Digital-Adapter/dp/B004C3CAB8/.

It only does .5g increments, but it updates quickly.

It's $27 on Amazon.

I have this one. It stays plugged in.

https://www.amazon.com/Jennings-CJ4000-4000g-Digital-Scale/dp/B004C3CAB8

I have this one and I love it. It was $30 on Amazon, so, a little pricey, but got good reviews and works well. I like that it can tare, and measure in grams and ounces, and you can switch between grams and ounces with something on the scale.

There is a noticeable and for me annoying lag in when the scale registers weight. Makes it easy to go past your target measurement.

I prefer the faster Jennings CJ-4000 scale for that reason alone.

Jennings CJ-4000 Compact Digital Weigh Scale 4000g x 0.5g PCS JScale Black AC Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004C3CAB8/

I had one of those crappy Ozeri scales too, and it's very laggy. Too easy to overpour because it takes too long to respond. I finally upgraded to this. It seems fairly popular around here too.

FWIW, I have a V60 at work as I only brew for myself there. I have a Chemex at home so I can brew enough for my fiancee as well. I don't notice any huge difference. I may be a barbarian with unsophisticated tastes, but I don't think pourover is the rocket science that most redditors make it out to be.

You’re welcome! A good ratio to start with is 1:16 and you can tweak from there depending on your preferences. You can watch YouTube videos as well for methods on using the V60 which will include water and coffee measurements.

Here is the guide I mentioned from the sidebar. You can read a little more about the different brewing and pourover options to learn a bit too. I’d probably go with the AWS SC-2KG one. I use the Jennings CJ-4000 and love it. It only measures to .5g but it has a higher weight capability so it doubles as my kitchen scale and is nice for bread and stuff.

I had the same issue with the first scale I bought, but I finally went ahead and replaced it with this. Best decision I've ever made as far as coffee equipment goes. You can turn off the auto shutoff, and it comes with an AC adapter so you don't even need to worry about the batteries. It's held up well to a couple years of heavy use, and it's still dead on.

Probably. I have this one but it looks like there are cheaper options that would work as well

That's a really great deal. Purchase that and if you're not on a super tight budget grab a grinder like the Baratza Encore or something similar. If you are on a tight budget then grinder wise you could pick up a Hario Skerton for cheap and most people will recommend you this scale as it's very affordable and very accurate. Also has the option to plug into the wall so you're not burning through batteries all the time but I would recommend just picking up a set of rechargeable batteries.

Second on the separate scale. This and this are generally well regarded here. I own the first one, and I love it

Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!

Here are your smile-ified links:

porcelain brewer

This one from Jennings

---

^^i'm ^^a ^^friendly bot

Any kettle will do. Most people go for stuff with more steel because they don't want hot water sitting with plastic, but that's up to you.

Most french presses are very similar well. In fact, I find most immersion techniques (where you steep the coffee in the water) come out very similar. I personally prefer this porcelain brewer from Bonavita. You steep the coffee for ~3 mins, then open the valve on the bottom and let it drip into a cup. Cleanup is just tossing the filter and rinsing, which I think you'll find much less of a hassle than french press.

No matter what you get, one of the most important pieces is a scale. This one from Jennings is great. The french press can be a great way to let you make different batch sizes, but only if you keep your ratios consistent. That is one of the best advantages of french press, because a lot of pourovers only work well for a certain batch size.

I’ve used the Jennings CJ-4000 for a long time now. It was pretty much the standard in cafes before Acaia. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004C3CAB8/

It’s a .5 scale, not a .1, but that doesn’t matter much unless you’re doing espresso.

Doesn’t seem to be sold by Amazon directly right now, but I know they’ve sold it before and for cheaper around $24-28.

Even getting some low-cost gear like a CJ4000 and a Cusinart burr grinder will significantly improve your cup. And a thermometer is quite an inexpensive investment. Just remember that quality coffee is 100% chemistry, and chemistry requires precise measurements that must be repeatable over and over for consistency. However, you don't necessarily need $500 to make a great cup of coffee at home in the morning

What scale do you use? So far I have found:

1. AMIR Digital Kitchen Scale, 3000g 0.01oz/ 0.1g https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DGEWHN4/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
2. CJ-4000 ( 4000g x 0.5g) https://www.amazon.com/Jennings-CJ-4000-Compact-Digital-Adapter/dp/B004C3CAB8
   
3. American Weigh Scales AWS-600-BLK ( 600 x 0.1g ) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000O37TDO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_g2GqCbRH011PS
   
   So far I'm leaning to option 1. AMIR since it can weigh 3000g and is still accurate to .1g. Also its pretty cheap at $10.99.

I’m using this scale to weigh 50 grams of beans.

I’m using this grinder set to 28.

I’m using this kettle to heat the water to 200 °F.

I add 800 grams of water to the ground coffee and follow the Hoffman method.

Comes out perfect every time.

I have the Acaia Pearl and The Jennings I have used the Hario scale many times.

The three are very different versions of the same thing. The Jennings is still my go to scale for everything except pour overs because it's dead simple to use, and durable.

The Acaia is better in almost every way EXCEPT it is kind of finicky to use, the touch input is a little strange to get used to and it has so much functionality that it is difficult to just weigh things sometimes. That said, it is beautiful,accurate,smart and very well designed.

The Hario is about halfway between. The screen on the Hario is small and somewhat hard to read from a distance. It does have timer functionality that is really nice to have.

My best value pick is the Jennings. But get the Hario if you need a timer and the Acaia if you need it all.

https://www.amazon.com/Jennings-CJ-4000-Compact-Digital-Adapter/dp/B004C3CAB8

1. Any scale is fine, just make sure it has .1g or at least .5g resolution. Here's a couple starter scales: https://www.amazon.ca/Jennings-CJ4000-4000g-Digital-Scale/dp/B004C3CAB8 or https://www.amazon.ca/American-Weigh-Scales-Personal-Nutrition/dp/B008FSHPNO/
   
   
2. Temperature isn't too terribly important as long as you keep it consistent and dial in that way. Without a temperature reading, it's easiest to do this by using boiling water. You can also get a PID kettle if you want to experiment. Bonavita, Fellow, and Brewista all make PID controlled gooseneck kettles.
   
   
3. Your grinder is less consistent than what he's probably using (I'd guess an EK43). You're also grinding way too coarse, which leads to a lot of fines on a grinder like that.
   
   
4. Way too coarse. French press does have a reputation for taking a very very coarse grind, but really it's not hugely more than drip. Check out the French Press grind on this page for a starting point: https://bluebottlecoffee.com/preparation-guides/french-press
   
   
5. I'd just search for it on Google and look through what they've offered in previous months to see if it's quality. I'm not Canadian and haven't tried these, but I've heard good things about Propeller Coffee and Pallet Coffee.
   
   
6. I've enjoyed Tim Wendelboe's videos. Good stuff.
   
   
   

I like this one a lot. But if you want to drop a bunch of money on a scale, you could do better.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IZ1YHZK/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1416885349&sr=1&keywords=scale

Lots of coffee shops use the CJ-4000, but it'll only do .5 gram increments.

http://www.amazon.com/Jennings-CJ4000-4000g-Digital-Scale/dp/B004C3CAB8/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1416885411&sr=1-1

Head over here if you want more responses!

1. I'm going to reccomend two types of coffee brewing equipment to you: the Aeropress ($26) and the Chemex (6 cup for $41.50). To start out, I'd get a hand grinder like the Hario Mini Mill($25). So there you go, get the Aeropress and the Mini Mill and you're barely over $50. There are tons of Aeropress brew methods out there, so I'll plug my own blog here. I use 18g of ground coffee. You can use any standard kitchen scale that is accurate to the tenth decimal place to measure out your beans, but this one seems to be a popular pick.
   
2. The longer you leave your ground coffee laying around, the less delicious it will taste. If I'm going to spend money on quality beans, I want to make sure I get the best possible cup out of them. This means grinding right before I brew.
   
3. For the Aeropress method I have listed above, you'll be making one cup at a time. If you want to brew multiple cups at once, you'll want to pick up the Chemex.
   
   For beans, please support your local coffee shop or roaster rather than buying Caribou or Starbucks. A lot of folks work their butts off selecting and roasting the best possible beans, and it's really special to be a part of that process as the consumer in my opinion. I do understand that it can be hard if you're from a town with limited options.
   
   I know this can all be a bit confusing if you're used to brewing pots of coffee at a time. If you have any other questions, hit me up!
   
   

As others have said, better grinder is definitely the first thing that jumps out. Looks like you’re going with a Baratza Encore; that’s a great start. Since you’re doing French press primarily, you definitely want as consistent of a coarse grind as you can get. Alternatively, you can have Trader Joe’s grind it for you.

Other than that, I’d suggest a scale. I use this one but any that has a zeroing/tare function and at least 0.5g increments should be fine. Jennings CJ-4000 Compact Digital Weigh Scale 4000g x 0.5g PCS JScale Black AC Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004C3CAB8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_9wCDAbVBMSTQP

I tend to do around 60-80g of protein. This lands me around 1.2g/kg of protein. I might bump it up toward 100g if I really want to up my protein at around 1.7g/kg. If I recall, muscle gains tend to be maxed out for naturally trained athletes around 1.875g/kg. at the upper limits of intensity and volume (for me, ~110g of protein.) Ymmv.

Beyond this level of protein intake, you do run into some toxicity concerns (just ammonia for example, is a neurotoxin... and you run into more potential metabolic toxins / problematic issues the more you ingest -- like homocysteine, which is a causative factor in vascular dysfunction, etc.) But, if you find a particularly high protein intake is more satiating and helpful for your goals, then the pros probably outweigh the theoretical cons. I would think that something like a hearty stew with lots of meat would provide more satiation than a fast-digesting powder if you're looking to increase protein intake at a caloric deficit.

If you really want to dial in your protein intake, this was a cool video with an interesting tip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4zUQ3Pwj68

Maybe investigate calorie+macro cycling to view your deficit on a weekly average (which allows for "cheat day" wiggle room to naturally balance out some of your hormones.) Figure out some highly-satiating meals that work with your goals -- eg. stews + soups full of fiber + vegetables are the shit. Ideally, you can allow for higher post-workout calories and carbohydrates while targeting lower non-workout day calories and carbohydrates. In the past, this worked great for me... might not be optimal for others.

Vitamin C seems pretty easy to get -- you take a bell pepper, cut that in half... and just that little bit of fruit (~25 calories) provides two days worth of vitamin C... before you've eaten anything else. That said, I often supplement some vitamin C. For vitamin D, check blood serum levels first, then supplement, then re-test to hit optimal levels. I suppose if you're concerned with vitamin intake and you're not eating much food, you could do something like a two-a-day multi. Magnesium is often a safe bet, if you're thinking you're low on nutrients while eating at a deficit... it's hard to fit meaningful quantities into a multivitamin and food isn't usually concentrated with the mineral. Other minerals might be worth investigating, but it's more dependent on your dietary intake.

This guy has a great outline, if you really want to hit the vitamins hardcore, one at a time:
http://perfecthealthdiet.com/recommended-supplements/

You might invest in something like this guy:
http://www.amazon.com/Jennings-CJ4000-4000g-Digital-Scale/dp/B004C3CAB8

I get a surprising amount of use out of that thing (awesome for making coffee.)

Maybe look into ashwaganda, that stuff tends to balance me out, particularly at a caloric deficit (via lower cortisol?) Along this train of thought, I believe phosphatidylserine is also effective at lowering cortisol. Green tea is often associated with insulin sensitivity and increased lipid oxidation, where you could start up a matcha tea habit. Ymmv. /random-thoughts.

Don't forget to buy a scale. Measuring your beans by weight instead of volume is essential if you want good, consistent cups. I use a CJ-4000 and I've been happy with it.

As far as grinders go, the Hario Skerton and Mini-Mill are typically recommended for inexpensive hand grinders.

If you're doing pourovers, a gooseneck kettle is strongly recommended.

You can see some gear recommendations on our wiki.

Here is the scale I have. I got it after recommendations from local third wave coffee shops. Not as beautiful as the Hario scale, but way more affordable.

http://www.amazon.com/Jennings-CJ4000-4000g-Digital-Scale/dp/B004C3CAB8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407792280&sr=8-1&keywords=cj+4000

First off, there are guides for this already which is why people are not responding. They are in the side bar and I linked them again here:

How To Coffee: A Primer

Coffee Gear Suggestions by Price

Now on to my own advice. I am also relatively new to coffee so my advice is based on researching how to get started over the last couple of months

Give us a budget, but under $100 puts you here:

1. Grinder: The Hario Mini Mill ($27) is fairly highly recommended here
   
2. Scale: American Weigh Scales SC-2KGA ($25). The AC-adapter version of a fairly popular scale here. It should work for a long time and work well for most types of brewing. The Jennings CJ4000 ($27) is also very popular and is worth a look. The difference is the Jennings responds way faster - which is useful for pour over - but is less precise (increments of .5 grams instead of .1 grams, though this is not as big of a deal)
   
3. Brew device: Aeropress ($22), French Press ($25), or Pour Over (Melitta Cone or Beehouse) There is only one Aeropress version but there are lots of French Presses, I linked to a Bodum Chambord which is the favorite here. You can decide which one of these will work better for you based on the other responses on this thread or by searching in /r/Coffee.
   
4. Cheap water thermometer or an electric kettle that can set temperatures. If you go with a Pour Over method you need a gooseneck kettle which sets you back another $35-65 depending on how nice. A lot of people go with the Bonavita Variable Temperature Digital Electric Gooseneck Kettle ($63).
   
5. The coffee! Try to get freshly roasted (look for a "Roasted On" date instead of an expiry or packaged/binned on date) coffee. Try and buy stuff that is roasted less than 5 days ago and use it before 3 weeks from the roasted on date (some people say 2). You can try to find local roasters and coffee houses that sell fresh whole bean coffee using the /r/Coffee search or Yelp. Be careful with darkly roasted (ie French roast) coffee because a lot of the dark roasts at Grocery Stores and even shops (Starbucks) is considered over roasted and basically burnt. If you want suggestions for brands search /r/Coffee, though really popular and expensive stuff would be Intelligentsia and Stumptown.

I have been using this scale for a few years. Not sure if everyone needs 0.5g resolution. I use this scale daily for coffee and occasionally for baking and home brewing.

https://www.amazon.com/Jennings-CJ-4000-Compact-Digital-Adapter/dp/B004C3CAB8

Jennings CJ4000

It's the industry standard.