Todd Grooms

It can be a humbling experience to think back on how long one has owned an item. Ashley and I received a Cuisinart conical burr coffee grinder as a wedding gift over sixteen years ago. We still have a few things that we received as a wedding gift or even before our wedding, but those items are beginning to dwindle. Perhaps those items no longer serve us. Things become used and worn and, sometimes, things can even fail. Such is the fate of our Cuisinart grinder.

A few months ago, I observed that the push buttons were increasingly difficult to engage. I would have to press the buttons at different angles or roll my finger on them to trigger the function. It was annoying, but the appliance was still functional. Over the last week, however, we observed that the output in ground coffee started to decline. The motor would always spin when on, but we could hear times where there was no actual grinding occurring. It seemed like perhaps a gear was slipping, leaving the actual burr stationary while the motor continued to spin, leading to the decline in output.

I did a little searching to see what my options were for repair. Over the last year, I have given more thought to my personal footprint. Whenever I toss or donate items, I feel a little guilty. Not that I don’t want to declutter (I do), but I question myself over why I had the item in the first place. If it’s an item that I like, why not continue to use it? If it can be repaired, should I be doing that instead? Unfortunately, it seems that Cuisinart appliances are not exactly repairable or, if they are, there is a dearth of online material describing how to repair them. Additionally, the only replacement parts I could find were the external plastic components (e.g. the bean hopper and the ground receptacle) and not the actual burr or motor.

Ashley sent me a Crate & Barrel link for Cuisinart’s latest model that replaced our model. The cost for a grinder can vary, but this model seemed to be appropriately priced for a conical burr grinder, especially a consumer model. My hesitation in choosing this model, however, was the idea that I would eventually be in this same situation again sometime in the future (with any luck, in sixteen years or later): I would have an appliance to dispose of and replace, instead of repairing and extending its useful lifetime.

I searched and found a highly recommended coffee grinder manufacturer named Baratza that is well known for their repairability. One Redditor quipped that he owns a “Ship of Theseus” Baratza Encore. I loved the idea of a coffee grinder “for life”. I did not love a more expensive upfront cost though. I was torn on which option to choose. I slept on it. Eventually Ashley and I decided to just purchase the Cuisinart option, due to its familiarity and local availability (I am also trying to avoid having everything shipped directly to me if there are local options available).

Values

In 2019, our 2011 Land Rover LR4 was beginning to visit the mechanic more frequently. It had been a wonderful vehicle for our family since 2014, but the maintenance costs were starting to accumulate. Additionally, I did not feel good about the fuel economy (both from a cost and consumption angle). I convinced myself that buying a new electric vehicle was the best option. One of the most difficult aspects of that decision was the cost analysis vs. the environment analysis. Was it better, cost wise, to purchase a new vehicle and avoid the ongoing maintenance costs of this vehicle? Was it better, environment wise, to purchase a new electric vehicle and avoid using gas with this vehicle? I do not pretend to know whether or not I could justify either, but sometimes the heart wants it wants and the head follows along. Additionally, one can reverse engineer reasoning to justify most decisions in life.

I’ve recently spent a lot of time thinking about this choice. Were I to do it again, I might very well choose the other road and keep the LR4. Ashley and I both loved that vehicle and we additionally carry very fond memories of our time in that vehicle. While I dislike using gas stations and burning gas, I also dislike the resources that went into the manufacture of our electric vehicles. The raw materials that go into making a vehicle plus the raw materials that go into making a large battery are non-trivial. Even with well detailed breakdowns on the benefit analysis of a new electric vehicle vs. a used ICE vehicle, it can be difficult to make a decision.

All this to say, I’m rethinking what’s important to me and what I can realistically do. I’m approaching consumption with more thoughtfulness. Why am I thinking about making this purchase? Can I purchase a used item instead? What level of quality should I be looking at? I definitely don’t want to buy junk anymore. I want things that will have as long of a useful life as possible. These are the types of questions and considerations I want to maintain moving forward when I contemplate purchases. If I’m honest with myself, I’m sure the answer to the first question will greatly reduce my consumption footprint.