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Orphan Espresso Lido 3 Hand Grinder Review: Staff Pick Coffee Grinder for French Press and AeroPress

Orphan Espresso Lido 3 Hand Grinder Review: Staff Pick Coffee Grinder for French Press and AeroPress

The Orphan Espresso Lido 3 Hand Grinder is the newest edition to the Lido hand coffee grinders, and it comes as no surprise as to why this grinder is all the rage around the craft coffee market.

It is sleek, lightweight, portable, and comes built with excellent grind precision accuracy in its Swiss stainless steel burr blades.

I recently had the privilege of trying the Lido 3 coffee grinder for the first time, and I was not disappointed.

Although it took me a few adjustments in order to get the grind settings to where I needed them, overall it made for an incredible cup of coffee and fantastic coffee experience.

I wanted to write an in-depth review about my experience with using the Lido 3 Manual Coffee Grinder so that anyone interested in taking the leap to buying one can know everything there is to know about using this amazing grinder.

This is a review of the Lido 3 Manual Coffee Grinder. We discuss how to use it, its key features, the pricing of the grinder, and other helpful information so you can have everything you need when deciding to buy one or not.

First of all, what is a Lido 3 manual burr grinder?

Lido 3 Manual Burrs

Saying that a coffee grinder is manual just means that it isn’t electric. It means that you can use your hands to grind your coffee beans, and you don't need an electrical outlet or batteries to do so.

People often like manual coffee grinders for the benefits of it being lightweight, good for travel, and often times extremely accurate in its grind settings. The Lido 3 grinder is no exception to these qualities.

When we talk about a burr grinder, we are referring to the types of blades used. In coffee grinders you will either find a burr grinder or a blade grinder.

A burr grinder is known for having better accuracy and is made up of two revolving flat surfaces that add pressure in between them to grind the beans.

A blade grinder is exactly what you would picture at the bottom of a blender, something that resembles a propeller. These grinders are far less accurate and consistent than the burr grinders.

It is also important to note that within burr grinders there are two types: conical and flat. The Lido 3 grinder is a conical burr grinder which are usually used for slower grinds.

Most of the manual coffee grinders that we sell are conical burr grinders like the Lido 3 grinder. It makes for a more overall reliable coffee grinder at the end of the day.

It's not to say that you can't make a good cup of coffee when using a blade grinder, but we recommend aiming for a conical burr if you want to be drinking amazing coffee every morning.

How Do You Use the Lido 3 Coffee Grinder?

Lido 3 Grinder Parts

The Lido 3 grinder, once you’re accustomed to it a little, is incredibly easy to use! When I first opened the box and pulled out the Lido 3, I was sort of intimidated with getting started. I had only used a hand grinder one other time, and I thought figuring out the mechanics of it all would be tricky.

But honestly, there’s nothing tricky about using the Lido 3 Manual Coffee Grinder. To get started, you can take the Lido 3 out of the carrying case. You'll notice a blue and black rubberized top with a grip handle. 

This is going to be the handle you use to turn and grind your coffee. It has a locking feature underneath that when you press, it can lock or unlock to fold in to itself when you pack it up and take it on the go.

Next, you'll want to take the silicon cap and remove it from the lid. The cap just acts as a stopper lid, so you'll eventually place it back on top once you've added your coffee.

Scoop your coffee into the plastic Lido 3 hopper and place the silicon cap back on. Now it's time to adjust the grind settings.

I'll go into more detail about that in the next section, but you'll adjust the Lido 3 grind settings by twisting the bottom half of the grinder and locking it into place with the locking ring.

Now it's time to grind! Grab the handle on top and twist clockwise until all of your beans are ground. You can then unscrew the bottom compartment and enjoy your fresh coffee grounds! 

Overall, I think that the Lido 3 grinder is easy for every type of coffee and every level of coffee drinker, it just takes a couple of tries to become accustomed.

Lido 3 Grind Settings

The miraculous part of the Lido 3 hand grinder is the range of grind you can achieve, and the ease in which this can happen. The grinder is known to range from an espresso grind to a coarse french press grind.

You'll notice two rings in the middle of your Lido 3 grinder. The wider ring is what you turn to adjust the coarseness of your grind, while the smaller ring is used to lock it into place.

There will be two blue dashes that need to be lined up in order to reach your "zero mark." This is important because this is where the burrs line up, which makes it a necessary starting point.

There are two small dots on either side of the top blue dash. One dot is bigger, indicating coarser, and the other is smaller, indicating a finer grind. 

Once you've lined up the two blue dashes on your Lido 3 grinder, you can turn the bigger ring to the left to make a coarser grind. If you need to make small adjustments, turn it to the right for a finer grind, or keep turning it to the left to make it more coarse.

When you have your grind setting in place, turn the smaller ring to the right to lock in your grind. Overall, the Lido 3 grind settings are very simple to use, especially after some practice.

VIDEO: Lido 3 Manual Coffee Grinder - How to Use and Adjust the Lido 3 Grind Setting

Features of the Lido 3 Coffee Grinder

The Orphan Espresso Lido 3 hand grinder features a BPA-free plastic hopper that holds up to 70 grams of coffee grounds at once.

The hopper comes with a removable silicon lid. The foldable handle comes with a lock-in feature, which makes for easy storage and travel, and it comes with rubber grip that helps keep your hands from slipping.

The hopper can be attached and locked in to the bottom grounds chamber. The Lido 3 grinder has two adjustable rings: one for locking and one for changing the grind settings.

The bottom chamber can be removed for easy access once you've ground your desired coffee.

The burrs are made of powerful, durable conical stainless steel and the best for excellent grind accuracy. The grind settings are adjustable and range from very fine to super coarse and everything in between.

Lido 3 Parts

When you purchase the Lido 3 coffee Grinder, you’ll receive a few important things in your order. First, your Lido 3 will come with a sleek, black carrying case.

The case is durable yet flexible enough to make the perfect traveling case, and it is big enough for your entire Lido 3 grinder with the handle folded in.

Along with the carrying case and the Lido 3 grinder itself, you’ll receive a Hex tool for grinder care and a cleaning bristle brush.

Another amazing thing about the Lido 3 Hand Grinder is how easy it is to keep up with the maintenance. For all of the grinder maintenance, such as taking it apart to clean it, you can use the same tool that comes with your purchase.

You don’t need anything else! The brush is nice to have as well because it is small and fits in the carrying case, and it comes in handy after you’ve collected enough coffee grounds and dust in your grinder.

Lido 3 Coffee Grinder Features:

  • 48mm Swiss Made Steel Conical Grinding Burrs
  • Diecast Folding Crank Handle (Integrated Funnel for easy bean loading)
  • Soft grip handle knob
  • Large Capacity Food Safe BPA-Free Plastic Hopper holds up to 70 grams (10 tablespoons) of coffee beans
  • Bronze Dual Axle replaceable Bearing System for complete grinding stability and consistent particle size
  • Micrometric Stepless External Grind Size Adjustment System
  • Solid Rubber Hopper Stopper for Funnel
  • Anti-Static RTP Permastat ABS Plastic Catch Jar
  • One step disassembly process for trouble free cleaning with the included natural bristle brush
  • Assembly/disassembly uses a single included tool
  • Dimensions: 13.5" overall height to the top of the knob, 3" diameter at the catch jar (not including bag or tools)
  • Weight - 2 lb 5oz (1052 grams)

What Comes with Your Purchase of the Lido 3 Grinder?

You'll receive the Lido 3 coffee grinder fully assembled in the box at your front door. Disassembly and reassembly are simple, and you'll receive a manual of all the instructions you'll need.

Also included with the LIDO 3:

  • Natural bristle anti static cleaning brush
  • Custom hex assembly tool
  • Rubber popper stopper
  • Neoprene Zip Close Travel Bag
  • Instructions

Price and Purchasing of Your Lido 3 Manual Coffee Grinder

Quality coffee grinders come at a decently high price. When making a purchase of any accurate, effective coffee grinder, you can expect to pay a couple hundred dollars at the least.

The Lido 3 sells at about $195, and for the quality of the grinder and its features, this is an excellent price. The Lido grinder is also a perfect entry level grinder for this very reason.

If you decide to purchase the Lido 3 coffee grinder, you can buy it here. Our site offers not only competitive pricing, but we offer knowledgeable customer service, 1 year of insurance, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Traveling with the Lido 3 Manual Coffee Grinder

Traveling with the Lido 3 manual coffee grinder may be one of the best experiences you can have with this specific coffee grinder.

It's easy for me to sometimes think that if I need a coffee maker and coffee grinder to be portable and decent for travel, that I'll have to sacrifice quality for convenience.

With the Lido 3 grinder, this could not be farther from the truth. Its sleek, compact design makes it seem as though it was created to be carried around on all of your adventures, but its grind accuracy and durability reflect that of an industrial grinder you'd find in a local coffee shop. 

First of all, the traveling case that comes with your purchase can pretty much fit in any type of bag. It's narrow and light, but still resistant. The Lido 3 fits in this bag fully assembled, which makes it convenient to take on the go.

The Lido 3 is manual, so traveling with it means you won't have to seek out an electrical outlet or carry batteries in your suitcase.

It's also easily dissembled and easy to clean. The lid on top locks into place, so you can even carry your unground whole beans in the hopper until you're ready to grind them. OR, you can grind your coffee and leave the grounds in the chamber until they're ready to be used.

Traveling with the Orphan Espresso Lido 3 Hand Grinder is a trouble-free and experience. If you need a coffee maker as a travel companion for your Lido 3, try using the Aeropress.

Pros and Cons of the Lido 3 Coffee Grinder

Although I believe that the Lido 3 coffee grinder is an excellent grinder with a long list of good reasons to make your purchase, I wanted to be upfront about some of the cons that may come with using the Lido 3.

Pros:

-The Lido 3 is easy to travel with because of its compact size, durability, and manual grind usage.

-It's easy to learn how to use. The Lido 3 requires very minimum work when it comes to grinding your morning coffee.

-The Lido 3 grind settings are extremely accurate.

Cons:

-Although it is relatively inexpensive when compared to other high-quality coffee grinders, the Lido 3 coffee grinder can still be a difficult price tag to spend money on.

-The Lido 3 only holds about 70 grams of coffee in the hopper at once. This is okay for making only a couple of cups of coffee at once, but it could limit you if you're wanting to provide coffee for a lot of people at once.

-Although the Lido 3 grinder is easy to use once you become acquainted with it, it might require some practice and tweaking before you can achieve the grind setting you want.

Lido 3 vs Lido 2

The Orphan Espresso Lido 3 hand grinder is a one-step upgrade from the Lido 2 coffee grinder. In the Lido 3 vs Lido 2 discussion, there are a few key points to consider.

The Lido 2 grinder was not designed as a travel grinder, whereas the Lido 3 was. They can both be used at home, and they can both technically be taken on the road, but the Lido 3 is much easier to use on the go.

The Lido 3 grinder has the foldable handle at the top, while the Lido 2's handle is not foldable. 

They both hold about 70 grams of coffee in their hopper. The Lido 3 grinder comes with a removable rubber top and the Lido 2 does not. The Lido 2 comes with a counter stand because it was designed to be used at home.

The travel bag is included in your purchase of the Lido 3 grinder, but it is sold separately from the Lido 2. The Lido 3 and Lido 2 are the same price.

Lido 3 vs Lido ET

The Lido ET is an interesting combination of the Lido 3 and the Lido E (another type of Lido hand grinder). There aren't a lot of differences in the Lido 3 vs Lido ET debate, but the Lido ET grind settings set it apart from the others.

The Lido ET has the travel characteristics of the Lido 3 manual coffee grinder. Its handle is foldable, and it comes with a travel case and removable silicon lid. 

Both the Lido 3 and the Lido ET hold 70 grams of coffee in their hoppers, and adjusting the grind settings requires the same steps.

The main difference in Lido 3 vs Lido ET is that the Lido ET has a wider range for finer grind settings. It is a perfect grinder for people who will regularly use this grinder for espresso or a pour over.

It has the same range as the Lido 3 grinder, but it has what is called "fine adjustment threading," which makes it more accurate for an espresso grind.

The Lido 3 and Lido ET are the same price.

Lido 3 vs Baratza Encore

The Orphan Espress Lido 3 hand grinder and the Baratza Encore coffee grinder are very different from one another. In the Lido 3 vs Baratza Encore discussion, there are many differences to include.

For one, the Lido 3 is a manual grinder, whereas the Baratza encore is electric. The Baratza was designed for home use, and is very difficult to travel with. The Lido 3 was designed for easy traveling, but you can also use it at home.

The Lido 3 coffee grinder is good for making one or a few cups of coffee at a time. The Baratza Encore can hold much more in its hopper, so it if you're going to be making a larger pot of coffee, the Encore might be better.

Both coffee grinders produce excellent accuracy in their grind settings. They both require some practice by the user, but you'll be able to achieve your desired setting with each grinder.

The Baratza Encore is $139, while the Lido 3 is $195.

Lido 3 Coffee: Finding the Best Beans to Use

Finding the best Lido 3 coffee to use is going to depend on your own personal preferences! 

A good rule of thumb for making yummy coffee at home is that the fresher the bean, the better! Grinding coffee that is about 1-2 weeks old will give you the best and most delicious cup of joe.

Keeping beans fresh for longer is much easier when you have an Airtight container

To find delicious, freshly roasted coffee that is perfect for the Lido 3 grinder, check out Red Rock Roasters. They provide their customers with a variety of different beans that are suitable for any type of coffee drinker.

I especially love using their Espresso Strata bean. It's a little on the dark, bold side, and it's delicious when it's ground up in the Lido 3 grinder and brewed using my Aeropress.

Conclusion: A Lido 3 Review 

I believe fully that the Orphan Espresso Lido 3 Coffee Grinder is one of the best manual coffee grinders on the market.

The Lido 3 beats other grinders in the flavor it produces, the price point, the ease of using it, and the level and accuracy of its grind settings. There really is no other grinder like it.

I hope that I was able to answer all of the questions you may have about the Lido 3 coffee grinder. If you have any other questions about grinding coffee, buying a grinder, or brewing coffee with a French press, check out the FAQ section of our blog.

Ready to make the purchase of the Lido 3 grinder? Head on over to our store and start enjoying freshly ground coffee now.

Lido 3 Coffee Grinder

You can find more information on purchasing your own Lido 3 here, or you can check out our blog and Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about making an amazing cup of coffee in your own home!

View All Orphan Espresso Hand Coffee Grinders

 

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