Listening to the crunch and smelling the coffee right there." I mean, it's ground coffee, not a fine cigar. I really don't get the whole ritual thing. I bought a decent electric grinder a few years back and the difference between that and pre-ground is pretty small once the milk and hot water hit it. Waking up 10 minutes early to crank a handle seems like a waste of sleep to me, especially for something you're just going to chug down anyway. Most people can't tell the difference in a blind taste test, they just like the idea of it.

MODS love myths more than facts apparently.

Patricia262 is spot on with that advice, I spent two years learning from a master baker and it was the best decision I ever made. @patricia262 every lesson you get from her will pay off tenfold down the line.