Hi all,

While I have been quite happy with my Mazzer Mini E, I have considered potentially going back to a grinder with a doser (even less clumping than with the Mini E). I haven't really decided anything and I may end up staying with the Mazzer at least for the time being, but I do have a few questions and I was wondering if anyone would happen to know the answers. The two candidates are the La Cimbali Max and the Macap MK7R. Size, or more specifically height is a major consideration for me. I would not want the grinder to me much taller than the Mini E is with the short hopper (around 17 inches) as I have just 20 inches of clearance below the cabinets.

La Cimbali Max
- will this take the shorter hopper from the La Cimbali Jr?
- the automatic function would be a bit of a pain, but I could use the on-off switch to override it in per shot use (I could also add a separate timer set to grind for a double - anyone know where one could get one of these?)

Macap MK7R
- how tall is the grinder without the hopper?
- will the MK7 take the M4 hopper?
- is the MK7 a manual or an automatic grinder or can one specify this?

Thanks in advance for your input,
Teme

Teme,
If it's the clumping that's getting to you, you could always use the inelegant, but VERY effective, Weiss Dist Technique with a yoghurt container of your choice. Cheaper, but less esthetic, than a new grinder. I'm sure you already know this, however Michael

mgwolf wrote:Teme,
If it's the clumping that's getting to you, you could always use the inelegant, but VERY effective, Weiss Dist Technique with a yoghurt container of your choice. Cheaper, but less esthetic, than a new grinder. I'm sure you already know this, however Michael

Yep, I am aware of the WDT, but I'm really a fan

Thanks anyway!

Br,
Teme

La Cimbali Max - Height, according to T.J., is 18.5 inches and the hopper capacity is one kilo versus 1.25 kilo for the Junior. I believe you can manually switch it on and off. I've not seen it in person, but Adding timer to grinder offers some suggestions on external timers.

Macap MXK - Height is 13 inches without the hopper. It will not accept the M4 hopper (throat is bigger). It's manual.

Macap M7K is a bit taller at about 14 1/2".

I'm mulling over the Mazzer Kony. Greg Scace loves it and Nick Cho, who just won the SERBC, told me he likes it better for grind than his Robur despite being slower. I believe it's around 16 inches tall without the hopper, so fitting it under standard kitchen cabinets will be challenging.

The Cimbali JR and Mazzer Mini are close to the same size but you get larger burrs for the JR. While the JR has the 'auto hopper fill' for cafe use, I just use the switch. The power switch on the JR is located under the doser on the doser handle side. You can push the power on with your dosing thumb, dose, and turn off the power with your thumb while dosing. I really like my Jr. I don't see upgrading to anything other than a conical in the distant future. The Cimbali's are very easy to work on as well, something like 6 screws and the body lifts off the machine for easy service.

Yes, I know you are looking at the Max, not the JR, but the build is essentially the same, the height and flat-conic burrs are the only difference.





From LaCimbali's web page...


MAX

Body Silver version
Grinding start and stop automatic
Motor Single-phase
Motor output (W) 300
Grinding stones Flat - conic
Grinding stones' diameter (mm - in) 64 - 2.5"
Output per hour (approx. kg -lb.) 7,5 - 16.5
Coffee beans' hopper capacity (approx. Kg - lb) 1 - 2.2
Height x Depth x Width (mm - in) 470x360x225 - 18.5"x14.2"x8.9"


JR

Body Silver version
Grinding start and stop manual
Motor Single-phase
Motor output (W) 300
Grinding stones flat
Grinding stones' diameter (mm - in) 64 - 2.5"
Output per hour (approx. kg -lb.) 7,5 - 16.5
Coffee beans' hopper capacity (approx. gr - lb) 750 - 1.65
Height x Depth x Width (mm - in) 430x360x220 - 16.9"x14.2"x8.7"

Teme, say it isn't so! My Mini E should arrive tomorrow, and you were a significant influence in my purchase decision!

Don't be giving me upgrade fever!

In the price range you'e considering; you should also take a look at the Macap conicals; they look like they'll operate without a hopper (unlike the Kony)

HB wrote:La Cimbali Max - Height, according to T.J., is 18.5 inches and the hopper capacity is one kilo versus 1.25 kilo for the Junior. I believe you can manually switch it on and off. I've not seen it in person, but Adding timer to grinder offers some suggestions on external timers.

Macap M7K - Height is 13 inches without the hopper. It will not accept the M4 hopper (throat is bigger). It's manual.

I'm mulling over the Mazzer Kony. Greg Scace loves it and Nick Cho, who just won the SERBC, told me he likes it better for grind than his Robur despite being slower. I believe it's around 16 inches tall without the hopper, so fitting it under standard kitchen cabinets will be challenging.

The Mazzer Kony would be nice if it wasn't so huge. The Macap starts looking interesting if it is no more than an inch taller than the Mini E (13 vs 12 inches - both without the hopper). I also like the fact that it is manual.

I missed the thread on the timers. Thank you for posting the link. One of the digital darkroom timers would do the job and they don't seem to be very expensive on eBay...

cannonfodder wrote:Yes, I know you are looking at the Max, not the JR, but the build is essentially the same, the height and flat-conic burrs are the only difference.

I feel that the Junior would not be an upgrade to the Mini E in terms of the grind (both have 64mm flat burrs) whereas the other two potentially would be. Otherwise I have to agree that the Jr is appealing - the right size, a great grinder without a doubt and manual, too...

randomperson wrote:Teme, say it isn't so! My Mini E should arrive tomorrow, and you were a significant influence in my purchase decision!

Don't be giving me upgrade fever!

Congrats! I still think the Mini E is the best doserless grinder out there. It's just that I'm considering the alternatives now that the GS3 will be coming in. I am crazy? Probably

another_jim wrote:In the price range you'e considering; you should also take a look at the Macap conicals; they look like they'll operate without a hopper (unlike the Kony)

The MK7R has 68mm conical burrs (400W motor and 350 rpm) if I understand correctly. As I noted above, it is starting to look quite interesting if I just manage to find a suitable short hopper (which I would prefer). I have read some negative comments on the doser on this one, though (which seems odd as the smaller Macaps appear to receive positive feedback on their dosers).

Hmm... I have to give this some further thought.

Thank you and br,
Teme

Has anyone had a look at the Compak K10? Apologies for not being with the "in" crowd in the US of A, but the rest of us get grinders other than Cimbali, MACAP and Mazzer, ya know ;P Tim Wendelboe likes it - might be a bit closer to home than Nick Cho for Teemu! Or, you could always get in touch with your local brasilia rep; the competition grinder is pretty sensational. And might actually be useable in a home environment if the fabled new exit spout is around.

Cheers,

Luca

luca wrote:Has anyone had a look at the Compak K10? Apologies for not being with the "in" crowd in the US of A, but the rest of us get grinders other than Cimbali, MACAP and Mazzer, ya know ;P Tim Wendelboe likes it - might be a bit closer to home than Nick Cho for Teemu! Or, you could always get in touch with your local brasilia rep; the competition grinder is pretty sensational. And might actually be useable in a home environment if the fabled new exit spout is around.

I did a search on it after reading your blog. The dealers here show it as (yawn) just another large sized, 3/4 HP, 75 or so mm flat burr grinder; do you know anything they don't?