Hi guys,

Does anyone have any thoughts on the new Macap MXDL Xtreme vs. the Macap MD7K? From what I was told by a really great salesman, this grinder is brand new and just hit the market so I was curious if anyone has had a chance to evaluate its performance.

I was told it is VERY close to performance of the MD7K except it is $300 cheaper and has flat 75mm titanium burrs vs. non-titanium 68mm conical burrs and the main thing is this unit is lighter and smaller but has an extremely strong motor and blades are lifetime guarantee.

Any thoughts are appreciated. I was all set on the MD7K but it is backordered for 3-4 weeks so I am evaluating my options now.

I had the same pitch for it when I inquired about the MD7K two weeks ago, I looked at the info on it, but I would pass because of the flat burrs. If it was the MXK variety 63mm conical I would have given it some thought. I have been using the M7K without the doser on it for more than 2 years now, I have a Mazzer SJ with 64mm flat burrs that gets absolutely no use. The sweet spot of a large conical makes dosing adjustments really consistent, and the taste profile for me wins hands down.

Thanks Dane, I appreciate the feedback. I am going to go ahead and buy a filler grinder until the MD7K comes back in stock then or just continue using what I have currently.

The super caimano also has 75mm flat burrs and is rated very highly, at true titan level fromwhat I've read. Chris Tacy has used both the sc and robur next to eachother. His thoughts about those grinders can be found at http://godshot.blogspot.com/

The local cafe/roaster in town had a Super Caimano since they opened until 9 months ago when they replaced it with a Robur, the taste improvement was convincing to me. The Robur had some kind of problem and had to be replaced, in the interim they used the Anfim again, the shots were not as good. (IMO).

Wow, bold statement with his conclusion of the two.

I've never owned a "titan" grinder in this price range so I think either would work for me, it just comes down to am I short-changing myself with buying the MXDL because it is available now or should I just suck it up and wait. I really want something that is going to last with very little problems and I think both are good choices.

I am surprised nobody else has information on the MXDL, I guess it is just too new.

They both should be great, they both should outlast you. Not everyone prefers conical to flat burrs even among the experts, but conical is probably a little more forgiving if you dial it in a little off.

I've gotten to play with lots of the titans and I still don't know which one I would take if you let me pick any one that I would get for free and have to use forever (the Robur probably would not be my choice, for example).

I have not even convinced myself that i would rather have flat or conical.

Then again if you told me I was stuck with any of the Titans I've used for the rest of my life - flat or conical - and I did not get to pick which one, I would probably be okay with that because they can all produce great espresso and almost all are built to grind more in a month than most of us will grind in our lifetimes so this would hardly be considered a hardship or sacrifice.

Although I have not used the MXDL (it is as you say, too new for most to have used it) if it is like the other Macaps I've used and other titans from other manufacturers, I don't think you would be shortchanging yourself, but if you are the type (like most of us) to always ask what if, it may not matter which one you would have liked better, but more which one you perceive as better and so there is value in picking that one.

If you really can't wait, it must be that you don't have any functional grinder at the moment. Either frequent your local roaster's cafe, or buy a Porlex for your immediate grinding needs and wait for what you really want. Five years from now, a couple weeks' wait up front is going to seem like nothing. Even five weeks with something that isn't what you wanted can seem like an eternity.

You might also try Vaneli's. Years ago, they were my source for a Mazzer Mini. They don't have the consumer-oriented site of many of the great H-B sponsors, and may not have the same level of post-sales service, but, at least back then, I was treated fairly by them.

Who sells the Macap M7K? may also prove valuable