akallio wrote:If ProM was changed so that you could access the burrs (hence eliminating choking issue), or I could otherwise convince myself that the issue is gone for good, I would go back to ProM.

The ProM has been my daily-use grinder for not quite one year. There are no issues with choking, no issues with clumping, no issues of any kind. It simply does what it's supposed to do and does it exceedingly well.

Have you had a peek into the grinding chamber?

Somehow the idea about never opening the chamber seems scary to me. Grindz cleaning does not dislodge dust that is stuck in the corners of the chamber. With my ProM I saw something like this; As time progressed, choking issues became more frequent and harder to fix. But if you have been running for almost a year, they must have made something significant about the issue. I just can't get my engineering mind to understand what they have done.

Perhaps something to consider is the way you intend to use it... single-dose grinding or full hopper?

I never owned/saw ProM, but I love the MiniE for single dosing... I would suspect ProM would be more challenging to use in this way (hard to reach and clean chute).

I modified my MiniE type-B slightly:

A tube inserted at top instead of hopper, to avoid needing to clean throat ledge -- I throw in weighed dose in there (.2g more then I want) - and it consistently grinds out expected amount, with minimal effort. Two quick motor bumps/scrapes get it all out (unlike K10 i tried). Also, changed pushbutton to remain pressed in, and use the main switch to turn it on -- this helps free my hands, to rotate basket underneath (i don't like to dose w/ PF), and get a great distribution. It has a rock SOLID construction/feel -- I love its industrial design/look much more than the plastic 'PC chassis' looking ProM... but that's a personal matter.

Useless for my style, but the little screws on MiniE to adjust dose timing are not the most convenient... guess not a big issue to keep a small tool to adjust, but perhaps it's a plus for ProM.

benm5678 wrote:Perhaps something to consider is the way you intend to use it... single-dose grinding or full hopper?.

Unless you are sampling several different coffees each day, the ProM makes single dosing not only unnecessary, but counter productive.

akallio wrote:I saw something like this; As time progressed, choking issues became more frequent and harder to fix.

What was your "choking issue"? I know that early adopters had some problems with the initial design, such as static cling on coarse grinds. But those were corrected. I don't believe I have heard anyone else complain about "choking."

Thanks for your replies so far. I tend to put a days supply of beans in the hopper, I can't be fussed to weigh each shot so accurate dosing would be a big advantage.

Regards Keith

Marshall wrote:What was your "choking issue"? I know that early adopters had some problems with the initial design, such as static cling on coarse grinds. But those were corrected. I don't believe I have heard anyone else complain about "choking."

The exit chute got blocked and the grinder stopped turning. I had the same issue with Mini-E, if I accidentally ground too fine (Turkish). With Mini-E, cleaning it out was a bit of a pain, but doable. And when you learned to dial in your grinder properly, the problem never returned.

With ProM, it happened even when you kept to espresso settings. And fixing the issue was really difficult, because you could not disassemble it. At worst it required close to an hour of hoovering and poking the exit chute with toothpicks, your finger etc. The last time it happened, one of the rubber flaps came out with the remaining grounds and the grinder became practically unusable.

Of the three ProM grinders (early models) I know in Finland, all had the same issue and at least two were returned to the seller, including mine. I have not heard what happened to the third one.

akallio wrote:The exit chute got blocked and the grinder stopped turning. ... With ProM, it happened even when you kept to espresso settings.

I don't think anyone has had this problem with the current chute design.

oh... ok. "uncle". i have little room to criticize red dots because my grinder is one of the more controversial ones. nuff said.

Marshall wrote:In addition to the red dot, you pay for:

Precision grind and time controls that smoothly and quickly adjust and then hold their position.
Saying goodbye to single dosing and weighing rituals (see previous bullet).
Having a single grinder for espresso and brewed coffee.
Superior, longer-lasting steel alloys for the burrs.
Hand finishing of the burrs that does not waste coffee during "break in"
A size that fits under any counter with its hopper.
A design that complements modern kitchen and bar equipment, instead of looking like a refugee from a machine shop.

Whether those things are worth the $1,250 U.S. street price is up to the customer. I have not personally had a problem with fine grinding.

Hi after much deliberation I have ordered a Pro M hope to have it on Thursday Thanks for your input

Regards Keith