Cimbali (Hybrid) Max vs Macap MK7R

[ericpmoss]

Hi all,

I need a $1000US or less grinder for my shop, and have narrowed my search to a Cimbali Hybrid/Max or a Macap MK7R or ?.

Taste and consistent, cool grinds are most important to me. Speed better than 15 seconds for a double-shot basket is good enough. I assume either grinder is very reliable. Quiet would be nice. Clumpless would be great.

Any opinions/experiences?

Thanks!

Eric

[jesawdy]

Eric-

I haven't had an opportunity to play on a Macap yet, but I have the original Cimbali MAX (not the new Hybrid MAX/Junior that Chris has now, but the same burr set). I had switched to a Mazzer Super Jolly for a couple months but brought the MAX into the office last week. I still like it. It is easy to work with, the grind is nearly a set it and forget it for several days at a time. Clumping has been a non issue with the coffees that I use, doser thwack or no.

Here are some of my comments from a recent off-line conversation.... Some of the negative comments regarding the hopper below pertain to use in a home setting which would not be the case for you.

I took the Alexia and the Cimbali MAX in to work today. The MAX (which has been sitting idle for a long time) impressed me again, I really like a lot about it. Today was the first day that I actually spent any time with a real light tamp, and it is as easy as Ken likes to say it is (although I don't think it hurts that he is using a MAX as well).

The SJ is great in some ways, I like the hopper (or lack thereof) access, doser lid and chute access, I don't like doser feel, doser sweep, the left throw and the resultant mess. The air here has been dry and the static is starting to wreak havoc on the workspace with the SJ.

The MAX doser feel is better IMHO, sweeps well, doesn't throw too bad, is a bit cleaner and the worm gear adjustment is nice. The hopper design sucks and access to the doser/chute isn't good (just like the Junior). The steel case is chinsy in comparison to the Mazzer cast and painted body, but you know what you are getting into since you have a Junior.

[mgrayson]

I'm very happy with the MK7R. It takes about 7 seconds for a double (I brush out the chute each time. Very easy to do.) I've actually been happy with my shots since I got it. It fits under the cabinets with the hopper removed and replaced with a short paper tube nano-hopper.

I have no experience with the Cimbali, sorry.

Matt

[cannonfodder]

You mention a shop, you may want to check NFS certification. You may need it, I do not know if either is NFS certified.

[Ken Fox]

Hi all,

I need a $1000US or less grinder for my shop, and have narrowed my search to a Cimbali Hybrid/Max or a Macap MK7R or ?.

Taste and consistent, cool grinds are most important to me. Speed better than 15 seconds for a double-shot basket is good enough. I assume either grinder is very reliable. Quiet would be nice. Clumpless would be great.

Any opinions/experiences?

Thanks!

Eric

I have two of the original Max's plus one of the new hybrids. I liked the original Max's enough to put my Compak conical in the closet and buy a new hybrid Max model.

No grinder of this class is quiet, at least not in the way that I would define that word Cimbali makes bulletproof stuff so I'd say their stuff is quintessentially reliable. A double shot's worth of grounds should take about 10 seconds (haven't timed it, but if anything it would be less than that). The grinds are as clumpless as I've seen.

You can cut the fingerguard off, as I have done with a dremel-like tool, in a minute if you want to clean the chute more easily.

The hopper and body are the same as on a Junior, which is to say much smaller than the original Max.

I don't think you will find a grinder with better grinds than the Max produces. A good straight conical will need a little less frequent grind adjustment, but the adjustment mechanism of the Max is far more precise and pleasant to use than you will find in most any other grinder.

ken

[ericpmoss]

It sounds like either grinder would be just fine -- the Cimbali bullet-proof and with "different-but-just-as-good" taste results as the big conicals, the MK7R with more consistency but maybe more accentuation of bright notes in any given coffee. Time to flip a coin, or go for whichever stays cooler when doing a hundred or two shots a day. Any experience with that -- the heat issue I mean?

NSF certification would be nice, but where I am, the inspectors really only pay attention to that for things like fridges, ovens and the like. Grinders don't make them worry.

Eric