Dialing in the Macap M4 for the first time

[stofer]

Any one have some advice for a quick first time dialing in the zero point of the Macap M4 grinder?

[HB]

If I remember correctly, the espresso range is about 1/8th turn above the zero point (where the burrs touch). You can confirm the zero point by first running the grinder empty, then turning it off and rotating the collar until the burrs touch (again, the grinder does not need to be running and the chamber must be empty). Grind a sample and pinch it between your fingers. It should feel much coarser than flour, but less coarse than salt. The grinds should stick together slightly; if the beans are fresh and the grinds don't adhere together, it's too coarse. If the grinds hold a fingerprint impression, it's too fine.

Remember to read the owner's manual, especially the correct direction to rotate the collar for coarse/fine. The dial is hard to read and I forgot once or twice myself.

[stofer]

Got good results without "wasting" more than 1/4 pound with your help
Still need to work on my dose-distribution-tamp though ...

[bpkengor]

we've had our Macap for a few months now. A few unrelated "tips":

we had a couple small stainless steel cups in the kitchen not doing much. each about as wide as a portafilter and a little deeper. i think they were intended as butter dishes for lobster or something. we ditched the bean chamber completely. we measure beans in one of these cups, toss the beans into the grinding chamber, and set the cup upside down on top of the chamber and grind. we therefore always keep our beans in a sealed container. setting the cup on top keeps the beans from being sprayed out. we use the other cup to dose the ground coffee into. this easier than dosing right into the portafilter. less heavy parts to fool with, can be set on the counter easier, etc. then we pull off the portafilter from the machine, and turn over the cup right into the PF. no muss, no fuss.

for cleaning, we just use a vacuum cleaner hose with no attachment. the hose end fits easily into the grinder chamber and into the dosing chambers. cleans up old grinds fast!

i find the grind settings to be wider than i'd like. too many times, one setting is too fine (and chokes my machine) and next setting is too coarse (and i get a waterfall out of the PF!) might be my finicky espresso machine (Silvia). therefore, sometimes, i adjust the grind by one setting mid-grind to get something in the middle of 2 settings. have to be careful doing that. hold the adjustment ring firmly if adjusting while beans are in the chamber! there is some spring in it. it will go spinning if you push the adjustment lever while the grinder is running and beans are in the chamber! i try to only adjust the grinder while it is running with an empty chamber.