Elektra Nino Azione grinder

[ericpmoss]

Hi all,

I received a very nice reply from Federico Fregnan at Elektra regarding the new grinder. I assume it's ok to post this information, as it will generate some buzz.




Description as it currently stands (sorry for the bad formatting):

"Elektra NINO" coffee grinder controls

Technical/Functional Specifications

Rev. 0 dated 21/02/05
Rev. 1 dated 09/06/06
Rev. 2 dated 31/10/06
General features

The card controls the coffee grinder motor unit by programmed timing.

Grinding duration is set by pressing the "Single Dose" or "Double Dose" button, while grinding start up is controlled by the microswitch.

Grinding will start upon pressing the "filter carrier on" microswitch.

To display

1. programming parameters
2. alarms
3. dose counters

the machine uses a 2 line, 16 character LC display

The grinding process is shown in 0.1 sec steps on a 25.5 sec scale.

The motor is controlled by a 16 A triac relay.

The relay may be replaced by a static relay positioned outside the card.


Functional features

* As you switch the coffee grinder on, the following message will appear on the display:

" ELEKTRA"
"Ver. X.X"

and, after 2 sec,

"Grinder"

"Ready"

* Press the "Single Dose" or "Double Dose" button to select the relative grinding time.

The machine is set on "single dose" as default choice.

* To start off grinding, close the "filter carrier on" microswitch (by placing the filter carrier in its proper lodgement).


During grinding, the display will show the message: "Single Dose"

Or "Double Dose"

to stay on throughout the grinding process.

Five seconds after grinding has stopped, the display will again show:

"Grinder Ready"

Language programming

The display can be programmed to use the English language.

To access this function, switch on the card by keeping the "Single Dose" and "Double Dose" buttons pressed for at least 3 seconds.

The display will show: Italiano

Press the "Single Dose" button again to display: English

To confirm, just switch the card off and on again.
Programming


To program grinding times, proceed as follows:

Switch on the machine by pressing the "Single Dose" button and keep it pressed for at least 5 seconds.

The display will show: Prog T. sin.

XX,X



The LED associated with the "Single Dose" button will light up to indicate that programming is on.

The "Single Dose" and "Double Dose" buttons can now be used as increase and decrease buttons.

Change the value as you wish and confirm by pressing the two buttons together.

You will automatically be taken to grinding time programming for double dose coffee.

The display will show: Prog T.doub.

XX,X

Change the preset value using the "Single Dose" (+) or "Double Dose" (-) button, and confirm by pressing the two buttons together as before.

Pressing the two buttons together a second time will take you out of programming.



Counter display

Dose counters can be displayed or zeroed by switching on the grinder with the "Double Dose" button pressed for 10 seconds.

The display will show: Res. sin.?

XXXX

If you press the "Double Dose" button, the display will show: "Confirm"

Pressing the "Double Dose" button a second time will zero the counter.

If you need to only display the counter, wait for the 5 sec time out to expire, which will cause the "Confirm" message to disappear.

The same procedure can be applied to the double dose counter by pressing the "Single Dose" button.

The display will show: Res.doub.?

XXXX

If you press the "Double Dose" button the display will show "Confirm"

Pressing the "Double Dose" button again will zero the counter.

If you need to only display the counter, wait for the 5 sec time out to expire, which will cause the "Confirm" message to disappear.

Pressing the "Single Dose" button will end the procedure, allowing service to be resumed.
Alarms


A control is provided for the "filter carrier on" microswitch.

If the microswitch is closed when the machine is turned on, the display will show the message:
Doser out of order


and the grinder will be irreversibly blocked.

A micro switch check is also carried out 5 sec after grinding has ended.

If the micro switch appears to be closed after the 5 sec time out, the same message will come up on the display and the grinder will be irreversibly blocked.

For service to be resumed, restore micro switch function and switch the grinder off and on again.

All components are validated according to UL/VDE/CSA.

The card complies with the CEI 61-150 regulation (EN 60 335-1 European Regulation) governing the safety of household appliances and similar machines.

It also complies with the European directive on EMC (electromagnetic compatibility).

Working temperature is between 0°C and 70°C.

[Teme]

This is a very interesting grinder. I see no reference to operating the grinder in continuous grind mode? Or will the grinding stop if you just pull the portafilter out?

Br,
Teme

[k7qz]

...split/merged from Compak K-10 grinder, availability, opinions? by moderator...




Since people on this thread are weighing grinder purchase options any further word on the Nino per this HB post ? : http://www.home-barista.com/forum...grinder-t4118.html

Price may be close to the Compak WBC...

[cannonfodder]

I heard that there were some issues with the grinder. I would be surprised if it hit the market this year, if at all.

[k7qz]

I heard that there were some issues with the grinder. I would be surprised if it hit the market this year, if at all.

I know Dave, I've heard the same rumors- which is why I asked about it. (BTW, thanks Dan for moving my question to it's own thread).

It struck me as curious that it would be scrapped (maybe, maybe) when a real live one was featured at SCAA. Again, totally rumor mill but maybe the infamous UL rating or some such thing. Time will tell. Oh well, I thought one would sit so nicely with my A3...

[1st-line]

I first saw a sneak of the first prototype in October, 2005 at the Elektra plant. They were very hush-hush about this special project and would not reveal any details.

The grinder was available at the SCAA show in May, 2007 at Long Beach, Calif. It was well hidden and it was not being promoted because they were still perfecting it. In fact, I tried to buy the one unit there, and they would not sell it.

Fast forward to today, and 1st-line has 2 units on order. However, there is no ETA. Pricing will prolly be $2k+. IIRC, this grinder has a cooling fan built into the back side.

[k7qz]

I first saw a sneak of the first prototype in October, 2005 at the Elektra plant. They were very hush-hush about this special project and would not reveal any details.

The grinder was available at the SCAA show in May, 2007 at Long Beach, Calif. It was well hidden and it was not being promoted because they were still perfecting it. In fact, I tried to buy the one unit there, and they would not sell it.

Fast forward to today, and 1st-line has 2 units on order. However, there is no ETA. Pricing will prolly be $2k+. IIRC, this grinder has a cooling fan built into the back side.

I'll keep my fingers crossed Jim!

I was about to buy a Robur last summer to play with but then I read Mark's post on CG:
( http://www.coffeegeek.com/opinion...s/05-05-2007/15:40 ) and decided to hold off thinking this new Elektra might be even more interesting yet. If it's vaporware, then maybe I'll go ahead with a Robur after all and see how it stacks up against my Major (which won out over my Mini E, SJ and Kony).

That doserless chute on the Nino really intrigues me though... Hmmm, maybe I'll wait a little longer as I've already got quite a grinder collection now sitting idle on my basement shelves-

[cannonfodder]

Sounds hopeful. It looks, and sounds like a slick grinder if they get all of their issues resolved. That price point puts the Robur square in its sights. I do not recall if it had flat or conical burrs.

[k7qz]

Sounds hopeful. It looks, and sounds like a slick grinder if they get all of their issues resolved. That price point puts the Robur square in its sights. I do not recall if it had flat or conical burrs.

From the CG link above: "This grinder has several patents - some which apply to the transfer of coffee from the conical burrs inside, spinning at only 500 rpms. Some apply to another kick ass feature - a built in automated fan hooked up to temperature sensors to keep the motor almost frigid (I couldn't hear the fan, but felt its vibrations). The key patents involve one key thing - no coffee left behind. The chute is like glass for coffee - it just slides - no residue, no clumping, no oily stuff gumming up the works. Serious work into static, "anti static", and making coffee move along metal as if it were a puck going along ice... all of this went into the engineering of this grinder. And it works."

[PaniniGuy]

It was in Minneapolis at the SCAA, again, not promoted heavily. But I got to use it a couple of times in the booth and it's a freaking awesome performer as well as being beautiful to look at (not to mention solid at 70+ lbs.). I pulled a half dozen shots, not a single stray grind and no visible clumps - similar to the powdered snow of an Anfim. They told me that the MSRP was $2300. It's being sold now by 1st Line.

We're hoping to get one in our shop by the end of the year unless we hear about some bad experiences between now and then.

[zin1953]

It's being sold now by 1st Line.

Not [yet?] on 1st-Line's website . . . .

[PaniniGuy]

given the guy in the Elektra booth was handing out cards for 1st Line, you'd think they'd have this coordinated, wouldn't you?

guess I'd call 1st Line if it was urgent.

[k7qz]

Well, well, it's now showing up on the Elektra site ( http://www.elektrasrl.com/ ) under New Grinders:

http://www.elektrasrl.com/kappa_grinders.html

Wouldn't that look real nice sitting next to my A3?...

[networkcrasher]

Anyone use a production unit yet?

[shadowfax]

Google Search now yields this site, which claims AU$3000 for the Nino, or about US$2800. Pretty steep, considering the comparison of the burr set size vs. the Robur. On the other hand, that's only about $100 more than the Mazzer Kony doserless at EPNW, which is not even available yet.

These grinders are certainly worth it for a cafe, but it seems like the home-barista is still better off buying grinders like the Macap M7KR and the Konys with dosers. Yes, they are a pain, but 100% price increase for what you see on the other end as basically just a slight edge in tidiness and convenience... Seems like the big talking points for a grinder like this are (and rightfully so) for a shop that sees some real volume--like the fans in the doserless Mazzers (and the Nino)--Don't care, nor do any other home baristas, I expect. I just want a perfect grind.

Again, I'm not trying to poo-poo the grinder, I think it's quite exciting. I guess I had just had my hopes up on the doserless Kony or this one that it would be just a couple hundred more than the dosered ones rather than 50-100% more, but I underestimated both the designers' desire to get their R&D money back on the early adopters and also the extent of other features--anti-static and fans--that would up the cost of the grinder. I hope I am not being presumptuous; that's just the impression I get from all this.

[CoffeeOwl]

So, what's her name? I had good intuition to learn French.

[the_deal_maker]

Received the new Elektra Nino yesterday directly from Italy: such a heavy piece, about 22 kilograms
and very heavy built. First impression is a rock solid construction with lots of very smart features
and mechanisms (for example the built-in tamper that can be moved above the portalfilter if needed).

Spent just a few minutes this morning with the new monster, dialed in for my morning cappu took me just
a few minutes. Dosage is very precise, output is some kind of fluffy no clumping at all. Will compare it
with my Robur E over the weekend.

Cheers,
- Malte

[networkcrasher]

Out of curiosity, what are they going for? Full retail?

[GreenBean]

Received the new Elektra Nino yesterday directly from Italy: such a heavy piece, about 22 kilograms
and very heavy built. First impression is a rock solid construction with lots of very smart features
and mechanisms (for example the built-in tamper that can be moved above the portalfilter if needed).

Spent just a few minutes this morning with the new monster, dialed in for my morning cappu took me just
a few minutes. Dosage is very precise, output is some kind of fluffy no clumping at all. Will compare it
with my Robur E over the weekend.

Cheers,
- Malte

Have you formed any opinion yet on how the Nino compares to the Robur E?

[the_deal_maker]

Well, I have pulled approx. 50 shots with the new Nino and it is too early to compare
it with the Robur E. In terms of handling is has some def. advantages. The pipe for example
is very similar to the one of the Casadio grinder is clearly better than any top-down tunnel
by providing additional visual control. The remaining grind is less than 1gr, I assume the
amount in the Robur is significantly higher. I usually make a 'blind grind' when using the
Robur after a decent time. This is not necessary when using the Nino.

At this time the Nino seems to be a class of its own. More to follow, especially when
I am back in Germany (currently in the US).

Best,
- Malte