How good can a pavoni shot get? - Page 2

[Gatewood]

It's stepped, and pretty wide steps at that. There's a mod with teflon tape, plastic thingummies, etc., that can make it stepless, but I didn't want to go that route. I suppose I could get another, but not to borrow. I don't know anybody with a grinder! I wouldn't mind buying another, although I hate to spend the money and just have to upgrade again in the future. I've just been using mine on the finest setting and adjusting with tamp pressure. That suits my temperament better. But now I can't get the tamp hard enough to get the resistance I need. Today I will clean out the grinder and take a good look inside to see what's up. It's pretty simple to service; one of the things I like about it. I have a cheap brass hand grinder. I think it would take me all day to get a shot ground from it, but do you think it's worth trying? It's set for Turkish right now. How long does it take you to grind a shot's worth on your Zass?

[happytamper]

Hi Gatewood,

My Zass takes about 5 minutes to get a shot give or take a minute or two. Pretty close to the amount of time it takes to heat the Europiccola. SO everything works out. I just got a Isomac gran macinino grinder that grinds right in to the portafilter. It works well but I think it will go to my studio where I have to make afew coffees in a row and I will use the Zass at home. Also when you use the Zass it is best to grind slowly, If you grind to quick it takes just as long. And generally I am adjusting the fineness as I go by the feel of the resistance. If you have the patience and the time in the morning, go for a Zassenhaus.

All the best,

[Gatewood]

Thanks, Mitchell,
I wish mine were a Zass! It's one of those cheap brass Turkish things, but ought to be able to do the job in some manner, anyhow. So, I'll give it a try. Five minutes isn't too bad. I can handle that.

[kbuzbee]

Gatewood, my Zass 175M takes about 110 cranks to empty the upper chamber at espresso grind (a few more for Turkish... 120-130?). This is just a bit too much for a shot but I empty it straight into the pf, which works well and minimises the "scatter". Then I distribute it over a small bowl which catches the extra. It takes less than 5 minutes... Maybe 2? I'd try your Turkish grinder. It should work well. At least it will give you some idea if that's your problem. Unlike HappyTamper, I don't feel any difference in the resistance while grinding. I only know if the grind is right during the pull. My adjustments are generally VERY slight.

Ken

[Gatewood]

Ken, is it easy to adjust? I haven't messed with mine at all, and I think it adjusts like a Zass, but am not sure. Since you adjust it a bunch, I'm assuming it's relatively straightforward. And I suppose I'll have to just feel the grinds to see if it's the right adjustment? Shoot. Wish all this was easier.

[kbuzbee]

The adjustment screw is a knurled ring at the bottom of the grind axis (inside the grounds chamber). Yes, it adjusts very easily. It does get covered with coffee grounds though. Kind of an odd design in some ways. It doesn't seem to be a problem though. Yeah, feeling the grounds can get you close but, for me, it's all in the pulling of the shot.

Ken

[hbuchtel]

It's stepped, and pretty wide steps at that. There's a mod with teflon tape, plastic thingummies, etc., that can make it stepless, but I didn't want to go that route.

Gatewood, I have a grinder with a very similar (almost identical actually) design to the Kitchen Aid, and I very much recommend the stepless mod.

I think some people (in that CG thread) went kinda overboard with making little washers, wrapping plumber's tape around the threads, etc, in my case it was not at all necessary. You can give it a try, just remove the large dial, screw out the (don't know a better way to describe it) threaded adjustment knob, remove the little pins that provide the 'steps,' and put it back together. I think you can find a much better description in that CG thread (from Mark P's review of the KA), if you don't I can try to explain it again.

It makes a great difference!

Henry

[Gatewood]

Well, I've arranged to buy a Super Jolly from one of this forum's esteemed members. That should do the trick. I won't get it probably for a week or two, but I'll let you know how it goes. I just need to be sure I have the right grinder, then the rest can get messed with.

As for the Turkish grinder, I can't tell if I'm getting finer or coarser with the turning of the nut on the bottom. Looking at it straight on (upside down), do you go clockwise or counter clockwise for coarser? I see nothing happening on the burr end, and I could mess with it all day and not be any closer. If I can find out which way to turn, I'll spend some time turning.

[kbuzbee]

cw should tighten it up. Go all the way 'til the burrs rub (that would be the setting for Turkish), then back it off a bit for a try.

[Gatewood]

Thanks, Ken; I'll try that since it will be a little while before I get the new grinder. I am sure my burrs have slipped or something since I can no longer choke the Pavoni even on a single. Very different from the way it used to be. I'll give the Turkish a try.

[Espressobear]

Ken:

I saw in one of your other postings that you are using a hand turkish grinder.

How well does that work, and can you adjust the finenss of the grind?

I'm wanting to get a grinder and take the next step toward total controll of my espresso making


thanks

Dale

[kbuzbee]

Hi Dale, yes, I use a Zass 175M... Their Turkish mill. You can adjust the grind quite a lot but it really wants to be run on the finer side (Turkish - Espresso). It works very well. Fast (though others will tell you 5 minutes, I seem to go about 1.5 - 2. Pity you can't seem to find these currently. Hopefully Zass will get these issues ironed out. A Turkish Turkish mill MAY work as well. Couldn't say for sure.

Ken