Mazzer Mini E now or wait for Kony

[lud]

(Apologies in advance for the long post.)

Expecting delivery of the GS/3 any day now, knock on wood (Distributor told me it landed in Toronto, Canada late last week and its clearing customs--from Italy, not ESI. UL stickers to come later). As you guessed, I have been shopping around for a suitable grinder upgrade (I know, I know, I should I have done this first , but I figured that the supply of the machine would be harder to come by, vs. the grinder). Anyhow, my SO is kind of fed up with my latest hobby. Understandably so, as we're expecting our second child in August and my wife will be on mat leave for a year.

That being said, I did lots of research (weighted scoring based on criteria, cross referenced comments from others, etc.), and narrowed it down to 2 grinders, both Mazzers: The Mini E (B) and the Kony both in the black housing. Probably seems like an odd pairing, but aesthetics played a big role which is why I'm fairly set on these two (No offence to many other equally capable brands and models, and probably more rational choices.), with timing, price, quality, and size being the other major driving forces.

Option A: I "think" I could swing getting a Mazzer E now (esp. with it being on sale this weekend and the Cdn exch performing well as of late), but if so, it would likely be another year and a half or more, before I would have any hope of trying to sell it in order to upgrade to a Kony (or a LM if it ever becomes become reality). There is so much to love about this grinder: size (fits under my existing counter now), looks (IMO), price (no small change, but its half the price of the Kony by comparison), simplicity of the doserless design, and quality (vs. my KA). The only reason I would upgrade to the Kony is for the incremental increase in quality that many have raved over. (Which I am sure I will also experience by upgrading from a KA to the Mini) as well as my initial plan to avoid grinder upgraditis.

Option B: Put up with the KA Pro for espresso grind until around December'ish of this year. I will be in a much better position to negotiate the larger and more expensive grinder purchase, as bonus time will be much closer by then (which is how I justified the machine purchase this year.) The other thing that I didn't mention is that the only thing my SO dislikes more than my spending on toys are large appliances on her kitchen counter. Love the looks, but the size of the Kony scares even me , so I think she'd go into early labour if I told her (which would invariably eliminate Option A if this happened). Still, this Option B would be like buying that expensive stereo and having to wait 8 months to buy decent speakers or cables to push the sound through.

Option C: Do nothing. It's always an option so I had to put it out there. My wife would be ecstatic, my kids could go to college, I would be somewhat miserable...

Other factors:

1. I plan on keeping my KA Pro grinder for French Press. Currently, the difficulty in going from press grind (with little, to no sludge) to espresso grind (1 click from burrs rubbing) is not an issue as I did the stepless mod as well as my own quick dremel mod to bypass the lower limit (ranges from -0.5 to +8.0). I roast at home and together with the KA Espresso, have been able to pull 25-30s 2oz doubles (definitely not always) with tons of crema (nearly always). I realize that does not mean I pulled a great shot. There are times when the shots taste bitter or sour, but other times, not bad IMO with a nice lingering cigar-like mouthfeel afterwards.

2. I plan on knocking a hole in the kitchen wall that will open up into the family room and building a mini espresso bar of sorts for the machine and grinder. The opening would probably measure 35" high by 27" wide (I can't go any wider) and would allow me to take the espresso machine off the main kitchen counter as well as to allow a very large grinder to sit in the kitchen. So far, this is still a go.


That's it. I tried to keep it as short as possible while delivering the relevant facts. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[JonS]

Obviously, the Kony is like a holy grail to the home espresso nut, but...if you're considering the Kony, you're obviously prepared to use a dosered grinder, with the pros and cons that come with that. That being the case, why is the doserless Mini-E so attractive at the lower price point ? You could save a heap of cash and buy a dosered mini instead.

Certainly, that's what I did. I looked at the Kony, but couldn't justify the cost, because I knew it would not be long before I'd want to upgrade my other espresso kit (and I did). The Mini-E was attractive, but a) the price difference sucked, especially as I didn't think I'd use the electronic dosing, and b) from what I read, I understood that correct use of a doser chamber and lever in a home environment, would reduce clumping. I also knew that, seeing as practically every commercial grinder you can buy is based around a doser, it was worth developing technique to get the best out of such a combination in the long run, especially if I still saw a Kony in my distant future

I should also add that I own 3 grinders. An Isomac Gran, a KA Pro Line, and my black Mazzer Mini. Only the Mini gets used these days. The Isomac is conical, grinds nicely, but the build quality is so-so and it traps loads of coffee inside. The KA Pro Line is well built, but grinds like a piece of sh*t - the burrs are rubbish, the grind is so variable that I won't use it for French Press, and certainly not espresso. Maybe it's just mine, but the burrs, even though they're the same size as the Mini's, are just rubbish. The quality of grind out of the Mazzer Mini is like night and day compared with either the Isomac or KA Pro Line, moreso with the KA.

If you have a GS/3 on its way, you just have to buy a better grinder now, you owe it to yourself and the machine. The grinder's far more important than the machine, so based on that alone, you ought to be getting the Kony. But, priorities are priorities, so I would suggest forgoing the Mini-E and getting a dosered Mini, maybe off of ebay, or perhaps a used Super Jolly, and very gradually saving for the Kony over time (if indeed you still feel you need one). At no point have I regretted buying the dosered Mini over the Mini-E, and now that I flick the doser lever as I grind the beans, I get beautifully clump-free grinds. Also, I really appreciate the easy access via the doser chamber, to brush out and vaccuum the grinds to keep it clean. The doser does throw to the left a bit, but it's easy to anticipate and adjust accordingly. I dose the basket whilst removed from the portafilter.

I did find that when I ground my beans into the doser, and then started thwacking the lever to dose, I got clumping caused by (I assume) the sweeping motion compressing the grinds together, especially on very fresh beans. I can't say for sure, but I would expect that even though the Kony is known for fluffy grinds, poor doser technique could easily undo all that, which is why I think you'd be as well to learn the techniques sooner rather than later. Hopefully, someone who owns one will chime in.

That might not quite be the answer you are looking for, but I know what it's like having 2 young kids and trying to feed an espresso habit

Jon

[HB]

The GS/3 deserves an exceptional grinder. I would go with Option D: Buy now with plans to upgrade. The resale on Mazzers is very good; if money is a major concern, buy one on eBay and replace the burrs. Otherwise get a new Mazzer Mini this weekend and sell it a year from now for nearly what you paid for it. If the doser really bothers you, do a poor man's conversion to doserless as shown here.

[Ko]

I have the exact setup that you want and am very very very... (did I say very) happy with the pair. I would push you towards the Kony but would agree with HB to get the Mini-E or Mini and plan to upgrade when you get your bonus. You are not doing justice to the GS/3 by pairing it with the KA.

Get the Mini, use it for a year and sell it. By that time the LM grinder might be out, if not then get the Kony.

[Psyd]

get a new Mazzer Mini this weekend and sell it a year from now for nearly what you paid for it.

OTOH, will the 1) increase in price that may occur in the next year, plus 2) the loss you incur on the Mazzer resale, and 3) the quality of the cup you enjoy for a year be more or less than the amount you'd pay on a decent, new (Act now for a six month zero percent interest and 25 kagillion airline points!) credit card?

[k7qz]

I think Dan's comment hits the nail on the head-

I'm one of several here that own both of the grinders that you reference (Mini E and a Kony). I won't rehash what you already know about these grinders as the performance of both are delineated on this board (and elsewhere). IMO, given the caliber of your espresso machine (GS3) I think you will notice an improvement in the cup when you move from the Mini to the Kony. Why do I say when? Because if you are dedicated enough to espresso to purchase a LM GS3, then this gorgeous machine will in turn deserve a grinder in the same stratospheric category.

I feel the Mini E (and any DL grinder for that matter) will benefit from the WDT. There is no need for this with a big conical so your grinding routine will be simplified with improved results.

Love the looks, but the size of the Kony scares even me

Now, the flip side of the coin is this: If you start with the Kony, depending on her level of familiarity with grinders of lesser presence, your wife may not notice the size of said Kony quite so much. If you start with a Mini and she gets used to that as her default grinder dimension, I guarantee you she will definitely notice the increased "real estate" the Kony will consume in her kitchen- Nonetheless, as posted on HB, there are things one can do to sir Kony to minimize his size impact (replacing the stock hopper with a short Mini hopper etc.) and I would do these mods prior to allowing her to first lay eyes upon this Mazzer masterpiece. No use getting yourself in the doghouse with her any more so than needed!

Personal anecdote: When I placed my new Kony (stock hopper in place) on my wife's nice marble kitchen counter top for the very first time next to said Mini, she exclaimed "That thing is HUGE !!!" (BTW, for planning purposes, if you have a cable TV jack installed in your garage beforehand you'll be able to watch ESPN while you're sleeping out there for the next several nights thereafter...) Fast forward several months: We were at a friends home for dinner this past weekend. He is also inclined towards espresso and uses an M4 grinder. On the drive home my wife remarked to me that the espresso they served after dinner wasn't as good as mine was at home. ( All thanks to HB of course! ) She then stunned me by saying that perhaps it was due to the fact that they were using such a small grinder... (What? What about my barista skills?...)

OK, don't argue with Dan, buy your Mini this weekend given the 2nd annual HB celebration prices and go from there!

[lud]

Only the Mini gets used these days.

I had always thought of the Mazzers as exclusively espresso grinders. This is why I had planned on keeping my KA Pro. How practical is it to switch from say, press to espresso on a daily basis? Long-term, I'm guessing most of you had dedicated espresso grinders to prevent constant cross-contamination of grind size, beans, etc.

New Option: Sell the KA Pro grinder. Buy a Mini or E this weekend. Upgrade to Kony next year at bonus time, but keep the Mini as my non-espresso grinder.

Otherwise get a new Mazzer Mini this weekend..

Some great offers you found us. Thanks a lot.

I have the exact setup that you want and am very very very... (did I say very) happy with the pair.

I was hoping to read more feedback from you seeing as you did the E to Kony upgrade yourself. But alas, I'm sure you are too busy pulling shots on your recent toys. Keep us updated.

Act now for a six month zero percent interest.

Interesting you say that. I self imposed monthly compounding interest on my machine purchase, and am planning to do the same with the grinder. Helps keep me somewhat honest.

On the drive home my wife remarked to me that the espresso they served after dinner wasn't as good as mine was at home.

Interesting story. Unfortunately, I can't play that angle. Wife doesn't drink any coffee, latte, espresso at all. Never liked it.


The E was much more compelling due to the little mess it made (which is also why I initially ruled out the Mini.) Some of your comments in previous discussions indicated that Kony was equally, or perhaps even more tidy than the E.

Just took a break from writing to drop a few hints and test the waters. Right now, Option B appears to be leading.

[JonS]

I had always thought of the Mazzers as exclusively espresso grinders. This is why I had planned on keeping my KA Pro. How practical is it to switch from say, press to espresso on a daily basis? Long-term, I'm guessing most of you had dedicated espresso grinders to prevent constant cross-contamination of grind size, beans, etc.

I stopped drinking press pot some time back. I'm too damn busy making espresso When I finally get back round to drinking press pot, I'll likely dig out the Isomac Gran and use that. My KA Pro Line definitely isn't up to the job. I think the Mini is easily up to repeated adjustment to go back and forth, but cross-contamination might be an issue. Twice now, I've stripped my mini down for cleaning, and really, it holds very little coffee back inside, so I may try it as a dual purpose grinder at some point.

New Option: Sell the KA Pro grinder. Buy a Mini or E this weekend. Upgrade to Kony next year at bonus time, but keep the Mini as my non-espresso grinder.

That's a very good option.

The E was much more compelling due to the little mess it made (which is also why I initially ruled out the Mini.) Some of your comments in previous discussions indicated that Kony was equally, or perhaps even more tidy than the E.

Perhaps not needing to do the WDT will help matters, but I find it hard to believe that Mazzer made the dosers behave vastly differently on the Mini and Kony. For me, any mess (which I consider pretty minimal myself, though you can always tell when I've been busy making coffee) comes from a bit of doser fling, not the WDT.

Just took a break from writing to drop a few hints and test the waters. Right now, Option B appears to be leading.

Option B is to put up with the KA Pro Line, right ? And there's a real cheap way to test this: do nothing. You must really love that KA Pro Line If you can put up with it until December as the source of high quality grind for your GS/3, then I'll be amazed. But, it is the option that's easiest and cheapest to try out.

Jon

[lblampman]

At the peril of really making you angry (and that ISN'T my intention AT ALL),

With respect to the GS3 and KA grinder...

- You just bought a Ferrari and you're down at the local tire store picking out the least expensive tires they've got to shod it with.
- You just bought a premium top-of-the-line sound system and you stopped by Radio Shack for $100/pair speakers.
- You bought the absolutely best computer you could and you're still using your 15" monochrome monitor.

You get the idea...

There's also the chance that buying any of the above left the wallet empty and I understand that too but really, the machine deserves better.

Good luck (and how the heck to you get the GS3 through... )

[gtrman]

First of let me say congrats on your new addition (or soon to be if you dont have it yet).

Heres my $.02:
It may be a matter of aesthetics, but have you considered the Macap MXKR? I have not used any of these grinders, only the Rocky but as far as price goes, its not too far off the Mini-E with similar size burrs (1mm smaller I think?) also has the worm gear adjustment which seems to be easier for small adjustments. Also the Macap doser has been hailed as much cleaner than the Mazzer doser. It may not be as pretty, but from what I've read, it seems the MXKR is every bit as good as the Kony. Though I am slightly biased as I am pretty much set on it as the next (and last?) grinder in my upgrade series.

Good luck!

[miKe mcKoffee]

Just took a break from writing to drop a few hints and test the waters. Right now, Option B appears to be leading.

Seemingly all to common response to given answers that don't concur with a OP proposition. Option B does not appear even close to leading based on other's input, yet it appears to be leading? Why ask for input!

It continues to amaze me that so many people seem willing to accept the cost of a good espresso machine but remain resistant to the concept of grind quality importance. Continually see it happen over and over the 6 years or so I've been active on online coffee forums. And I was no exception! Heck just getting to Rocky was grinder purchase number 5 in a two year period...

[k7qz]

The E was much more compelling due to the little mess it made (which is also why I initially ruled out the Mini.) Some of your comments in previous discussions indicated that Kony was equally, or perhaps even more tidy than the E.

OK, I'll take the bait (Ko and the other Kony guys can chime in if I miss something).

I think we're talking a different kind of mess between the DL E and a doser grinder. I had a doser Mini before the E and now the Kony. You're right, the biggest difference between the Mini doser and the Kony doser is size. We already talked about the fact that contrary to what they say, size does matter!

Anyway, the E drops the grinds right down the funnel into your waiting basket. I don't know why but the E still throws some stray grinds laterally out of the funnel exit- static maybe? (despite the anti-static grid in the exit chute). So it's not perfectly tidy either. You'll also have a little clumpiness in its grinds to deal with, just like any other DL grinder.

Is a doser grinder such as the Kony "messy"? I don't think so. It's messy in a different sense- that is you have a doser to sweep out when you're done pulling shots. I use a little boar bristle brush that I bought for a few quarters down at Home Depot for this. If you really want to know how compulsive I am, I'll also mention that an old toothbrush fits perfectly inside the grind chamber exit chute of the Kony so you can easily get those last few remaining grinds swept out- hence minimal stale coffee left behind. The inside of the E funnel is polished so it stays pretty clean without having to sweep it out much.

I thwack (wack?) as I grind so no clumpiness at all on the Kony. The Kony doser does tend to throw the grinds towards the baristas left, so I simply slide the PF a little to my left as I'm charging the basket to center the falling grinds in the PF basket. The only "mess" from Kony is grinds that fall from my heaped or overdosed basket. Again, a few deft sweeps with my bristle brush and all is perfetto again.

I looked at a Macap conical but I just like the looks of a Mazzer on my counter (personal preference). I also can't argue with the above Ferrari analagy (although I might have used Ducati instead!). Why not just buy a big conical and be done with it?

This may be TMI (too much information) but since you are in "decision mode"...

[gscace]

The E was much more compelling due to the little mess it made (which is also why I initially ruled out the Mini.) Some of your comments in previous discussions indicated that Kony was equally, or perhaps even more tidy than the E.

OK, I'll take the bait (Ko and the other Kony guys can chime in if I miss something).

I think we're talking a different kind of mess between the DL E and a doser grinder. I had a doser Mini before the E and now the Kony. You're right, the biggest difference between the Mini doser and the Kony doser is size. We already talked about the fact that contrary to what they say, size does matter!

Anyway, the E drops the grinds right down the funnel into your waiting basket. I don't know why but the E still throws some stray grinds laterally out of the funnel exit- static maybe? (despite the anti-static grid in the exit chute). So it's not perfectly tidy either. You'll also have a little clumpiness in its grinds to deal with, just like any other DL grinder.

Is a doser grinder such as the Kony "messy"? I don't think so. It's messy in a different sense- that is you have a doser to sweep out when you're done pulling shots. I use a little boar bristle brush that I bought for a few quarters down at Home Depot for this. If you really want to know how compulsive I am, I'll also mention that an old toothbrush fits perfectly inside the grind chamber exit chute of the Kony so you can easily get those last few remaining grinds swept out- hence minimal stale coffee left behind. The inside of the E funnel is polished so it stays pretty clean without having to sweep it out much.

I thwack (wack?) as I grind so no clumpiness at all on the Kony. The Kony doser does tend to throw the grinds towards the baristas left, so I simply slide the PF a little to my left as I'm charging the basket to center the falling grinds in the PF basket. The only "mess" from Kony is grinds that fall from my heaped or overdosed basket. Again, a few deft sweeps with my bristle brush and all is perfetto again.

I looked at a Macap conical but I just like the looks of a Mazzer on my counter (personal preference). I also can't argue with the above Ferrari analagy (although I might have used Ducati instead!). Why not just buy a big conical and be done with it?

This may be TMI (too much information) but since you are in "decision mode"...

I'll happily chime in on this debate since I've owned both. I think far too much is made of doser / doserless than is warranted and far less is being made on the flat-burr / conical thang. It's really easy to live with the Kony doser (and other mazzer dosers for that matter). If I haven't made coffee in a few hours, I grind a seconds worth of coffee, dose it into the doser lid, and chuck it into the knock box. This effectively sweeps out the couple of grams that went stale in the exit chute. I grind by time (about 12 to 14 secs for the Kony and about 5 for the Robur). Then I empty the doser into the portafilter (pf). I don't need to thwack violently. The dosers on my Super Jolly, Kony and Robur all stay clean. The deflector above the grinds chute serves a useful function by keeping coffee from spraying out onto the chamber walls and reducing static charge. So it stays in place. It all works the way its supposed to, so I see little need to do the doserless mini-e thing. I speak from experience on this as I owned a mini-e for a while. The Kony leaves very little mess on the counter.

A more compelling argument for the Kony over the mini-e is that the Kony uses conical burrs. I believe that conical grinders produce a superior cup. My suggestion would be: Since you are gonna have the most badassed espresso machine on the planet, you oughta be using a good conical grinder. I don't know anything about the Macap, but I can tell you that the Kony kicks major ass and is a very good match for your GS3. Buy the Kony if you can swing it. If you can't swing the Kony right now, then I wouldn't buy a mini-e. Instead, I'd buy either a Cimbali Jr. or Mazzer Super Jolly. Both of these grinders grind a double shot's worth of coffee in about 8 secs, compared to around 15 secs for the mini-e. They cost less than the mini-e, grind at least as well, and they hold their value. You should be able to recoup most of your investment if you decide to upgrade to a conical grinder later.

-Greg (owned all of the grinders mentioned here except a macap conical)

[lud]

I think the Mini is easily up to repeated adjustment to go back and forth, but cross-contamination might be an issue.

Thanks. That opens up more options for me (wrt counter space real estate).
Also, I've gotten used to opening up and cleaning the KA Pro on a frequent basis so in the short term, I don't mind doing that on a potential future grinder.

You just bought a Ferrari and you're down at the local tire store picking out the least expensive tires they've got to shod it with.

Totally agree. Its never been an issue when I needed to spend $1,000+ every 4 years for sticky summer tires, so I was kinda figuring the same for espresso.

First of let me say congrats on your new addition (or soon to be if you dont have it yet). It may be a matter of aesthetics, but have you considered the Macap MXKR?

Thanks. The distributor called me over lunch. 3 machines landed in their office today and I'm #2 on their list. I tried asking for the serial number at least, but there's no one else around to open it to find out. I have an appointment next Tuesday to watch them prep the machine, after which, its coming home with me. I know, I know, its 6 days away, but I've waited this long, and I am definitely not brave enough to pick up the machine today and attempt to set it up myself like Teemu.

It may be a matter of aesthetics, but have you considered the Macap MXKR?

You're correct. It was a matter of aesthetics (for me) that I did not consider the MXKR.

Option B does not appear even close to leading based on other's input, yet it appears to be leading? Why ask for input!

I should have clarified. By my saying that Option B was to imply that my conversation did not go over well with the SO. As of last evening, it doesn't appear that any additional grinder is in the near horizon.

It continues to amaze me that so many people seem willing to accept the cost of a good espresso machine but remain resistant to the concept of grind quality importance.

I definitely would not have considered a huge honking pricey grinder like the Kony where it not for people like yourself educating on the importance of a good grinder. The resistance at this point is a short-term thing. I know a lot of you have been there, but these days, I'm looking all over the house for things I no longer use and could possibly sell to help fund the habit.

This may be TMI (too much information) but since you are in "decision mode"...

Nope. This is exactly the detailed information I like to know before making an informed decision. Thx.

If you can't swing the Kony right now, then I wouldn't buy a mini-e.

In the short-term, I am now considering the Mazzer Mini P and am warming up to the Macap M4 in chrome. Purely speculative on my part, but I am guessing that Mazzers still hold their value a bit better should I decide to buy now and then sell it next year.

[jesawdy]

These would be my picks from the HB 2nd Anniversary sale:

Mazzer Super Jolly ETL (black) $469

or alternatively,

Cimbali Junior Grinder $450

The Mazzer is a bit more of a looker, and I bet that black would look good with the GS3 . Both have 64mm burrs, and are selling for essentially Mini pricing or better.

[Teme]

Buy the Kony if you can swing it. If you can't swing the Kony right now, then I wouldn't buy a mini-e. Instead, I'd buy either a Cimbali Jr. or Mazzer Super Jolly. Both of these grinders grind a double shot's worth of coffee in about 8 secs, compared to around 15 secs for the mini-e. They cost less than the mini-e, grind at least as well, and they hold their value. You should be able to recoup most of your investment if you decide to upgrade to a conical grinder later.

I fully agree with Greg. The Mini-E and the GS3 are not a good match in my experience. This is the combo that I currently have and the Mini-E is out of the door as soon as I get my new grinder(s) in. This should finally happen next week...

If you can find one in Canada (or the US), you could also consider the Compak K10 as an alternative to the Kony. It is cheaper, it grinds faster and some claim it to be even better than the Kony.

Br,
Teme

[Psyd]

At the peril of really making you angry (and that ISN'T my intention AT ALL),

With respect to the GS3 and KA grinder...

- You just bought a Ferrari and you're down at the local tire store picking out the least expensive tires they've got to shod it with.
- You just bought a premium top-of-the-line sound system and you stopped by Radio Shack for $100/pair speakers.
- You bought the absolutely best computer you could and you're still using your 15" monochrome monitor.

Ehm, if I could step in here just to niggle a touch:
He bought a set of tires that he saw on a Ferrari and figured that his Corolla was now a sports car.
He bought the best speakers he could find, and they're still being fed by the RatShack (tm) Kraptastic tuner/amp.
He went out and bought a great huge 1080p monitor, but his 1985 processor with Win 3.1 still looks like crap.

The grinder makes the espresso good. The GS3 is only going to pass water through it. Granted, it is going to make sure that the water is the perfect temp and the perfect volume at the perfect pressure in a perfectly consistent way, but it's still just a giant water heater and pump. A nice one, but water heater and pump nonetheless.
Grinders are where the difference is made.
Get the grinder that'll make the difference, and donate the KA to someone with a steamtoy.

[lblampman]

Ehm, if I could step in here just to niggle a touch:
He bought a set of tires that he saw on a Ferrari and figured that his Corolla was now a sports car.
He bought the best speakers he could find, and they're still being fed by the RatShack (tm) Kraptastic tuner/amp.
He went out and bought a great huge 1080p monitor, but his 1985 processor with Win 3.1 still looks like crap.

The grinder makes the espresso good. The GS3 is only going to pass water through it. Granted, it is going to make sure that the water is the perfect temp and the perfect volume at the perfect pressure in a perfectly consistent way, but it's still just a giant water heater and pump. A nice one, but water heater and pump nonetheless.
Grinders are where the difference is made.
Get the grinder that'll make the difference, and donate the KA to someone with a steamtoy.

I totally agree; I just went at it from the other angle because he already bought the GS3.

[Which impresses me greatly; I'd never get away with that! ]

[Jacob]

I'm preparing for a GS3 or something and found myself a used Robur - I call it my 'Baby Robur' (mono-phase/71mm).

It's really easy to live with the Kony doser (and other mazzer dosers for that matter). If I haven't made coffee in a few hours, I grind a seconds worth of coffee, dose it into the doser lid, and chuck it into the knock box. This effectively sweeps out the couple of grams that went stale in the exit chute. I grind by time (about 12 to 14 secs for the Kony and about 5 for the Robur). Then I empty the doser into the portafilter (pf). I don't need to thwack violently. The dosers on my Super Jolly, Kony and Robur all stay clean.

Actually It were meant to be a donor for a DIY grinder, but thanks to this remark from Greg I will use it as an ordinary Robur for a while and see if I can live with the doser or not. I like to build in a timer though.

BTW Greg - thanks for the pressure profile link (another thread).