Narrowing down grinder choices - Page 2

[ddr]

I have bought two grinders off of Craigslist in the past week. The first is a Mazzer Mini. It is in like new condition, there is not a scratch on it and the burrs are super sharp. The second is a Super Jolly which is old. It was loud and smelly when I bought it. All I looked for was that the burrs span without any wobble and that coffee grinds came out. The nasty condition meant a low low price. I tore it down and cleaned it completely, now it is quiet (a little louder than my mini, which is so quiet I thought it was broken when I turned it on the first time) and smells like fresh coffee.

The Super Jolly is probably as old as Mazzer (maybe older, it does not have the word Mazzer anywhere on it, it says "Cafethema" on the back, and has the Italian patent "Brevetto" label on the top side). I think it produces nicer grinds than the Mini; the espresso tastes better and looks better coming out of the portafilter.

I bought the SJ because the price was right and I wanted something I could tear apart to learn about grinders without worrying about breaking an expensive machine. If I am still in love with it in a few days I will sell the Mini on Craigslist. I am sorry about your bad experiences on Craigslist. I agree that there are scammers on there, and I go into each deal with the plan to walk away if I have a bad feeling about it.

Take Care,
Dan

[LinCoffee]

Can any of you comment on "known good" grinder settings for a specific type of newbie friendly coffee? I would like to be able to confirm that I have a good grind.

Experimenting is fine and good, but without having had good espresso I would like to reduce the factors working against me as much as possible to start with.

I'm still leaning towards the Baratza because of the digital readout, but it also looks to be an exceptional grinder in a smaller package. It might be a gimmick, but all they need to do is add a blinking blue LED to have me completely sold.

[ddr]

If you get a Mazzer then they calibrate each one at the factory and put a sticker on. The post I read said to start out 4 little notches (maybe 3/8ths of an inch?) to the left (slightly finer) than the sticker setting. On my Zassenhaus hand grinder there are no markings, I grind a little and push my thumb into the grinds. If it holds my thumbprint I try it, if not I go a little finer. I think after that you go by the volume in time (maybe 2 oz double in 25 seconds or so) but I am too new at this hobby to say for sure.

Have Fun,
Dan

[zin1953]

Can any of you comment on "known good" grinder settings for a specific type of newbie friendly coffee? I would like to be able to confirm that I have a good grind.

Keep in mind that on MOST grinders, the marks on one and not necessarily the same settings as the marks on another one (even on the same type).

[LinCoffee]

It was worth a try to get some known good settings to start with to try to reduce necessary experimenting to start with.

How quickly are new products like the Vario grinder reviewed by websites such as this one?

[kailani]

I'm in the same situation like you at the moment, i posted similar question about getting a new grinder to replace my grinder with something around $500 to use at home.

You can read the tread here: need-help-choosing-grinder-t7880.html It's have some good info.

I almost ordered a MACAP M4 but i was looking for something more compact to fit in my small kitchen, so i decided to hold on and see how the new Vario going to turn out.
I think it can be a perfect small espresso grinder for home.

Tomer

[mhoy]

How quickly are new products like the Vario grinder reviewed by websites such as this one?

I too am interested in the Baratza Vario as it has a small foot print and as my Elektra T1 takes most (all/more) of my allotted counter space. Luckily I'm paying off the rental of the counter space to my wife with a latte every morning and I've not fallen behind in the rent and been kicked out.

Many reviews on this site are hosted by a vendor that supplied a product for review. The in-depth reviews take months/years before the full article is produced and is generally worthy of being a reference for years to come. However there are also outstanding reviews are done by individuals who own the product. However I tend to think we all favor our own equipment just a little bit more since we have more $ (or $$$) invested and our own objectivity suffers. This is tempered by our greater enthusiasm which makes the whole forum an interesting place to hang out.

Mark

[zin1953]

I'm paying off the rental of the counter space to my wife with a latte every morning and I've not fallen behind in the rent and been kicked out.

You and me both!

[kailani]

Hopefully when the new Vario goes on sale in the end of Nov a lot of people will purchase it and will be willing to share their personal experience with the grinder.
This will allow us to sort out the reviews that look informative enough and create a first impression in the market even without waiting to the Pro's reviews.


Tomer

[tsquared1250]

I just ordered a Macap m4 stepped doserless after looking at some of the choices previously mentioned. For me, the big attraction was the pricepoint, new for less than $400.
T2