Quickmill Doserless vs. Rancilio Rocky?

[PKR]

Is anyone familiar with the Quickmill grinder? It was recommended for home use by a local barista. I was set to buy a Rocky Doserless (because I make both espresso and drip). The QM is a few bucks cheaper.

I only make a couple of shots a day, then might go a week or two without making any. I can't justify $500-600 for a grinder that would get so little use. Do you think the Rocky is okay, and will be able to go back and forth btwn espresso and drip grind?

Peter

[Beezer]

I would choose the Rocky if you're planning on switching between drip and espresso a lot. The Rocky can easily go from one end of the spectrum to the other, but I believe the Quickmill has a worm gear adjuster which is great for espresso but takes forever to change from espresso to French press.

[HB]

Quickmill doserless grinder with stepless adjustment offers some owner opinions, but the Quickmill evidently didn't catch on given that Chris' Coffee lists the Nuova Simonelli MCI Doserless Espresso Grinder in its place. The Rancilio Rocky is not perfect (e.g., thread slop needs correction, clogs easily, clumps), but has a solid track record and is stepped, so it's easy to switch from espresso to drip zone settings. If someday you want to upgrade, the resale should be very good.

[sweaner]

Another option is to find a used Mazzer on eBay. I found my Mini for $300, and it is easy to go from espresso to drip grind.

[PKR]

Since I first posted, I've been reading and it seems a lot of people would really recommend the extra bucks for a Mazzer Mini or a Macap. Might be worth it, as I hope it would be the only grinder I'll ever buy, so the lifetime cost difference would be negligible. That being said, I'd like to move easily back and forth between drip and espresso. I like that the Macap has an on/off switch, and I like the idea of a stepless, but maybe stepped is better for the frequent changing of grind?

[HB]

I like that the Macap has an on/off switch, and I like the idea of a stepless, but maybe stepped is better for the frequent changing of grind?

Stepped is convenient for back-and-forth, but this easy mod for Macap M4 stepless to adjust from espresso to drip maybe the ticket for you. Other related discussions are linked from the FAQs and Favorites Digest.

[PKR]

Another option is to find a used Mazzer on eBay. I found my Mini for $300, and it is easy to go from espresso to drip grind.

If a Mini goes easily from espresso to drip, then I am sold. Is it stepless? If not, do you wish it were?
Also, just how hard is it to change settings w/a stepless? I assume there are marking so you can find the right place again, no?

[sweaner]

If a Mini goes easily from espresso to drip, then I am sold. Is it stepless? If not, do you wish it were?
Also, just how hard is it to change settings w/a stepless? I assume there are marking so you can find the right place again, no?

The Mazzers are stepless but easy to change. It takes 2 seconds. Many say that it is best to use a separate grinder for each, but alas, counter space is at a premium.

[scalla]

If a Mini goes easily from espresso to drip, then I am sold. Is it stepless? If not, do you wish it were?
Also, just how hard is it to change settings w/a stepless? I assume there are marking so you can find the right place again, no?

The Mini can grind whatever you need and it is easy to change between settings. That said, if you plan on doing espresso and drip/FP/etc on a daily basis it gets old in a hurry. I am doing just that right now and plan on ordering a Rocky and leaving the Mini for espresso only. There are a few major problems with constantly changing settings. The first is that the Mini is sensitive. Small adjustments have a fairly large effect on the pour. Once you find the right grind for a particular bean it is nice to be able to just make minute adjustments around that point. Changing back and forth for the drip/FP setting obviously doesn't help. Of course you can mark your last grind point etc.. all of which I have little patience for at 5:00 am.

A bigger problem, in my view, is cleaning out the drip grinds (way too coarse for espresso) and remembering to change the settings between extraction methods. I can't tell you how many times I have started grinding coffee and realized I had failed to change the setting back. The result is drip grinds in my PF or espresso grinds in my drip filter. Either way, its not good.

The nice thing about the Mini is that it will meet all of your needs while you decide what is best for you. Good Luck.

[sweaner]

I agree with Dan on the forgetting to switch point. I have done that several times. I have not had much trouble going from the drip grind to the espresso grind, but i can see someone getting tired of it. However, if you can only have one grinder, I think it would be hard to beat a Mazzer. I you have the room, you can usually find a Super Jolly on eBay for a good price.

[PKR]

The nice thing about the Mini is that it will meet all of your needs while you decide what is best for you.

That sounds like good advice. However, I was thinking that a doserless grinder would be best for me (I make at most one espresso at a day, but always make a pot of drip). Since the Mazzer mini E doserless is about $1000, I was leaning toward the Macap 4 doserless. Do you think it is as good as the mini? Go with the stepless and do the mod?
Also, the size of the spout on the Macap is huge and seems as if it would blow coffee grounds everywhere while trying to fill a PF. Has anyone tried it?