Owner experience with HG one grinder - Page 10

Grinders are one of the keys to exceptional espresso. Discuss them here.
SeanSheep
Posts: 22
Joined: 11 years ago

#91: Post by SeanSheep »

JohnB. wrote:I've been using my 71mm HG-one since yesterday & I can tell you that it does have static issues that are related to the grinder. I can grind 18g with my K10 & experience zero static issues.
I wonder if the static issues are related to the grinder not being earthed in any way? Perhaps the issues would be minimized if there was some way to attach an earthing wire to the burrset? (Just thinking out loud...)

User avatar
Bob_McBob
Posts: 2324
Joined: 15 years ago

#92: Post by Bob_McBob »

I just had a few minutes to tinker with my HG One for the first time in over a week. As I noted earlier in the thread, distribution has been the number one issue for me. I tried quite a few methods already, like stirring in the basket, stirring in the blind tumbler, dumping the grinds into my K10's doser, and so on, but I still got pretty major channeling and uneven extractions. Because I don't have any paper cups handy, I tried a modification of the "PCDT" (please don't let that catch on), grinding into a bowl, pouring into a steaming pitcher, shaking it all around, and pouring it into the basket. I have been getting pretty even extractions with a quick Stockfleth levelling using this method, and I will probably pick up some cups to eliminate the need to transfer the grinds around so much. I'd probably be okay with this sort of technique for everyday use, though I suspect the dosing funnel and mini whisk would be preferable.

Static was originally not an issue for me when I first received my grinder. Today I got the "worst case" thick coating of grinds on the entire inner surface of the funnel on the first shot, which gradually improved with each consecutive shot. It was easily removed with a quick detachment of the funnel, but some still stuck on the burr path exit, and having to do this for every shot would get tedious. I suspect my original static-free grinding was due to the warm spell accompanied by huge amounts of rain we had here earlier this month. The temperature is -15C right now, and the humidity is decidedly low in the house.

I don't have any meaningful comments on taste yet. I wasn't able to get usable results until today, so it was impossible to make a comparison with the K10.
Chris

User avatar
Terranova
Supporter ❤
Posts: 723
Joined: 12 years ago

#93: Post by Terranova »

sixty9 wrote:I've never had a titan grinder before but the big thing about the hg-one is the lack of grind retention. I can easily adjust the grinder for a bean without having to flush old grinds out. And i'm able to switch b/w 2 different beans/settings without having to clean the grinder out first.
+1

I have been waiting for that comment.
Lets figure it,
WDT is essential for the HG One, grind which is sticking on the walls, has another particle size than the particles which felt into the PF (same principle like HG One) and that's why you have to WDT of course.
So by an accurate WDT you can avoid this error source, it just takes 20 seconds or so, I would even WDT for a minute, if the shot gets better.

Lets be realistic, you paid $850 and all of this bean throwaway has come to an end.
On a Mazzer Mini it takes at least 20g when changing the setting, before the new level has completely arrived.
A Mazzer Major needs up to 30g.
Cleaning the grinder after every shot, seems to me much more idle than WDT and having the advantage to compensate the $850 by saving beans in a value of $500 a year.

In my case:
4 Espressi a day so at morning I throw away 16g (i don't like cleaning my grinder after every shot) 4 hours later another 16g for the waste.. + 2 times more later that day makes it to 64g a day which goes down the drain.
Not to mention when I am changing the sort of beans. In my case it would nearly add another 30%

That's 50-60 lbs a year ending up in the bin, harvested, brought from south America or else, shipped halfway around the world , roasted with different roasting profiles by people with a real passion for coffee (mostly :) )
to end up in your garbage ?

It is such an economic grinder so please put it into relation with your own wallet. Apart from the fact that you are able to make some real good shots.
I am sure there will be some updates soon, if not by Craig and his mate, then by someone else.
Just keep in mind "You can't have your cake and eat it (too) "

Sorry for my bad English, but it's late... hmm it actually also sucks when it's early :D

Cheers

Frank

User avatar
FotonDrv
Supporter ♡
Posts: 3748
Joined: 11 years ago

#94: Post by FotonDrv »

SeanSheep wrote:I wonder if the static issues are related to the grinder not being earthed in any way? Perhaps the issues would be minimized if there was some way to attach an earthing wire to the burrset? (Just thinking out loud...)
An added grounding wire might help, maybe. The guys that handle black powder explosives go to length to NOT have static in their working environment. Those practices have gone on for 100+ years. Electronic circuitry has similar NO STATIC requirements.

A big +1 for Franks thoughts. My Kony-E retains a bunch of grounds, in the 30+g range, and I much prefer my Versalab to it for that reason. The Pharos is a good traveling grinder and when my HG-One arrives I am betting it will be very similar to the VL but with a bit different grind quality because of the burrs. Probably closer to my Kony-E in grind quality, which is great!

Patiently waiting for the arrival of the big box...
That Light at the End of the Tunnel is actually a train

bmb
Posts: 343
Joined: 12 years ago

#95: Post by bmb »

I'm confident that the static problems will soon be resolved, as burrs get seasoned, the weather changes and all these fine minds find several additional solutions to deal with it.
In the worst case scenario the present handling alternatives are about the same as with the Lido and, personally, it wouldn't bother me greatly IF it doesn't affect the final results ...
The machine looks good, and for all that was said and shown, really nice and easy to use.
What I would like to hear is: how does it compares to the Titan class grinders, the OE Pharos and even with the Lido ... will it produce a significantly better cup, or not really.

User avatar
JohnB.
Supporter ♡
Posts: 6579
Joined: 16 years ago

#96: Post by JohnB. »

So far the shots aren't up to what I easily get with the K10 but the distribution is still not ideal. WDT has helped but it certainly hasn't cured the issues & there is only so much time I'm willing to play with the grounds. At this point I can prepare shots faster with the K10 & since I single dose grounds retention is a wash between the two. What little gets left in the K10 is no worse then what I lose due to static issues with the HG-one.

I can work around the static although I'm finding that it takes more then a mist to tame it. My biggest complaint is the work required to produce a decent shot due to the distribution issues. Hopefully after I get a few?? lbs through the grinder that will improve.
LMWDP 267

User avatar
Bob_McBob
Posts: 2324
Joined: 15 years ago

#97: Post by Bob_McBob »

I am going to run a few pounds of cheap supermarket beans through my grinder to see if it helps season the burrs.

Does everyone else's grinder make chattering noises when the handle is turned without coffee to grind? I assume the noise is coming from the gear box.
Chris

User avatar
CaptainCowpie
Posts: 27
Joined: 13 years ago

#98: Post by CaptainCowpie »

Terranova wrote: Lets be realistic, you paid $850 and all of this bean throwaway has come to an end.
On a Mazzer Mini it takes at least 20g when changing the setting, before the new level has completely arrived.
A Mazzer Major needs up to 30g.
Cleaning the grinder after every shot, seems to me much more idle than WDT and having the advantage to compensate the $850 by saving beans in a value of $500 a year.
I have been following the HG One threads, and have been trying to come up with an economical case to justify a purchase (for my wife of course). I have been pretty happy with my Super Jolly, but would love to stop brushing and vacuuming it out before each shot. Until I bite the bullet, I can at least live vicariously through the current owners' experiences. :D

Vince

chapelizod
Posts: 43
Joined: 11 years ago

#99: Post by chapelizod »

For those who are having channeling issues, I'm curious as to what you've tried using to stir the grinds?

User avatar
galumay
Posts: 341
Joined: 15 years ago

#100: Post by galumay »

Mine is an 83mm model, i live in the tropics and static doesnt appear to be an issue, (with either the HG-1, my Pharos or my K-10.)

I put mine together in about 5 minutes when it arrived yesterday, set it as suggested in the setup sheet, then went a bit finer on reflection (based on my use in a spring lever), ground the first shot of 15g of my home roasted blend, pulled a 25sec, 30g shot on my Izzo with no channeling or other distribution issues.

I have the tumbler with the volcano thingy.

I would have to do a series of blind tastings to see if i could detect any difference between the flavour profile of the HG-one and the Pharos.

Very happy so far!
LMWDP #322 i started with nothing.........i still have most of it.