I love my Cimbali Max Hybrid, but . . . I got a "new" Mahlkönig Vario - Page 3

by **Lockman** on Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:16 am

Sweet Pablo,

I want one! Nice set up. How is your frothing going with that monster?
I called today and they have one in silver which would be perfect.

by **Thatchmo** on Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:16 pm

Hey Zin and others....

I just upgraded to a CMH from a Macap M4 stepless and have found it to be very much as described here on HB...Nice fluffy grinds, a bit of a PITA to clean, but a definite upgrade from the Macap....I also found that the CMH seems to accent the fruitier, flowery, sharper aspects of the beans I grind....mainly Klatch Belle and WBC and Ecco Northern Italian, as opposed to accenting the lower, chocolate, caramel flavors.....I do miss the cocoa in my cup and was wondering if the Mahlkonig favors or accents a particular flavor type...

I can return the CMH to Chris' and trade for a Mazzer Super Jolly....which I have read grinds out a mellower, more chocolate forward aspect of the bean...or I could sell the CMH and possibly upgrade to the Vario....Any ideas, impressions or thoughts about this?

Thanks,

Kirk

by **tribe3** on Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:32 pm

Kirk, Let god preserve your exquisite palate. I really envy people like you that can discern so many different aromas from a cup. My thing is different; I taste coffee... sometimes good and others very bad. One time I think I thought I tasted like a burnt transistor when I had an Ascaso dream that had the tendency to overheat...

by **shadowfax** on Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:33 pm

If money and space are not objections to the Vario, I would recommend it over the Super Jolly. It's much more fun to use, and seems to share the same basic characteristics of a super jolly in terms of grind quality and taste. Certainly, the burrs are about the same size. It grinds much faster, and is much less messy. I would say that the dosing mechanism on the Vario is the current state of the art, a marginal improvement over the Mazzer Electronics. You might also consider the Mazzer Major Electronic, which would be even faster than a Vario, and I believe in a similar price range--about $1800. It boasts 83 mm flat burrs, and is probably the fastest grinder out there.

All in all, you can't go wrong with any of these choices. The Super Jolly is a superior grinder, but it is clearly (IMO) bested by big conical grinders, if you like the brighter and sweeter flavors in the cup. With the Vario/Major E, you are looking at marginal (if any) upgrades or even changes in the cup, but big time convenience upgrades. Whether that's worth it to you is up to you.

I had an opportunity to play with forum member pjones' Robur E, and while I don't think it helps the cup at all, it's certainly more fun to just push a button, tap the portafilter down a couple of times, tamp, and go. With the regular Robur (somewhat like the SJ), you get best results if you brush the chute and the top of the doser vanes. I still like dosers for declumping, but they require more work to keep clean, that's for sure.

by **Lockman** on Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:44 pm

Thanks Nick,

Good summery!

3 phase Robur E for me (just kidding) :wink:

by **zin1953** on Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:10 pm

I cannot comment upon the high(er) end grinders like a Robur, or even a Mini-E, as I've never had a chance to "play" with one myself.

Without trying to be boring and repetitive, but no doubt being both, the jump in quality gained by switching from the Mazzer Mini (regular, not the "E") to the CMH was the single biggest improvement I ever made to my espresso. The switch from the CMH to the Mahlkönig K30 Vario is much more "minor." In other words, after using the Mahlkönig daily for 4.5 months, I have not noticed a significant increase in quality -- certainly nothing like the "Mini-to-CMH" leap. The Mahlkönig, as Nicholas has already said, is a lot faster, a lot neater/easier to clean, and a lot quieter than the CMH, but also compared to the Mazzer SJ. And it IS a lot more fun!

The combination of the Mahlkönig Vario at home and the CMH in my office has totally cured me of any lingering "upgrade-itis" . . . although I do find myself following the discussions surrounding the Baratza Vario rather closely to see it I can replace my secondary espresso grinder (a Quick Mill Doserless I use for the occasional decaf and small batches like an SO, etc.) and my French Press grinder with a single one. :wink:

Cheers,
Jason

by **tribe3** on Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:13 pm

Lockman wrote:Sweet Pablo,

I want one! Nice set up. How is your frothing going with that monster?
I called today and they have one in silver which would be perfect.

Hey Jeff. I plugged two holes with toothpicks... I'm going to buy an extra tip and solder them or something.

What's in silver; a Mahlkönig? I wish I had a red to match the Enova

by **Lockman** on Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:40 pm

Yeah , the red and the black looks cool as well. They will probably have these on and off so I wouldn't sweat it too much. :wink:

by **IMAWriter** on Wed Feb 18, 2009 1:40 am

zin1953 wrote:
[snipped]
Without trying to be boring and repetitive, but no doubt being both, the jump in quality gained by switching from the Mazzer Mini (regular, not the "E") to the CMH was the single biggest improvement I ever made to my espresso. The switch from the CMH to the Mahlkönig K30 Vario is much more "minor." In other words, after using the Mahlkönig daily for 4.5 months, I have not noticed a significant increase in quality -- certainly nothing like the "Mini-to-CMH" leap. The Mahlkönig, as Nicholas has already said, is a lot faster, a lot neater/easier to clean, and a lot quieter than the CMH, but also compared to the Mazzer SJ. And it IS a lot more fun!

Cheers,
Jason

Jason...I just went to the Mahlkoenig Website, and observed the "movie", and the 3 short clips of the K30 Vario in action.
I need a cold shower!
What a dream grinder.
I believe you, or perhaps someone else may have mentioned the taste profile of the K30 Vario would be closer to my former SJ than a large conical? That is, more of the lower end chocolate spectrum, as opposed to the brighter taste profiles of a Macap Mk7R or it's like?
That would suit me fine, as my Cremina allows lots of those fruit essences to pop through.
I'll need a MAJOR economic upswing to manage to acquire the mega-bucks, though. :lol:

The Baratza Vario is probably closer to reality. I really want an electronic doser. I especially love the Mahlkoenig's ability to pause in mid-grind for a quick PF tap down.
For now, owning one of these is at best a pipe dream, though. (Sigh)

by **zin1953** on Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:15 am

Rob, you have only to come west for a visit . . . and we'll pull shots until even I think I can sing! :wink:

by **IMAWriter** on Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:27 pm

zin1953 wrote:Rob, you have only to come west for a visit . . . and we'll pull shots until even I think I can sing!

I've been fooling people for years!

by **Lockman** on Fri Feb 20, 2009 7:47 pm

I would love to see this grinder in action. Anyone in the bay area who is willing to show me it in action please drop my a line. I have already cancelled my other Vario pre-order and will sell Max if this grinder turns out to be as good as I think it is. Then I only have to come up with the other half of the $$. :!:

How come I never see any used three phase Robur E's for sale... :wink:

Thanks,

Jeff

by **mhoy** on Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:14 am

Lockman wrote:I would love to see this grinder in action. Anyone in the bay area who is willing to show me it in action please drop my a line. I have already cancelled my other Vario pre-order and will sell Max if this grinder turns out to be as good as I think it is. Then I only have to come up with the other half of the $$.

How come I never see any used three phase Robur E's for sale...

Thanks,

Jeff

Don't confuse the Mahlkönig K30 Vario with the Baratza Vario (which is in my price range, I have one on pre-order)...
EDIT: I think I may be the one confused by your writing.

Mark

by **toma** on Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:13 pm

I also found that the CMH seems to accent the fruitier, flowery, sharper aspects of the beans I grind....mainly Klatch Belle and WBC and Ecco Northern Italian, as opposed to accenting the lower, chocolate, caramel flavors.....I do miss the cocoa in my cup and was wondering if the Mahlkonig favors or accents a particular flavor type...

If the change of grinder has changed the taste profile of the beans that you use you could also try different beans. Also you could try to change the dose/grind/temperature to get closer to the flavor profile you like.

by **Thatchmo** on Sat Feb 21, 2009 1:36 pm

toma wrote:If the change of grinder has changed the taste profile of the beans that you use you could also try different beans. Also you could try to change the dose/grind/temperature to get closer to the flavor profile you like.

Thanks Toma,

It took me a while and some not insignificant cash to find beans that I like...So I am fiddling with all the dose/grind/temp variables to get more of the flavors that I like out of the beans...If I can't get there, I either change beans or grinder I guess!!!

BTW - With all this testing of beans, grind settings, temperature, etc....My Girlfriend now calls me the "mad scientist of espresso"...If she only knew what lengths other people go to, to find the "God shot"!!!! I did tell her about the electron microscope examinations of grinds, but I think she thinks I was kidding!!

by **Lockman** on Sat Feb 21, 2009 4:47 pm

mhoy wrote:Don't confuse the Mahlkönig K30 Vario with the Baratza Vario (which is in my price range, I have one on pre-order)...
EDIT: I think I may be the one confused by your writing.

Mark

Sorry Mark! :oops:

by **oltimer** on Thu Feb 26, 2009 6:48 am

I thought it would be of interest to confirm that the Ditting KR 805 hopper will fit the Ditting Vario KE 640 http://www.ditting.com/kr805.htm
(and I assume, the Mahlkönig K30) bringing the total height to 44.7cm (17.6"). The KR 805 hopper with lid costs CHF 99 from the Ditting factory — (about $85). Ditting warns that this arrangement doesn't have the UL/NSF approval since the hopper can be removed without tools.

First post. I'm so sorry that I've not contributed earlier to home-barista — I just don't have the expertise.

by **networkcrasher** on Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:34 am

With a GS3 and M3, I think you're going to be an expert soon enough, if you aren't already.

I've never had to use a tool to remove the hopper on my K30... I'm vaguely remembering a set pin on the throat, though. I do know that it really clicks in pretty tightly.

I want that hopper!

by **tribe3** on Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:28 pm

oltimer wrote:I thought it would be of interest to confirm that the Ditting KR 805 hopper will fit the Ditting Vario KE 640 http://www.ditting.com/kr805.htm
(and I assume, the Mahlkönig K30) bringing the total height to 44.7cm (17.6"). The KR 805 hopper with lid costs CHF 99 from the Ditting factory — (about $85). Ditting warns that this arrangement doesn't have the UL/NSF approval since the hopper can be removed without tools.

First post. I'm so sorry that I've not contributed earlier to home-barista — I just don't have the expertise.

Good find Chris :wink:

by **Lockman** on Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:40 pm

networkcrasher wrote:With a GS3 and M3, I think you're going to be an expert soon enough, if you aren't already.

I've never had to use a tool to remove the hopper on my K30... I'm vaguely remembering a set pin on the throat, though. I do know that it really clicks in pretty tightly.

I want that hopper!

I want to know if it works!

(Now confirmed by Mahlkönig. Very surprised I had heard about it! They just found out)

Thanks Chris!

I am ready to get one but I don't want the silver they have in stock. Won't work in my kitchen.
Will have to wait and see...

Oops,

got a deal!


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