So I wanted a few more opinions before I do anything drastic.

I have been using a LeLit Pl53 for about a year and have only a few complaints:
1. The small burr diameter and/or hopper causes beans to often get stuck above the burrs and therefore greatly slowing the grinding process.
2. The motor has a rather loud and high pitch tone.
3. Although grid had great adjustability it can be rather clumpy at times.
But in the end it is a great grinder.

I picked up a Mazzer Major Rio last night for a steal!!! I just could not let the opportunity pass me by. It had not been used for a few years so I cleaned it up last night and adjusted the grind. After pulling a few shots I realized how great this machine is. The grind was so consistent w/ NO lumps. My espresso this morning was the best I have had in a while.

So here is the problem. The Mazzer is huge, and my kitchen is Tiny. Not a huge sacrifice for me, but my girlfriend who has lived with me for two years was pretty much appalled by the size and garage like feel of the Kitchen. So it cannot stay on the countertop.


Current Setup:


Some options I have come up with include:
1. Put the Mazzer in an amour or cabinet so it is hidden until use.
2. Hold on to it until I move into a bigger apartment, but leave it in the garage.
3. Sell it and make $100, Use the LeLit PL53.
4. Sell It and by LeLit PL53 and buy a Macap M4, so I have similar grind quality in a smaller sleeker package that the GF will approve of. She already said that that would be a good compromise. But it's going to cost me.
5. She will get used to it.
6. TBD?????

What would you do?
Thanks,
James

Add a Mini Hopper



See What does single dosing lose?

Go with the smaller hopper as a Macap M4 is not going to give you Major grind quality.

I suppose changing the girlfriend isn't an option is it?

Yea new GF is not an option at this point
But the smaller hopper would be the 1st step.

I've used an M4 for about 2 years, and just got a used Major. I was ready to not discern any real difference in the cup, but both my wife and I can clearly taste a quantum difference. I'm actually a little amazed. (Reminds me of the mystique of high-end speaker cables and interconnects. I spent years upgrading stereo systems as I got more and more "in tune" to audio, but never could detect that $500 speaker cables were better - or even different - than decent, but much cheaper cables. I was totally ready to find the same thing with grinders. But in spite of that prejudice, I was immediately taken with the obvious improvement!)

Build a cabinet for the Major, or paint it to match the kitchen, or attach spice bottle holders to the side, but don't go back to a lesser grinder! (It's hard to tell from your pics, but it looks like your espresso machine is on a non-built in cabinet). I guess a wider cabinet that will fit both the espresso machine and the Major isn't an option?

BTW, what about going with no hopper at all? Just dump single doses of beans into the throat, and cover with a tamper.

Or you could sell both and get a Vario. Depending on the condition of your burrs, it could come close to or maybe even surpass the grind quality of your Major (Note: I have no personal experience with the Vario and am basing this claim on the many reviews/user comments on this site). And the GAF (girlfriend acceptance factor) should quadruple...plus you'll pick up electronic dosing. On the plus side, you could actually pocket a few $$ in the deal.

I would do whatever is needed to keep the Major. Remove the hopper for sure. Even if you like to add beans to a hopper, you'll never fill that thing up.

That will do a lot for the size issue.


Have you considered moving your setup to make a Espresso Bar, somewhere else in your home? You can pick up a kitchen cart from, Jcpenney, or similar, and setup on that somewhere where the grinder(sans hopper) wont stick out so much. Personally, I never liked my machine in the kitchen. I tried it, and it was very brief. With a dedicated area, you can setup your station exactly how you want it, AND, switch things around if you get bored. In the kitchen, you're pretty much locked into keeping things in one spot, which, from the pictures, looks to be two separate spaces.

+1 on the "it doesn't have to be in your kitchen" message. Most of my gear lives in a conservatory adjoining my office (I work from home). It's an easy enough job carry through a tray of coffee to guests when need be, and of course even easier if it's just a cup or two for Aria and myself.

Cheers

Mike

My restored machine was too large to be practical in the kitchen, so it found a home in a corner of my basement workshop. I just picked up a Major as well, which will take up a bit more of the work surface of the corner station. Enough room the the equipment, no room for the barista.