Higher RPMs aren't useful because grinders tend to overheat in a cafe setting and higher RPMs makes overheating occur more frequently. Whereas manual grinders are dependent on the users input. I'm a little surprised something like this observation hasn't been mentioned with respect to the Pharos or any other manual grinder for that matter. We all just grind as fast as possible right? What's interesting is that the difference in the manual number of turns probably isn't much, but it's making an impact on pour characteristics and in the cup. Maybe this phenomena is more apparent in-the-cup with larger conical manual grinders?

If this observation means that anyone purchasing an HG One will have to turn the wheel as a robot would to prepare their shots consistently over and over again, I don't think this is going to make it's way into many kithcens... I would definitely find much frustration in 'random' pour changes as a product of my effort level at the wheel.

Have you tried just leveling the basket and pulling the shot?

Spitz.me wrote:If this observation means that anyone purchasing an HG One will have to turn the wheel as a robot would to prepare their shots consistently over and over again, I don't think this is going to make it's way into many kithcens... I would definitely find much frustration in 'random' pour changes as a product of my effort level at the wheel.

I wouldn't find it very hard to get the rotational speed fairly consistent. However, this would be a good reason to figure out how to motorize the grinder! I would be very interested in replacing my Robur if this grinder turns out to perform as well grind wise because as Dick said, the whole bump and brush routine is tiresome.

I wonder if Tom needs WDT because the burrs are from old stock and maybe defective?

tekomino wrote:Why do you WDT with the monster conical? If you have to use WDT something is wrong.

mitch236 wrote:I wonder if Tom needs WDT because the burrs are from old stock and maybe defective?

I'd guess that the WDT is only coming into play because it's a step of his routine that he's done for quite some time - creature of habit. Like Dennis said, if he is having to WDT, something is wrong. I doubt that is the case considering the excellent videos they have on YouTube showing this thing in action. The fluff pile looks strikingly similar to the Versalab.

tekomino wrote:Why do you WDT with the monster conical? If you have to use WDT something is wrong.

I don't believe anything is "wrong". The grinder apears to dose very heavily in a donut circle. moreso than the Versalab M3. I've only pulled 8-9 shots with it, and each one needed it based on the first 5 needing to be redistributed and groomed since the static issue left 25% of my grinds in the lower funnel, when I tapped them down, they fell in an unorganized fashion. I normally WDT all my shots, since I don't mind the extra 2-3 seconds it takes. I'll test it some more in the next few days to see if it needs it now that all the grinds are falling cleanly into the basket.

Of note, I've never had a single donut extraction on the K30V before, or on my Duetto, but the last 3 shots I've pulled have shown donut extractions. The only thing that has changed is the grinder. Take that for what you will.


I'll likely shoot some video in the next day or two to show the effort and time it takes. I think it will be comparable to what I've done single dosing, but shorter, since I don't have to re-weigh the shot prior to pulling it.

Obviously, the donut extraction implies higher density in the middle and/or lower density at the edges. The cone shape of the grounds is different from the K30V, but one would think the cone would lead to lower density in the middle.

My guess is that this has something to do with the fines not getting distributed evenly, despite WDT being used. Perhaps the grounds getting stuck to the funnel due to static are composed mostly of fines that should be dropping around the edge of the basket but never make there, and they're falling more towards the middle of the basket when you knock them off. Perhaps the fines are too small to be moved much by the WDT needle.

TomC wrote:I normally WDT all my shots, since I don't mind the extra 2-3 seconds it takes. I'll test it some more in the next few days to see if it needs it now that all the grinds are falling cleanly into the basket.

If you need to WDT with a high-end grinder, something is wrong with the grinder, your dose or something else.

uscfroadie wrote: The fluff pile looks strikingly similar to the Versalab.

TomC wrote:I don't believe anything is "wrong". The grinder apears to dose very heavily in a donut circle. moreso than the Versalab M3..

Am I the only one who doesn't agree in this point ?
We don't have donuts here on this side of the river, exepted at McDonalds or so. But the distribution seems to be totally different, which doesn't mean that the HGone doesn't qualify as a nice grinder.
I also cannot see the need of WDT of the HGone grind.

HG one


Versalab M3

Terranova wrote:Am I the only one who doesn't agree in this point ?

It also struck me as odd. In the HG-One photos I see a basket with a dose that is probably more evenly distributed than I often get with an actual doser. The M3 flings ground coffee around by virtue of its design, which produces a distinct doughnut-shaped dose pattern like your photo. If anything, it's exactly the opposite.