I just got a Mazzer Mini grinder as a gift this Christmas (I don't even have an espresso maker yet!). I thought the doser should be pretty self-explanatory to use, but somehow I can't get mine to work.

The coffee grinds shoot out into the doser and straight on out onto my kitchen counter. When I pull the dosing lever, nothing happens on the inside (nothing moves that I can see), and nothing comes out of the appropriate exit area. Doesn't this sound wrong? I mean, shouldn't there at least be some kind of movement in the doser when I pull the lever, and I think that the grinds should not come straight through the doser and onto my counter.

If you have any words of advice, I would really like the help!

Thank you!

Harlan

ign8ius wrote:The coffee grinds shoot out into the doser and straight on out onto my kitchen counter. When I pull the dosing lever, nothing happens on the inside (nothing moves that I can see), and nothing comes out of the appropriate exit area. Doesn't this sound wrong?

The Mazzer doser vanes should advance with each pull; they work via the ratchet mechanism show in Mazzer doser lever doesn't return. If the vanes aren't turning, the ratchet gear isn't being engaged, which could mean the spring is missing or broken. It should not be possible for grounds to spill out onto the counter, unless the front exit cover plate is missing:



If it's still unclear, please post pictures of the doser from above. If you have a 4mm Allen wrench, remove the two screws holding on the bottom plate and post a photo of the ratchet mechanism; it should be apparent if something is missing.

hello harlan,
dan invited me to post links to some pics of the super jolly (doser works the same way). here they are:



more:
1) http://www.popovic.info/html/mazzer_sj/index.html
2) http://www.flickr.com/photos/20063905@N00/show/

cari saluti,
blu

Hello Gentlemen,

Thank you for your replies! I actually didn't expect a response so soon, so attentive, and so thorough. You guys are truly first class! (I've also read Dan's articles on loving the HX machines and some of his reviews on espresso makers--good, helpful stuff!)

Anyway, I've been busy and haven't had a chance to open up the doser and follow your advice yet, but in the meantime, the people from Sweet Maria's (where I got the Mini), wrote back to my initial question, which they didn't respond to helpfully early on (hence I turned to you masters). They said they would send UPS to pick up the grinder and replace it, since it indeed sounded broken.

I think then, for now, rather than screwing something up by myself with all of my 10 thumbs, I will allow them to take care of the problem, while the grinder is still under warranty.

I still may have to give it a go on my own if things don't work out soon with Sweet Maria's, so I still very much appreciate your responses.

Thank you again!

Harlan (a wannabe home barista)