Marshall wrote:I've been writing for a long time that my Mahlkonig ProM grinder's dosing looks and feels consistent, as long as there are at least a couple of doses of coffee in the hopper. I was saying the same thing about my Cimbali Max Hybrid before that. The ProM's internal electronic timer seems steady, the volumes in my portafilter tamp down to a consistent height, and, most important, the drinks are consistent.

Today I finally bit the bullet and tested the validity of my sensory impressions.

Any concerns a purist might have about burr (flat v. conical), grinder setting stability on a long run, and all the other issues discussed on this BB (TGP)?

I've read this thread a few times now and I am starting to really appreciate Marshall's comments regarding using a timer.

I installed a Delta CTA on my grinder and the learning curve at first was pretty steep.. I was trying to dial in coffee based on weight/time and grind. Oooh, la, la, la.. Not easy to do. Time, grind and dose are all inter-related!

So after re-reading Marshall's post, I ditched the frickin' scale and just went on taste.. What I have noticed though is that if I change the grind I almost always have to change the time to keep the dose the same.. Kinda like juggling with three hands. I think if I am really bored one weekend, I'll attempt to correlate grind with time to give a said weight.

Dialing in is tough. I have started to record grind and time for coffees so that the next time, I don't have to futz as much.

That being said, once it is dialed in it's as good as gold. I pretty well nail each shot time after time (did you get that pun?). My girlfriend who really could care less about making coffee is able to get her shots out rather well each time. I underdose which makes levelling a non issue.. I generally shoot at 14-16g..

The trade off for me appears to be that if you change coffees often, the scale might be the best approach. If you use the same coffee all the time, a timer is a quicker choice. I suspect the scale is the most consistent regardless, but the timer makes the process slightly quicker at the cost of not being able to switch coffees as quickly..

Thanks Marshall for that post..

J

I actually own and use the La Marzocco Swift EPSB grinder along with my Iberital N-Style 2GR espresso machine. I'm the owner and I'm the only worker during the days. I must say, it's a life saver for the daily morning rushes. Before I open the shop and and prep everything, I do a test shot to see if I need to adjust the fineness of the grinds. Usually only takes me 1 try, sometimes I do a 2nd just to make sure.

I must say though, the only reason I can think why many people don't switch over to this machine is because
(1.) It's expensive as hell. Parts are expensive also. (2.) It takes away a big part about being a barista (auto dose and tamping). Although it is expensive, you make it back within a year from such minimal grind waste. So if you're worried about the money, you'll get it back quick. But mainly, It takes away a lot of "fun" and spirit of being a barista.