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Fight against "Clumps"

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Link to "Fight against "Clumps""by misterdoggy on Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:31 am

I have read about the different techniques to combat Clumps, but wonder if anyone has a better idea than just using a needle and stirring ?

Its a real pain and added step in the process, but unavoidable with the M4D doserless grinder

Any suggestions anyone ?
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Link to "Fight against "Clumps""by akallio on Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:40 am

You need to exert some sort of mechanical force to break the clumps. If you don't like needles, then you have to bolt a doser to your grinder I guess. Vigorous shaking in a suitable container helps also. On my Mini-E needle is a lot better, but that might be because it also fixes distribution of particles.

Placing wires to exit chute might also help, but it needs some care as they might also contribute to clumping (as the Mazzer grid does).
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Link to "Fight against "Clumps""by n00b on Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:44 am

Someone posted a picture of a flour sifter, and then funneling to the portafilter.
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Link to "Fight against "Clumps""by Mark08859 on Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:19 am

I've had good results using the Nutating Motion.
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Link to "Fight against "Clumps""by misterdoggy on Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:29 pm

I will definitely give that a try. why not.

I would stand on my head if it helps. I'll try anything (almost)

Still, you have to break up the clumps before rocking the tamper in the basket
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Link to "Fight against "Clumps""by Marshall on Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:58 pm

misterdoggy wrote:I have read about the different techniques to combat Clumps, but wonder if anyone has a better idea than just using a needle and stirring ?

Its a real pain and added step in the process, but unavoidable with the M4D doserless grinder

Any suggestions anyone ?

Why? What is wrong with your coffee?
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Link to "Fight against "Clumps""by cannonfodder on Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:36 am

Get a Mazzer Robur, or a doser grinder. Thwacking the doser lever while grinding breaks up most of the clumps, most of the time. However, if the extraction is good and the coffee tastes good, why worry about a clump.
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Link to "Fight against "Clumps""by Mark08859 on Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:00 am

misterdoggy wrote:I will definitely give that a try. why not.

I would stand on my head if it helps. I'll try anything (almost)

Still, you have to break up the clumps before rocking the tamper in the basket

The rocking motion breaks the clumps for you. They're only bits of loosely compressed powder, not small pebbles, after all.

But, as cannonfodder states, if you like the results you're getting in the cup; does anything else really matter.
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Link to "Fight against "Clumps""by misterdoggy on Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:05 pm

No I'm happy with the taste. When I stir the basket and use a naked portafilter everything is OK, no spritzing or spitting, so I just want to make sure I'm not channeling and getting the best I can.

I'm learning and things are developing well. I'm aiming at a triple basket to make a double pour (into 2 cups) which you can't do with a naked portafilter.

Just the right amount. Things are going well, just that extra added step to stir. I guess you will have an extra step with a doser as well, in that you need to clean it all the time. So one way or the other you have work to do.
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Link to "Fight against "Clumps""by Ken Fox on Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:09 pm

Marshall wrote:Why? What is wrong with your coffee?


Are you suggesting that people taste their coffee before rendering a judgment upon it? What's the fun in that?

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Link to "Fight against "Clumps""by Mark08859 on Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:31 pm

Ken Fox wrote:Are you suggesting that people taste their coffee before rendering a judgment upon it? What's the fun in that?


Alas, based on some posts I've seen, that is a legitimate question. I once had a poster tell me that taste should not be a factor in determining if a cup of espresso was good. :shock:
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Link to "Fight against "Clumps""by Ken Fox on Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:47 pm

Mark08859 wrote:Alas, based on some posts I've seen, that is a legitimate question. I once had a poster tell me that taste should not be a factor in determining if a cup of espresso was good. :shock:


A lot of the posts you read in online coffee venues reveal that the poster hasn't any clue whatsoever about what constitutes a good espresso, or what it is that someone making espresso might do in order to produce a good shot. The value in those posts is that you can then safely disregard anything that individual writes subsequently, at least or until (maybe) they have learned enough that their posts (much later) become worth reading.

The qualification about allowing for the possibility that someone making silly posts might finally learn something is given because almost everyone has made some silly posts if one goes back far enough into history, which unfortunately in the digital age can be hard to erase :mrgreen:

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Link to "Fight against "Clumps""by michaelbenis on Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:50 pm

Nice post Ken.

I just wish my own posts and life were a linear progress though :oops:

Even this post could be a spritzer. :shock:

If Dan could only invent a bottomless reply box I might just be able to see the idea maturing as it pours :D
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Link to "Fight against "Clumps""by cannonfodder on Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:25 pm

misterdoggy wrote:Just the right amount. Things are going well, just that extra added step to stir. I guess you will have an extra step with a doser as well, in that you need to clean it all the time. So one way or the other you have work to do.


Not necessarily. I am not going to turn this into a doser vs doserless debate but many machine sweep clean. Even the Mazzers leave less in the doser than you would think.

My only recommendation would be find what works for you and stick with it.
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