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 ?

Someone posted a picture of a flour sifter, and then funneling to the portafilter.

I've had good results using the Nutating Motion.

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

ken

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.

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.

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

ken

Nice post Ken.

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

Even this post could be a spritzer.

If Dan could only invent a bottomless reply box I might just be able to see the idea maturing as it pours

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.