This is probably 99% because they have a better grinder than most home-baristas. Their grinders don't have issues with clumping, and maybe even distribute acceptably right from the doser/dispenser. I know you could get away with this on a doser Mazzer, especially a Super Jolly or better, but you have to move the portafilter around as you thwack the handle to make sure that it doses into the lowest spot in your basket each time.

That's definitely what you pay for with a bigger, more expensive grinder--shot preparation is much simpler, because the rain-dance style moves that home-baristas do (stirring grinds, dosing into dishes, etc.) don't improve the shot at all on such grinders.

Hello - hopefully Stephen doesn't mind me talking on his behalf, but I am going to anyway!

Recently we've been using modified Anfim Super Caimanos.

Touching the coffee for us has two purposes: dosing and distribution.

Once modified with a digital timer the Anfim delivered a consistent dose, and the doser drops nice and unclumpy coffee right into the middle of the basket.

We were both very suspicious of the no-touch distribution but when it comes down to taste tests we can't tell the difference so why mess with the coffee if there are no advantages. The macho barista side of you that loves to touch the coffee and show off technique eventually has to just let go in favour the side of you that just wants to serve great drinks over and over.

I still manually dose and distribute with other grinders - in the WBC video from 2007 I have to give the coffee a good massage as there was some clumping from the K30s I was using, especially in the ludicrous Tokyo humidity!

The Anfim is not the perfect grinder, but it does certain things extremely well and for the volumes we are putting through them are superb value all around. I am planning on modding one a little bit more this week, just with silly little extras. However the cup from a Robur isn't so much better that it justifies the difference in price that we would be paying.

One day people will make grinders that do what we want.... One day.....

Stuggi wrote:I've been thinking about a doser-ed Macap M4, is this high-end enough or does one need to go further? It's just that I like the zen-way about how they do their pre-pull procedure, just like I would like to do it... ^^

I don't think that an M4 will give you an acceptable "touch free" dose. Certainly the one I have used is pretty finicky about clumping and distribution, and tends to produce channeling if you don't baby it by stirring/stockfleth's move. The Super Jolly (or other 64+ mm burr grinder) is usually a good sport, although I still wouldn't recommend it: even if you get great distribution out of the grinder, you still have the problem of dosing. As James says, having a timer on the grinder really helps get a consistent dose without having to level off the grinds. If you don't have an alternate way of dosing (a way other than leveling), I don't think you'll be able to achieve consistent, touch free dosing with any grinder.

Psyd wrote:Just out of curiosity, have you had the chance to play with the Versalab M3 yet? It sounds like the problems are all solved (delivery time, QC, and longevity notwithstanding) in the basic design, but I haven't had a chance to play with one either.
Difference being, I suppose, that some manufacturers might be more willing to offer a WBC the opportunity to play with their toys gratis than some cat in the desert. If you haven't played with one, is there any curiosity there?

I would love to try a Versalab. I suspect that a freebie, however, is mighty unlikely no matter what competition we won!

Why would you say that?

I don't believe there's any difference in grind quality between the modded Anfim and the stock. The titanium burrs are the only thing that would affect that, and they are a 'stock' option. It's a stepped grinder, even the modded ones, unless you count the crazy Macap-style EPNW mod.

malachi wrote:There is little to no similarity between the modified Anfim and any home (or prosumer) grinder. In fact - there is little similarity between an Anfim and the vast majority of commercial grinders.

Really? I can think of lots of similarities to big-name commercial grinders. The Mahlkönig K30 has much easier timer adjustment on it than the modded Anfim SC, producing very repeatable, if generally quite clumpy doses. It's cleanliness, depending on dosage, is comparable to that of the Anfim. The Mazzer Major has even larger flat burrs than the Anfim, but certainly seems similar in that respect (massive flat burrs). My own modded Robur doses about as clean as the Anfim. I'm really confused by the hype surrounding the grinder, having played with it a bit. It doesn't strike me as all that superior to the other big players--and I haven't even gotten to play with a Compak yet...