FYI: A short but cool story includes Tom Owen of SM roasting by truck cigarette lighter in the field and tasting and describes how a few small changes transformed a lousy coffee. Also references Stumptown. {link} Pat

If you haven't already done so, you should remove the top burr carrier and clean out the exit hole from the grind chamber....mine, at least, gets blocked fairly quickly (within a few weeks of grinding) and the smaller hole seems to cause grounds to shoot out at a higher velocity...i.e., spraying ins...

Given the large number of machines out there using these pumps and relatively few complaints posted, I would question your conclusion that the repeated failures that you have experience are an indication these pumps are unreliable. My original ULKA pump (same model) lasted 6+ years and its same repl...

In my experience w/ the Vario over the past few years I initially calibrated per the manual (macro at finest, micro in middle) and that worked fine for most coffees pulling 16.5 to 17.5 g shots, but on occasion, using light roasts, I was running the micro at or within a few clicks of the finest sett...

Sorry to hear of your continued troubles. FWIW, during my 9+ years of use of my Rocky the grind setting ranged from about +7 above zero to +1 depending on the coffee and roast (that's why I mentioned those variables). At this point, it sounds like you've done everything I had previously done on my g...

By regardless of 'relative position' do you mean that you unmounted, rotated, and re-mounted the top burr 3 times/3 tests; then did the same for the bottom burr for a total of 6 tests and the rub point was the same? Additional food for thought... Even if the rub point is the same and you do have a

Others would need to chime in on rice vs grindz. As a personal preference I only put coffee into my grinders. I'm not saying they would be bad; its just a preference. Also, I doubt these materials would actually unblock a clogged exit chute but maybe so. BTW, when I mentioned I brush clean in

Regarding the question about the need for regular cleaning, from reading many of the posts here and on CG, some of which are from Baratza, and using the grinder for about a year and half, I think its a good idea to do regular cleaning (e.g., every few weeks or so) and to clean any time the grinder b...

From your pictures of the latest tips it appears both have been changed relative to the ones I had pictured earlier in this thread from my (aging) Andreja and the 4 hole replacement I bought a few years ago. The new 2 hole stock tip has much smaller holes than the old one and should work better. Now I

FYI...ditto on the neck o-ring. Also, I believe you need to be using a steam tip of similar design to stock setup (that has this inner o-ring) for the no burn aspect to function. Just a few more things to check. I have experienced this previously (hot no burn wand) and have had some luck