Compak K10 WBC or Mazzer Robur
Compak K10 WBC grinder - user report
The K10 sports conical burrs almost as large as the Robur (Compak's 68mm versus 71mm for Mazzer's 120V model). Compak's motor and housing are smaller, it's lighter, and a shorter hopper is available; even so, it's not a small grinder and won't fit under standard cabinets. I had seen this grinder before during the SCAA barista competitions; Compak has made some minor tweaks to the appearance and usability since their initial sponsorship. I'll return to the specifics like size, ergonomics, etc.; let's get back to the taste test.
Jim at 1st-line generously provided an evaluation model Compak K10 WBC:
(Click image for more details)
Counter Culture Coffee offered to host our side-by-side comparison using their Aficionado Espresso Blend, Mazzer Robur, and La Marzocco three group. I arrived early to setup and dial in the two grinders. Maybe the espresso gods will be looking more kindly on me in 2009 since dialing in was lickety-split fast. The grind setting for the K10 was the same as I had already dialed at home and there was no adjustment during the entire session. The Mazzer Robur was also very close, requiring a small tweak of a few millimeters.
Often on Fridays, the coffee is too fresh for great espresso, but Nathan had set some aside specifically for this test and the pours were delightfully easy. The taste test was less formal than previous times, i.e., we made no effort to randomize samples. Instead participants were simply handed two cups and asked to evaluate. It didn't take long to agree that the differences between the Compak and Mazzer were minor, though potential patterns did emerge from our small sample (I had the advantage of already having tested the K10 for a couple weeks, so I pulled all the shots and didn't sample until the very end).
Next I will post my taste impressions and thoughts on the grinder's ergonomics compared to the Mazzer. In the meantime, I invite the participants to post theirs...