KafaTek Monolith Safety Cap Cover (and Lyn Weber EG-1) - Page 2

Grinders are one of the keys to exceptional espresso. Discuss them here.
BaristaBob
Posts: 1866
Joined: 6 years ago

#11: Post by BaristaBob »

mushkat wrote:<image>

I use a glass ball made by Josh Simpson (megaplanet.com). These glass planets come in different sizes...I use a 2" diameter orb. I just need to be careful to not let it roll off the counter.
Freak...way cool...but it will at some point, roll off the counter and put a crater on our American Black Walnut hardwood floors (very soft), beautiful but too soft. Wife would be very unhappy. But that's cool. Does he make a half-moon version?
Bob "hello darkness my old friend..I've come to drink you once again"

BaristaBob
Posts: 1866
Joined: 6 years ago

#12: Post by BaristaBob »

Phaedrus wrote:Please forgive my ignorance, but doesn't the monolith (both flat and conical) come with a cap? The wood one is optional, right? As someone who is considering a monolith conical, please help me understand why a ball is needed.
In my ignorance, read my question (third one down), and Bret's reply right below it.
Bob "hello darkness my old friend..I've come to drink you once again"

Phaedrus
Posts: 275
Joined: 6 years ago

#13: Post by Phaedrus replying to BaristaBob »

I saw that, but I don't understand. What's the difference between the safety cover and the wooden cap and why are both needed to keep dust out?

*sigh*
Posts: 367
Joined: 7 years ago

#14: Post by *sigh* replying to Phaedrus »

They're just two different options.

The Wood cap keeps the top of the grinder completely closed off, but requires removal to add beans each time. The Monolith's burrs (Especially the conical) are pretty accessible with this lid off, so it sounds like there had been some concern about people (mainly little kids) being potentially injured since you could easily reach the burrs with your fingers while the grinder was one.

The Safety cap was designed to alleviated this, but was done in a similar functionality to the EG-1 funnel, where its funneling the coffee into the grinder chamber, but always has a small opening that's present. Some people want a cap to help with dirt/dust getting in the chamber, and also to prevent the occasional bean that popcorns off the burrs in such a way that it goes flying out through this small hole back towards you. :lol:

So you basically give up something no matter which cap you use, so something to cover the safety cap gives you the benefits of both. Plus, there are additional costs for most people to get both since the machine typically ships with one (my batch was the first with the safety cover so they actually shipped with both). They're both good, though I've settled on the safety cap as I've started dosing from the LW Commercial Bean cellars so the funnel on the safety cap works perfect for this.

mushkat
Posts: 16
Joined: 6 years ago

#15: Post by mushkat »

BaristaBob: I keep the orb on for dust protection along with prevention of small bean chips flying out during grinding. The only time the orb is not on the machine is when I pour in the beans. During that time I put the orb on top of an espresso cup. The risk of it rolling away is small. I have never seen a half moon orb...a hemisphere would be interesting!

SilentDoom
Posts: 121
Joined: 6 years ago

#16: Post by SilentDoom »

I'm surprised Denis hasn't thought we would want this. I have wanted a wooden cover for the safety cap, too! Walnut, please :D

HBchris
Posts: 281
Joined: 8 years ago

#17: Post by HBchris »

Has anyone reached out to KafaTek to inquire if he could do a wood cover, or make some sort of cover for the safety cap to prevent dust etc from going in.

BaristaBob
Posts: 1866
Joined: 6 years ago

#18: Post by BaristaBob replying to HBchris »

Just did. I'll post Denis' reply once he responds.
Bob "hello darkness my old friend..I've come to drink you once again"

Phaedrus
Posts: 275
Joined: 6 years ago

#19: Post by Phaedrus »

Ah, I see. So the metal funnel thing with the hole in it is standard with the grinder and is called the safety cap. Instead of the safety cap, one can purchase the optional wood cap and use that to cover the spinning internals of the grinder. That makes sense now, thanks for taking the time to write this. Much appreciated!
*sigh* wrote:They're just two different options.

The Wood cap keeps the top of the grinder completely closed off, but requires removal to add beans each time. The Monolith's burrs (Especially the conical) are pretty accessible with this lid off, so it sounds like there had been some concern about people (mainly little kids) being potentially injured since you could easily reach the burrs with your fingers while the grinder was one.

The Safety cap was designed to alleviated this, but was done in a similar functionality to the EG-1 funnel, where its funneling the coffee into the grinder chamber, but always has a small opening that's present. Some people want a cap to help with dirt/dust getting in the chamber, and also to prevent the occasional bean that popcorns off the burrs in such a way that it goes flying out through this small hole back towards you. :lol:

So you basically give up something no matter which cap you use, so something to cover the safety cap gives you the benefits of both. Plus, there are additional costs for most people to get both since the machine typically ships with one (my batch was the first with the safety cover so they actually shipped with both). They're both good, though I've settled on the safety cap as I've started dosing from the LW Commercial Bean cellars so the funnel on the safety cap works perfect for this.

*sigh*
Posts: 367
Joined: 7 years ago

#20: Post by *sigh* »

Phaedrus wrote:Ah, I see. So the metal funnel thing with the hole in it is standard with the grinder and is called the safety cap. Instead of the safety cap, one can purchase the optional wood cap and use that to cover the spinning internals of the grinder. That makes sense now, thanks for taking the time to write this. Much appreciated!
Yep! Exactly!