Lagom P100 vs Monolith Flat MAX

#1: Post by **Chris Nias** » August 24th, 2022, 11:01 pm

Hi...

I'm planning to buy one of these grinders. Is there anyone here who has directly compared both in terms of espresso taste and others thing. Or any other suggestions? Especially for light to medium roasting beans.

#2: Post by **Jake_G** » August 24th, 2022, 11:06 pm

Quite a few have.

They are indistinguishable in the cup with SSP burrs.

Some prefer Shurikens, and for that, Flat MAX is the only way to get them. Having tried both Shurikens and SSP burrs, I don't have a strong preference for either. They are different, but neither are objectively better than the other.

Most prefer the workflow of the P100, but not so much that one would necessarily choose to part ways with their MAX. Shotwell had both on his bench for a while. The joke is that if he had kept the original shipping box for his MAX, he would have kept the P100, but he didn't and had no desire to keep both, so he sold the P100 after swapping burrs between the two grinders.

They are essentially comparable machines.

Cheers!

- Jake

#3: Post by **luca** » August 24th, 2022, 11:43 pm

Won't the p1000000000000 grind faster at the same rpm if it has horizontal burrs?

#4: Post by **Mech33** » August 25th, 2022, 1:05 am

I own a P100 and used to own an MC4 (not a Max), and the P100 workflow, design (aesthetics as well as ease of opening for cleaning), and resulting espresso taste was a noticeable step up from the MC4 for me.

August 25th, 2022, 9:00 am

What roast level do you drink?

#6: Post by **Jake_G** » August 25th, 2022, 9:17 am

luca wrote:Won't the p1000000000000 grind faster at the same rpm if it has horizontal burrs?

Experience tells me yes.

But if that difference changes the taste, I'm the wrong guy to notice it.

#7: Post by **Mech33** » August 25th, 2022, 10:28 am

mborkow wrote:What roast level do you drink?

Medium mostly. Coffee is consistently stronger with the P100.

#8: Post by **BaristaBob** » August 25th, 2022, 10:35 am

luca wrote:Won't the p1000000000000 grind faster at the same rpm if it has horizontal burrs?

It seems like the off the cuff answer would be "yes". However, the newest Shuriken burr, I've heard, grind faster.

#9: Post by **mborkow** » August 25th, 2022, 10:45 am

Mech33 wrote:Medium mostly. Coffee is consistently stronger with the P100.

Based on what I read (I have never even seen a Monolith in person let alone used one or tasted its output) it seems the MC4 is geared towards the darker end of the spectrum (as I guess are most conicals?).

#10: Post by **kidloco** » August 25th, 2022, 10:47 am

Mech33 wrote:I own a P100 and used to own an MC4 (not a Max), and the P100 workflow, design (aesthetics as well as ease of opening for cleaning), and resulting espresso taste was a noticeable step up from the MC4 for me.

This is not comparable. I had P100 and changed it to MC4 I enjoy - it because it suits the coffees I drink and my taste better. P100 excels with light roasts; dark roast is mostly undrinkable. Medium roasts are just very different and depend on what you want from coffee.

P100 and MAX, yes, you can compare those. I would put it like this: If I had P100, I would not upgrade to MAX but also vice versa. P100 has the best workflow of all grinders I have ever used, and I used it a lot. MAX is beautiful and has shurikens you can not get anywhere else...

At the end, it is going to be your choice. If I really had to choose, I would say if you drink strictly light roasts pulled a bit longer, go with P100, if not MAX.