OK, the observations I described were all based on single dosing. I've been using the hopper for the last couple of days and the problem, with one bean that has been fairly difficult, has gone away. Pours just switch on and don't accelerate and the timing is far less sensitive to grind setting - just like single dosing with medium roast/less dense beans. Perhaps single dosing on large flat burr grinders simply doesn't work properly for light roast/dense/high grown/acidic (take your pick) beans, maybe because it doesn't generate enough fines? I've gone through most of the flat vs conical and single vs hopper dosing threads and can't see anything to contradict this. The test that another_jim and Sherman reported in "Single dose versus hopper grinding: an experiment" showed no taste differences and just a little more difficulty dialing in a Super Jolly when single dosing - but that was with a Vienna Roasted Sulawesi. I'm finding that the tastiest shots also taste the same, but are a lot, lot easier to achieve with the hopper. I'll get a Pharos anyway - it's quite fun pulling the same shot over and over, but the appeal will surely fade.

well for what its worth I find that I can't get light roasted SOs fine enough for espresso while single doses, never thought about trying a full hopper tho. Next time I get a bag that I can't do a espresso shot with I will try it out even if it is a little like comparing an apple to an orange.

When I used my Super Jolly (a flat burr grinder) for grinding espresso I found also that a full hopper (unground beans) increased the consistancy of my shots and generally observed less channeling.

Things really improved when I allowed the doser to fill up with ground coffee. When used as it's design intended channeling became noticably less of an issue as well as consistancy which was a pitty because I do not use nearly enough coffee to allow me to fill the doser on a regular basis. The waste and the amount of money I would spend to replace wasted coffee is prohibitive.

The grinder just performs best in an environment matched to it's volume of production. As a home barista I had to accept that and make the most of any work arounds I could come up with. I find the Super Jolly is still a better perfomer than most home grinders (and a lot of other commercial grinders too) regardless in terms of consistancy, grind quality, speed, and durability.


As for connical burr grinders two words sweet and forgiving.

I followed another_jim's advice , single dosing and weighing the beans.

Now and I am getting the same pour (flow) from day 1 to day 9 with my weekly pound of beans.

And even when I switch beans I just have to adjust the dose sometimes by 0.5mm the most.


Coffee waste has been reduced to a minimum and shot stability is great now.

I own a Macap MXK conical.