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Main
Date: 09 Aug 2007 11:56:02
From: Godzilla
Subject: First grinder problem
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Yesterday, I experienced my first problem with the Macap stepless
doserless grinder, and it had to be my own fault.
I was going to experiment with making an espresso shot with some
Sweet Maria's Moka Kadir Blend. I have used this before, but only
enjoyed it as drip. Sweet Maria's says that it works for both uses.
In order to evaluate this one alone, I carefully cleaned out all
residue from the Malabar Gold that I had been using, and measured out
about 19 grams of the Moka Kadir, which I poured directly into the
burrs, with the hopper removed. That, I believe was the cause of the
problem. When I began to grind, a smidgen came out of the chute, and
then NOTHING. I tried cleaning out the beans from the grinder to try
again. Holding this heavy beastie upside down over a wastebasket is
more of a job for the present California Governor, but I managed.
Still, nothing came out.
The next step was to call Chris Coffee, where I had purchased the
grinder. They put me right through to the technician. He told me to
vacuum out the chute, and then use the vacuum over the grinder burrs.
I did this, but still nothing emerged when I attempted to grind.
I called Chris Coffee again, and he told me me to remove the three
Phillips screws from the upper burr's collar and then unscrew the
upper grinding burr. I began to do this, but it would not budge.
Back to the telephone. The tech instantly figured out that I had been
tightening the burr instead of loosening it! It was a left hand
thread!
I removed the burr and carefully brushed out everything. After
reassembling it, I recalibrated the tick point and then backed off to
where I remembered the setting had been. I can't wait to make today's
shot (back to Malabar Gold, because I must give my newly roasted
batch of Moka Kadir a three day wait to try it again.)
My analysis is that I won't ever load beans directly into the burrs
without having the motor running first. But, having purchased my
machines from a place as helpful as Chris Coffee really came in handy
when I needed them.
Godzilla
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Date: 09 Aug 2007 12:15:58
From: Robert Harmon
Subject: Re: First grinder problem
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Howdy 'zilla!
I always dump my beans onto the burrs (actually into the throat, as it seems
silly to dump such a small amount in the hopper first). I put the beans in &
them cover them with a Tupperware cup that fits into the opening. I've done
this with Mazzer, Rosito Bisani, & Rancilio grinders and never experienced
any problems such as you describe. Sometimes, if there is no weight on the
beans they don't get pushed into contact with the burrs, but the biggest
problem for me has been the bits & pieces that get tossed out by the
grinder. That stuff seems to escape the grinder at mach 1+.
--
Robert (INCOMING!) Harmon
--
http://www.tinyurl.com/mb4uj - My coffee pages.
http://www.tinyurl.com/2tnv87 - My 'Guidelines For Newbies' page.
http://www.tinyurl.com/2cr3e2 - I have things for sale here.
"Godzilla" <godzilla@monsters.org > wrote in message
news:6a1f5$46bb4723$cf9b1316$13379@ALLTEL.NET...
> Yesterday, I experienced my first problem with the Macap stepless
> doserless grinder, and it had to be my own fault.
>
> I was going to experiment with making an espresso shot with some
> Sweet Maria's Moka Kadir Blend. I have used this before, but only
> enjoyed it as drip. Sweet Maria's says that it works for both uses.
>
> In order to evaluate this one alone, I carefully cleaned out all
> residue from the Malabar Gold that I had been using, and measured out
> about 19 grams of the Moka Kadir, which I poured directly into the
> burrs, with the hopper removed. That, I believe was the cause of the
> problem. When I began to grind, a smidgen came out of the chute, and
> then NOTHING. I tried cleaning out the beans from the grinder to try
> again. Holding this heavy beastie upside down over a wastebasket is
> more of a job for the present California Governor, but I managed.
> Still, nothing came out.
>
> The next step was to call Chris Coffee, where I had purchased the
> grinder. They put me right through to the technician. He told me to
> vacuum out the chute, and then use the vacuum over the grinder burrs.
> I did this, but still nothing emerged when I attempted to grind.
> I called Chris Coffee again, and he told me me to remove the three
> Phillips screws from the upper burr's collar and then unscrew the
> upper grinding burr. I began to do this, but it would not budge.
> Back to the telephone. The tech instantly figured out that I had been
> tightening the burr instead of loosening it! It was a left hand
> thread!
>
> I removed the burr and carefully brushed out everything. After
> reassembling it, I recalibrated the tick point and then backed off to
> where I remembered the setting had been. I can't wait to make today's
> shot (back to Malabar Gold, because I must give my newly roasted
> batch of Moka Kadir a three day wait to try it again.)
>
> My analysis is that I won't ever load beans directly into the burrs
> without having the motor running first. But, having purchased my
> machines from a place as helpful as Chris Coffee really came in handy
> when I needed them.
>
> Godzilla
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Date: 09 Aug 2007 13:18:32
From: Craig Andrews
Subject: Re: First grinder problem
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"Robert Harmon" <Texas_Coffee@earthlink.net > wrote in message
news:13bmita6cg0e184@corp.supernews.com...
> Howdy 'zilla!
> I always dump my beans onto the burrs (actually into the throat, as it
> seems silly to dump such a small amount in the hopper first). I put the
> beans in & them cover them with a Tupperware cup that fits into the
> opening. I've done this with Mazzer, Rosito Bisani, & Rancilio grinders
> and never experienced any problems such as you describe. Sometimes, if
> there is no weight on the beans they don't get pushed into contact with
> the burrs, but the biggest problem for me has been the bits & pieces that
> get tossed out by the grinder. That stuff seems to escape the grinder at
> mach 1+.
> --
> Robert (INCOMING!) Harmon
> --
I use a tamper up there on my Mazzer Mini, & that works great too.
Craig.
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Date: 09 Aug 2007 16:51:13
From: Moka Java
Subject: Re: First grinder problem
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Craig Andrews wrote:
>
> "Robert Harmon" <Texas_Coffee@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:13bmita6cg0e184@corp.supernews.com...
>> Howdy 'zilla!
>> I always dump my beans onto the burrs (actually into the throat, as it
>> seems silly to dump such a small amount in the hopper first). I put
>> the beans in & them cover them with a Tupperware cup that fits into
>> the opening. I've done this with Mazzer, Rosito Bisani, & Rancilio
>> grinders and never experienced any problems such as you describe.
>> Sometimes, if there is no weight on the beans they don't get pushed
>> into contact with the burrs, but the biggest problem for me has been
>> the bits & pieces that get tossed out by the grinder. That stuff seems
>> to escape the grinder at mach 1+.
>> --
>> Robert (INCOMING!) Harmon
>> --
>
> I use a tamper up there on my Mazzer Mini, & that works great too.
> Craig.
That's exactly what I do when grinding 1 shot. The 58mm tamper is a
perfect fit. I've never had the Mazzer Mini lock up except when
adjusting down from a coarse grind to espresso with the motor off.
Backed off and made the adjustment with the grinder running. My guess
is that Godzilla could have just backed off the grind and whatever was
caught would have loosened up.
R "as the bean bounces" TF
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Date: 09 Aug 2007 14:07:54
From: Godzilla
Subject: Re: First grinder problem
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Craig Andrews wrote:
>
> "Robert Harmon" <Texas_Coffee@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:13bmita6cg0e184@corp.supernews.com...
>> Howdy 'zilla!
>> I always dump my beans onto the burrs (actually into the throat, as
>> it seems silly to dump such a small amount in the hopper first). I
>> put the beans in & them cover them with a Tupperware cup that fits
>> into the opening. I've done this with Mazzer, Rosito Bisani, &
>> Rancilio grinders and never experienced any problems such as you
>> describe. Sometimes, if there is no weight on the beans they don't
>> get pushed into contact with the burrs, but the biggest problem for
>> me has been the bits & pieces that get tossed out by the grinder.
>> That stuff seems to escape the grinder at mach 1+.
>> --
>> Robert (INCOMING!) Harmon
>> --
>
> I use a tamper up there on my Mazzer Mini, & that works great too.
> Craig.
Joy to the world! I just finished today's shot with the Malabar Gold,
and my grinder setting from memory was almost perfect. Two 1 oz.
singles (from each spout) at 229F in 23 seconds, and I am savoring
the aftertaste with that lingering touch of sweet overtone. :-)
Godzilla
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