Coffee Appreciation

I miss rep.

You're, sir , a star.

Sounds like what happened to mine a while ago. I just bought a replacement motor from eBay (they are fairly cheap) and it works fine now.

Do you get a lot of static clumps in your grind? How do you prevent this?

I cba braking clumps up every time. Bit time consuming.

Are you happy that the grind is dialled in to get you the shot you want? You can sometimes get clumping if you're grinding too fine.

I don't really get it with mine and it might just be the burrs are settling down.[There's an awful lot of metal on metal in the grinder and once this has been 'seasoned' with the natural oils from the beans then static is less of a problem]. Opinion seems to be that it takes a few kilos of beans through the machine before it settles down

If you do need to break up the clumps then I find a few sharp taps on the side of the portafilter with the tamper will do that anyway and it's something I do to level off the grounds in the basket pre-tamping anyway.

Good tips thanks.

Okay, need a few more kilos through it first I think then. Maybe still too new.

Yes grind seems fine. Played with it and seems to be about right. (maybe wrong) But I like the taste and quantity. I like my espresso little and strong. The Italian way.

Will look into.

In the meantime; removed the grouphead cleaned it and before putting it back tried the machine again .. still suppressed (than usual) noise and nothing .. hot water/steam runs fine through the wand.

Better grinders tend to produce less clumping. Some people advocate using a paper clip or bit of wire to stir up the grounds and break up the lumps.

Yeah I used a small plastic fork to just break it up a bit. Works well. But a bit meh having to do that every time. I drink a lot of coffee.

Hopefully as @big_daddy_wayne says, once it's had more beans through it'll grind a bit better.

Interesting read:

http://www.jimseven.com/2015/12/16/part-3-implications-prediction/

When I moved up here there was pretty much just NTP (central) and Coffeefix (suburb) now there're too many to name them all just centrally. The distribution isn't wide though, lots of suburbs no quality coffee so not sure we're at Peak Cafe but probably not far off?

You've already tried removing the grouphead. I'd maybe try letting it run in steam mode, and then switch the brew button on. This blasts steam pressure through the grouphead (assuming it isn't still blocked!).

You've already tried removing the grouphead. I'd maybe try letting it run in steam mode, and then switch the brew button on. This blasts steam pressure through the grouphead (assuming it isn't still blocked!).

Did that too .. no luck :(

Hello. I would like a grinder. What's good at a sensible price please?

define sensible price.

i recently spent over £700 on a 2ndhand grinder and its very good.

Starting point about £140:

http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/iberital-mc2-grinders/

If budget stretches further you can buy better = more consistent grind and dose.

140 is sensible..

Seven hundred quid??

one of these with a whole load of modifications

http://www.alchemycoffee.co.uk/compak-k10-pro.html

it completely changed our coffee at home, even just using a rancilio silvia

Iberital is good (I haz) but noisy and not super accurate. I don't bother filling the hopper any more - I just weigh out beans and drop them in for each shot. Not really that much of a faff when you only make ~2 shots a day. Does the job for reasonable money though.

I'll be making pour over. My rancilio is supposed to be going to @Bainbridge

Cheers for the confirmation Dan.

James. That is bonkers.

For pourover a handgrinder like a hario or porlex will be perfectly adequate

and one of these if you're lazy http://www.shapeways.com/designer/codget

Orphan Espresso Lido if you want a fancier hand grinder.

I went for a made by knock but he's plagued by supply/customer service issues.

By all accounts the Lido is very very good.

http://coffeehit.co.uk/lido-3-hand-coffee-grinder

If its just for filter you don't really need a fancy grinder..