After a weekends use of the new Sunbeam EM0480 I have come to the conclusion that it is an awesome grinder.  Not only becuase of the fact that it is very cheap, but becuase of it's design.  In the Sunbeam "pro" series, this is definatly the standout contender.

Gaggia Carezza and Sunbeam EM0480
http://images15.fotki.com/v264/photos/4/43001/1922866/SunbeamGrinder001-vi.jpg37...

This is a doserless connical burr grinder with a $170 price tag!  I got mine from the Good Guys - this was the price they offered it to me over the phone without haggling for cash.  The RRP is $199, but I've not heard anyone pay more than $180 even at Myer or DJ's.  That's a lot less than the LUX and way less than the Rocky if you're looking for a doserless machine.

So what are the downsides I hear you ask?  What's the step adjustment like?  What's the grind like... etc etc.  Before this I owned a Saeco MC2002, which ground easily fine enough for the Carezza, but I wanted a doserless.  So keep in mind that I've only had it running for the weekend, so these are my initial thoughts.  Also, just a note to say that I have no affiliation with Sunbeam in any way, I just brought their product.

First of all - the things I like about the EM0480 (and there are a lot):
- The grind is awesome.  I find it much more "powderie" than the Saeco.  I'm not sure if its an illusion, or because I'm grinding straight into the PF, but it seems that way.
- The price is awesome - at this price, it's definatly a "category killer" in my book.
- The warrenty is awesome - 5 year engine replacement warrenty and a 12 month machine replacement guarantee.  It amazes me nowadays how companies can back their stuff with this type of warrenty?  They are certinly confident of this thing at the very least.
- The grind speed is the same full or empty.  This is good, because it means that the grinding speed is geared (like it says on the box) so that the machine runs at a slower speed than the motor is capable of - and thus less heat transference to the beans.
- The hopper can be removed with beans in it.  There are 2 small spring loaded catches that push together when you take the hopper off.
- Very clear clicks between settings.  So even thou it's not stepless, there are very clear audible clicks between the settings, so if you want to go up one it's easy to hear.
- The grind setting for espresso is in the middle of the range.  I'm grinding on about 11, and there are more than 20 settings - this is great, instead of skirting with the finest grind available you have plenty of room to move.  (or make turkish, or grind for a plunger too!)
- VERY easy to remove/clean the burrs.  The top is easily removable, with a push of a button and a twist. (that's it - really!)  You can lift the burrs directly out at that point!
- The switch on the machine is awesome - heavy duty, no messing about!  And it's on the side too so it's not getting in the way!
http://images15.fotki.com/v267/photos/4/43001/1922866/SunbeamGrinder004-vi.jpg50...

Suggestions I would make to Sunbeam if they were listening:
- I'd replace the plastic PF holder with a stainless one.  I know they are looking at keeping the price down, but fabrication of a stainless or even chromed brass PF holder would be definatly the way to go.  Such a cool steel switch and such a crappy plastic PF handle  I may have to get down the local steel fab place with a tray of VB and see what I can come up with!
- When you take the bean hopper off, you are very likely to move the grinder settings.  I'm not sure there's a way round this becuase you move the top section that the hopper is attached to when you change grind settings.  I don't take the hopper off much anyhow, so that's no biggie.
- The markings for the settings aren't as well lined up with the arrow as they could be - the audible clicks are an easy way to tell a single grind movement up or down, but the arrow doesn't point directly at each setting.  This could be improved, but mostly I guess it's a guide, and then once you're close you test a few out by going up or down, and checking each pour.

That's it.  Sunbeam - I think you have done a really good job on this.

Oh.... I almost forgot.  There is a problem with ALL doserless grinders I believe, where some stray grinds come flying out in different directions.  Now, I'm not sure that this would be everyones cup of tea - but I hate "bench wipedown", I got the doserless so there'd be LESS messing about cleaning up after a grind.  For me, it's definatly not as much about the asthetics, more the practicality.  The rubber base on the Sunbeam does come out easily for cleaning strays, and there is very little stray that goes on the bench anyhow, but very little is still too much for me!

So, I've applied all my design skills to this problem and stolen someone elses idea.  It's based on Boris's "Rocky Grind Catcher" - top marks on that one mate! (http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1136257294)

Sunbeam EM0480 Loose Grind Solution
http://images15.fotki.com/v267/photos/4/43001/1922866/SunbeamGrinder006-vi.jpg37...

Ahhh ha!  - I did forget the "AUTO" part.

This is another TOP mark with the Sunbeam.  If you look closely at the PF holder, you can see at the centre of it is a small silver button.  When set to auto, if you put the PF into the holder you can push it forward and it depresses that small silver button and starts the machine!  So it all becomes a one handed operation!  (can't believe I missed that bit!)

I agree with what you are saying about an "obvious point of reference", which is why I believe this is a "category killer" - it will pretty much wipe the floor with the competition.  I would be VERY interested in a side by side comparison with the Rocky too?  Perhaps this can be organised at some point soon.

Do you find the adjustment steps are a bit large like Alan does? Too bad the design doesn't seem to allow for microstepping the way the Lux does because it seems the Sunbeam is better in every other way.

As for the PF holder, that is the same one fitted to the Lux and doserless Iberital which have the same burr set as the Sunbeam so I guess they just bought those parts.

I've compared a Lux with a Rocky and Mazzers and the grind quality of all of them are the same (once the Rocky burrs have been tightened with some teflon tape) so i imagine the Sunbeam would be just as good too.

I love the grinds catcher!!!

Greg

Great review, Andy.  The machine does sound "awesome". I especially like the fact the hopper can be removed while still retaining its load of beans.

And consistent speed irrespective of the weight of beans on the burrs is also good.

Just a word in defence of the plastic  portafilter holder.  It  has to be made from a flexible material  to accommodate different size portafilters.

Well done.

Robusto

Nice work peak - I suspect a lot of people will be buying this instead of the LUX considering it's got the exact same burrset and it's $80 cheaper!

I get what you're saying too Robusto about the plastic holder, they also supply 2 different ones, one for cheap-o (crappy) alloy PF machines and one for "commercial" ones.

My first impression in the shop was that the EM0480 is very SOLID.  I bought myself one from MYER today, they price matched Goodguys phone quote of $179, I was happy with that.. I wasn't ready to part with $400 + for a Rocky.

I'll post up some thoughts once I've used it.

PaulE

I know, I'm late in on this thread, Andycj, that is a kick-arse piece of kit at any price and for 170 bucks it's a steal!
Well done and nice review also.
Why would you plonk down money on a Mazzer (like I did 12 months ago) or a Rocky for that matter when there is this type of value out there?
Some of these established manufacturers might start suffering a case of "Emperor's new clothes"

Tim

OK Paulie - so my grind catcher ain't the most attractive bit of kit out there.... I'll give you that.

But it does it's job, and I'm a practical man.

I also dig the one handed grinding - almost as much as the no-handed bench wipe-up

Andy, you wouldn't believe it but I've had to go down the catcher road too.. the EM makes way too much mess to have to hoover loose coffee grind from the kitchen bench!!

I have a little bit of a problem with my EM.. I have a Silvia machine and use the grind to overflow, level off and then tamp routine.  I find myself using the absolute finest possible setting on the EM grinder..

What settings are you guys using.. I wonder if I got a DUD??

paulie338 wrote on Feb 10^th, 2006, 10:06am:



Solis Maestro Plus has offered that functionality for a number of years - and from all reports it actually grinds into the porta filter unlike the Sunbeam.  

paulie338 wrote on Mar 9^th, 2006, 8:16am:


paulie338 wrote on Mar 7^th, 2006, 1:29pm:



Lucky you didn't buy a DUD then.

Hi Paulie,

From the avatar piccie it would appear you have a Silvia partnered with your EM0480, should be a great partnership by the way.

Something that you might like to try, is to reset your grind to a coarser setting and then gradually work your way in until you get the shot timing back into the ballpark of 25-30 seconds. The Over Pressure Valve on a Silvia is usually set to around 15 BAR to protect the pump, not control the pressure through the shot.

However, if you start trying to setup your grind from the fine end of the scale and work up, you end up working against the setting of the OPV at 15 BAR and this is way too high to pour decent espressos. By starting at the coarse end of the scale and working your way in, you end up with the correct pressure of between 8-10 BAR as dictated by the resistance of the coffee puck, not the OPV..... and the coffee will be sooo much better too ,

Mal.

Now you are talking Mal.. I will do that tonight.. that sounds exactly like the problem.. now that you mention it, the extraction goes blond very early.. I was starting to think that my seeds weren't fresh..

Thanks!! I'll let you know how I go.

Paulie

Mattb, that's awesome that we have the same combo.. me I've had my Silvia for a good 4 months or so now, most of which I survived (only just) by buying ground coffee from Mocopan.

well silly old me has gone back to the lowest setting possible on my EM grinder.. if I try extracting the coffee having used a grind setting of 10, I can fill the entire cup (120mls) in about 10 seconds.. plus I can't tamp that any harder or fit any more coffee in the basket..

I've had a little inconsistency (need to adjust between ~5-10), but not enough that I couldn't rule out operator error (eg tamping/dosing) or other factors (eg beans/roast/age).

eg last night:
1) 10: 70ml in 18 seconds
2) 9: 70ml in 20 seconds
3) 7: choke
4) 10: 40ml in 30 seconds

and on a previous day/different bean, settings 4-5 were no problem...

Last time I cleaned mine I noticed a fair amount of slop in the lower burr (it could be wiggled sideways more than I would have thought acceptable). Do other owners see this? Is it a concern, or does it essentially self-centre when loaded with beans?

harrance wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2006, 5:35pm:



I bought one last week at Myers, City.  I really wasn't planning to buy one, I was on public transport.    I was just looking at it, the guy offered assistance.  I told him that I would buy one, if he matched the $170 I could get it for from the Good Guys.  He said. OK!  Didn't even phone to check my claim!

I am now using it, while waiting for my Rocky to come back from the doctor's    The only complaint I have is that it is a very messy grinder!  The grinder and the surranding benchtop needs a major clean after each grind.  Knowing my son, I don't think he'll even notice!  

robusto wrote on Mar 24^th, 2006, 9:10am:


Well, I was at Ikea the other day, and picked up (on sale) a stainless steel plate.  Wasn't sure what it was meant for, or what I was going to do with it...  Turns out it fits in the base perfectly, catching most of the spills.  
C:\DocumentsandSettings\Judy\MyDocuments\LapDumps\DSCF0213.jpg

I've inserted a picture here, but it didn't work.  Done it before, now can't remember how?  

OK take two

Still not happy though, would love to make the plastic milk container mod (for the Rocky as well) but don't quite get how it fits at the back where the portafilter's plastic guide goes

The concave nature of the grinder body could be a problem unless you can--as suggested by MattKing--remove the bracket easily and put the container behind it without any interfereing to the switch.

Milk containers are made of fairly thin plastic and bend well in most places.

Robusto

Hiya,

Long time reader - first time poster...

Finnally made the decision to buy an EM0480, but alas... anyone have *any* ideas on where in Sydney might have one in stock???...  

As far as a shop back-ordering one from Sunbeam the best availability estimate I've had so far was "May".

Not happy jan!

Keep smiling.

BeanBrain, I went looking the other day too, with no joy. never got around to asking them to call sunbeam for a specific ETA though. Perhaps that's the next step in the plan...... What part of Sydney are you from, I'll split the list of stores to ring with you

Glad it's all going well. Curious if there is any reason you decided to go for a superseeded Expobar rather than wait for the updated model? There are a heap of updates/revisions.

I guess it's like buying a superseeded car....hope you got a huge discount as there will be a significant cost at the other end when you try and sell  ..For example- the Giotto Classic on unowhereb*y....$1699 and not a bid....

2mcm

Matt King wrote on Mar 26^th, 2006, 12:41pm:

Well, I bought a 1litre milk just for this purpose (usually buy 2) cut it out.  It works, sort of, but  still manage to spill some grinds on the counter.  Too lazy to take a photo now    I then tried putting the S/S plate under the plastic thingie, to help catch what it doesn't.  It would't  fit.  So I cut a bigger hole where the bracket is, so that I can slide it higher, it still isn't sitting very happily.  It also makes the PF bracket a very tight fit, not something I'd feel like removing after each use  

Oh well.  Got my Rocky back today, so the Sunbeam is going to my son's.  I doubt he'll care about  (or notice) a few coffee grinds on the counter  

Now, to make a similar thing for my Rocky    (This time using a 2litre square milk bottle

Good one lochness,

Won't be any stopping you now ,

Cheers,
Mal.

Not sure if you saw my last post but I'll happily sell my EM0480 for $150 ONO..