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Macap M4D micrometric initial settings

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  • Macap M4D micrometric initial settings

    Hi ... Id like to know what other users with this grinder have as their settings - both the grind and times for the single/double dose.

    When I initially set it up and on Chris suggestion I wound back the grind settings knob 15 turns ie make a courser grind.  At the time I wasnt quite sure whether a turn mean a full 360% or 180% "half turn".  I did the 15 half turns.

    The results have been ok, a few poor shots, the odd good one, but the settings didnt quite feel right.  Over the last few days I decided to give it another 15 of what I call half turns just in case I didnt understand Chris properly.  

    This gave a shot double shot in about 15sec, and to me seemed obviously too coarse a grind. Coffee and crema splashing everywhere.  So starting using a finer grind, and now Im now about back to the point where I started, possibly even using a finer grind now. The last shot was good for me.

    If you use the silver button (that selects Single/Double/Cont) as the reference point then the grind setting is somewhat between 8 and 9 Its actually closer to 8 than 9, something like 8 + 3 teeth .  I realise that is probably a strange way of describing the grind setting but there is a black collar below the hopper that has numbers on it, and on the collar there are teeth, 11 between each number.

    Timing wise - 2 single doses of 4.4s gives about 15g gound coffee, a 8.2s double dose gives about the same.  These seem relatively short times?

    Do these settings sound reasonable ?  Others have similar settings ?  Im currently using Ethiopian Yirgacheffe beans from Jasper.

    Rgds Chris

  • #2
    Re: Macap M4D micrometric initial settings

    Originally posted by 2B202138382D3A20480 link=1231821949/0#0 date=1231821949
    Hi ... Id like to know what other users with this grinder have as their settings - both the grind and times for the single/double dose.

    When I initially set it up and on Chris suggestion I wound back the grind settings knob 15 turns ie make a courser grind.  At the time I wasnt quite sure whether a turn mean a full 360% or 180% "half turn".  I did the 15 half turns.

    The results have been ok, a few poor shots, the odd good one, but the settings didnt quite feel right.  Over the last few days I decided to give it another 15 of what I call half turns just in case I didnt understand Chris properly.  

    This gave a shot double shot in about 15sec, and to me seemed obviously too coarse a grind. Coffee and crema splashing everywhere.  So starting using a finer grind, and now Im now about back to the point where I started, possibly even using a finer grind now. The last shot was good for me.

    If you use the silver button (that selects Single/Double/Cont) as the reference point then the grind setting is somewhat between 8 and 9 Its actually closer to 8 than 9, something like 8 + 3 teeth .  I realise that is probably a strange way of describing the grind setting but there is a black collar below the hopper that has numbers on it, and on the collar there are teeth, 11 between each number.

    Timing wise - 2 single doses of 4.4s gives about 15g gound coffee, a 8.2s double dose gives about the same.  These seem relatively short times?

    Do these settings sound reasonable ?  Others have similar settings ?  Im currently using Ethiopian Yirgacheffe beans from Jasper.

    Rgds Chris
    Hi Chipper,

    You MUST ignore all time settings with this style of grinder until you can dose manually- using continuous grind- to get your perfect pour. Once you have done that, you have the right particle size for your machine. Then only, you can think about experimenting with time. If you change 2 variables at once, youre guaranteed to get lost

    Good luck

    2mcm

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    • #3
      Re: Macap M4D micrometric initial settings

      And please remember it is made by Italians--there is no guarantee that the indicator ring is attached at the same place on each machine.

      Once I got my grind right, I rotated the ring so my average grind is right smack on the number 1.

      Greg

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Macap M4D micrometric initial settings

        Im halfway between 8 and 9 also - mind you Im still dialling in the grind.

        Have taken Chris advice above and Im still using continuous until Im happy with the grind. Counting seconds to myself gives me the idea that a starting point for my volume will be somewhere between 9 and 10 seconds (double), which also correlates with some of the comments from other M4 users on the site.

        Grant

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Macap M4D micrometric initial settings

          Thanks 2mcm ... I havent been too concerned about the times, more the grind size.  I guess I had some lingering doubts, but will continue to experiment using the continuous grind.  

          It would be useful if the grinder displayed the time the continuous grind operated for, after the portafilter was removed.    

          Although having the timings can be useful for someone like my wife who is less enamored with the whole process.

          Originally posted by 0A3F282A1A223F202C21294D0 link=1231821949/2#2 date=1231839555
          Once I got my grind right, I rotated the ring so my average grind is right smack on the number 1.
          Thanks Greg ... thats something I was wondering about.

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