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  • Rocky not grinding

    I have had my Rocky doserless grinder a few months now, and while generally happy with it, there are a few things which annoy me.

    1. Every now and then it wont grind. You just hear it whirring without grinding. Usually it can be fixed by banging the sides or rocking it back and forth, but sometimes I need to tip the beans out and really give it a good shake. Is this because a bean becomes stuck somewhere?

    2.In order to empty the hopper you need to turn off the machine and tip the whole heavy thing upside down. Why didnt they make it so that the hopper can be removed, like the Sunbeam?

    3.The manual says to adjust the grind when the machine is off, which I have been doing. But now I read on this forum that you should adjust the grind with the machine on. But as someone pointed out, youd need 3 hands to be able to do this. So do I follow the manual instructions or not?

    4. The manual tells you almost nothing at all.

    5. It does say that the grind should be set at about 6 or 7, but I find I need to have it set at about 3 for the beans I use.

    Im wondering if I should have saved some money and got the Sunbeam 480 instead as Im not entirely happy with the Rancilio Rocky and it wasnt exactly cheap at $470.

  • #2
    Re: Rocky not grinding

    Ill add my opinion:

    1. oily beans may stick? if you push down on the beans I generally find this works, although i probably only have to do this about once a month.

    2. I have never wanted to empty mine - just put in what you need.

    3. I adjust finer while running. you can do it with 2 hands - use your little finger on the latch.

    4. its a grinder - it grinds!

    5. recommended settings are pretty useless. use whatever you need.

    I think the rocky is realy good, and I wouldnt regret your purchase.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Rocky not grinding

      1. I find this normally happens more with beans that have been roasted darker (deep into rolling second) where it is quite oily. No biggie, all you need to do is use a chopstick to "rearrange" the beans slightly and it will start grinding again. That happens because the beans block each other from entering the burrs like a house of cards.
      2. Never really tried to empty the grinder unless there were rocks in it (no doubt from either the yemen or some dry-processed ethiopians)
      3. Say, why would you change the grind setting with the machine on?
      4. Agreed, but there really isnt much to using the grinder. Its a fairly simple system. If you want to take it apart, just unscrew the 3 screws in the hopper and you can remove the whole hopper, then unscrew the top burr carrier.
      5. Do a search for finding the true zero for the rocky. My true zero for the rocky is at 3 and I grind from 10-14 depending on beans. Sounds like your true zero might actually be at -4 or thereabouts.
      I wouldnt swap the rocky for a sunbeam, they are not quite in the same ball park.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Rocky not grinding

        Judy,

        Adjusting a grinder to a finer setting whilst off will force bean fragments into gaps in the burrs and, when combined with coffee oils will pack down solidly.... causing them to block and not grind effectively. It also stresses the bearings etc in the grinder.

        So whilst Rancillio say to do it that way.... it makes no sense what so ever to me. In fact all other manufacturers tell you to do exactly the reverse.... and any damage done if you dont - isnt covered by their warranty!

        And "grind on demand".... where you just put in what you need for one extraction... will help keep the machine clean (no beans sitting there depositing oils to gum up the machine).... and as there will be no bean fragments left between the burrs.... you can adjust the grind with the machine off - if you feel you must!

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Rocky not grinding

          I also had the problem of beans being stuck. Oily was one issue but also found larger beans got stuck.
          Bought a certain bean (Nicaraguan Maragogipe) from a non sponser Melbourne roaster, found it was so large (the bean) that the Rocky would get stuck every 2 seconds. Couldnt use it.

          Agree with the zero marking. My true zero is about -6. I find I grind between 3 and 5.

          As said above I also only put in what I need. I found that 1/4 cup measuring cup was perfect. Leaving the beans in the valve bags instead of the hopper keeps them fresher, longer.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Rocky not grinding

            Thanks Everyone

            Just to clarify, my Rocky is used by my husband and son as well as me, so we tend to have it 1/2 full of beans all the time.

            If I want to make a decaffeinated coffee, I have to tip out the normal beans and put in some decaffeinated and then reverse the proceedure. I guess we should change our habits and only put in what we need each time. At least that would mean I could dispense with the tipping.

            Maybe it is the size of the beans and the fact that theyre dark and oily that causes the problem, but Im addicted to them - Merlo Espresso Blend - and cant imagine changing to anything else.



            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Rocky not grinding

              Originally posted by 06392835797E4C0 link=1234310660/5#5 date=1234319389
              Maybe it is the size of the beans and the fact that theyre dark and oily that causes the problem
              Judy,

              Yep, those will cause you a problem.... and I definately wouldnt leave those sitting in the hopper or partly ground in the burrs.

              The coffee oils will adhere to all the surfaces they touch.... causing beans to get stuck - but far worse.... as they are exposed to air the oils will go rancid :P and the off flavour can contaminate your brew...

              A definite candidate for "grind on demand" as it will significantly reduce the possibility of  beans getting stuck and the introduction of off tastes in your espresso!

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Rocky not grinding

                Originally posted by 1926372A6661530 link=1234310660/5#5 date=1234319389
                If I want to make a decaffeinated coffee, I have to tip out the normal beans and put in some decaffeinated and then reverse the proceedure. I guess we should change our habits and only put in what we  need each time. At least that would mean I could dispense with the tipping.
                Perhaps you could get the sunbeam for your decaf beans

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Rocky not grinding

                  Go for the grind on demand!

                  A little experimenting will soon tell you how many beans you need for one cup of coffee, and the rest of the beans stay fresh.

                  I have a small scoop that came from a can of protein drink that works well for one cup of espresso.

                  Greg

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