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  • Grounds left in grinder

    When cleaning it, I have noticed that there are lots of grounds inside my Cunill Tranquilo grinder.  This time I decided to measure how much: 9.2 grams! not counting what is normally shaken or scratched out after grinding is done.
    Perhaps most of it gets stuck directly after cleaning, and is never put out. Still, 9.2g..
    Is this normal for all grinders?

  • #2
    Re: Grounds left in grinder

    All grinders hold some grinds some more some less so I would just say it is a function of that grinder would love to hear what weight others find left.

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    • #3
      Re: Grounds left in grinder

      9.2 Grams!, wow!, my BEST left about 2gms max!

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      • #4
        Re: Grounds left in grinder

        Originally posted by 7074524B4B4E514649270 link=1260780014/2#2 date=1260849822
        9.2 Grams!, wow!, my BEST left about 2gms max!
        Id have to say, that post clean-up after an espresso session, the M4 would retain less than a gram and most likely less than 0.5 gram.

        9 odd grams seems like a lot. Even the full-on commercial LSM SM-90A I used to have, would only have retained 2-3 grams at most. Dont think Ive ever read of other Cunill Tranquilo owners mentioning this level of retention before.... :-?

        Mal.

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        • #5
          Re: Grounds left in grinder

          Ive got a Tranquilo.

          I havent measured exactly, but Id guess with no special measures Id have at least 5 gm (based on how much ejects out into the basket to start with). Theres a fairly long horizontal chute before grinds are ejected into the plastic funnel out the front, and you can get a fairly big build-up there.

          To counter this, I do a few things:

          - Ive bypassed the timer switch, so Ive just got the on/off switch. This doesnt really matter, but helps for the last step. (NB - only attempt this if youve got a decent working knowledge of 240V wiring & appropriate qualifications!!!)
          - Ive worked out if I close the gate at the bottom of the bean hopper after a certain number of seconds (about 5-6 works for me) I get the perfect volume of grinds. Youll be able to work out what works for you.
          (NB - this is functionally equivalent to measuring out the beans beforehand and chucking them in the hopper, but is a little quicker and easier).
          - Ive got a small narrow edging brush I picked up for a couple of bucks at the hardware store. This means I can brush out the throat of the grinder (where it all builds up), plus the plastic barrel. This gets most of the grinds which would otherwise sit and go stale for next time.
          - Finally, I pulse the grinder for a second, which ejects the grounds I couldnt get to with the brush. Remember no more beans are arriving at the burrs, so this is just a cleaning step, albeit with fresh grounds.

          This rigmarole takes an extra 15 seconds or so, and ensures that the next time I grind I have next to no stale grounds in the grinder. I would certainly recommend the brush-out-of-the-throat trick. This would mean that flushing the grinder would only be a gram or so.

          Wow. Long and rambly. Hope that helps.

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          • #6
            Re: Grounds left in grinder

            I believe Occam is making the point if you take the grinder apart and seperate the grinding wheels and inspect inside the grind chamber this is where the 9.2g is collecting.

            As a rule the Cunill T will have about 2g in the shute and bit clinging to the dose chamber wall ..... That is quickly dealt with using a narrow brush, much like any grinder.

            Monthly, or weekly removal of build up is a good idea.

            Greg

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            • #7
              Re: Grounds left in grinder

              Hi Occam ,

              You inspired me to do a full clean of my #1 CT .....

              Youll be intersted to know ... 9 grams, caked on .... oddly enough after the clean , it made no difference to the ground delivery volume.

              Cheers
              Greg

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              • #8
                Re: Grounds left in grinder

                Just to check, I cleaned the grinder thoroughly again after four days:  just a couple of grams left inside the grinder.
                Obviously, the grinder catches just a little grinds every time, which means that there is no noticeable difference in output volume before and after major cleaning. HOPEFULLY it also means that the 9 grams of old stuff just sits there and never exits normally, leaving the coffee coming out nice and untainted.

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                • #9
                  Re: Grounds left in grinder

                  Originally posted by 7A56565458350 link=1260780014/7#7 date=1261905212
                  HOPEFULLY it also means that the 9 grams of old stuff just sits there and never exits normally, leaving the coffee coming out nice and untainted.
                  I am of that opinion also ....!

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                  • #10
                    Re: Grounds left in grinder

                    Originally posted by 494E5552494E45210 link=1260780014/8#8 date=1261955533
                    Originally posted by 7A56565458350 link=1260780014/7#7 date=1261905212
                    HOPEFULLY it also means that the 9 grams of old stuff just sits there and never exits normally, leaving the coffee coming out nice and untainted.  
                    I am of that opinion also ....!
                    Thats my experience. You can test easily with beans of a different roast level (therefore different colour).

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Grounds left in grinder

                      Would it be best to discard the first part of the new grind on the next session especially if it hasnt been used for a couple or few days? Or is this just a waste of coffee and me being too pedantic!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Grounds left in grinder

                        Originally posted by 4B4E534548210 link=1260780014/10#10 date=1262824905
                        Would it be best to discard the first part of the new grind on the next session especially if it hasnt been used for a couple or few days? Or is this just a waste of coffee and me being too pedantic!
                        That is what I personally do. Ususally just after 1 second or so, I flick the coffee out through the doser.
                        My macap retains a little in the chute.
                        I personally use a brush to sweep out the chute when I am done grinding, but there will always be a small amount around. And if someone else has been making coffee on the machine, there is usually a fair bit more in the chute.
                        Are we being too pedantic? Hmmm.. possibly, but its just part of my routine now and I like the results in the cup.

                        Its the taste that counts.

                        Brett.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Grounds left in grinder

                          I find dark roast/oily beans certainly accumulate in and around the workins at a much faster rate than lighter roasts.
                          Originally posted by 4144594F422B0 link=1260780014/10#10 date=1262824905
                          Would it be best to discard the first part of the new grind on the next session especially if it hasnt been used for a couple or few days? Or is this just a waste of coffee and me being too pedantic!  
                          Depends on how compulsive you are about the process, I use my Rocky 3 times a day, to my palate the small residue has little affect on quality, Im sure others would disagree.
                          I remove the hopper and burrs and give the grinder a thorough clean up and blow out with compressed air about once a month, its surprising how much debris accumulates in the chamber around the burrs, never weighed it but doubt it would be more than a couple of grams

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                          • #14
                            Re: Grounds left in grinder

                            Originally posted by 0F333A2237560 link=1260780014/12#12 date=1262825816
                            I find dark roast/oily beans certainly accumulate in and around the workins at a much faster rate than lighter roasts.
                            Originally posted by 4144594F422B0 link=1260780014/10#10 date=1262824905
                            Would it be best to discard the first part of the new grind on the next session especially if it hasnt been used for a couple or few days? Or is this just a waste of coffee and me being too pedantic!  
                            Depends on how compulsive you are about the process, I use my Rocky 3 times a day, to my palate the small residue has little affect on quality, Im sure others would disagree.
                            I remove the hopper and burrs and give the grinder a thorough clean up and blow out with compressed air about once a month, its surprising how much debris accumulates in the chamber around the burrs, never weighed it but doubt it would be more than a couple of grams
                            I tend to agree with Jon W...

                            But have found that some grinders are worse than others and sometimes the beans...

                            If ya have a rocky.. The a Click Clack Lid is the ideal way to go... A better seal, should you leave a few beans in and if you pump the lid; then it flushes all the grinds out 8-)

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Grounds left in grinder

                              Originally posted by 507F7674635C707F7076747C747F65110 link=1260780014/13#13 date=1262826722
                              The a Click Clack Lid
                              Where do you find one the right size AM?

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