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  • Where to from a Compak K3T

    Hi All,

    I currently have an older Compak K3T grinder which I bought at the same time as my Giotto and while Ive been reasonably happy with it, I was promised a better grinder for my 50th birthday and the day is looming.

    I find the K3T to be a bit on the messy side (or maybe Im just not very good at getting the coffee in the basket) and Ive always struggled to get a really consistent grind from it.

    So whats a good step up? Something consistent, quiet-ish and capable of getting most of the grinds in the basket...  budget under $1,000 unless there were a wife-convincing reason to spend more.

    Cheers,
    Jeff K

  • #2
    Re: Where to from a Compak K3T

    Its generally regarded that the K3T punches above its weight for the price, so I must say you might be struggling to see any significant improvements with the budget set to sub-$1K....

    How about a new set of burrs and a modification to the dosing spout

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Where to from a Compak K3T

      Hi Jeff. I reckon as far as domestic grinders go there arent any significant steps up from the K3T. You could consider a Mazzer Mini or Macap M4 but dont think youll get a big improvement in the cup.

      A tad over $1K will get you a Super Jolly or for around $1250 the electronic version. Being an entry level commercial grinder its a lot larger than what you currently have which is something to consider, although I believe a small hopper is available.

      Do you drink espresso or milk-based? If its the latter any improvements may be hard to pick up.

      Personally Id like to see someone make a domestic sized grinder with large conical burrs. Before any smarty pants mentions the Pharos, I mean an electric grinder.

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      • #4
        Re: Where to from a Compak K3T

        Pharos and an electric drill :P

        But yep, me too. The problem I think is in the physical size of the motor and gear reduction required to drive a 68mm conical burr without any chance of stalling.

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        • #5
          Re: Where to from a Compak K3T

          Tell her youre in midlife crisis and concerned you might impulsively buy a Porsche, however maybe a Kony e would scratch the itch for new, shiny things. ;D

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Where to from a Compak K3T

            Thanks guys,

            I got the K3T as a spur of the moment extra while at Talk Coffee buying my Giotto. Now this might be cause to revoke my Coffee Snobs membership but Im not one for hours of pictures and tech specs of gear and its only in the last few weeks Ive done any real research into grinders.

            What I see is that my K3T doesnt have the chute and lever bit as highlighted in the picture below. Not sure if it should have had one? Now Im researching Ive seen pictures of some that dont seem to so Im not sure its a missing part, just an early design.

            In any event, the result is clumpy grinds that you need to poke with a sharp stick to use and the desire for another grinder... maybe even just a new K3T with the chute?  - although the timer in it is a bit rubbish so maybe a shinier new grinder with an e in the name could be a good move?

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            • #7
              Re: Where to from a Compak K3T

              Hi Jeff,

              The only "K3" stock I can recall without a tongue were some black Wega mini instant 54 which used a button instead. All had the chute and the taller hopper. We sold perhaps 10 of them a couple of years ago.

              Cheers

              Chris

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Where to from a Compak K3T

                Originally posted by 35343E2D33362C5F0 link=1318385219/2#2 date=1318410311
                A tad over $1K will get you a Super Jolly or for around $1250 the electronic version
                Do you think that the Super Jolly e would represent a significant / noticeable step up in grind quality, speed and dose consistency from the K3T?  Or just a minor / marginal improvement? 

                What about a K10 wbc?  A bit more again, but not sure if it would be annoying for only making 1-2 coffees a day and having to use a doser, scrape out grinds from the chute and no timer etc?  Im curious as I own a K3T as well.  Sorry hope Im not hijacking the thread here.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Where to from a Compak K3T

                  Hi Dom,

                  I really dont think you will see a big improvement until you go to a big conical from where you are.

                  Bring your grinder in one day and we can run a shoot off between yours and our robur- same coffee, same machine.

                  Cheers

                  Chris

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Where to from a Compak K3T

                    Theres nothing wrong with a k3, its an awesome grinder. Not to be rude but its more likely something wrong with its operator.

                    You could make it so that when you flick the switch to "manual" position, that the grinder just kicks on straight away without having to press the button. Thats what ive done with mine, and i just tap the portafilter on the two metal prongs as it grinds to settle the grinds and any clumps.

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                    • #11
                      Re: Where to from a Compak K3T

                      Originally posted by 5E7A60707B72130 link=1318385219/9#9 date=1318561870
                      Theres nothing wrong with a k3, its an awesome grinder. Not to be rude but its more likely something wrong with its operator.
                      Ill never rule out operator error, especially if the operator is me, but I think the missing the tongue part just makes it a bit messier and more likely to clump up.

                      Its not that theres anything wrong with the grind as such - theres just a lot of extra messing around to actually get the coffee in the basket.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Where to from a Compak K3T

                        Originally posted by 74414C4B7F634F46464545200 link=1318385219/6#6 date=1318542858
                        The only "K3" stock I can recall without a tongue were some black Wega mini instant 54 which used a button instead. All had the chute and the taller hopper. We sold perhaps 10 of them a couple of years ago.
                        Hi Chris,

                        Live and learn as they say... a quick search of Google images shows that what I had always thought was a K3T (thanks to every bit of documentation saying K3 Touch) is in fact a Wega Mini Instant exactly like the one pictured below. Looks like I have one of those 10 you sold in 2009...

                        Now I know what Ive got, it looks like I have a good grinder with a poor delivery mechanism.

                        So now a new dilemma. The grinder has always annoyed me because of the mess but from the advice here Im not sure theres anywhere to go that will be a huge improvement - and it seems a bit silly to buy another grinder just to get an extra bit of plastic... but, the mess, the clumps, the creative ways of getting the grind into the basket...

                        All thoughts welcome and advice welcome...

                        Cheers,
                        Jeff K

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Where to from a Compak K3T

                          Jeff K, I have a few diff grinders now (mazzers, compaks, wega) and Im really messy with them. 

                          So the better half got me a paper cup, and cut the bottom off it so it fits in the pf like a funnel and now I have no grinds outside of the pf on the counter top    (but also with my wega I got rid of the 2 metal rods so the funnel would fit underneath exit chute)

                          Id say my wega/compak k3 gives as good a grind as both my mazzers (mini and sj), well I dont really notice the difference, but im no expert.  :-[

                          Cheers


                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Where to from a Compak K3T

                            Maybe you can get the funnel parts as spares?

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Where to from a Compak K3T

                              Originally posted by 6C595453677B575E5E5D5D380 link=1318385219/8#8 date=1318553568
                              Hi Dom,

                              I really dont think you will see a big improvement until you go to a big conical from where you are.

                              Bring your grinder in one day and we can run a shoot off between yours and our robur- same coffee, same machine.

                              Cheers

                              Chris
                              That sounds great Chris, thanks. As soon as I get some spare time to get down there ill take you up on that. Though I dont plan to buy a robur... do u have any demos of the compak k10 or similar?

                              Originally posted by 75514B5B5059380 link=1318385219/9#9 date=1318561870
                              Theres nothing wrong with a k3, its an awesome grinder. Not to be rude but its more likely something wrong with its operator.
                              I dont disagree with this, I just dont have any experience with any other grinder, better or worse. Ill be buying another grinder to go with my new machine when I get it and using the k3 with the Silvia at work so figure it would be a wasted opportunity to buy another k3t and not upgrade ;D

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