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  • #16
    Re: stepless vs stepped grinder

    Originally posted by mauricem link=1158321141/0#14 date=1158978389

    The larger cadet hopper can easily have 70mm lopped off the top so that its total height would be 400mm. The original lid would still fit. A small amount of care an attention with your cutting intstrument of choice and the cadet could limbo under any standard height cupboard.
    Yep, good thinking!!! The sides of the hopper (except for the bottom 5cm or so) are straight. The hopper is fixed with 4 screws and is easy to remove.

    You could possibly also buy a "spare" jnr hopper (they were sold here - once) and fit that, but reducing the height of the existing one would be a cheaper option for sure....

    It would, IMHO, be well worth the effort. They are a great grinder.

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    • #17
      Re: stepless vs stepped grinder

      You can cut down the mazzer hoppers, too. In fact, if you order a spare dosing chamber lid, you can cut down the hopper to the exact height to fit the lid to leave it looking stock.

      The cadet has an auto start/stop thing that you could easily disable.

      Originally posted by sdavies link=1158321141/0#13 date=1158973147
      With regard to adjustment settings, someone who uses a Best claims that the stepped settings allow for a 2-3 second change in pour time, which is close to some stepless repeatability, isnt it?
      Not too sure; to tell you the truth, Ive never really timed grind differences. Sounds pretty good, but Ive heard from people that have used both that they would much prefer stepless. One thing thats for sure; if you buy a grinder with stepless adjustment, youll never be wondering and youll never be in the lurch. If I were you, I would want to try before buying.

      Cheers,

      Luca

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      • #18
        Re: stepless vs stepped grinder

        Originally posted by sdavies link=1158321141/0#13 date=1158973147
        With regard to adjustment settings, someone who uses a Best claims that the stepped settings allow for a 2-3 second change in pour time, which is close to some stepless repeatability, isnt it?
        That will vary according to the grinder. On the Mazzer Super Jolly you can vary the pour time by fractions of a second if you wish to get down to that level.

        Java "Gotta have a good grinder!" phile
        Toys! I must have new toys!!!

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        • #19
          HI, been reading this thread, and have to say 'but what about the Mahlkoerig K30? its that a stepped grinder?...one of the best (for home) as they say...and it was used in the World Barista Competition....(or something - im new to the coffee world)...so i mean like....when some folks talk about the Anfim, then how far off is it compared to the K30??
          enlightened me on this I mean is it the case which the Anfim don't have a vast selection of grind fine-ness available or something else

          hmmm
          ps I am considering an Anfim...but someone says that later on i might stumbled an elusive grit not available in between the steps...but then how much of a chance of this happening? I am going to use an older E61 Giotto which i obtained secondhand recently, and will try out different beans, but consume about a small bag 200-250 gm each week, and in addition, i plan to dabble in different beans one bag, once a month or so, to explore and have fun.

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          • #20
            Originally posted by Grummer View Post
            HI, been reading this thread, and have to say 'but what about the Mahlkoerig K30? its that a stepped grinder?...one of the best (for home) as they say...and it was used in the World Barista Competition....(or something - im new to the coffee world)...so i mean like....when some folks talk about the Anfim, then how far off is it compared to the K30??
            enlightened me on this I mean is it the case which the Anfim don't have a vast selection of grind fine-ness available or something else

            hmmm
            ps I am considering an Anfim...but someone says that later on i might stumbled an elusive grit not available in between the steps...but then how much of a chance of this happening? I am going to use an older E61 Giotto which i obtained secondhand recently, and will try out different beans, but consume about a small bag 200-250 gm each week, and in addition, i plan to dabble in different beans one bag, once a month or so, to explore and have fun.
            Hi Grummer

            Mahlkonig K30 stepless is not really a home grinder: it is really aimed at cafes. Mahlkonig home range is up to / including the Vario...

            The Barista Comp grinder (e.g. Matt Perger's 2013 one) from Mahlkonig is usually the EK43. More like a lab instrument with the appropriate specs & price.

            Most stepped grinders have a total number of steps circa 25 for the whole grinding range from Turkish to plunger. That gives 2 or 3 steps within espresso range, which is nowhere near enough for discerning CSr's. The Vario has a total of 253 (11 macro * 23 micro "A to W") steps. As near as I can tell, no steps overlap in the espresso range: that is 1 W is a smidgen finer than 2 A. As I also use an ibrik for Turkish coffees, the Vario is the only home grinder I have encountered that also has several usable "Turkish coffee steps". FYI, Turkish grinds are a lot finer than traditional espresso, although a VST basket can use those grinds if you desire to up the extraction ratio and / or reduce the dose.

            Stepped grinders with "salesman's 70 steps" within the espresso range like the Vario (in reality well over 50 steps anyway) make the whole stepped / stepless debate a little different. Once you dial in a stepless, most of their actual calibration marks are too coarse to repeat a setting easily. Clearly, the Vario's notches make that repetition a breeze. Using a LM Linea / 15g VST ridgeless / naked p/f every Vario micro setting is under one second a shot difference. FYI, I have never bothered to measure it more precisely as I usually move three or (many) more steps at a time during the initial setup. It is only at the "final fine tuning" that I use the single steps. To place that into perspective, using progressive tamping you can vary the same shot by well over 4 seconds. Playing with dosing provides the third control variable: from gusher to choked at will.

            Another issue is that all grinders are optimised for some particular grinding size. To generalise, most cheap grinders are at their best for coarser (drip & plunger) grinds whilst more expensive grinders tend to be better at traditional espresso grinds. End result: a lot of the apparent steps are not that relevant anyway in terms of the quality of the grind (i.e. particle size variation goes to hell). Very few grinders are truly capable of Turkish: a bitter Turkish needs a lot more sugar and shows the grinder is generating too many fines at that setting... In the case of a Vario using the standard ceramic burrs it is uncompromisingly aimed at Turkish to espresso grind settings. As a result, it is only an average grinder at anything coarser than (say) macro 5, so a lot of the higher "available steps" are not that useful anyway. Recognising this, Mahlkonig actually offer an optional set of steel burrs for the Vario for those who wish to use coarser grinds (with a clearly stated loss of finer grind precision).

            Other info: given your usage and one of my Varios, I would be changing the grind at least daily as the roast ages (assumption: starting with a fresh to day 4 roast). Usually by one step at a time whenever the pour becomes a little quick. FWIW, using my tamping method, I aim for 22 seconds to blonding (not counting preinfusion) with most medium SO roasts. When it nears 23 seconds adjust one notch finer and/or "initial tamp" a tad harder. After a bit of practise, eyeballing the speed of the pour tells you what to do...

            Have fun with your quest.

            TampIt

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            • #21
              Hi Grummer,

              I use a K30 single at home and an Anfim Super Caimano Barista at work.

              The K30 is not a stepped grinder. It has an adjustment collar and a lock down type screw that has a knob on it big enough to tighten with your hands.
              The Super Caimano has the stepped adjuster but is timing adjustable down to 0.01 of a second as apposed to the K30 which only adjusts down to .01.

              At work i sometimes wish i had a step between what it gives you but i can work around that with dose and tamping techniques along with machine temp.

              Both have a decent group handle holder but the K30 will have trouble with unattended naked groups. The Anfim has designed their holder so that a naked sits in it perfectly without needing to be baby sat.

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