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Mazzer MIni  Electr - WTB & general questions

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  • Mazzer MIni  Electr - WTB & general questions

    New member here, nice forums with some really informative reading.

    Im in the market for a Mazzer mini electronic and am having a bit of trouble locating a store with one in stock.

    I mainly want the more expensive electronic version , instead of the model with the doser due to the neatness in dispensing the coffee rather than the electronic dosing. Im a slightly apprehensive that the electronic mazzer might not be as robust as the manual mini either by failure of the electrical contact points (picture below) for the dosing adjustment or in other timers/sensors in the grinder. However, Im not thaaaat concerned as the grinder will not be used in a commercial environment.


    I notice a few people around here own the mazzer Mini E. Would you mind telling me where they were purchased from and if the stores had one on display? I would like to see it in the metal, as Ive only gawked at pictures in brochures and the net.

    Ive spoken with the distributor (Saeco) and theyve informed me that the electronic version of the mini is not in stock, they were unable to provide me with an ETA for the next shipment, but promised to follow it up and get back to me. If I have to wait for too long, I think I might succumb and get the standard Mini grinder and live with the electrical tape (or similar) doser mod and then eventually custom make a funnel system for a doserless type system.

    The larger burrs of the Electronic mini are not important to me as Im a homeboy and the grinder will never see the lights of a cafe. The cheaper price of the standard mini grinder (by $300-$350) is slightly negated when I take into account the costs of modifying the grinder by option A or B.

    A - OEM parts for the Super Jolly grinder (spout + bag holder + collar)
    Along with the high costs, Im not sure if it will be an easy fit and might require some cutting of the grinder body. I could get the spout custom made at a metal shop locally.
    http://www.espressoparts.com/category/03.06.10/

    B - OEM Mini E chute/funnel system and then modifying a manual mini grinder so it has a similar chute system without the electronic dosing/dispensing part.
    http://www.kaffee-board.de/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi?s=492a60bfd232aa9d8c3e9e76c95c70d8;a ct=ST;f=32;t=5305

    C - Adding a rubber splitter on the bottom of the doser vanes in the dosing chamber and a small metal chute at the outlet for the ground coffee->portafilter.  A low cost mod that seems to work quite well in ensuring a cleaner sweep+dispense of the ground coffee. There seem to be a quite a number of good instructions for this on the net (variations being using a brush or electrical tape).

    Thank you.

  • #2
    Re: Mazzer MIni  Electr - WTB & general questions

    Hi Rice,
    I cannot add much to your request for information except...

    ;D ME TOO! ;D

    I had a good look at a mini-e on the weekend at the Aroma festival and very nearly bought one on impulse (but a quick self-slap fixed that).

    I currently use a Tranquilio doserless and like the idea of grinding into a funnel for home use. In a shop it would be too slow, ergo the need for a doser, but speed isnt an issue at home. Having a good poke and prod on the weekend I could see the build quality is good and the momentary button for a "top-up" is a nice feature too.

    Ill add it to my wish list

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Mazzer MIni  Electr - WTB & general questions

      I just got a standard mini a few short months ago, and havent looked back. I looked into the bag spout attachment thingy too, but there were a few probs with it (search the CG forums for the thread)- it becomes very hard to sweep out the chute, and believe me, a lot of grinds get stuck in there. Theyre easily brushed out with a cheap little brush, but with the bag spout, apparently you cant get to the chute.

      I havent found the doser that much of a problem at all ... apart from a few small mountains ... I mean mounds of coffee surrounding my designated coffee area. Its incredibly quickly cleaned up whenever we crack out the vacuum cleaner ... which is regularly, but thats just coincidence.

      I have done the tape mod, and it works very well now. I still do a brush-out after making and drinking a shot ... or if Im running late for work (standard) then Ill brush it out before pulling the homecoming shot.

      Oh yeah, from what Ive heard - dont count on much help from saeco. nuf said.

      Sorry that Im not offering the help youre after ... if youre in Sydney, Pinot/John Doyle may still have a mini-e left, but hes more on the training/book promotion thing now, and less on the selling stuff thing. Otherwise, I got mine from Danes in Brookvale, Im sure theyd be able to help you too.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Mazzer MIni  Electr - WTB & general questions

        I bought my Mini E from John Doyle aka Pinot, but I dont think he is selling equipment anymore.

        You could try Sienna Coffee in Sydney http://www.siennacoffee.com.au/mazzermini.htm As far as I know they dont have a showroom, so no inspection possible. I havent dealt with them before, but Ive heard positive reports.

        If you are in Sydney and you wanted to see the Mini E in person, I think Single Origin in Reservoir St Surrey Hills, have a couple of them in use. I could be wrong... but I thought I noticed a couple last time I was there.

        They are heavy and exude build quality, not to mention coffee  


        -Stephen-

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Mazzer MIni  Electr - WTB & general questions

          Re:

          Originally posted by rice link=1122441263/0#0 date=1122441263
          ...
          Ive spoken with the distributor......the electronic version of the mini is not in stock............ they.....promised to follow it up and get back to me.....
          There is a song....I think its called..."Thatll be the day...." Buddy Holly. A saint, and way ahead of his own time in my view!

          One of my clients has had an E on order (with me...through the main importer) for a while now but I think he too will eventually succumb and buy the regular model.

          I have equal numbers of Macap M5 and Mini Mazzers in stock in their regular forms if anyone is interested. There isnt much between them, and theyre available for immediate delivery.


          Regardz,
          FC.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Mazzer MIni  Electr - WTB & general questions

            "Thatll be the day...."
            Curse you FC... Im still going "wooo hoo... Thatll be the day... wooo hoo" in my head after reading that.... and I dont even like the song!

            ...anyway, while Im happy with my Cunil Tranquilo doserless "timer" grinder (ex AJzCafe) the lure of the mini-e is high except Im not entirely sure that timer grinders make a lot of sense (unless you have the same bean all the time which near all of us dont)

            I had noticed the "Gran Macinino" on your site (after following one of those really cool banner ads at the top of the CoffeeSnobs forum)

            Gran Macinio home use grinder with hardened conical grinding burrs, grinding activated by placing filter holder directly under the outlet
            It looks like a piece of art (not important to me but cute), and the idea of dosing by eye directly into the group handle does appeal (a lot!).

            The other thought I had was to move / modify the Mini-E so the momentary button was behind the group handle and a quick "bump" would top-up when the timer was a little out.

            FC, Can you tell me your thoughts on the Gran Macinino and how you think it compares to the Macap M5 / Mini-E etc?

            (sorry to hijack the thread Rice but it is nearly the same topic)



            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Mazzer MIni  Electr - WTB & general questions

              Hi Andy,

              Have you seen the Mini E type B?
              It has the portafilter activated button thing.

              http://www.home-barista.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=292

              Looking to the grinder on the right, note the indicator lights. The Type B has a single push-type switch in the place of the screw shown on the left; you press it by pushing the portafilter against the switch, conveniently using only one hand. Tapping it once selects the single dose (one cup indicator illuminates), tapping it twice selects the double dose (two cup indicator illuminates). The same switch acts as a momentary button on the Type As (the "hand" button shown earlier). That is, press and hold the Type Bs push-type switch instead of releasing it immediately; the grinder will run and the dosage indicators will flash to make it obvious its in "momentary grind" mode. Very nice!
              Im not sure if the type B was being imported though...

              When it comes to dosing by eye, you can do it with the type A. There are three buttons, single, double and grind on demand.


              -Stephen-


              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Mazzer MIni  Electr - WTB & general questions

                Andy...re "Granmacinino"

                A very good domestic grinder with looks to kill. I will have new stock in about 5 weeks with next container. Its the look that sells this model and the look must have a lot of pull because the "workings" appear to be not much more than a Lux grinder, but in a much much better looking body (see it in the flesh and it really is much much better looking than the lux, and this is important enough in many domestic kitchens).

                But how does it compare to small commercial grinders (Macap M5, Mini M etc)....it doesnt....you are talking a very good domestic grinder in comparison to small commercial grinders intended for business / office / small commercial use.

                But like rocky and lux & some others, it works very very well in domestic use, depending on how any individual wants to look at it.

                For the rest of it regarding Electronic MMs etc....fellas....you can bang your heads against brick walls if you like, but the level of availability for these models in Oz is not good, never has been...and those who wait and wait and wait on the basis of hollow promises, just end up getting frustrated and losing opportunities in the meantime. EG I have a client at the moment chasing an E. The client is hanging off purchasing the intended espresso machine until the the grinder of his choice becomes available and he can buy the pair at the same time. My honest view, is the client is missing out on heaps of enjoyment that could have been had over the excitement of the purchase of the machine, as a result of waiting & waiting for a particular model grinder that may not even turn up anytime soon.

                There isnt enough volume in this country for these kinds of specialised pieces of equipment, they dont have any real commercial appeal because of their capacity / size (too slow for cafe use, too small), and they are far too expensive in the main (small volumes add to expense). No wonder the importer is not too fussed.

                Generally what happens, subject to a couple of promises an importer might bring 5 units in, sells one, and sits on the other 4 for quite a while because
                a) few domestic clients are in this market / price bracket and
                b) the price it too high anyway (smaller volumes, higher initial price, higher landing/freight costs to the importer, flowing through to the RRP).

                The level of frustration for all concerned. thats the handful of genuine retail buyers, the traders caught in the middle, and the importers themsleves, is high...its basically unprofitable (buy 5, sell 1, sit on the others forever), and ergo, they (the importers) dont need to go there again in a hurry.

                From a purely traders point of view the issue is further complicated when you go into this kind of specialised stuff. This happens....you mighty be lucky enough to get some A models in, but the enquirers want the B model instead...or vice versa...and the regular "doser" version you get in because of enquiries then sits there forever because the market has moved on to the As, or is it the Bs...or whatever!  ;D

                Welcome to reality.

                Ok apologies to all, but sometimes these things have to be said and by all means feel free to disagree.

                If any number of you want to get some ("Electronics"), I can look into bringing a number in direct from my sources in Italy, subject to numbers (would have to be atleast 5 and possibly 10 to try & keep costs down) and a great deal of discussion off line with regard to a "special" CoffeeSnobs order.

                Regardz,
                FC.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Mazzer MIni  Electr - WTB & general questions

                  FC

                  I currently have a Cunil Tranquillo and has served us very well, except for that blasted static and I also find it a little messy.

                  I have been offerd a very good Macap M5 Grinder but for the meantime I am going to stick to the grinder I have, however If I were to get a new grinder I would certainly look at a Mini E with the timed grind option (unsure if its A or B) but grind on demand sounds good to me, just kkep grinding untill you have enough ;D

                  However I too rang Saeco (the importer) before seeing the posts here and exactly as you said....NONE IN THE COUNTRY, what a joke this is, well then I think whats the point of having them on offer if they dont import them.

                  I asked when they would get some more in and the reply was "we are not sure" So when do you expect to get some in?............"still not sure" why? unsure!.... Great business

                  Dependant upon price etc I would be very interested say in about a month or so, however this would be dependat upon price and warranty issues etc. and of course "THE WIFE" :P

                  I like the Mazzers, especially the Mini E.

                  regards

                  FB

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Mazzer MIni  Electr - WTB & general quest

                    I must have gotten lucky when a friend and I bought our Giotto Classic and Mazzer Mini Electronic model A grinders at the end of 2003.

                    The only real criticism I have of the grinder is that the grinds do not fall exactly evenly through the funnel so you have to redistribute them a bit. I have heard that the grinder has been modified to include a deflection plate to address this but have never seen details.

                    I typically use the double dose button to mostly fill the basket then the use the instantaneous button to tweak the correct volume.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Mazzer MIni  Electr - WTB & general questions

                      Oh well CoffeeSnobbers.... Lets see where this takes us.

                      I want a Doserless Mazzer MINI ELECTRONIC MOD. B my prefered colour being Silver

                      Who else wants one, model A or B

                      FC has said he might be able to get some in for us but we need to get an idea of who does and who doesnt, so those of you who want one, speak up and let FC know... he not telpapathec

                      Lets see if we can get a few in guys.

                      If we buy a few we might be able to save a bit.

                      The other option I have is to have one brougt in from France, but that wont be untill Christmas. Aust Voltage is 230/240v 50hz France is 230v 50hz... just change the plug I suppose. HVMAN can you advise here?

                      So speak up peoples

                      FB

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Mazzer MIni  Electr - WTB & general questions

                        Has anybody else noticed the Mazzer Mini P ?

                        http://www.wholelattelove.com/Mazzer/mini_p.cfm

                        Shorter hopper and a polished body.

                        I asked a Saeco rep at Aroma about the availability of the shorter hopper and got a blank look that spoke volumes.

                        -Stephen-

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Mazzer MIni  Electr - WTB & general questions

                          Hmmm.... "P" for Pretty? ;D

                          Polished (providing the alloy has a good top clear coat) sounds like a good idea but it has one of those dopey errr... dosers on it.


                          So speak up peoples
                          I too would lean toward the "type B". The one handed usage and the fact that the silly phone cord is missing would be enough to sway me.
                          (but if I end-up with a "type A" Ill just modify it to have a group-handle switch)

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Mazzer MIni  Electr - WTB & general questions

                            Hi there.

                            As per private email to FC, Im keen for a B type. Wonder how keen the price will be? :-?

                            Bighdad

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Mazzer MIni  Electr - WTB & general quest

                              Hi all

                              To keep this moving, Im one of the people who has been talking to FC about getting a mazzer, Im after a MM E, type B, silver.


                              cheers KR

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