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Yes, it is technically a finger guard, so removing it exposes a risk of the burrs chewing up something they perhaps shouldnt have access to.
Having said that, there are 3 screws that hold it in (and are a GREAT place for beans to settle).
However, I found that leaving it attached was good for reducing the popcorn effect of beans jumping around. This would only be an issue if you load beans as required. If you normally have an amount of beans in the hopper, then removing the finger guard should do the trick for you.
What I ended up doing when I had mine was leaving the guard in and putting small pieces of dowel in the 3 holes to stop beans getting in there.
sorry, got to this thread a bit late in the game...
our Rocky stalls on big beans... small or oily beans no problem, big beans (particulalry when in a blend with smaller beans) catch several times during one day.
you can hear the bean "getting caught" and putting the brakes on the burrs.
dialing up the grind (coarser) while running the motor for a second generally dislodges the bigun.
Originally posted by Thundergod link=1168811361/15#18 date=1171522048
click clack lids have a ruber seal around the edge to help make them airtight on their containers.
If you get one the right size you can push it down on the top of your hopper and force a burst of air through the chute to clear the remaining grounds.
I took my hopper to Wollies to try the lids out.
Unfortunately my Macap hopper is between click clack sizes.
Dredging up an old thread.. but I just discovered today that the lid off my 750cc Vacuvin is a perfect air tight fit for the rocky hopper and can be used to blow out unused grounds. I was a little surprised about how many grinds are left behind in the short chute after grinding stops. I cant believe it took me two years to discover this :-[ At least my Vacuvin is of some use now :P
One trick is to remove the screws that hold your finger guard in place, remove the finger guard, put the screws back in and then put the finger guard back in the slots on top of the screws.
This will lift up the finger guard (while still doing its job) and leave extra room for the beans to go through so they dont get jammed. Of course before you insert your fingers or anything else in the grinder to force beans down make sure it is unplugged.
The Pullman tamper looks great.
I might just give in and get one as soon as I am back in the black.
I did try the bathroom scales technique.
I was surprised at how much pressure 13.5 kg is.
After some tests I realize I had been tamping only to 9kg or 10 kg tops.
My Sunbeam EM0480 is set on 19 out of 25 (coarse) because anything finer wont flow or give a crema. Still working on that optimum combination. I know I will succeed : )
The Espro tampers will get the pressure correct for you but arent a good fit in most baskets (you need a tamp right up to the edge of the basket to get a good seal) and although say a 58 mm tamper is exactly 58 mm the baskets are always larger ..... and that can cause problems....
A Greg Pullman tamper (around $80 delivered) will fit perfectly - but wont get the pressure right for you - thats where the bathroom scales come in.... and after a while you will be able to get the correct tamp every time!
Hmmm, seems like CoffeeSnobs is a bit like Alcoholics Anonymous for Coffee Addicts : )
Thanks to Fatboy, JavaB and Robusto for your help.
Even after watching the DVD of Aussie World Champion Barista I did not see anything about tamp pressure. Now (thanks to a CoffeeSnobs sponsor link) I see the Espro Tamper is designed to give a 13.5 kg tamp every time. Worth the money ($139)? ... or as JavaB points out, practice with bathroom scales to get it right? I am using a 58mm convex solid stainless steel tamper I thought might be OK?
Yep the Silvia and the EM480 will produce what you are after - no problem.
As fatboy said above.... get your tamp correct (13.5Kg - check with bathroom scales by tamping on them)... adjust your grind to get 60 ml (total) from a double in 30 seconds..... enough coffee in the basket so it just touches the showerscreen as you load - and all will be good.
A close fitting tamper (like Greg Pullmans) will make getting a good tamp right to the edge much easier by the way.
And yep I did, and will continue to, bag the KG100 for espresso use (but it makes a great grinder for plunger coffee).
1. You need to know how to grind, dose, tamp, load and get the best extraction you can from your machine. A Silvia is capable of pretty good shots. Practice will get you there.
2. Yep. makes a big difference.
3. No worries. JavaB bagged it too! ;-) The Sunbeam is a better unit. Gives you a much better chance of getting great shots.
1. What Barista skills do I need if I only have double doppio strength, no milk, no sugar?
2. I roast my own too and rate freshly roasted beans higher than bean quality - though the better the quality bean the better the coffee of course. My analogy is that of freshly baked bread - you can break pieces off and eat it fresh without any topping. Bread that is a few days old is still edible - tastes great with ham & cheese or your favourite topping but straight-out-of-the-oven fresh bread is so much better.
My biggest disappointment when I have coffee served in a cafe is bean freshness - some (like an American coffee chain in Australia that roast in the USA and ship roasted beans to Down Under) give coffee a bad name - thats why I rate freshness ahead of bean quality if it came to that choice.
3. Thanks to FATBOY bagging my KG100 http://coffeesnobs.com.au/templates/forum/default/grin.gif, I now have a Sunbeam EM0480 ($165 new).
4. Today, my Rancilio Silvia arrived and tomorrow I pick up 8.5 kg of green beans http://coffeesnobs.com.au/templates/forum/default/cool.gif
Yep, it would be wise to go for something better, thats for sure.
The importance of the items in the making of quality coffee are (in order)..
1. Barista skills - learnt through courses and practice - still working on mine
2. Quality freshly roasted, freshly ground beans - I roast my own
3. A quality grinder (with fine adjustment of grind size)
4. A coffee machine.
Yep, coffee machine is lowest on the list - without the other things above it - you wont get good coffee.
By the way the KG100 is a rebadged Solis 166 - which was designed to be a match for the Solis SL70 and SL90 machines- both of which use pressurised baskets (grind size and consistency is far less important). Replace the baskets with normal unpressurised ones - and the 166 cant cut it any longer (I had to upgrade- and it then produced excellent shots...)
Interesting to hear your views. I will still be buying the Silvia in two weeks (next payday : ) and I will now test my bargaining skills in stepping up to a more expensive (& better quality) grinder. Maybe I will have to do the "package" deal !!
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