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Buying a USED Mazzer SJ Grinder - advice please

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  • #31
    Re: Buying a USED Mazzer SJ Grinder - advice pleas

    With respect,  ahmadnz will not have a hope of determining the state of the burrs in the grinder.

    My advice is this:
    Dont fix something that aint OR may not be broke.

    If you are going to buy this, take it out of the box, check it over visually to see there is nothing obviously broken then switch it on and see that it runs. Switch off, then:

    give it a good external clean up with a soft cloth and a brush.
    If necessary remove the hopper and wash it in warm soapy water
    While the hopper is off you can see into the inlet throat of the grinder. Take a vacuum cleaner and simply suck it out.
    If the throat is encrusted with broken, oily, pasty pieces of bean and grinds, scrape them up with a spoon or something without gouging into the metal, and again suck it out with a vacuum cleaner.
    Run the grinder for a few seconds (WITHOUT STICKING YOUR FINGER INTO THE INLET AND GETTING IT CHOPPED oFF) so it will empty whatever is left between the burrs into the dispenser.
    Stick the suction tube of the vacuum cleaner into the grinds dispenser and suck out what you can.

    Clean it up and put the hopper back on when it is thoroughly dry.

    If Ive left anything out abover it wasnt for lack of goodwill or trying!

    Grind coffee for your machine ie set the grind to the machine and according to your particular technique and to suit the beans you have bought.

    Lastly Enjoy and dont worry about appearance being an indication of overall condition. Many cafe clients are extremely rough on the equipment, and it is a lot worse on the coffee machines themselves than on the ginders. Commercial grinders are TOUGH....what you see is only cosmetic on the outside. If the price is right forget about tha appearance you can always paint it up some other time. If it bothers you dont buy it in the first place.

    Regardz,
    Attilio
    first / original CS site sponsor.

    If you are really worried about the condition of the grinding burrs after that, ask & then and I will give you a couple of very simple pointers that do not require you to needlessly disassemble the carrier to inspect the burrs and still not know what you are looking at even when you have them in your hot little hand. My opinion is you first need to learn how to set it up and use it in conjunction with whatever machine you buy to get a good coffee. Until you have done that my advice is to forget the burrs....you wil have a miriad of other variables to worry about first.

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    • #32
      Re: Buying a USED Mazzer SJ Grinder - advice pleas

      Im not a businessman. I dont know business protocols. An example of this is that I consider it rude not to return phone calls in a timely fashion. Is this considered bad business? Because I hardly ever get phone calls returned if I leave a message (I have run around a few places this week about machines).

      So because of my lack of business knowhow, can someone tell me how likely it will be that business, having formed a VERBAL agreement to sell me this machine, and having taken my credit card details for payment, and having sent me emails with the photo of the grinder I am interested in, will suddenly decide that the sale will not go ahead for whatever reason they come up with?

      Or am I being paranoid?

      Oh how I wish I was in the same city and could just go and pick it up right this minute....

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      • #33
        Re: Buying a USED Mazzer SJ Grinder - advice pleas

        This is the Robur Con used in the Australian Barista Championship (2nd place)!

        Appearances can be deceptive!










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        • #34
          Re: Buying a USED Mazzer SJ Grinder - advice pleas

          No you are not being paranoid particularly if you have given them your credit card number for payment. Note however they may just be slow to react, pack up and send...doesnt mean they are not on the case for you.....

          In any case note that when you pay be credit card but havent signed the credit card slip (as in mail order...and sometimes even when you have signed the slip) there is always a way out for you ***if you have been defrauded*** in some way. There has to be a legitimate reason for you to go down this path or your credit card merchant will not act on your behalf, but if you dont get satisfaction call your credit card merchant and they will tell you how to make a claim back through them.


          Hope this helps,
          Attilio.

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          • #35
            Re: Buying a USED Mazzer SJ Grinder - advice pleas

            Yes Im certainly not worried about being scammed. Thats why I chose credit card payment and they are by all accounts a reputable business with a multi-city presence.

            Im more worried about the possibilty that something comes up and they wont sell it any more. Hence my paranoia.

            I just noticed that it doesnt have the plastic thing for keeping beans in the hopper but out of the grinder. Is that of concern to me or can I do without? Hopefully it is just not installed/in the picture.

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            • #36
              Re: Buying a USED Mazzer SJ Grinder - advice pleas

              I thought I saw that sliding gate on the pic above... these are small things that can be bought after. If youre getting a massive bargain, spending a bit getting it up to scratch cosmetically isnt a big deal imo.

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              • #37
                Re: Buying a USED Mazzer SJ Grinder - advice pleas

                Ah yes I think I can make that out thanks.

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                • #38
                  Re: Buying a USED Mazzer SJ Grinder - advice pleas

                  If youre using it at home for one to two shots at a time you wont even need the hopper. Mine is in the back of a cupboard somewhere and I only put it on when Im taking it out somewhere. The throat is deep enough to hold ~20-30g of coffee. I spoon the amount of beans I need into the throat, stick the hopper lid inverted over the throat to stop bits of bean jumping out and grind away. Others use a filter basket or a spare tamper. Simple solution and results in much less of a vertical intrusion. Presuming your beans are stored in air-tight bags and you grind on demand (otherwise why bother having a grinder), the hopper will simply be an unnecessary oversized funnel.

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                  • #39
                    Re: Buying a USED Mazzer SJ Grinder - advice pleas

                    You guys are really really incredible. Thanks for taking me along on your coffee journeys

                    Ok another option has come in. Different shape, but still not one Im familiar with. Maybe you guys can help me out again. Apologies for the poor resolution. I am trying to get a better one.

                    This one doesnt appear to have a dregs tray (bummer!), and it has a weird hollow thing under the bit where the portafilter sits (not sure the name of that).

                    Thoughts appreciated as always!!

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                    • #40
                      Re: Buying a USED Mazzer SJ Grinder - advice pleas

                      Originally posted by ahmadnz link=1226270246/20#38 date=1226447867

                      This one doesnt appear to have a dregs tray (bummer!), and it has a weird hollow thing under the bit where the portafilter sits (not sure the name of that).

                      Thoughts appreciated as always!!
                      I dont think its a hollow thing... Looks to me like a reflection along with some grinds sitting on the slope. I may be wrong though :-?

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                      • #41
                        Re: Buying a USED Mazzer SJ Grinder - advice pleas

                        Any grinder you get offered of this sort of spec will be much of a muchness on performance - theyll all be second-hand, theyll all have some wear and marks, but they should all do a similar job of grinding coffee, so the decision will be a personal thing - looks, price, condition etc. Weigh up those factors in the options you get given and make a decision on one. I would however think if youve already paid for the other one youre bound to honour your agreement to go ahead with the purchase as much as the seller is.  :-?

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                        • #42
                          Re: Buying a USED Mazzer SJ Grinder - advice pleas

                          I dont think Ive ever come across so much procrastination in all my life.

                          If it runs and you like it, buy it and give it a clean. It may need new burs so factor that into the price.

                          Just do it!

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                          • #43
                            Re: Buying a USED Mazzer SJ Grinder - advice pleas

                            Originally posted by Greg Pullman link=1226270246/40#40 date=1226448945
                            I would however think if youve already paid for the other one youre bound to honour your agreement to go ahead with the purchase as much as the seller is.  :-?
                            Oh dont worry about this

                            Ill take both if both are available

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                            • #44
                              Re: Buying a USED Mazzer SJ Grinder - advice pleas

                              Originally posted by Dennis link=1226270246/40#41 date=1226449229
                              I dont think Ive ever come across so much procrastination in all my life.

                              If it runs and you like it, buy it and give it a clean.  It may need new burs so factor that into the price.

                              Just do it!
                              I have been through that road before, as usual the barrier to a new hobby is the initial investment that goes with it. That said, everything is relative, as the ego to get the biggest whacker of a toy there is has no relevance to bank account size ;D

                              (speaking from my own experience)

                              So Ahmad, I agree with Dennis, just do it then you can start talking coffee experience than worry about rusts.

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                              • #45
                                Re: Buying a USED Mazzer SJ Grinder - advice pleas

                                that new photos is the old super jolly

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