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  • How to get rid of rancid coffee oils

    I took apart my Rocky tonight for the first time since I bought it (2006?). What I found was horrible, the built up rancid coffee stank. I got rid of 99% of it with cocktail sticks, my grouphead brush (actually pretty useless here) and a vacuum cleaner. However, while the gunk is gone, the rancid oil coating and smell remains. Can I use hot water and cafetto to clean the brass? If so should I take the burrs off? Can I clean the bottom burrs well (the "agitator" vanes are pretty grimy). Would "Grindz" get rid of the oils? I just want to get back to "square one" and then of course now Ive seen the horror I will be cleaning every month

  • #2
    Re: How to get rid of rancid coffee oils

    Take the top and bottom burrs off and wash them with detergent & hot water then dry them well

    A moist microfibre cloth should be used on the inside throat to remove oils

    Replace when satisfied with your cleaning

    KK

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    • #3
      Re: How to get rid of rancid coffee oils

      Thanks - the burrs themselves were actually the cleanest parts. After reading your post, I took it apart again, this time actually removing the burrs. I washed the top brass burr holder in cafetto, but as the burrs themselves werent actually too bad I just cleaned them with toothpicks. With the burrs removed I got rid of a lot more gunk with careful use of a screwdriver, toothpicks and a vacuum cleaner.

      Getting the bottom burr off, I actually managed to damage a screw slightly but luckily with a bit of cleaning and getting a bit of help in holding the holder steady with a 12mm socket, I managed to remove it in a still usable state. I havent got any spares but I havent overtightened it and think it wont be an issue to remove next time. I think I will need to do a coffeeparts/espressoparts order soon anyway so will get some more then. Another thing I almost did was cross thread the top burr set when putting it back in - I was being hurried along and forgot to turn anticlockwise until it drops into place, then screw in. Luckily after a turn or two I realised that it wasnt going in smoothly, and putting it in the correct way again it went in fine.

      The grind setting seems to be the same, but I notice that the "dynamic" zero point seems to be around 5, and the static zero point around 0. I cant remember what the dynamic point was before, and am a bit worried (but not too worried as I took it apart again to check that everything is screwed in right) that the burrs arent parallel. Im relaxed enough about it though as the same grind setting as I was using before just gave me 60ml in 30 seconds.

      We had a coffee from the machine, and my girlfriend reckons it was the best one I had made for a while. I thought though that I could taste something like hash in the coffee. Im not sure whether this is from some coffee oil residue or whether Im actually getting a flavour in the coffee (ethiopian harrar) which wasnt coming through before.

      And a thing I didnt figure out was whether it is possible to take out the bottom brass bit that the bottom burr sits in. I would have been able to do an even better job of cleaning if I could get that out - is it possible? Also by detergent, did you mean something like cafetto or did you mean washing up liquid (e.g. morning fresh). Is it possible for cafetto to damage either the burrs or the brass (assuming I dont soak for more than 10 mins)?

      Thanks in advance

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      • #4
        Re: How to get rid of rancid coffee oils

        Use any detergent that does the job effectively

        This is a full schematic drawing of your grinder (manual doser model) and will help you to see what parts come apart

        KK


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        • #5
          Re: How to get rid of rancid coffee oils

          I heard you can also clean well by running some dry rice through it.

          [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C2y4XHF6Tg[/media]

          and cleaning with GRINDZ

          [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFDkj7kmedQ[/media]

          anyone know what model grinder hes using?

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: How to get rid of rancid coffee oils

            Originally posted by 4D62796E7B647C6E790B0 link=1292672723/4#4 date=1292722743
            running some dry rice through it
            Not a good idea. Grindz is designed for the job and not that expensive. Quote from Sweet Marias "In the past, many people have cleaned grinders with rice. However, rice carries the risk of locking up the motor of a grinder as it passes through and is turned into a fine powder. The hardness and shape of Grindz Grinder Cleaner prevents this from happening. Using rice to clean your grinder also leaves a starchy residue on the inner mechanics of a grinder that is difficult to remove."

            Personally I like to strip and clean manually as it doesnt take to long and does a much more thorough job. A litle Cafetto in solution on an old tooth brush followed by a couple of rinses in fresh hot water and then dry all parts.

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            • #7
              Re: How to get rid of rancid coffee oils

              Originally posted by 436C7760756A726077050 link=1292672723/4#4 date=1292722743
              I heard you can also clean well by running some dry rice through it.
              Some investigation may lead you to believe like I do that this is one of those "pearls of wisdom" spread via the internet by people that havent tried it themselves.

              First thing you should notice in the first video is he said he got the idea via email from a friend.
              It also sounded like he was going to test it for the first time while making the video (risky).

              Secondly, he said it was "Minute Rice".
              Thats a brand name and specific product.
              http://www.minuterice.com/
              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minute_Rice
              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_rice

              Its pre-cooked rice thats been dehydrated.

              As far I know that means its not as hard as raw rice.
              Raw rice might be hard enough to damage a grinder.

              Such potential damage is why I dont like people passing on unsubstantiated "help".
              Its like scams on Facebook and in emails that have some kind of "sob story" base that turns out to not be true.
              The scammers know most people wont investigate.

              I do my best to stop the spreading of the "misinformation" every time I come across it.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: How to get rid of rancid coffee oils

                I read a thread (maybe here on coffeesnobs) where someone read that "2 minute rice" was good, and he thought that meant that the rice should be cooked for 2 minutes. So he put cooked rice through his grinder.

                I might try getting some grindz but looking at that schematic it looks as if I could have undone the bolt from to get the bottom burr carrier off, which should mean I could give the whole thing a full clean.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: How to get rid of rancid coffee oils

                  I owned a Rocky for a few years and never found the need to put anything through it other than fresh coffee beans.

                  Cleaning was a simple activity that only required the removal of the top burr carrier, the use of a cheap stiff bristle-brush and the vacuum cleaner. Doing this every couple of weeks or so prevented any nasty build-up of coffee oils and dust. I reckon that once youve got your Rocky cleaned up, this is all youll ever need to do as well.

                  The same routine can be used for most grinders of similar construction too of course. This is all I did with my La San Marco SM-90A, my Macap M4 and now my Mazzer Kony-E. Easy as..... 8-)

                  Mal.

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                  • #10
                    Re: How to get rid of rancid coffee oils

                    Originally posted by 132F3229232235202823470 link=1292672723/6#6 date=1292733141
                    Some investigation may lead you to believe like I do that this is one of those "pearls of wisdom" spread via the internet by people that havent tried it themselves.
                    I once heard via the internet you could put the old white apple imac keyboards in the DISHWASHER for a clean!!!!!!!

                    I never tried it - but I was tempted.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: How to get rid of rancid coffee oils

                      Ive used rice. Stuff that Id put in a container after using it for blind baking - and hence it was very dry and I was not going to use it for anything else. Never had any problems. Only used it when I couldnt be bothered pulling the grinder apart, and I just vaccumed it up as it came out in a powder. As far as I could tell, the dry rice powder picked up some of the oils but it mostly just pushed stale grinds out of the chute that had got stuck on the sides.

                      Often people on forums get caught up in talking about stuff theyve never done. I didnt see how rice was any different to the grindz stuff.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: How to get rid of rancid coffee oils

                        Originally posted by 526B61616D6E6D4E63767667020 link=1292672723/10#10 date=1293072796
                        Often people on forums get caught up in talking about stuff theyve never done. I didnt see how rice was any different to the grindz stuff.
                        And so have you used Grindz or not or are you talking about stuff you have never done?

                        This is one of those urban coffee myths using Rice to clean grinders, like storing beans in a fridge continuing to perpetuate the myth doesnt make it right. Rice creates some problems as well as fixing some so dont do it.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: How to get rid of rancid coffee oils

                          I did use rice for this purpose... Once. :P

                          Many years ago (before broadband :), when I owned a small conical grinder. It made such a hell of a racket that I thought the burrs were being chewed to bits and in the end, it didnt do all that good of a job cleaning the grinding chamber down.

                          Have never used Grindz but from what Ive read from people who have credibility in the industry, it seems to be a quick and dirty (bad pun) way to clean things up if you havent got the time to strip the top of the grinder down.

                          Even with the Kony, its a very quick and easy thing to pull down then clean up spic and span, using a stiff long bristle brush, toothbrush and the vacuum cleaner. Probably takes me all of five minutes every couple of weeks. Not something one could call arduous....

                          Mal.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: How to get rid of rancid coffee oils

                            Originally posted by 6265616E666C79696E67000 link=1292672723/11#11 date=1293074286
                            And so have you used Grindz or not or are you talking about stuff you have never done?
                            I compared the look of grindz in di bartoli to the rice. Didnt see any difference. Not like I was quoting a website or anything.

                            Originally posted by 6265616E666C79696E67000 link=1292672723/11#11 date=1293074286
                            This is one of those urban coffee myths using Rice to clean grinders, like storing beans in a fridge continuing to perpetuate the myth doesnt make it right. Rice creates some problems as well as fixing some so dont do it.
                            Yes Mum. :

                            Originally posted by 4245414E464C59494E47200 link=1292672723/5#5 date=1292724131
                            Quote from Sweet Marias "In the past, many people have cleaned grinders with rice.  However, rice carries the risk of locking up the motor of a grinder as it passes through and is turned into a fine powder.  The hardness and shape of Grindz Grinder Cleaner prevents this from happening.  Using rice to clean your grinder also leaves a starchy residue on the inner mechanics of a grinder that is difficult to remove."
                            I see you forgot to mention that quote was actually written by the manufacturer of grindz. Not like theyd have a vested interest or anything though so not to worry.

                            You could also read these pages on the same site that promote the use of rice for cleaning grinders.
                            http://www.sweetmarias.com/zas.instructions.html
                            http://www.sweetmarias.com/espresso-grinders.php

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: How to get rid of rancid coffee oils

                              Gee piccolo, I think bf was only trying to help.

                              Though then again, if youve
                              Originally posted by 5E676D6D616261426F7A7A6B0E0 link=1292672723/13#13 date=1293081181
                              compared the look of grindz in di bartoli to the rice. Didnt see any difference.
                              Then nothing will convince you. They are absolutely nothing alike in appearance, structure, or composition.

                              Youve presumably spent several hundred dollars on your grinder and have saved a few bucks by using rice.

                              Comment

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