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portaspresso - Rosco Hand Grinder

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  • #16
    Re: portaspresso - Rosco Hand Grinder

    Awesome piece of kit, well engineered and aussie made too.

    Looks like real pride of ownership for anyone owning one of those.

    Excellent post Andy.

    Gary at G

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    • #17
      Re: portaspresso - Rosco Hand Grinder

      Originally posted by 69464C51280 link=1317732517/12#12 date=1317775070
      It might be slower than the pharos but its a hell of lot better to use too.  I really dont want to get into a public comparison but they are chalk and cheese.
      Are you speaking from personal experience? I wasnt aware you had a Pharos.

      I think the public comparison is important, they are the only 2 manual conical burr grinders that I am aware of. Sure the Pharos has a much bigger diameter commercial style burr set, but the Rosco appears to also have a good quality burr set. If the design overcomes the alignment problems inherent in all other manual grinders (excepting the Pharos) then they both meet pretty important criteria for the discerning coffee maker.

      The Pharos is a breeze to use, its pretty well become my grinder of choice now, the mods from Orphan Espresso have addressed any issues I had. One thing I llke about the Rosco is grinding directly into a basket, the slowness does concern me, but I guess I could learn to live with that, as I say I will probably buy one just to satisfy my curiosity.

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      • #18
        Re: portaspresso - Rosco Hand Grinder

        actually most hand grinders use conical burrs dont they??

        I know that my spong i used today does

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        • #19
          Re: portaspresso - Rosco Hand Grinder

          Originally posted by 484E435A424E562F0 link=1317732517/16#16 date=1317814663
          Are you speaking from personal experience? I wasnt aware you had a Pharos.
          See post #5 above.

          Originally posted by 484E435A424E562F0 link=1317732517/16#16 date=1317814663
          I think the public comparison is important,
          ...yet my mother taught me that if you dont have something nice to say, dont say anything.

          This thread is about the portaspresso Rosco hand grinder, please dont drag it off topic by making me discuss another grinder that I obviously dont want to talk about in a public forum.

          If anyone is near the Snobbery and wants to try both side by side feel free to have a fiddle and make your own opinions.

          Originally posted by 5F475D405C5B564D40462F0 link=1317732517/14#14 date=1317786209
          id buy the set to use at work
          If you (or someone else) remind me before the next pickup Ill bring them along for anyone to have a play.

          Comment


          • #20
            Re: portaspresso - Rosco Hand Grinder

            That really looked like a great grinder! The ergonomic aspect is definitely much better than Pharos I would say. Pharos is designed with performance and cost in mind; Rosco is designed with portability and ergonomic as the central theme. They probably cater to different target audiences and shouldnt be compared as such. So those who doesnt mind putting more effort for a better cup could go for a Pharos; those who has convenience factor on top of the list should get the Rosco. The marginal improvement in the cup per effort put in is something the buyer has to decide.

            One thing that came to my mind though, is the grinder burr turned by the hex bolt through the handle? It seems like its the case from the photo. If so, will durability be an issue in the long run?What material is the bolt made from?It looked like brass or brass coated. Ive read that porlex and kyocera grinders developed a rounded top bolt after a year or two years of heavy usage. It would be a big bummer for such a good looking grinder.

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            • #21
              Re: portaspresso - Rosco Hand Grinder

              Oh! another question, I currently have a secondhand hand-grinder, and one of the things that bug me, is the lack of smoothness to the rotation, beans get caught in the burrs, and there doesnt seem to be enough leverage on the handle for me to just keep grinding.

              Is this a problem for the Rosco?

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              • #22
                Re: portaspresso - Rosco Hand Grinder

                Originally posted by 75676B73636A6A677137313E060 link=1317732517/19#19 date=1317834253
                So those who doesnt mind putting more effort for a better cup could go for a Pharos; those who has convenience factor on top of the list should get the Rosco. The marginal improvement in the cup per effort put in is something the buyer has to decide.

                Completely unjustified and unsupported statement

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                • #23
                  Re: portaspresso - Rosco Hand Grinder

                  Originally posted by 2E0A10000B02630 link=1317732517/21#21 date=1317861897
                  Completely unjustified and unsupported statement

                  Yeah big call for a first post.

                  How much time have you spent with each grinder samuellaw178?

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                  • #24
                    Re: portaspresso - Rosco Hand Grinder

                    Originally posted by 7C5842525950310 link=1317732517/21#21 date=1317861897
                    Completely unjustified and unsupported statement
                    ...and least a little silly!

                    Originally posted by 42505C44545D5D5046000609310 link=1317732517/19#19 date=1317834253
                    will durability be an issue in the long run?What material is the bolt made from?
                    Durability wont be an issue, I think this grinder will outlast me. (ergo my heirloom comment)

                    The bolt is solid brass as is the socket in the cap. The tolerances are such that they should never wear-out.

                    Originally posted by 7D50445659585F56704577504554310 link=1317732517/20#20 date=1317850017
                    Oh! another question, I currently have a secondhand hand-grinder, and one of the things that bug me, is the lack of smoothness to the rotation, beans get caught in the burrs, and there doesnt seem to be enough leverage on the handle for me to just keep grinding.

                    Is this a problem for the Rosco?
                    Not that Ive found. I think that the Rosco works better because of the design, the burr alignment is so good that it will free spin without beans in it... so you are not fighting friction as well as the beans.

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                    • #25
                      Re: portaspresso - Rosco Hand Grinder

                      Originally posted by 6F4256444B4A4D44625765425746230 link=1317732517/20#20 date=1317850017
                      Oh! another question, I currently have a secondhand hand-grinder, and one of the things that bug me, is the lack of smoothness to the rotation, beans get caught in the burrs, and there doesnt seem to be enough leverage on the handle for me to just keep grinding.

                      Is this a problem for the Rosco?
                      Only you can answer that for sure...
                      I have a porlex hand grinder and have never had a problem, though I dont use it much. If the rosco has a longer handle than yours it would give more leverage. The design is such that the lateral movement of the burrs while grinding should be less than most hand grinders. This would suggest smoother operation.

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                      • #26
                        Re: portaspresso - Rosco Hand Grinder

                        All right. I know I might have started the wrong way. My bad. I was commenting on that based on the assumption the bigger the burr the better the performance is, provided the alignment of the burr isnt off. At least this pattern was observed on the electrical burr grinder on the other forum. This is probably an unscientific generalization so I take that back.

                        Putting the taste aside. I have not used Rosco grinder myself and I dont have any credibility to talk about that. Sincere apologies for that. I probably shouldnt have even posted here. But as a Pharos owner, its definitely delivering what it is expected to deliver(taste wise), in a cheaper way at some ergonomic compromise. But the point I was trying to make was that the two grinders are designed differently and catered to different crowds. Portability and ergonomic are definitely not something on the Pharos. Cost is probably a tradeoff for the Rosco. Well, at least for me.

                        I hope I dont offend anyone with that and dont mean to come off that way. I was truly genuinely concerned about the bolt durability and that was why I posted. If its a no issue, then the Rosco could be on my list in the future if I can get the money for it.

                        I sprung for Pharos was because its more portable than the Mazzer Major that I liked so much, without compromising the quality. I will be moving between countries and thus Major is not a long term solution. So, I am always on the lookout for excellent portable grinder such as Roscos and Pharos. I dont mean to defend Pharos but if Rosco is better than pharos in most ways, I might dump Pharos and get a Rosco. That was why I was so concerned about the durability.

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                        • #27
                          Re: portaspresso - Rosco Hand Grinder

                          Well there goes the tax return... Finally Id be able to have good espresso at work or when I go visit relatives!

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                          • #28
                            Re: portaspresso - Rosco Hand Grinder

                            Originally posted by 5F4D41594940404D5B1D1B142C0 link=1317732517/25#25 date=1317931147
                            Portability and ergonomic are definitely not something on the Pharos. Cost is probably a tradeoff for the Rosco. Well, at least for me.
                            As an owner of both I think thats a good (albeit simple) summary. Both grind coffee well, the Rosco is far better to use on many levels but does cost more.


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                            • #29
                              Re: portaspresso - Rosco Hand Grinder

                              Hi all. Great review Andy. Thought Id jump in and answer a few questions.

                              Originally posted by 7A68647C6C6565687E383E31090 link=1317732517/19#19 date=1317834253
                              One thing that came to my mind though, is the grinder burr turned by the hex bolt through the handle? It seems like its the case from the photo. If so, will durability be an issue in the long run?What material is the bolt made from?
                              The spindle is certainly not a bolt. Its made from brass, but the same design and material has been driving my 68mm burr prototype of the same design for over a year now without a problem, so durability should not be an issue with the 38mm cutter.


                              Originally posted by 7A68647C6C6565687E383E31090 link=1317732517/19#19 date=1317834253
                              Pharos is designed with performance and cost in mind; Rosco is designed with portability and ergonomic as the central theme. They probably cater to different target audiences and shouldnt be compared as such. So those who doesnt mind putting more effort for a better cup could go for a Pharos; those who has convenience factor on top of the list should get the Rosco. The marginal improvement in the cup per effort put in is something the buyer has to decide.
                              Perhaps they will appeal to different people, but I just want everyone to know that performance is and will remain number one. At the end of the day, I made the Rosco firstly for my own use. When I designed it, I developed the operating mechanism first, and then looked at how I was going to use it, and then how I could make it look good.


                              Originally posted by 7A68647C6C6565687E383E31090 link=1317732517/25#25 date=1317931147
                              I was commenting on that based on the assumption the bigger the burr the better the performance is, provided the alignment of the burr isnt off.
                              I cant comment on other designs, but as noted above, I have a prototype Rosco that uses a 68mm conical burr. It is one serious weapon that I can grind 21 grams in 9 seconds. It takes me about 35 seconds to grind the same with the standard Rosco, but I use the standard unit almost every time because the grind quality is slightly better. Both grinders are exactly the same except the cutter. The surface speed of the 68mm cutter is obviously faster, which seems to cause slightly more fines than the smaller 38mm cutter. Food for thought.

                              And before someone asks to buy a Rosco with a 68mm burr, go to the gym until you can arm curl 30 kg dumb bells, and then call me!

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Re: portaspresso - Rosco Hand Grinder

                                That is one fine grinder and had the price been lower I might own one by now but nevertheless from what I have read and seen in pictures and on videos the price is well worth it in my opinion.

                                The parts used (not all of them) seem a bit propietary but the overall durability of the grinder may make that a non issue and as long as you are still making parts it is a non issue.

                                My guess is this is necessary due to the fact that there may not be a grinder like yours made anywhere or any standard type parts that can be scrounged together to make one.

                                The Rosco grinder is however the most convenient, practical, easy to use grinder of this type that I know of due to its size and the way it is configured from the adjustment mechanism to the various screw on attachments that catch the grinds.

                                It looks as though grind retention and cleaning is not much of a problem at all with this type of design. It is very well thought out.

                                That said this custom made Rolls Royce of portable hand grinders has the price tag to go with it and its customized attachments.

                                Messing around with it and reconfiguring (modifying) does not look fun and is probably a risky proposition due to the uniqueness of its parts and the price of the grinder itself. Home repairs may be a pain also.

                                Despite the above its present configuration is quite flexible but costly depending on what parts you need to purchase and home repairs may not be needed if the build quality is stong enough, but in the event you do need a repair are replacement parts costly ?

                                Would you be able to lower the price on this grinder if you used different materials to construct it such as aluminum and steel or other without compromising durability ?

                                If I had the money or a pressing need it would probably be my travel grinder.

                                In my uneducated opinion (since I dont own one) Rosco is an excellent grinder that not only performs great but also looks great.

                                I like  it very much.

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