will compak k3 look ridiculous next to my gaggia evo

[profmontoya]

Hi guys. Looking to get new grinder.

Background... have gaggia evolution I inherited over 10 yrs ago. Works ok as far as I know (really dont know any better). Teamed up with breville bcg 450 (with mod to grind finer).
Thinking of upgrading grinder as espresso never tastes as good as in good coffee shop. Last night fresh roast indian beans (granted they were recommended for milk drink by reputable melb roaster) taste like lemons and apple. Approx 8gm coffee and 30ml in 12sec - yep not ideal ex time but about as good as I can get by filling Porta filter to top and tamping firmly. Im more chocolate and mellow coffee flavours in espresso.
So my qn. Will k3 look ridiculously big next my gaggia. Or should I consider something samller such as vario inst. Not keen on breville smart grinder. Thanks.

[DesigningByCoffee]

Welcome profmontoya

Certainly sounds like it was under extracted spro by the timing and your tasting notes.
But before you hit the upgrade path - is that as fine as your breville will go, even with the mod? 12secs for 30ml sounds way too fast for a single. Can you try a double basket, grind a little finer and try a ristretto? Add another shim or washer? Nothing wrong with going the K3 path - great grinder. And wouldn't look silly

But always worth crossing off any other possible issues first
Cheers Matt

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

If it helps, here's a picture of a K3 (centre) and Macap M2M (right) next my Diadema.

[profmontoya]

Hi matt. Thanks for reply. So you dont think k3 will look silly towering over my little evolution. Im still worried it will be like tom cruise and nicole standing side by side. Look good but something not quite right


And yes it is on the finest grinder setting. I know ext time is short. I have managed to stretch out extraction time once or twice before but I had to really jam in the coffee (multiple settle taps and hard tamp) to point where I could barely fit the porta filter handle onto the machine. Similar results when I use double basket although is a little longer. .. but taste almost same. Ill try making another double followed by ristretto tonight.

[profmontoya]

Thanks barry.
M2m is nice and small! Im gonna read up on it

[blend52]

M2m is nice and small! Im gonna read up on it

Be aware of the difference between an M2M and A M2D..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY4RIQZMRMw

[DesigningByCoffee]

Hi matt. Thanks for reply. So you dont think k3 will look silly towering over my little evolution. Im still worried it will be like tom cruise and nicole standing side by side. Look good but something not quite right

I might not be the right person to ask - I've got the same machine as Barry and ended up with a Robur which looks positively barking - even with a micro hopper on top! Half as tall again. But the grinder is more important than the machine in the end anyway

And neither the K3 or M2 are huge grinders, and both nice looking anyway. And if all else fails - you can always get a little steel drawer under the Gaggia!

[noidle22]

Will it look silly and large next to a small machine? Probably.
Does it matter? Nah.

It's a good grinder and is worth the upgrade. Why the dislike on the Smart Grinder though? It's also a good choice. I use my K3P at home and the smart grinder at work and find them comparable. The smart grinder will definitely match the size of your Gaggia.

Also, the mod to the BCG450 will wear out the outer burr rapidly and will eventually grind worse that it did before the mod. Possibly yours has got to this stage. Remove the outer burr carrier and check the very bottom of the burr and see if it's worn excessively. Mine wore out after 6 months of light use I think it was.

[trentski]

nah big grinder will look cool, besides it will look even better when you upgrade your espresso machine

[timdimdom]

http://coffeesnobs.com.au/brewing-eq...art-3-a-6.html

some silvia owners (i.e. me) have pretty big grinders. might be worthwhile checking out this thread to have an idea of what it'll end up looking like =)

[profmontoya]

Hi noidle. Dont know why but not a fan of SG. Personal taste. Just like holden v ford I guess. Thanks I'll check the burs although I never (very rarely) it without beans.

Hi trent. Yep now started thinking of upgrading coffee machine

[profmontoya]

Hi all,

Thanks for advice. In the end I went with M2M. Nice compact size. But just like tom cruise and nicole, the M2M and Gaggia Evo couple didnt last long. Poor gaggia was replaced.

FWIW... I'm not really happy with M2M. Grind clumps way too much. Never experienced clumping like this with my old grinder. Little balls (about 2-3mm) that dig and scrape into the top of the coffee in the portafilter as I attempt to level before tamping.

Cheers
Carlos

[Steve82]

Hi all,

FWIW... I'm not really happy with M2M. Grind clumps way too much. Never experienced clumping like this with my old grinder. Little balls (about 2-3mm) that dig and scrape into the top of the coffee in the portafilter as I attempt to level before tamping.

Cheers
Carlos

This goes away after 3 to 5 kgs have gone through the grinder.

[Dimal]

This goes away after 3 to 5 kgs have gone through the grinder.

Yep, gotta run those new burr-plates in before grind consistency takes over...

Mal.

[crazikid]

That's what I found as well. By 5kg was good