Compact K3 Grinder

[KarlBlack]

Hello everyone,

I recently purchased a Compact K3 grinder.
A step up from using a Hario hand grinder for the last few years... definitely makes it a bit quicker in the mornings and I am very happy with it.

But I have a question... now I know that doserless grinders are always going to make a bit of mess... but this morning while I was using the grinder I noticed that grinds were coming out between the plastic insert of where the dispenser/chute is housed (the whole insert including the 2 arms for the basket, the chute etc) and the main body... is this normal?

If I can work out how to attach and image to this I will....

thanks

Karl

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Is this a new grinder Karl, or 2nd hand?

[DaveD]

I notice this happening on my K3 push, but only when I tap the chute to clear retained grounds.

[KarlBlack]

It is a new grinder Barry

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

To clarify your issue, are you saying that the grinds are escaping between the black plastic section and the pale coloured main body on the following photo (from Jetblack Espresso website):

[KarlBlack]

Yes exactly that...probably level with the bottom of the chute is where it starts.
Not a great deal but definitely enough to spread grinds around a bit and wonder what was going on.
I usually hold the container I grind into right under the chute to minimise spillage but today noticed it coming out through there.
And I definitely didn't spill any.

Not a big deal. I just thought it was odd.
I haven't yet pulled the top off to really inspect closely.

Cheers

Karl

[adamseabrook]

I have one of these and never seen any grinds appear out of the anywhere other than the chute. They are easy to pull apart and take a look.

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

I've never experienced anything similar (my K3 is on the other side of the globe to me, so I can't pull it apart to have a look). The only thing that occurs to me is that there is a rubber/silicone membraney-type thing that sits between the grinding mechanism and the chute, which you can get dislocate slightly if you, for instance, stick a paint brush into it from the outside of the grinder. I can't quite picture how the K3 is put together, but in the absence of any better idea, maybe it is slightly out of whack and is encouraging mis-behaving grinds to head south? I'm sure Chris or one of the others will chime in when they notice your post.

Have you spoken to the people who sold you the grinder?

[TC]

I think you're on the money Barry

[KarlBlack]

Thanks Barry,
I removed the top of the grinder this morning...vacumed it out.
I also removed the bars that the portafilter sit on..this loosened the whole plastic insert enough and I recon there would have been about 25 grams stuck behind it.
I saw that membrane type cover that sits infront of the chute...it covers about 3/4 of the chute hole and the ¼ that is missing looks like it has been gnawed off by a big rat...I am guessing it may have got caught and ground up ( mmm nice in a coffee..)...not sure it that it possible...have been thinking about it all day wondering how it could happen.

Reading what you said I recon that is likely what happened, as I always try and remove all the grinds each time with a chopstick or small brush....my 4 yr old gets excited everytime I make coffee and has been 'helping' grind the coffee every morning the last week...she may have got a bit eager with the chopstick. Ha.

Will see how it goes tomorrow.

Thanks for the help.

Karl


Thanks for your help.

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

No worries, Karl. That membrane thing is designed to break up clumps, so it may not be damaged (or badly damaged) at all.It may simply have been stuck in an unhelpful position. If you continue to have trouble, just try doing the opposite of the behaviour that seems to have choked it (i.e. disconnect from power socket etc, very very very gently poke it with a paint brush from the inside of the grinder so that it sits in such as position to encourage grinds to the right way).

[KarlBlack]

Thanks...will try that.

[artman]

I'm pretty sure when I looked at mine (and removed the flap) it was towards the burr end if the chute , ie shouldn't effect grinds going elsewhere.

The grinds should exit the horizontal chute in the casting then fall down the sloping plastic chute. Maybe you have the plastic chute not lined up correctly and/or something causing the grinds to fall behind it and down the front of the grinder?

If you pull the front black plastic panel off you will see what's going on, it's all fairly simple so you should find the issue easily.

Cheers

[KarlBlack]

Yes I actually removed the front black plastic panel today as I was still getting a buildup.
This was after ensuring the silicon membrane was in the correct place...
After cleaning again and testing I actually just watched while grinding looking up the chute...seemed like the coffee backs up at the end of the horizontal plastic chute and can spill over down the back of the panel.
As I grind into a small glass container if I don't move the container around as it is filling it can cause the coffee to slightly back up a bit which would seem to be the problem....

It I was using a regular portafilter it would probably be fine, as it sits lower and on the bars.
Flicking the chute as it is grinding helps as does moving the container around like I mentioned.
Might try just removing the portafilter bars so when I grind the container is lower. May need to use different screws to hold the panel in place.

Thanks for the feedback. Seems it is a self caused issue. Ha.

Cheers

Karl

[artman]

You wouldn't normally get grinds backing up in the sloping chute, it's quite steep. Perhaps the grinder end of the sloping chute in your grinder does not extend far enough behind the exit if the horizontal chute, contributing to your issue?

Cheers