Second hand grinder advice

[SuperDavid]

The ROK grinder is a great design, ergonomically much better than grinders with the handle on top. It is quite well made/built.

BUT - and it's a very big but - it is let down by a cheap and nasty burr set. I tried three sets of burrs, two steel and one ceramic and none would grind fine enough for espresso.

It seems to be a lottery. On other coffee web sites there are numerous posts from users who also found they could not get an espresso grind, but there are a few who say that they can, and they are quite happy with their grinder out of the box. But for every satisfied user there are several who are trying to find replacement burrs or mods to grind finer.

It's a pity, because for the sake of a few more dollars spent on better burrs, this could have been a winner.

thats unfortunate, because I was starting to like the look of it with the handle on the side of it, could really get some cranking done.

[SuperDavid]

I can't see how or why it would be classified as fiddly?

Adjust coarser or finer and use locking ring to ensure grind stays set at what you set it to. No different in concept to a whole heap of commercial grinders in that many have some form locking mechanism.

I'm really only referring to what I saw in one video where the guy was tightening up the locking ring and it looked like the burr adjustment moved with the locking ring. Fiddly might have been the wrong word. Sounds like things might have changed in the lido e anyway.

[deegee]

I'm still undecided. What do you guys think of the ROK Coffee grinder?.

The ROK grinder is a great design, ergonomically much better than grinders with the handle on top. It is quite well made/built.

BUT - and it's a very big but - it is let down by a cheap and nasty burr set. I tried three sets of burrs, two steel and one ceramic and none would grind fine enough for espresso.

It seems to be a lottery. On other coffee web sites there are numerous posts from users who also found they could not get an espresso grind, but there are a few who say that they can, and they are quite happy with their grinder out of the box. But for every satisfied user there are several who are trying to find replacement burrs or mods to grind finer.

It's a pity, because for the sake of a few more dollars spent on better burrs, this could have been a winner.

[mrvautin]

I wouldn't say Lido is simply a non- ceramic Porlex. It's in another class.

Certainly helps. I found a Youtube video shortly after commenting showing the size difference. I might give the Lido E a look as a possible next grinder.

[alexsmith]

If you can it's best to buy a brand new grinder unless you know the person who used it. In the past I bought a 1 year old grinder which didn't hold for one month.

[TC]

I did like the speed of the lido, but to change the grind did look very fiddley

I can't see how or why it would be classified as fiddly?

Adjust coarser or finer and use locking ring to ensure grind stays set at what you set it to. No different in concept to a whole heap of commercial grinders in that many have some form locking mechanism.

[SuperDavid]

I did like the speed of the lido, but to change the grind did look very fiddley. I couldnt find a video of the updated lido e, I'll have to look again.
I'm still undecided.
What do you guys think of the ROK Coffee grinder?

I keep seeing more cheap commercial grinders, but there are so many unknowns with them. If a commercial grinder broke down or the burrs were no good I'd be up for some serious money to fix it up.

[shortblackman]

I have a Porlex and I agree it takes a little while to grind (I would say somewhere between 1-2 mins for a double shot ~17 grams) and I was looking into getting an electric lately. I'm not familiar with the Lido but it looks like a non ceramic version of the Porlex. Is there any other differences which the Lido has which would speed up the grind and make it superior?

Note: I prefer hand grinder for portability. A 20 second grind sounds much better than an electric for my needs.

I wouldn't say Lido is simply a non- ceramic Porlex. It's in another class.

Without giving specific sizes, the Lido has steel burrs, and they are bigger than the Porlex (~twice as big= fewer revs needed) .
The handle is very solid, connected to the spindle/ axle, so it doesn't fly off. The centre burr set is held in place very firmly as its connected to the body of the grinder at the top and bottom. (No jiggly centre part > much better consistency of grinds.)

But for portability, Lido is a solid little thing, about 2 kilos(?)/ 30cms high. Porlex just fits in your pocket!

To me they're both good value grinders, but they are in different classes.
hope that helps.

[mike123]

I have a mazzer mini & was after a second grinder for decaf & different single origins as i like to change beans a lot (have a few roasts at any one time)
Have a porlex & the slowness led to that being relocated to work
I got a Lido 3 as i realised for a small footprint grinder that has zero ground retention that i can measure in my 18g, grind in 20 secs , then repeat with a different coffee, no electric comes close.
I wouldnt disregard the Lido lightly. My friend has a Rocky, tried my Lido & went & bought one & now barely uses his Rocky

[LeroyC]

Yeah a Breville Smart Grinder is probably a good idea for someone without a lot of experience. A 2nd hand commercial machine could be awesome, but it's much more of an unknown quantity.

[mrvautin]

Lido. A hand grinder that's far superior to the porlex ( I own both) . It might stretch your budget, but not by very much. Takes about 20 seconds to grind a shot and the quality is great.

I have a Porlex and I agree it takes a little while to grind (I would say somewhere between 1-2 mins for a double shot ~17 grams) and I was looking into getting an electric lately. I'm not familiar with the Lido but it looks like a non ceramic version of the Porlex. Is there any other differences which the Lido has which would speed up the grind and make it superior?

Note: I prefer hand grinder for portability. A 20 second grind sounds much better than an electric for my needs.

[SuperDavid]

This seems like a good deal for $250

edit....turns out its not located where I thought it was.

[kesa32]

Go the Breville 820 pro then, for the money it'll grind really well and they have a 2 year warranty

[SuperDavid]

looks like a nice hand grinder! Chews those beans up very quickly! I think I still have my heart set on an electric though

[shortblackman]

Lido. A hand grinder that's far superior to the porlex ( I own both) . It might stretch your budget, but not by very much. Takes about 20 seconds to grind a shot and the quality is great. Surely as good as an electric at twice the price. Try Talk coffee for this.

there is a new model: "lido e" it can dial in accurately more easily than previous models (like mine) due to a less 'steep' thread on the adjustment collar.