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First Time Buying Grinder - Need Some Advice

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  • bigdaddy
    replied
    Hi Dave,

    Have you settled on a grinder yet?...

    Cheers.

    Leave a comment:


  • Magic_Matt
    replied
    Originally posted by wattgn View Post
    The chrome M4D I had was a great little grinder. It looks good too.

    I got a Robur now for those really tough beans.

    I think I got away with it, my wife didn’t notice...
    Did you just tell her it looks bigger because she's standing closer to it, Father Ted style? [emoji848]

    Leave a comment:


  • wattgn
    replied
    The chrome M4D I had was a great little grinder. It looks good too.

    I got a Robur now for those really tough beans.

    I think I got away with it, my wife didn’t notice...

    Leave a comment:


  • Yelta
    replied
    Certainly was!

    Leave a comment:


  • Casa Espresso
    replied
    Originally posted by Casa Espresso View Post
    There is a good condition Macap M4D in chrome available from a CS member looking to upgrade.

    He has just purchase a Synkronika from me.

    Price is $650 ex Perth

    I can PM details if anyone is interested

    Cheers

    Antony
    www.casaespresso.com.au
    Well that was quick!

    Just had a PM from the buyer, it’s sold.

    Coffee Snob community working together again!

    Cheers
    Antony
    Www.casaespresso.con.au

    Leave a comment:


  • Dimal
    replied
    Tampit...

    So much crap in so little time.
    You're doing well mate.

    Mal.

    Leave a comment:


  • Casa Espresso
    replied
    There is a good condition Macap M4D in chrome available from a CS member looking to upgrade.

    He has just purchase a Synkronika from me.

    Price is $650 ex Perth

    I can PM details if anyone is interested

    Cheers

    Antony
    www.casaespresso.com.au

    Leave a comment:


  • TampIt
    replied
    Originally posted by Dimal View Post
    Yeah yeah...
    Heard all that before ad nauseam...

    Depends on one's point of view. If you want to buy something that is more aligned with that of Appliance Manufacturing, or of Commercial/Industrial quality that will last for decades and still work just as well as it did on the first day it was purchased.

    Stick with commercial/industrial build if you expect it to last and retain a good resale value when you feel like upgrading...
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]18572[/ATTACH]

    Mal.
    ... and the heavy (about three times the weight of any similar sized grinder) commercial Ditting module inside the Swiss made Vario is a "domestic appliance"? Pull the other one. According to Mahlkonig the ceramic burrs in the Vario outlast their own steel burrs by a factor of three. Considering their "top quality tool steel" burrs outlast any of the Italian burrs by some large multiple (start talking in terms of tonnes!), I cannot even give an estimate as to when my older Vario - the one that has done well over 200Kg - will need any maintenance beyond a simple clean. Needless to say, the main module and the burrs are not even on the list. Not too shabby for a "domestic appliance", is it?

    Show me a Mazzer Mini which has done over 200Kg and has no noticeable wear on the burrs, no drop in its even particle spread and no static or dynamic end play. Even my "much bigger brother" Mazzer Major showed wear after the 100Kg mark, whilst any Super Jolly I have ever seen needs new burrs every 80Kg or less because the wear is so severe that the particle spread is rubbish.

    Leave a comment:


  • LeroyC
    replied
    Originally posted by Dave86 View Post
    Thanks guys,

    I have narrowed down my choices to the below.

    -ECM S-64
    -Eureka Atom
    -Compak E5 OD

    ECM S-64

    I really like the look of the S-64 however had a look at reviews on a number of different forums and noticed that there were some mixed reviews (significant clumping, retention & gets hot), not sure if this was just down to a faulty device however has made me slightly hesitant.


    Eureka Atom

    Haven't found much negative feedback on Eureka Atom other than slight clumping, everything else looks to be positive. Only downside for me is aesthetics of the machine.


    Compak E5 OD

    Haven't been able to find much feedback\reviews on the machine other than a few youtube videos. Aesthetics look great however I don't want this to be the deciding factor, would much rather a good cup of coffee opposed to a nice looking grinder.
    Does anyone have any experience with the Compak E5? Would love to know a bit more about this machine.


    Any other feedback\thoughts is appreciated.
    If those three I’d choose the Compak first. The ECM and Eureka are a close second. I’ve seen all these grinders in the flesh but never used any. I’ve owned a couple of Compaks and they’re great grinders, I don’t think you’d be disappointed with one at all. I agree with other comments - spend as much as you can within your budget. Many of the grinders in this price range are excellent grinders and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with something like a Mazzer Mini or SJ, or a Rocky even. However something like the Compak you mentioned, the Eureka or maybe an M4D will just give you a slightly more pleasant user experience. Having just got myself a grinder that is super user friendly after using a range of slightly less user friendly grinders for a few years I can tell you that it’s well worth it.

    Leave a comment:


  • Dimal
    replied
    I guess it all comes down to whether you consider the experience and knowledge of people with decades of experience that is backed up with engineering knowledge to be worthwhile...

    That article excerpt I copied above was comparing with a Mazzer but you could substitute any of the major manufacturers' names in there. Horses for courses as always but don't be fooled by claims of outstanding performance that doesn't actually stand the test of time.

    Several CSers over the years have reported longevity issues with the Mahlkonig that you just won't experience with Mazzer, Macap, Compak, Eureka... And the list goes on.

    Mal.

    Leave a comment:


  • Arcade
    replied
    Originally posted by Dimal View Post
    Yeah yeah...
    Heard all that before ad nauseam...

    Depends on one's point of view. If you want to buy something that is more aligned with that of Appliance Manufacturing, or of Commercial/Industrial quality that will last for decades and still work just as well as it did on the first day it was purchased.

    Stick with commercial/industrial build if you expect it to last and retain a good resale value when you feel like upgrading...
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]18572[/ATTACH]

    Mal.
    I'm dubious of any claims that there is a positive correlation between weight and quality. I simply don't see how they're related when it comes to coffee grinders. Gold bars, absolutely, but not grinders. Mazzers are great but not without their shortcomings such as a lot of spots for grounds to be retained. The last Major I refurbished amazed me with all the crevices that needed to be cleaned out, not to mention the difficult adjustment collar.

    Leave a comment:


  • Erimus
    replied
    Originally posted by anst1ssa View Post
    The M4D is surely the same height or maybe slightly shorter than an ATOM?

    There's someone selling an almost new M4D in QLD on Gumtree for $550 - definitely consider this!


    Not for sale anymore, he's withdrawing it.
    I messaged the guy and he replied that he'd changed his mind and might be hanging on to it now.

    Leave a comment:


  • Dimal
    replied
    Yeah yeah...
    Heard all that before ad nauseam...

    Depends on one's point of view. If you want to buy something that is more aligned with that of Appliance Manufacturing, or of Commercial/Industrial quality that will last for decades and still work just as well as it did on the first day it was purchased.

    Stick with commercial/industrial build if you expect it to last and retain a good resale value when you feel like upgrading...
    Click image for larger version

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    Mal.

    Leave a comment:


  • TampIt
    replied
    I am with Arcade's earlier post - for home use Mahlkonig (NOT Baratza) Vario (now up to gen3). Strictly a Turkish to espresso grinder unless you go for the $30ish steel burrs which then do coarser grinds (and no longer do espresso well).

    I have 2 * gen2's (2013, done 200+kgs & 2014) and a gen3 (2016) - all flawless (Swiss made), compact, quiet, no retention worth stating, no static / clumping or any of the other ills which drive me spare these days. Too many friends have Roburs or other Mazzers with the most amazing arrays of wire grids, funnels etc to stop static / clumping - IMO something a decent grinder should never do in the first place.

    Leave a comment:


  • Arcade
    replied
    Between those I'd personally go the Compak. Build quality is probably a notch above those others. Londinium endorse these for their machines saying after extensive testing, they couldn't pick a significant difference to the E8. That's a fairly credible vote right there!

    Leave a comment:

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