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Grinder upgrade advice: Rocky vs M2M vs others

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  • Grinder upgrade advice: Rocky vs M2M vs others

    Hi Snobs,

    My Sunbeam EM4820 has died so I think it's time to buy myself a Silvia. While I'm at it I figure I may as well upgrade my ancient EM0480.

    I'll be using the grinder exclusively for espresso, around 300-500g/week.

    Aside from the obvious 'consistent high-quality grind', I value:
    1. Ease of cleaning/not too much retention of grounds inside the machine
    2. Ease of dialling in a good grind
    3. Durable/easy to get parts for
    4. Usable (consistent) dose timer
    5. Less mess
    6. Quietness would be nice but not essential.

    Should I just get a doserless Rocky? My other options are a Macap M2M, Baratza Sette 270 (advertises itself as high on 1. and 4.). If it was worth it I could maybe stretch to a Macap M2D, Compak K3 Push or Eureka Mignon 50E. Should I save some money and get a Breville Smart Grinder?

  • #2
    Where are you located Matt?

    Would be worth your while to arrange some hands-on demonstrations of various grinders within your budget range, at a local friendly Site Sponsor...

    Mal.

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    • #3
      I'm in Canberra.

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      • #4
        Hi Matt,

        Sylvia is a good choice you will find them rock solid.

        The Rocky is a good match and there is certainly something nice about having matching equipment, however there are better grinder options IMO.
        What i don't like about the Rocky is that it is a two handed operation to hold the group handle and then to separately activate the grind switch.

        Macap M2M, Eureka and others are all activated by the handle pressing the activation switch, it is a much better system.

        There is a new Mignon "silenzio" being released in a week or so that will be nice, just depends on your budget.

        We have some good package deals on the Sylvia/Macap/Rocky
        https://www.casaespresso.com.au/rancilio-silvia-v5.html

        Feel free to PM or call if we can help

        Regards

        Antony
        (03) 95308992
        www.casaespresso.com.au

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        • #5
          The Rocky is a great little machine considering the price and build quality. However it has pretty high retnetion and isn't quiet by any stretch. I also found (the doserless model) to be rather messy.
          The biggest drawback however is the stepped adjustments - which can make getting a good shot harder. It is possible to do a small mod to make it stepless, but what's the point of buying a new grinder to only mod it straight away?

          Parts are super easy to get and they basically haven't changed design (apart from a few small things) forever.

          Your other options sound better IMO but if you are planning a trip into sydney in the next few months stop by one of the site sponsors - not sure if there are any in Canberra, they will be all too happy to give you a demo.

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          • #6
            One thing putting me off the Rocky is the height of the output spout. On my EM0480 I grind straight into a measuring cup on a mini scale. That way I can cut the grinder when I reach the desired dose. The output on the Rocky looks way too high up to run this system, and the base on the M2M doesn't look flat in the photos. Without a dose timer, how do people grind the right amount with no wastage? Are you just going by eye?

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            • #7
              Dose only what you need - if you want 16g in the basket, just weight 16g of beans prior.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by WhatEverBeansNecessary View Post
                Dose only what you need - if you want 16g in the basket, just weight 16g of beans prior.
                I find the trouble with this is retention, my Sunbeam is pretty hopeless in this regard but hopefully my next grinder will perform better.

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                • #9
                  K3 push is a great grinder. Trouble free and very simple to use

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Chrisj1984 View Post
                    K3 push is a great grinder. Trouble free and very simple to use
                    I've read some comments online about excessive play in some of the parts of the k3, like the adjustment collar. Is that not your experience?

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                    • #11
                      Hi MattAttack,

                      Good point...I don't know anything about how the Rocky is controlled and switched on but if you can switch on the rocky and it stays on, you can find a stand on line, which stands on top of your scales that can hold your portafilter...You will have to do some measuring to make sure everything fits under the spout...Alternatively You can make such stands or the like up...I'm thinking about retro fitting something like that for my grinder...

                      Cheers.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by MattAttack View Post
                        I've read some comments online about excessive play in some of the parts of the k3, like the adjustment collar. Is that not your experience?
                        Never been an issue for me. The grind collar is easy to adjust and is tight whilst grinding. Had mine 3 yes still grinds and looks like brand new

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                        • #13
                          I have used my doserless Rocky for many years and have no difficulty with measuring the appropriate dose of bean or catching the grind.
                          I have a plastic spoon that holds enough beans for one shot. As I normally do a single basket for the Son and a double for me, that's three spoonfulls of bean.
                          I catch the dose in the plastic food container shown in the photo and then shake it into the portafilter. Easy.
                          I then create a bit of pressure in the hopper using the lid off another food container (shown) which expels most of the grind from the machine.
                          When I'm finished grinding, I invert the Rocky and give it a good shake. This is good for the muscles and any grind not previously expelled now comes loose and falls out when I turn the grinder right-side up.
                          My only reservation about the Rocky is that on the very fine end of the scale- which I need for my double basket - the burrs seem to contact intermittently.

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                          • #14
                            I’ve had a rocky for around 12 years. It’s slow but otherwise great. V solid.

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by WhatEverBeansNecessary View Post
                              The Rocky is a great little machine considering the price and build quality. However it has pretty high retnetion and isn't quiet by any stretch. I also found (the doserless model) to be rather messy.
                              The biggest drawback however is the stepped adjustments - which can make getting a good shot harder.
                              Never found any of this to be a problem with my Rocky D/less over many years...
                              A lot of these so-called issues are very much exaggerated in my opinion.

                              Mal.

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