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Help needed deciding on an entry level grinder

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  • #16
    Originally posted by coladuna View Post
    Saw a used Macap M4D listed in the for sale section. Any thoughts guys? It is a bit over my budget though.
    It's really hard to decide as there are varying opinions on the web. Vario does seem like a good grinder, but reliability and less than appealing building quality is kind of putting me off TBH.
    I haven't written it off my shortlist however.
    I would buy one again especially second hand. I had one and it is well engineered and well built. I had no issues with it. it comes down to price as you can get a lot under $1000 in the way of quality grinders both new and second hand.

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    • #17
      Originally posted by coladuna View Post
      Saw a used Macap M4D listed in the for sale section...
      No brainer I say...

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      • #18
        Originally posted by wattgn View Post
        I would buy one again especially second hand. I had one and it is well engineered and well built. I had no issues with it. it comes down to price as you can get a lot under $1000 in the way of quality grinders both new and second hand.
        Sorry, are you referring to the Vario or M4D?

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        • #19
          Originally posted by coladuna View Post
          Sorry, are you referring to the Vario or M4D?
          The M4D. The Vario is very loud so would avoid it if you are liable to wake neighbours etc...

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          • #20
            Originally posted by wattgn View Post
            The M4D. The Vario is very loud so would avoid it if you are liable to wake neighbours etc...

            Did you have any clumping issues with it? I was doing some research and read about some people having crazy amount of clumping on their M4D.

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            • #21
              Originally posted by coladuna View Post
              Did you have any clumping issues with it? I was doing some research and read about some people having crazy amount of clumping on their M4D.
              Most all grinders clump especially if the roast is dark or oily.

              Some grinders such as the Eureka have anticlumping fittings to help but clumping still isn't zero. Grinders with dosers strangely enough don't have much clumping as the operation of the dosing paddle breaks it up. Doser models are no longer flavour of the month which is a shame as they are surprisingly capable. A Mazzer Mini with a doser is cheap to pick up too. 58mm burrs and built like a brick sh*thouse.

              I personally didn't have much problem getting good shots from the M4D but remember most grinders do clump. As TampIT says maybe the Vario doesn't but it is noisy and any grinder is a compromise in design.

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              • #22
                Originally posted by wattgn View Post
                As TampIT says maybe the Vario doesn't but it is noisy and any grinder is a compromise in design.
                I think you may be mis-quoting. The Vario is particularly quiet. The Sette is a jet engine.

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                • #23
                  Originally posted by saeco_user View Post
                  I think you may be mis-quoting. The Vario is particularly quiet. The Sette is a jet engine.
                  Well the one TampIT bought over to my place a year or two back was VERY loud whichever model that was. I remember everyone being surprised.

                  I'm sure that it was the Mahlkonig Vario there is also a Baratza. Noise is an issue for many but not all people.

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                  • #24
                    Originally posted by wattgn View Post
                    Well the one TampIT bought over to my place a year or two back was VERY loud whichever model that was. I remember everyone being surprised.

                    I'm sure that it was the Mahlkonig Vario there is also a Baratza. Noise is an issue for many but not all people.
                    Replying to my own quote but listening to a video, it seems while the Vario is not exactly quiet, neither is it like a jet on takeoff like the Sette is.

                    Maybe TampIT will reply in due course.

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                    • #25
                      Ended up picking up the used Lelit PL72 that came up for sale a few days ago from a CS member.
                      It's a bit of a left field choice and probably not the best grinder in that category but it seems to do a decent job, it's quiet and matches my espresso machine.
                      Last but not least, it was hard to pass up at that price.

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                      • #26
                        G'day wattgn

                        I think you are mixing up my oldest Vario with Artman's early Sette - which got replaced shortly afterwards. You commented to me at the time about the noise level - and it was pretty severe.

                        I believe the newer Settes are much quieter. The Vario is much quieter than most, however no grinder is really quiet - grinding is a mini explosion according to Illy, hence the noise.

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                        • #27
                          Originally posted by TampIt View Post
                          G'day wattgn

                          I think you are mixing up my oldest Vario with Artman's early Sette - which got replaced shortly afterwards. You commented to me at the time about the noise level - and it was pretty severe.

                          I believe the newer Settes are much quieter. The Vario is much quieter than most, however no grinder is really quiet - grinding is a mini explosion according to Illy, hence the noise.
                          That makes sense but you were using the grinder at the time I think trying to do a single!

                          Noise isn't necessarily a showstopper but the quieter the better.

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                          • #28
                            I think it also comes down to the pitch of the noise being made.
                            Lower frequency noise doesn't seem to be anywhere near as annoying as a higher pitched one...

                            Mal.

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                            • #29
                              I like the sound of the Robur, just a business like growl. Low RPM of 420.

                              The Specialita is nice too. Eureka have done a great job of quietening it. Good design.

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                              • #30
                                Have a mazzer and vario.
                                prefer vario, tiny.
                                wife likes mazzer, it matches our ECM TECHNIKA BETTER, better looking.

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