Another BCG820 replacement/upgrade recommendation

[demod]

Alrighty, here's a little video clip.

https://imgur.com/a/JDbKEvh



Now its the Sylvia that's too loud. I think I'm starting to get silence-itis (a rare form of upgradeitis). I wonder if I can silence that pump down a bit

[Javaphile]

How to share the video?

Post it on YouTube or a similar hosting site and share the link here.


Java "Nice data!" phile

[demod]

Ok peeps. Not sure if anyone is even interested. But I was, so I thought I'd post...

Breville BSG 820 - 73db
Eureka Miniongn Silenzio - 65 db

Roughly a difference of 8db. Which is around 3 x quieter. But humans don't hear in db terms, I think we are tuned to hear certain frequencies more than others. I remember seeing a curve graph on how we perceive frequencies.

So here's the frequency analysis of the two grinders:

file: BSG-beans.png - BSG820. You can see overall higher db's, and larger peaks to -33db. Highest peak is 313Hz at -33db.
file: Silenzio-beans.png - Silenzio. Peaks at 102Hz -26db, 184Hz -33db. But you notice a huge chunk of frequency chopped out. Then drops from around 2000Hz to about 4000Hz where the chart ends.

I'm not sure why they both stop around 4kHz. Maybe the phone cuts/filters above this. I hope I didn't stuff something up. Humans are tuned to be more sensitive between 1kHz to 5kHz - as that's where our voice is. You notice the BSG is solid sound around -45db in that range with 4 to 5 peaks at -39db, where the silenzio is a triangle shape from 1kHz peaks at -42db then drops back to -57db.


My method was: Record video with audio on wife's Samsung S10e while running DB measuring app on my phone.
My phone was aprox 30cm from both grinders. 2nd phone in my hands aprox 50-60cm from both grinders.
Use VLC to extract audio track from 2nd phone. Import audio into audacity. Run "Plot spectrum" on highlighted section of audio when grinding.

This link explains/shows why two frequencies at different levels can sound the same: https://www.tonmeister.ca/main/textb...#x24-3100005.4

I tried to upload a sound file and video, but I wasn't allowed. How to share the video?

[demod]

Well it arrived. I've pulled about 5 shots out of it getting it dialed in. So far I love it. It is much quieter and faster than the BSG. I'll try to get some recordings to actually measure the db output of the BSG820 vs the Silenzio from the same distance. Also the tone is lower too, which helps it feel even quieter. I'll try to do some frequency analysis. It might all come down to tone/frequency of the noise output.

The grind is insanely more consistent than the BSG. No big chunks of grind coming out, and its twice as fast as the BSG.

I'm a little disappointed in BLW's review. Well not disappointed, but it nearly turned me off the Silenzio. I don't think he meant it that way - but thats how I ended up after his review. It does lack some of the snazzy digital features, timers, etc. The Silenzio seems to hold the Silvia's group handle fine. It does seem to grind into the back of the basket, so I've not used the timer much yet.

I'm really glad I got it. It feels like a big upgrade, even though it lacks some of the BSG features.

[demod]

Just pulled the trigger on the Silenzio. Had to pull the SG apart this morning and give it a super clean to stop it choking the Sylvia.

Got it from Alternative Brewing. Almost chose to pay more to stick it to the stupid chat thing that pops up EVERY SINGLE PAGE I GO TO!

[demod]

What he said....

I have Compak K3 (Push maybe?) and it's been rock solid. Picked up 2nd hand, 5-ish years ago and it was <1yo <$500 (may have been less - don't really remember). Grinders are rarely quiet... I'll suffer upgraditis before I NEED to replace it.... [sigh]

MM's are pretty good by all accounts. Good luck!

I do love MMs (actually all kinds of M&Ms ) The Compak range look really bulletproof and was one of the first grinders I was contemplating. Similar to my Sylvia I want something that runs forever with little maintenance. But I've also noticed it is impossible for people to talk in the kitchen while I'm grinding the BSG. The BSG is an awesome grinder for the price, and not particularly loud. I read a review where a guy upgraded from BSG to the Eureka Specialita and noticed how it was quieter than the BSG.

I think I'm sold on the Eureka, now just to decide if between the Silenzio and the Specialita.......... Silenzio - a little quieter, but longer grind time. Specialita - a little louder, faster grind, few snazzy features, more $$$...

[Coffee_Dude]

That kind of budget you can get a really decent second hand grinder.

Conical vs Flat in terms of taste or subjective 'measurements' is a debate as old as time! The real difference is speed and for a home setting you don't have to worry too much about an extra 10 seconds of grinding beans per shot. In a Cafe pumping out 100+ coffees an hours 10 seconds is a lot.

I have personally had a range including the rocky, Mazzer Super Jolly and Mazzer Robur all bought within (or below your range).
If I found a decent Super Jolly I would probably go back to it. The Robur is too high retention for me, the speed is not a factor and it is quite loud.
The Rocky has a stepped adjustment which isn't quite small enough for fine adjustments.

Having no experience with the K3 - they look good and are stepless which is big plus over the Rocky.

One thing on second hand grinders - the burrs are the expensive bit to replace a couple hundred bucks or more usually, so a good chunk of the replacement cost. So that should always be the number 1 thing you check when buying second hand. Avoid a thrashed out ex cafe grinder and look for home use only as they will have a significantly longer life.

My opinion would be look for a second hand with decent burrs and low ish retention. You wont need to replace it for decades!

What he said....

I have Compak K3 (Push maybe?) and it's been rock solid. Picked up 2nd hand, 5-ish years ago and it was <1yo <$500 (may have been less - don't really remember). Grinders are rarely quiet... I'll suffer upgraditis before I NEED to replace it.... [sigh]

MM's are pretty good by all accounts. Good luck!

[demod]

I think the Mazzers are pretty loud. Not sure I want to source a second hand one. But I'm now swaying toward the Eureka Silenzio. Seems to tick a lot of boxes. The Silenzio version looks to be about 4db quieter than the others in the minion range. Thinking about the sound energy doubles/halves every 3db its not too bad.

Funny, https://coffeesnobs.com.au/forum/equ...ades-are-great is a great review from BLW, who's gone from a Breville to a Silenzio. Looks like there's some good and bad points too.

[WhatEverBeansNecessary]

That kind of budget you can get a really decent second hand grinder.

Conical vs Flat in terms of taste or subjective 'measurements' is a debate as old as time! The real difference is speed and for a home setting you don't have to worry too much about an extra 10 seconds of grinding beans per shot. In a Cafe pumping out 100+ coffees an hours 10 seconds is a lot.

I have personally had a range including the rocky, Mazzer Super Jolly and Mazzer Robur all bought within (or below your range).
If I found a decent Super Jolly I would probably go back to it. The Robur is too high retention for me, the speed is not a factor and it is quite loud.
The Rocky has a stepped adjustment which isn't quite small enough for fine adjustments.

Having no experience with the K3 - they look good and are stepless which is big plus over the Rocky.

One thing on second hand grinders - the burrs are the expensive bit to replace a couple hundred bucks or more usually, so a good chunk of the replacement cost. So that should always be the number 1 thing you check when buying second hand. Avoid a thrashed out ex cafe grinder and look for home use only as they will have a significantly longer life.

My opinion would be look for a second hand with decent burrs and low ish retention. You wont need to replace it for decades!

[Charlie4coffee]

Interesting thread. I am following.

[demod]

I too am looking to replace my BCG820 grinder. Its my 2nd one (BCG800 was first). It is doing to do the clog, grind too fine, choke the Silvia thing for the last 6 to 9 months. I clean it, then it does it again in a week/month. I roast my own beans every 2 weeks or so. I read that someone has narrowed the problem down to bearings?

My budget is around $500 to $800. Main requirements are quietness and speed, 10+ year life, and quality of grind. But at that price range I think quality is (should be) a given. I don't mind a slow grinder if it is quiet.

I've looked at the rocky, Compak K3 touch advanced. Leaning toward the K3, but after reading a few posts here I'm more confused.

Eureka Mignon / Niche Zero /Baratza Sette / second hand MM - far out too many choices.

I'm also confused about the burr, I remember a few years ago a 'conical burr grinder' is the ducks nuts, but now they are all going back to flat burrs? My old Gaggia grinder had flat burrs and it was a POS.

Someone help put me out of my misery?

edit: usually pull 2-3 long blacks a day, plus 1-2 flat whites. then the occasional family event where I'm pumping them out.