Update:
I took some of the much appreciated advice and tried a couple of things AND incorporated some WDT in the process to try and take out the puck incocnsistency and I have had almost identical 5 shots (all within a second pull time afor same yield) this morning (feeling overcaffeinted and HAPPY) but for the most part its obvious to me that user input is playing a bigger part than I would have cared to imagine.
I will still look for any reason to upgarde of course but will take my time and ask for any suggestions!!!
Cheers again
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Upgrade or no?
Collapse
X
-
"Should I upgrade?"
The answer is always "hell yeah!".
Sorry, other than that I can't really comment on the Vario. I can't imagine though that there would be anything inherintly wrong with it other than if the burrs are out of alignment or worn.
An upgrade to a single dose grinder is IMHO pretty much always a step in the right direction.
- Flag
- Likes 6
Leave a comment:
-
Probably not as much as you would think, but all grinders are different and the exchange will be more or less.Originally posted by Jellyjam View Post
I imagine you'd go through quite a bit of coffee purging after the adjustment. no?
I think once you get close to the ballpark you probably want to either purge 5-10g OR wait a shot or two extra to make adjustments.
Also the temp of the group/machine will make a huge difference too. The first shot of the morning just after warm up the grouphead might not be fully up to temp even though the boiler is. So good practise is to flush some water through before each shot and perhaps a little bit more if the machine has only just got to temp. I suspect this might be happening - but if you are already doing a good flush it might not be the case. Would much of the gushing in the morning vs good in the afternoon - everything has had time to equalise.
Side note the Malkhonig Vario is a good grinder - but probably not a 'great' grinder. This would be the limiting item in your current setup I suspect. But you will be more than capable of making good espresso with this setup (and certainly better than 95% of cafes) but maybe not 'great' espresso.
- Flag
- Likes 1
Leave a comment:
-
Cheers for that. All good ideas!
I cleaned it maybe a month ago..a little more maybe.
Beans are 2 1/2 weeks
Purging after grindsize adjustment? No..I usually adjust on the fly after a shot that didnt work as I wanted.
I imagine you'd go through quite a bit of coffee purging after the adjustment. no?
Its a fiddly way of adjusting too. Sometimes it seems like more than a notch sometimes not noticeable.
I have calibrated a couple of times as when I got it it was WAY off the mark.
I dont purgethe grinder day to day. No.
Grinder is a year old so burrs as well I assume.
Good idea oin the back to back shots.
Will certainly show up consistency. Ill try on the weekend.
Thanks again
- Flag
Leave a comment:
-
Hi Jellyjam
Plus one for good diagnostic advice given by Stronglatte above. and or check out another basket
- Flag
Leave a comment:
-
G’day, welcome to CS!
I have a mahlkonig vario that I’ve used for years and found it to be a very consistent grinder.
A few questions:
- when was the last time you cleaned the grinder? Grinders need regular cleaning to stay consistent (depends on your usage but I clean mine monthly). If you don’t know how to clean it this forum is great for info.
- how fresh are the roasted beans? If very fresh (<48 hours, there will be changes day to day, vs 3 week old roast which will be more consistent)
- are you purging the grinder after a grind size adjustment? If you change grind size, then pull a shot immediately, the second shot will run differently.
- do you purge ~2g beans on the second day before filling your basket? If not then the first gram or so may be more stale than the remainder (shouldn’t be the difference between dialled in and a ‘gusher’ though)
- how old are the burrs? This is probably an unlikely factor as the ceramic mahlkonig burrs do last a very long time with home usage, but if they are many years old then maybe.
A test that you could try is to clean the grinder, dial in, then pull say 5 shots back to back trying to keep all variables constant, and see how consistent they are. This would take away the variable of day-to-day differences (bean age, temp, humidity, etc). Post your findings here, we’d be interested to know how you go.
- Flag
- Likes 3
Leave a comment:
-
Sorry. I should have mentioned;
I'm using VSt 20 gram basket and aiming for a simple 1:2 recipe.
I'll aim for 28/29 seconds and the it tastes pretty good at that.
It'll sometimes drop to 20 secs(!) (for 3 or 4 shots and on the odd ocassion, it will run up to 34/35.
Cheers again
- Flag
Leave a comment:
-
Lot of Vario fans here. Maybe weigh each dose to ensure they are the same?
- Flag
- Likes 2
Leave a comment:
-
Upgrade or no?
Howdy. Longtime lurker.
Thought I'd ask as I just can't sort an issue.
I have made every effort over the last couple of years to get my puck prep and process as consistent as possible.
I am now using a Lelit Marax (V2) and feel like I have a pretty good process down.
Malkhonig Vario (standard) is now on a year old and I still find I am getting inconcistent shot times and tastes. In the space of morning tob afternoon. Or dialled in to ewhat seems perfect lunchtime then the next morning I get a gusher.
Only doing espresso.
I am using fresh coffee and don't leave a pile in the hopper.
Is this grinder known as a little inconsistent?
Should I upgrade or perhaps there is something else I could do to get that elusive consistency I am chasing??
Cheers in advance.
P

Leave a comment: