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EricC
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Post subject: A few months with the Versalab M3 Grinder
 Posted: Dec 31, 2007 - 01:42 PM
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Joined: Feb 06, 2004
Posts: 591
Location: Liverpool
Status: Offline
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I have been using the Versalab M3 Grinder for a few months now and i am still very pleased that i bought it to go with my LaSpaziale S1 VII.
This is the latest version of the grinder, IE it has the new motor pulley with teeth, the grind scale with marker dots and the optional portafilter holder ( but more on this later ).
I am very pleased that i bought it to replace my Mazzer Mini E (type A). It is a very personal thing but I think, and thankfully my wife agrees too, that the Versalab is a great looking piece of kit, if you like that sort of thing.
It is slightly noisier than the Mazzer and i put this down to the fact that it has a much more open grind path than all other grinders that i know of, it really growls and rumbles as the beans are going through. You have to feed the beans through as opposed to just dumping them in so you don't risk the occasional chance of getting any flying back out of the top funnel. You must also set the grinder running BEFORE putting the beans in to be ground.
The grind adjustment is extremely easy as you just undo the locking screw on the side and turn the top funnel, clockwise for finer and anti-clockwise for coarser. With the thread on the top funnel being that much finer than the thread on the grind adjustment on the Mazzer you can get a much finer range of adjustments with the Versalab.
The grinds from the Versalab are completely different to any other grinder that i have tried. There is absolutely no clumping at all. The grinds appear to be very consistent in their size and consistancy (but i have no way of measuring or confirming this). The output into the portafilter is like nothing that you have seen before and looks like a volcano of coffee grinds. This is because there is a wiper attatched to the bottom burr carrier which spins inside and almost touching the bottom funnel creating a vortex, like a mini tornado which spins the grinds outwards and this fills the portafilter from the outer edge as opoosed to all other grinders which dump the grinds into the centre of the portafilter. This leads to a donut shape of grinds in the portafilter and i use a flat edge. the rear of a knife blade to fillin the hole and level the grinds and then tamp, although this technique does not allow you to up-dose.
I should also mention here that with a 58mm portafilter the bottom of the lower funnel fits inside the portafilter basket, with the LaSpaz's 53mm basket size this lower edge rests on the basket edge. This allows a very small ammount of coffee to gather on the edge of the basket and when the portafilter / basket are removed from the bottom funnel this coffee can drop off, however it is a very minimal ammount and when ballanced againt the positives of the grinder is neither here nor there.
Without the portafilter holder you will have to hold the portafilter underneath with one hand whilst feeding the beans in with the other which is quite easy, but if you have the portafilter holder ............
The portafilter holder is an optional extra which i think is well worth the money.
Especially since after receiving my grinder and commenting that the arms on the existing holder were a little too wide for the LaSpaz 53mm portafilter, Laura from Versalab contacted me to announce that they, Versalab, were fashioning a portafilter holder especially for the LaSpaz size portafilters and would send me one to try out as soon as it is ready.
This is excellent customer support and shows that Versalab are listening to their customers and are prepared to come up with variations in their product for specific uses.
I can't wait for this to arrive so that i can try it out.
So, all in all i am positive that at least for me the Versalab M3 Grinder is the ultimate home grinder.
Regards
Eric |
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La Marzocco GS/3, Versalab M3, Quest M3 Roaster.
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Skippy
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Post subject: RE: A few months with the Versalab M3 Grinder
Posted: Dec 31, 2007 - 03:48 PM
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Joined: Jul 11, 2007
Posts: 451
Location: shropshire, uk
Status: Offline
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| Its strangely beautiful too, but that might be just me. |
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Cimbali Junior D/1, Compak K5.
Hario pourover filter, Kitchenaid grinder.
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Neo
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Post subject: Re: RE: A few months with the Versalab M3 Grinder
Posted: Dec 31, 2007 - 04:43 PM
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Joined: Sep 10, 2007
Posts: 618
Location: Hong Kong
Status: Offline
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squallleonh wrote:
Its strangely beautiful too, but that might be just me.
it's neat  |
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Anfim supercaimano
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kingseven
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Post subject: RE: Re: RE: A few months with the Versalab M3 Grinder
Posted: Dec 31, 2007 - 06:27 PM
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Joined: Feb 24, 2004
Posts: 2100
Location: London
Status: Offline
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They are quite ugly beautiful.
I'd love to spend the week with one before laying down the cash but not sure how I'd go about getting one... |
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I'll never own too many items with which to enjoy coffee.
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Bombcup
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Post subject: RE: Re: RE: A few months with the Versalab M3 Grinder
Posted: Dec 31, 2007 - 07:08 PM
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Joined: Sep 06, 2007
Posts: 789
Location: Wellingborough, Northants
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| I can't see anything ugly about it at all, but then I do get all weak-kneed at the sight of anything machined from solid. It looks beautifully simple and well engineered. |
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lever believer
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Bertie_Doe
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Post subject: RE: Re: RE: A few months with the Versalab M3 Grinder
Posted: Dec 31, 2007 - 08:04 PM
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Joined: Apr 28, 2005
Posts: 1928
Location: Cornwall
Status: Offline
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Nice one eric, that's my type of grinder - slow 400prm motor, not too much dust? and at 33cm high, that's a really small footprint. I could only find one vid on youtube, which includes some sort of additional electric tamper http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl1wxsc1cYg
A good pic of the vortex effect you mention, courtesy of homebarista -
http://www.home-barista.com/forums/versalab-m3-grinder-t408.html#2471
QC |
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ECM/AnfimK2 and Aerolatte grinders
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dbl/15g/44ml/no tamp
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Post subject: RE: Re: RE: A few months with the Versalab M3 Grinder
Posted: Jan 01, 2008 - 12:52 PM
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Joined: Sep 24, 2004
Posts: 297
Location: London
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That really is a thing of beauty Eric. Did you import it youself or get it through a British supplier?
I've been dissapointed with my Mazzer E since the day I bought it - far, far to much retained stale coffee grounds, very crude grind adjustment and that ugly, ugly grommet. |
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Just call me Eeyore
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EricC
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Post subject:
Posted: Jan 01, 2008 - 03:11 PM
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Joined: Feb 06, 2004
Posts: 591
Location: Liverpool
Status: Offline
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Thanks for the kind comments Guys.
Thankfully my wife and daughters think it looks pretty cool too. 
To answer nickr, yes it was bought directly from Versalab in the States, which is as far as i know the only way to get one. Having used it for a while I still am very pleased with it as you may have guessed from my initial comments. 
All the Best and a Very Happy New Year to All on TMC
Eric |
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La Marzocco GS/3, Versalab M3, Quest M3 Roaster.
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Skippy
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Post subject:
Posted: Jan 01, 2008 - 03:17 PM
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Joined: Jul 11, 2007
Posts: 451
Location: shropshire, uk
Status: Offline
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| How much does it cost to get one in the UK including the delivery if you don't mind me asking? |
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Cimbali Junior D/1, Compak K5.
Hario pourover filter, Kitchenaid grinder.
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EricC
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Post subject:
Posted: Jan 01, 2008 - 04:48 PM
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Joined: Feb 06, 2004
Posts: 591
Location: Liverpool
Status: Offline
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squallleonh wrote:
How much does it cost to get one in the UK including the delivery if you don't mind me asking?
No problem, when i paid for the M3 it worked out, including shipping at £746.92p.
BUT
This did not include any Import Duty, which was not as much as i had anticipated or been prepared to pay, although i cannot remember the exact ammount. |
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La Marzocco GS/3, Versalab M3, Quest M3 Roaster.
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Skippy
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Post subject:
Posted: Jan 01, 2008 - 05:15 PM
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Joined: Jul 11, 2007
Posts: 451
Location: shropshire, uk
Status: Offline
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| Thanks! I was expecting it to be more than that. |
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Cimbali Junior D/1, Compak K5.
Hario pourover filter, Kitchenaid grinder.
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bruceb
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Post subject:
Posted: Jan 01, 2008 - 07:29 PM
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Joined: Apr 04, 2004
Posts: 4245
Location: Northern Hesse, Germany
Status: Offline
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| Well, I guess this goes to prove that beauty is in the eye of the bean holder. |
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Three Francesconi (CMA) espresso machines - Rossi, San Marco, LaCimbali, Faema and 2 Mazzer Major grinders- CoffeeTech Maggionlino, Hottop, Alpenröst and HW Precision roasters.
This week I are nutating in my dreams. 
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Aadje
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Post subject:
Posted: Jan 01, 2008 - 07:41 PM
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Joined: Jan 25, 2006
Posts: 2974
Location: Enschede, The Netherlands
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| It is indeed. |
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Green, hairy and likes coffee . . .
This week (and the next few) I am mainly busy graduating . . .
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EricC
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Post subject:
Posted: Jan 01, 2008 - 10:15 PM
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Joined: Feb 06, 2004
Posts: 591
Location: Liverpool
Status: Offline
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bruceb wrote:
Well, I guess this goes to prove that beauty is in the eye of the bean holder.
 |
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La Marzocco GS/3, Versalab M3, Quest M3 Roaster.
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CakeBoy
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Post subject:
Posted: Jan 02, 2008 - 03:15 PM
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Joined: Oct 18, 2005
Posts: 8773
Location: Oxfordshire, England
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| I like the look and would also love to see one in action at some point. |
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www.CakeBoy.co.uk
This week, I are mostly eating cheese
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Iberital MC2 Timed | Macap M4 DS & MXA DS | Mazzer SJ | Starbucks Barista Grinder (Dualit E60/Solis 166)
Pinhalense 2x500g Gas Batch/Sample Roaster | Gene Cafe | IMEX CR-100
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