by HughF » Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:49 pm
Sell it and buy a doser grinder? Can you borrow a doser grinder or get some real time on one just so you know what using one is really like?
It might not be that expensive to swap grinders and a lot less hassle. Very little waste indeed with Macap dosers (1 year anniversary of using my MXK just passed) and much less clumping. Grounds still stick in the throat of the grinder so some doses will be (2g?) bigger than needed but almost nothing will stay in the doser once through the throat.
I'll confess that I asked about a doserless MXK when I bought mine but luckily there isn't one made. There is NO compulsion to fill a grinder's doser at all - I grind per shot every time and leave nothing behind to stale.
It just seems to me that people go to major lengths to fix espresso distribution problems caused by doserless grinders when buying a doser grinder (for espresso use not brewed coffee) would be so much simpler. Let alone those (not in this thread) who spend massive effort converting a doser grinder to doserless even when grinding for espresso. You pay so much more for a Mini Electronic compared to a doser Mini or you could (I think) buy a doser Mazzer Super Jolly for similar money which would grind better (350W vs. 250W motor, reputedly a stiffer burr carrier also but taller) and clump even less than a Mini E.
I am sure many will disagree with me who have different experiences, maybe they have used duff or badly-maintained doser grinders (or have not used a doser grinder but dislike the whole idea on principle, with visions of pounds of already-ground coffee staling in dosers at bad coffee shops) but I have used a Dualit, a Rocky DL, an Iberital MC2 (DL), a Mazzer Mini E and now the MXK (the only doser) to grind for espresso, all for several months at a time. My espresso technique is not perfect by a long chalk but I can definitely tell the difference in results from different grinders over these long periods even with variable technique. (Personally, I would rate these in that order for increasing quality of results but with Rocky and Iberital equal.)
I think the Mini E is a wonderful grinder for brewed coffee (even though very few would go that crazy to get the best brewed coffee results) but I'm sceptical about any doserless grinder being the best **value** for espresso use - there's rarely a price reduction for doserless grinders in any manufacturer's range compared to the equivalent doser grinder.
Happy New Year,
Hugh
Grinders : Macap MXK conical for espresso, Mahlkoenig Vario for Chemex, Macap MC6 (spare when our office was closed) for cafetiere, Zassenhaus Knee Mill for cafetiere when working away from home.
La Spaziale Vivaldi S1 espresso machine. HotTop KN8828P roaster. Chemex manual drip for most brewed coffee plus cafetieres and eSantos.