PhillyRick Senior Member Joined: 17 Dec 2012 Posts: 23 Location: Philadelphia
Posted Mon Mar 4, 2013, 9:27am Subject: Grinding... my teeth!
So, yesterday I picked up a Breville conical burr grinder--well reviewed, and reportedly able to grind dark roasts without choking.
Got it home, washed the bits, re-assembled, and ran 50g of beans through on the finest grind, as instructed. No problems.
Washed the bits again, and ground 100g in the middle of the "drip" range. Hmm... rather coarse, and the coffee was under-extracted.
Next pot, turned the grind to the fine end of the "drip" range. No visible change in the grind, or in the taste of the coffee.
This morning, turned to the coarse end of the "espresso" range. Still coarse, still under-extracted.
Next pot, to the middle of the "espresso" range, but the hopper is jammed: it won't turn either right or left, and no amount of gentle 'suasion will budge it. The grinder still runs, but I'm not going to waste more coffee on another crappy coarse grind.
So, the shop where I bought it (Kitchen Kapers) will have a replacement waiting for me Saturday (the next free time I have), and I'm back to my trusty whirly Krups in the meantime.
One more problem: static. Pouring the ground coffee out of the little box into the coffeemaker sent grounds ~everywhere~, a little dark-brown blizzard in that corner of the kitchen. There was some spousal amusement the first time, but not subsequently, even though I did all the clean-up.
I'm not sure this adventure is going to turn out well.
msboo Senior Member Joined: 10 Nov 2012 Posts: 135 Location: Kentucky Expertise: I love coffee
Grinder: Baratza Virtuoso Drip: Bonavita
Posted Mon Mar 4, 2013, 9:50am Subject: Re: Grinding... my teeth!
Oh so sorry you've had that experience---hope the replacement works out a lot better. I've seen the Breville grinder mentioned here but don't know much about it myself. I also wasn't aware that any of the Baratzas would "choke" when grinding French Roast.
I know how much I want my coffee every morning so hang in there. At least you still have your handy whirly grinder for back up.
Iluvdabean Senior Member Joined: 7 Mar 2005 Posts: 1,070 Location: California Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: La Nuova Era Cuadra/Gaggia... Grinder: Baratza Preciso/K-A Pro... Drip: Capresso MT 500/Pour Over Roaster: Nesco 1010/Behmor 1600
Posted Mon Mar 4, 2013, 7:59pm Subject: Re: Grinding... my teeth!
Brevilles in general have the stigma of machines with issues,wether its a grinder or an espresso machine. They have really never enjoyed an image of machines of quality. I hope your journey is a good one.
msboo Said:
Oh so sorry you've had that experience---hope the replacement works out a lot better. I've seen the Breville grinder mentioned here but don't know much about it myself. I also wasn't aware that any of the Baratzas would "choke" when grinding French Roast.
I know how much I want my coffee every morning so hang in there. At least you still have your handy whirly grinder for back up.
kross Senior Member Joined: 19 Feb 2012 Posts: 16 Location: Seattle, WA Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Mon Mar 4, 2013, 8:49pm Subject: Re: Grinding... my teeth!
I also have a Breville grinder, the Smart Grinder. I like it a lot. I don't know which model you have, but with mine I have no problem getting a very fine grind.
A couple of things to check. First, is the nut tight that holds the lower burr in place? It's a left-hand thread, meaning you turn it counter-clockwise to tighten it.
Also, the upper burr is locked into place? It needs a quarter turn clockwise, until the arrows line up.
If those items check out, hopefully the replacement will be better.
CMIN Senior Member Joined: 14 Jun 2012 Posts: 557 Location: South FL Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Crossland CC1 Grinder: Baratza Preciso
Posted Mon Mar 4, 2013, 9:03pm Subject: Re: Grinding... my teeth!
Breville Smart Grinder is a good coarse grinder, they have a few lower models, so not sure which one you have. Though for great coarse needs, can't really beat the Baratza Encore.
kross Senior Member Joined: 19 Feb 2012 Posts: 16 Location: Seattle, WA Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Mon Mar 4, 2013, 9:05pm Subject: Re: Grinding... my teeth!
I may have been a little unclear in my post. I meant to say that I have no problems getting a very fine grind for drip coffee. I don't make espresso at home. But for drip coffee, I can easily grind it way too fine than ideal, so PhillyRick shouldn't have a problem (for drip coffee).
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