andtheodor Junior Member Joined: 13 May 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Colorado Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Silvia Grinder: Super Jolly Drip: blech
Posted Tue May 13, 2008, 2:31pm Subject: Considering buying a used Astoria...
I am considering buying a used Astoria grinder for $250, but am confused about the Mazzer/Jolly/Astoria rebranding issue. As far as I can tell, this is a pretty good deal for this grinder, whatever it is, if not a little overkill for my home setup.
The machine spent 9 months in a coffee shop before being retired and resold. I am going to look at it this week. Any suggestions about what to look for? Is burr condition easy to evaluate without totally disassembling the machine? Is $250 a reasonable price? Can I fit a smaller hopper on there to better accommodate my bean usage and kitchen space?
stefano65 Senior Member Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 576 Location: Eugene OR Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Vibiemme,Elektra,Isomac,... Grinder: Macap,Cunill, Isomac Vac Pot: not Drip: not Roaster: not
Posted Tue May 13, 2008, 2:38pm Subject: Re: Considering buying a used Astoria...
it is a mazzer 250 could be a good price if the motor is fine if you have to change the burrs or not is till a good price you can get the smaller hopper as well
Posted Tue May 13, 2008, 2:49pm Subject: Re: Considering buying a used Astoria...
If it was used in a coffee shop, buy new burrs, no matter what.
I think other hoppers fit on those (looks like a super jolly rebrand), including the short mini hopper. Or, you could always just cut off part of the existing one, or go hopperless, or PVC pipe, etc. Not a bad deal for that price.
Posted Tue May 13, 2008, 5:39pm Subject: Re: Considering buying a used Astoria...
Looks like the one in the picture might be an older one that has the black threaded "hub" between the upper burr carrier and the hopper. I remember reading here (from Chris of Chris' Coffee I believe) in another post here that the black threaded part was used for some sort of Illy cans of coffee that screwed into that part instead of having the hopper which is interesting as to why it's threaded. To use the newer hoppers you'll probably have to remove that black part which won't be necessary anymore because the new hoppers have the "gate" already in there. I actually bought one of those black threaded parts and use that without the hopper since I grind one double worth of beans at a time, so I open the gate (in the black threaded part), dump the beans in, and grind. It's super short and works great to keep the beans feeding into the burrs. So, you might consider just using that black part without the hopper if you need it short and if you grind per shot.
Fishgod Senior Member Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 58 Location: Alaska Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Silvia v2 PID Grinder: Mazzer Major & Solis Mastero... Drip: French Press Roaster: Turbo Oven/New UFO
Posted Wed May 14, 2008, 11:34am Subject: Re: Considering buying a used Astoria...
If the motor runs I would get it. I picked up a Rio locally off of Craig's list. I turned out to be a Mazzer Major. I paid 300 for it, new set of burrs and I have a grinder under that costs about $350 and will last a life time. If you do get it you will want to get rid of the finger guard in the doser, and the tape mod. on doser vains. I am running mine without a hopper. I use a 58mm tamper in the throat to keep the beans from jumping out during grinding.
Posted Tue May 20, 2008, 8:17am Subject: Re: Considering buying a used Astoria...
I am using my SJ without a hopper, the throat of the grinder is large enough for a double shot plus some. I use the $0.99 plastic tamper that came with my Oscar (58mm) in the throat of the grinder to keep the beans in place and all is well.
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