t3h_donkey Senior Member Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 35 Location: Rochester, NY Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Mon Jun 9, 2008, 9:59am Subject: New M4 - few questions
Well I got my new Macap M4 from www.espressodealer.com and I'm very satisfied with both the buying experience and the product. Of course I've got some questions about the grinder though...
First of all, I was expecting for it to be easy to remove the hopper since they've got that little divider so you don't need to take the beans out first. However, the hopper is held in place with a small flat-head screw that's a real PITA to remove and put back in. Has anyone come up with a clever replacement for that thing to make it quick and easy?
I've got the dosered version and it throws the grounds way to the left. I usually end up with a bunch on the counter to the left of the portafilter so I've just been putting a shallow tupperware container under it to catch the mess. Are there any ways to make the grounds fall straight down though and cut back on the waste?
I'm also confused by something that was in the manual. It made it sound like you could somehow adjust the amount the amount that's dispensed by turning the knob that's on the center post in the doser but I don't see how it does anything other than rotate it. Am I misinterpreting what the manual says? Is there some trick to it that I'm not seeing?
One other side note is that I'm happy with how easy it is to get just about all of the grounds out of the doser. Having never used a doser before, I was worried it was going to be harder than that. I removed the finger guard thing before I even tried using it once and I've got a small brush that I can then easily sweep out the chute with. It sweeps pretty cleanly but I also help it along with my brush when I'm all done.
Posted Mon Jun 9, 2008, 10:30am Subject: Re: New M4 - few questions
I never found the screw to be difficult to back out or tighten. Keep in mind that the screw doesn't need to be completely removed, just backed out enough that it clears the collar.
The doser throws the grinds to the left and it's just nature of the beast. I do a quick WDT to redistribute the grinds even though they're clump free from dosing. Having cut a low profile yogurt container as a sleave to slip inside the basket keeps the grinds contained AND I dose w/ the basket out of the PF. When I haven't use the WDT, I've rotated the PF to help distribute the grinds more evenly.
You can adjust the amount dosed, but you have to keep the doser vanes stationary while turning the knob. However, it only really makes a difference if you keep the doser filled w/ grinds. I grind and dose at the same time; doing that only puts such a small amount of grinds in any given "pie slice" that adjusting the doser won't affect it.
I'm pretty happy with how clean the doser is too. Also, after you clean out the chute, it's a good idea to purge out the grinds in the burrs anytime before your next grinding session.
Posted Mon Jun 9, 2008, 11:09am Subject: Re: New M4 - few questions
If you think the hopper screw is a PITA wait until you go to clean the burrs. If its a stepless model check out this thread: http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/grinders/349880 First thing I did is remove both finger guards & that sliding tongue. The hopper never comes off mine but backing out the screw isn't that hard. If you move the doser lever slower the grinds don't get blown off to the left as much. I also turn the p/f as I'm dosing into it to get a more level fill.
t3h_donkey Senior Member Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 35 Location: Rochester, NY Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Thu Jun 12, 2008, 11:07am Subject: Re: New M4 - few questions
You guys were right about dosing slower... I guess I was just over excited and smacking that thing a bit too hard. ;) Things are under control now.
I had one problem yesterday when I tried to drop down to a coarse grind for my drip machine. I bought the stepped model just because I was hoping it would make going back and forth between espresso and drip easier. But anyway, I marked the spot where I had settled for my espresso and adjusted for drip. Later, when I tried to go back to espresso land, I couldn't turn the dial all the way to where I had it set before without the burrs locking up and making the bottom one turn along with the top. I ended up taking the top burr off and cleaning the bottom. There weren't any huge bean chunks in there but I guess it did the trick anyway. I was worried that doing that would throw my settings way off but somehow it ended up back at a reasonable grind. Any idea what's going on? I sure hope I won't need to take the thing apart whenever I want to go to a finer grind!
Posted Thu Jun 12, 2008, 5:30pm Subject: Re: New M4 - few questions
When you adjust finer from a coarse grind setting you need to have the machine turned on. If you don't the larger pieces of bean that are in there will get caught between the burrs & jam the machine until you back off the setting.
t3h_donkey Senior Member Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 35 Location: Rochester, NY Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Fri Jun 13, 2008, 7:53am Subject: Re: New M4 - few questions
Ahhh, that's a good idea. There's no danger of the burrs hitting each other if you somehow turn the dial too far? Like if you happen to be going for a Turkish grind?
Posted Fri Jun 13, 2008, 7:08pm Subject: Re: New M4 - few questions
t3h_donkey Said:
Ahhh, that's a good idea. There's no danger of the burrs hitting each other if you somehow turn the dial too far? Like if you happen to be going for a Turkish grind?
Sure there is. The point when you hear your burrs touching is called your zero point & should be marked on your adjuster scale. On a stepless M4 you would typically be grinding for Espresso in the neighborhood of 1.5 numbers above your zero point.
It is certainly not something you want to do on a regular basis which is why you mark your zero point. Once done there is no reason to adjust that fine again as all of your grinding will be above this point.
Posted Tue Jun 17, 2008, 8:53am Subject: Re: New M4 - few questions
Hi Mark and congratulations on a fine purchase :) Just got one of these beauties myself and had a few of the same questions. do a search on Macap and i think you will find it. You should also find a few other good links on modds etc. JVBorella posted one of them i see. The search function rox !
What i have learned so far : JVBorella suggested i only grind as many beans as i am going to make esspresso for that day, then i dont have to worry about stale grounds or doser adjustment. that is what i do.( thanks JV )
Zero point. i just adjusted with grinder running untill i heard faint tingin of steel on steel. close enough and only hurt if you continually do this ! ALWAYs only adjust when beans are out. messy cleanup if it gets jammed.
That screw?? yeah its a bit short but i back it ou just enough to clear and then turn the hopper so one of the 3 holes it can go in and are more convenient to reach, I looked for a longer screw too but it seems to be metric and the USA still doesnt to metric :p so that could be a tough locate.
Take out all the the "im too stoopid to keep my private parts out of dangerous areas " pieces too, as Mr. Borella advocates lol. enjoy your java Sue
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