NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,604 Location: Germany Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Poccino Opus One, Ariete Grinder: Eureka Mignon Istantaneo,... Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Melitta Linea Unica de Luxe Roaster: N/A
Posted Fri Aug 19, 2011, 10:34pm Subject: Re: New grinder needed
So the Vario seems to be the best choice in this prize segment. But can anyone report some first hand experience with the other two grinders (Rocky SD and Eureka MCI [aka Nuova Simonelli MCF])? Did you upgrade and why?
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
Posted Sat Aug 20, 2011, 12:44am Subject: Re: New grinder needed
NobbyR Said:
So the Vario seems to be the best choice in this prize segment. But can anyone report some first hand experience with the other two grinders (Rocky SD and Eureka MCI [aka Nuova Simonelli MCF])? Did you upgrade and why?
Thanks for the input, James. Just one thing: the Eureka is available in three versions (no timer, with timer, and with a timer/manual switch). The Isomac I'm using at the moment has large residual grounds that add up to almost a single shot dose. Is it the same with the Eureka?
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
Posted Sat Aug 20, 2011, 10:02am Subject: Re: New grinder needed
NobbyR Said:
Thanks for the input, James. Just one thing: the Eureka is available in three versions (no timer, with timer, and with a timer/manual switch). The Isomac I'm using at the moment has large residual grounds that add up to almost a single shot dose. Is it the same with the Eureka?
The burr chamber retains about 9g of coffee and the chute retains a further 6-7g. So it's not the best for home use. Mazzers have a smaller chute and retain less.
-James
Edit: If you are set on buying the MCF(Doser) or the MCI(doserless) I'd honestly recommend a Super jolly or mini over either, and the price ranges are comparable (new)
NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,604 Location: Germany Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Poccino Opus One, Ariete Grinder: Eureka Mignon Istantaneo,... Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Melitta Linea Unica de Luxe Roaster: N/A
Posted Sat Sep 17, 2011, 2:15am Subject: Re: New grinder needed
There you go and decide to buy a Vario asap, and you get a Eureka as a birthday present. Cripes! I must have dropped that it was on my shortlist not only here on this forum. It's a good enough espresso grinder, I guess I should be happy. At least it's the version with a manual/timer switch. It looks nice and sturdy, it's compact, heavy, stepless, and relatively quiet.
And there's a German saying: Einem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul. (Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.)
I'll write a review as soon as the grinder and I got aquainted.
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,642 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Sun Sep 18, 2011, 10:27am Subject: Re: New grinder needed
I have been playing with the NS. MDX and I am impressed with it. Even with burrs as sharp as a butter knife, it turns out shots every bit as nice as either of my SJs. New burrs are on the way though!
It was the auto version when it was new but someone in the past took off the miocroswitch and made it a manual only. I removed the top of the hopper to get acess to the grind chute to clean the grounds between shots.
The chute is about twice the size of the ones on the SJs. It is also offset to the right to get a better flow out of the grind chamber.
I am running it on a timer and with the dull burrs, it takes 8.5 seconds to grind 18 g while my SJ takes 7.4 seconds to do the same.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
physiodude Senior Member Joined: 18 Sep 2011 Posts: 4 Location: Cochrane Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Expobar Office Lever Grinder: Compak K3
Posted Sun Sep 18, 2011, 4:54pm Subject: Re: New grinder needed
I am thinking the same question. Currently own Rancilio Rocky but have been urged to K3 Touch. Also, needing doserless as only 1 coffee drinker in the house. Just got Expobar Office Lever and am pulling very good shots with it, just thinking of upgrading. Also, any thoughts what a doserless Rocky should sell for in Canada. Only 2 years old!
The number of people does not determine doser or doserless. If you prefer without that's great, but number of coffee drinkers is not the deciding factor.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
I am thinking the same question. Currently own Rancilio Rocky but have been urged to K3 Touch. Also, needing doserless as only 1 coffee drinker in the house. Just got Expobar Office Lever and am pulling very good shots with it, just thinking of upgrading. Also, any thoughts what a doserless Rocky should sell for in Canada. Only 2 years old!
The K3 Touch is a substantial improvement over Rocky, that much I can guarantee. I found the move significant. However in terms of product comparisons I've seen people compare it to the Mazzer Mini (which has lost a lot of its love these days) and to the Baratza Vario. It gets tricky there, some SUBJECTIVE commentary from two posters that owned both...one preferred the Vario, one preferred the K3. Yet the Vario is most often compared to a Super Jolly. And I don't honestly think the K3 is quite up to an SJ in output, though I've not owned an SJ. I will say the K8 (83mm flat burr grinder from Compak) is substantially better in output than the K3, and is nearly as good as the K10 (the big 68mm conical grinder from Compak.) But of course we're talking about whole different size ranges and price points.
I think the pros of the K3 are: Much better than Rocky Very consistent Very fluffy grinds without much clumping issue (no need for WDT) Timed grinding, though a pain to adjust, is pretty accurate and consistent.
Cons of the K3 are: Not as good grinding as K8...presumably this means not as good as SJ as well (but no true taste testing has really been done against it that I've seen) Tends to require a big purge to get stale grinds out if you don't sweep out or vac out the chute. I haven't had ANY purge on the K8 so far, but I vac the chute on there and did not on the K3. Unfair comparison.
It's definitely a nice, robust grinder and is very consistent and good quality grinds. If I had not had a K10 (or, now, K8) I'd never have noticed a particular flaw in the flavor.
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