Jazzyguy Senior Member Joined: 14 Aug 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Canada Expertise: Just starting
Posted Tue Aug 14, 2012, 4:54pm Subject: How much do I spend to equal my hand grinder?
Hey guys,
I have a manual Zassenhaus hand grinder. I love the grind it delivers, I get beautiful pours but I want a motorized one now. I was looking at the Rancilio Rocky because I have the Rancilio Silvia and they look good together. Will the rocky at least equal my current grinder in grind quality?
I like the steps of the Rocky because I can easily switch the grind to press pot and back. However, are the steps close enough to each other on the Rocky in order to dial in a grind properly? I now enjoy the freedoms of the stepless on the hand grinder. Will I miss much or does the Rocky have close enough steps where I won't miss the hand grinder?
Posted Tue Aug 14, 2012, 5:56pm Subject: Re: How much do I spend to equal my hand grinder?
The Rocky probably won't do as good a grind as the Zass. I know that my Dienes and My Leinbrock's Ideal are both way better than the Obel Jr. I have, which uses the same burr set as the Rocky. I intend, this weekend, to do a grinder shootout between my hand grinders and my newly acquired Gaggia MD85.
NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,661 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 Wed Aug 15, 2012, 12:27am Subject: Re: How much do I spend to equal my hand grinder?
Your Zassenhaus is a stepless grinder, whereas the Rocky is a grinder that works for espresso but has relatively wide steps, so that you can get stuck in between two stettings for proper extraction. If you want an electric grinder to equal your hand grinder, you'll need to look for a stepless one like the Compak K3-Touch or Nuova Simonelli MCI, for example, or at least one with so many steps that it is virtually stepless like the Bratza Preciso or Vario, for instance.
*** "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)
Jazzyguy Senior Member Joined: 14 Aug 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Canada Expertise: Just starting
Posted Thu Aug 16, 2012, 10:17am Subject: Re: How much do I spend to equal my hand grinder?
UPDATE:
I purchased the Preciso. It's excellent. It definitely rivals the Zass, might even better it. The only negative about the Preciso is the amount of clumping. Other than that, I'm quite happy.
Yeh I've read a lot about Zaas not being good enough for espresso, seems a lot on HB don't like them or elsewhere. Maybe it's the old ones that are good?
Jazzy - are you grinding into the portafilter? I cut a small yogurt plastic can to fit the PF for WDT. But I've found the Preciso to be fairly good w/o WDT. It looks like it may be clumping but their pretty soft/fluffy clumps. I've tamped and pulled a shot w/o WDT and got no channeling or spritzs. Actually the couple times I've had issue with channeling or spritzs was only after WDT, go figure lol. Great grinder though, once you have a setting, pretty much just leave the macro and adjust the micro here and there for espresso. I love the low retention too and their clean, don't spray grinds everywhere. Mines on setting 6E right now.
Other great thing is we weigh and single dose, and the Preciso (and Vario) are excellent for that.
Jazzyguy Senior Member Joined: 14 Aug 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Canada Expertise: Just starting
Posted Thu Aug 16, 2012, 11:08am Subject: Re: How much do I spend to equal my hand grinder?
CMIN Said:
Yeh I've read a lot about Zaas not being good enough for espresso, seems a lot on HB don't like them or elsewhere. Maybe it's the old ones that are good?
Jazzy - are you grinding into the portafilter? I cut a small yogurt plastic can to fit the PF for WDT. But I've found the Preciso to be fairly good w/o WDT. It looks like it may be clumping but their pretty soft/fluffy clumps. I've tamped and pulled a shot w/o WDT and got no channeling or spritzs. Actually the couple times I've had issue with channeling or spritzs was only after WDT, go figure lol. Great grinder though, once you have a setting, pretty much just leave the macro and adjust the micro here and there for espresso. I love the low retention too and their clean, don't spray grinds everywhere. Mines on setting 6E right now.
Other great thing is we weigh and single dose, and the Preciso (and Vario) are excellent for that.
Thanks for the info. I will try both and see what happens. As far as the the grind setting. I seem to be on 3 with the Macro and H on the Micro. Using fresh roasts (within 1 week). Is this typical or would I have to calibrate the grinder? I think I read the 10-12 setting is typical.
CMIN Senior Member Joined: 14 Jun 2012 Posts: 566 Location: South FL Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Crossland CC1 Grinder: Baratza Preciso
Posted Thu Aug 16, 2012, 11:26am Subject: Re: How much do I spend to equal my hand grinder?
Jazzyguy Said:
Thanks for the info. I will try both and see what happens. As far as the the grind setting. I seem to be on 3 with the Macro and H on the Micro. Using fresh roasts (within 1 week). Is this typical or would I have to calibrate the grinder? I think I read the 10-12 setting is typical.
I've always saw 10-12 being typical online but I know two other owners and their all within my range as well. 10-12 = complete gushers for me. My calibration seems fine, so I chalk it up to each unit being slightly difference for calibration I guess. Long as your getting normal pours/shots then I wouldn't worry. You could always try re-calibrating and seeing what happens, as time goes on and grinder is broken in most seem to be under the 6 range, so if your at 3 brand new might want to try calibrating it again... but who knows lol
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