I'm in the same boat as you. I have a mini, and it does a good job. Now I put new burrs in mine a few months ago and didn't really get much change in shot quality, but then again, I only had 2-300 lbs of coffee through the machine. I'm considering going with a Pharos as an upgrade since it gets titan class grind quality without titan prices. I could keep the mini for grinding drip and french press. In all of the extensive reading I've done on the subject of grinders, I can't recall finding anyone who upgraded to a titan class grinder from a mini who regretted it.
Posted Tue Jan 1, 2013, 9:08pm Subject: Re: Upgrade from Mazzer Mini to... ?
I recently upgraded from a Mini to the SJ. The Mini had pretty newish blades and the SJ had new blades, although it was a used machine. It ended up costing me about $100 to make it all happen after I sold the Mini. I wouldn't have considered upgrading, but for such a small amount I went through with it. The difference isn't night and day, but there is still a pretty big difference. I'm very happy I did it and would've spent twice as much to get these results....not more than that though. So for me that is as much as the upgrade is worth. Don't know if that helps put it in perspective for you, but that's my $.02. I think it just depends what you want out of the upgrade and the deal you can find.
The changes I found are faster grind, more consistency, and the grind is fluffier.
takeshi Senior Member Joined: 12 Oct 2002 Posts: 731 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Silvia Grinder: Super Jolly Roaster: Amaya Roasting
Posted Wed Jan 2, 2013, 12:00pm Subject: Re: Upgrade from Mazzer Mini to... ?
dorkroast Said:
You can buy a used SJ for less than a new Mazzer Mini.... But I wonder... what is really the point? Maybe I'm missing something but the mini seems to do everything I want to do with espresso. I think you'd find much bigger changes at this point with espresso machines, choice of beans, and bean roasting then you'd find with a grinder change. Please educate me if I'm wrong.
If you haven't actually compared what's in the cup using the two then you are potentially missing something.
Additionally, moving up the scale to conicals, conicals tend to produce different results in the cup from flat burrs.
As stated earlier, the point is subjective (as it is on any topic). It all depends on one's preferences, what one is looking to achieve and what ones considers deficient with the current solution, etc. That applies to pretty much everything in life and that's why those questions were asked of the OP. If you're happy with what you have and don't see any benefit from upgrading then there's no point. However, you won't know if there's a point or not without trying the alternative and you can't always rely on another person's point being a point for you.
tl dr version: Some will see a point in upgrading from grinder X to grinder Y, some will not.
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