coffeestig Junior Member Joined: 25 Feb 2013 Posts: 60 Location: Charlotte Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Quick Mill QM67 Grinder: Mazzer Mini Electronic... Drip: French Press
Posted Tue Feb 26, 2013, 2:00pm Subject: Mazzer Mini Electronic Doserless Espresso Grinder Type A
It was somewhat a leap of faith and I know this is backwards... but I just ordered one of these guys and wondered if anyone had any experience with one? Any tips?
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,669 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 Tue Feb 26, 2013, 2:40pm Subject: Re: Mazzer Mini Electronic Doserless Espresso Grinder Type A
It is a good grinder, many have them and like them, for the money you might have gone other directions but it is a good, well built grinder that should last you for many years in the home.
It may not forstall lust of other grinders but it is a solid choice none the less.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
coffeestig Junior Member Joined: 25 Feb 2013 Posts: 60 Location: Charlotte Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Quick Mill QM67 Grinder: Mazzer Mini Electronic... Drip: French Press
Posted Tue Feb 26, 2013, 3:36pm Subject: Re: Mazzer Mini Electronic Doserless Espresso Grinder Type A
calblacksmith Said:
It is a good grinder, many have them and like them, for the money you might have gone other directions but it is a good, well built grinder that should last you for many years in the home.
It may not forstall lust of other grinders but it is a solid choice none the less.
Yes, there are some others out there that seem incredible. I had a certain budget and stepped down (although I think just in price and don't feel a compromise in quality) on my machine to get the grinder after reading here and taking the advice where I ordered it.
How much more would need to be spent to get something noticeably better?
dyno Senior Member Joined: 20 Nov 2011 Posts: 41 Location: Burnaby BC Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Oscar Grinder: Super Mini / Super Mini E
Posted Tue Feb 26, 2013, 9:52pm Subject: Re: Mazzer Mini Electronic Doserless Espresso Grinder Type A
I've got the Type B and have been getting used to it. It's brought out flavors I hadn't experienced with the Preciso before it but with less body. I've just switched to a darker roast so maybe opinions will change yet.
One thing to note is it needs WDT to get a decent shot. Otherwise it's gushing out the back half of the portafilter basket and spraying all over the place. I've considered going to a SJ with doser for this reason. Don't have similar issues with my Mini Manual with doser.
coffeestig Junior Member Joined: 25 Feb 2013 Posts: 60 Location: Charlotte Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Quick Mill QM67 Grinder: Mazzer Mini Electronic... Drip: French Press
Posted Wed Feb 27, 2013, 7:12am Subject: Re: Mazzer Mini Electronic Doserless Espresso Grinder Type A
dyno Said:
I've got the Type B and have been getting used to it. It's brought out flavors I hadn't experienced with the Preciso before it but with less body. I've just switched to a darker roast so maybe opinions will change yet.
One thing to note is it needs WDT to get a decent shot. Otherwise it's gushing out the back half of the portafilter basket and spraying all over the place. I've considered going to a SJ with doser for this reason. Don't have similar issues with my Mini Manual with doser.
Posted Sun Mar 3, 2013, 6:04pm Subject: Re: Mazzer Mini Electronic Doserless Espresso Grinder Type A
Hey, there.
I've been working with the Type B for a couple months or so. As you know, Type A vs. Type B is just the timing mechanism, but the mechanics are the same. I actually got an RMA from SCG, but never returned it to them. I complained that it was slow and a bit clumpy. It's slow enough that I can't adjust the timing screw enough to get 24g (for a triple) out of it in one shot. I think it might have been WLL that actually suggested to just set the time to be 1/2 of what I need, and then do it twice. It's all actually moot, as timing a grind results in grind masses all over the map -- especially if you're adjusting grinds (coarse/fine) or changing beans. I'm currently just measuring the mass on a scale to get the desired output. I use the grind timer to get close, but measure to be more exact.
I like the dosing funnel that the guy above posted, and I mean to buy one myself. In the meantime, I've been using the cut-off yogurt cup. I was doing WDT to get a good distribution, but I find that if I just grind into the yogurt cup evenly (moving the PF around as it comes out of the machine) I get good distribution and typically no spritzes out of the bottomless PF. I do a few taps on the tamping mat to level things out and tamp from there.
I called WLL and asked about the Ceado E37 vs. the MMB. The guy I talked with said it's a really tough call between those two (about $200 price delta). He said that the E37 *is* faster, but it clumps more. I like the E37 because it's faster and I prefer the look, but I think burr sizes are the same and RPMs are similar. I've also continued to look around online and on these forums for other grinders, and I think to get to that next level of grinderness, I'll probably need to spend around 2x the cost of the Mazzer Mini B ($1,400 - $2,000). I think the Mahlkonig K30 Vario, Compak K10 Fresh and some others are very nice in that price range.
In the end, what made me NOT return the MMB was a barista class (side note: interesting that this forum's software flags the word "barista" with a red underline, indicating that I've misspelled something). I was talking to the head barista about my MMB grinder concerns and he seemed to think that they weren't terribly important and that the MMB was a good/great grinder. I said "maybe I should just stop worrying about the gear so much" and he agreed.
All in all, at this point, I can make better coffee than most of the coffeehouses in town. Might I see an improvement with a $2K grinder? Maybe. But... at this point, I'm getting excellent results from what I have, and I find MUCH more variance in the beans I'm getting, and my own processes. That said, I'll bet I have a "better" grinder within two years.
dyno Senior Member Joined: 20 Nov 2011 Posts: 41 Location: Burnaby BC Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Oscar Grinder: Super Mini / Super Mini E
Posted Sun Mar 3, 2013, 8:24pm Subject: Re: Mazzer Mini Electronic Doserless Espresso Grinder Type A
OEM Super Jolly burrs will give you a faster grind. I see about 18g in 10 sec but depends on your bean. Haven't had issues with stalling nor any indication that stalling may occur.
Like the results - notable improvement in flavor/smoothness over the stock burrs and a large improvement over the 58mm Mini Manual burrs.
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