Upgrade path - grinders

Mr Magnolia

Well I'm changing my classic, I'm taking a much loved and cared for Nuova Simonelli Oscar off RE*AC*TOR's hands.

I'm moving my grinder on with the classic, it's not that I wasn't happy with either machine, they're both fantastic. I wouldn't sell the gaggia with out the grinder for fear that a new owner wouldn't pick himself up one and would use pre-ground stuff greatly reducing the quality of coffee. One of my mates jumped at the chance of taking the equipment off my hands so I'll be ensuring he registers here for info.

So, which grinder to go for?

RE*AC*TOR

3 options for now...


Versalab M3 - seriously high end, unparalleled grind distribution. Enormously expensive, built to order, so huge waiting time. Maybe reliability issues. Cost about $1500 (hopper extra)

Macap M4 Stepless - about €379 - €429 depending on matte or chrome. I've gone through a few grinders over the past year - this has been the first I've been mostly happy with. The doser sweeps cleaner than the Mazzer doser. The adjustment, though stepless, is easy and consistent to adjust (and there's a scale). The doser also breaks up clumps. The grind chute does retain a little coffee (not as much as some I've used - but more than others).

Casadio Istantaneo - €630 - I seriously considered buying this when I got the Macap instead. Reported features - grind on demand - no chute retention - no clumping. Like a Mahlkonig K30 for half the price. Very precise timed dosing. Negative points - ugly plastic housing. If you get one of these I want to play!

Mr Magnolia

Of the 3, the Macap M4 is the one I would choose. I don't want a doser though, any reason why I shouldn't go doserless? The only thing I can see is the little mess that the grinder distributes when dosing, something I'm already used to with the MC2.

RE*AC*TOR

Clumping. Flat burr grinders + no doser often means a big problem with clumping and therefore channelling in the puck.

Less of an issue with some rather than others.

Mr Magnolia

Hmm, it wasn't highlighted on the coffeegeek review as a problem though, is there much clumping in the doser before actuating?

RE*AC*TOR

Reports of clumping on the Macap MC4 http://www.toomuchcoffee.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=6032

This is why you see people with yogurt pots and scewers - WDT - Weiss Distribution Technique.

RE*AC*TOR

http://temesblog.blogspot.com/2006/05/macap-mc4_30.html

RE*AC*TOR

You're welcome to get a feel for my Macap - see if it suits you.

I'd probably go with the Mazzer Mini Electronic over the Macap MC4 if I was going doserless. I like the timed dosing option.

The Macap M4D I'm not as familiar with though - but again it's expensive.

Mr Magnolia

I want a doserless so much so that I'm losing interest in the Macap 4, it certainly seems that it's not built to grind on a shot-per-shot basis directly into the basket. I don't want to have to employ WDT; I'd probably rather have the doser but, I don't want the doser either...

RE*AC*TOR

This is why I was considering the Casadio Instantaneo.

RE*AC*TOR

Compak K3 Touch is probably worth a mention on the doserless front. I've heard good things, some reports saying it is better than the mazzer / macap crowd on clumping and retention.

Mahlkonig have a new grinder coming out very soon. The Vario. Was supposed to be out in Sept, but has been pushed back a couple of times. Looks like it could be a really good grinder, but no solid reports as of yet.

GRINDER*MAN

Hi All, also looking to upgrade. The mazzer mini e doserless looks like a good bet - from what I've read the funnel at the front seems to take care of the clumping issues found on the macap - the mazzer's very pricey though.

Mr Magnolia

Very pricey indeed.

I ordered the Macap MC4. I don't think clumps will be too much of a problem after looking at the output form a Macap M4 doser model. I'll know for sure sometime next week, I'll let you know. Some beans will cause more clumping than others though, I'm not particularly worried about it at the moment though.

RE*AC*TOR

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

I'll know for sure sometime next week

Delay on the order?

GRINDER*MAN

Good stuff! Would be very interested to know how you get on. I was looking to the macap m4 as alternative to the mazzer e, but I'm sick of the mess I currently make with my mdf so was leaning towards doserless. Mazzer e is ridiculously expensive though. I hadn't considered the macap mc4 on account of it not having a portafilter rest. Maybe its not that big of a deal though.

Mr Magnolia

RE*AC*TOR wrote: »

Delay on the order?

Yeah, they were out of stock. He said it should be going out tomorrow and I'll have a tracking number then. If I don't I'll give him another call.


I never really use the portafilter rest anyway Grinderman, I'm always rotating or angling the basket. It'll be interesting to what it's like though, bit of getting used to maybe..

Mr Magnolia

I got it earlier in the week and finally got around to dialing it in. I received the foulest smelling beans free with the grinder, used these to dial it in. I wound the burrs the together until they were touching and then out a few turns, then I got started with the beans.

It's bigger than the MC2. I do miss the way the MC2 was activated via a button under the hopper that you'd knock on with the basket - I now have to manage the on/off switch with my left hand (it's on the right side of the machine). To counter this I'm going to buy a timer and use it to run the operation.

I didn't/don't have many issues with clumping but the beans I used were so old and dried out it would never have been an issue anyway. I'll try and record a short vid over the weekend and stick it up so ye can make your own decision. I do rotate the basket a good deal when filling to ensure a good distribution. I do expect levels of clumping to vary slightly with individual beans so it'll be a 'suck it and see' dal for a while.

Distribution isn't too fast which is one thing I was a little worried about. It's a good deal quieter than the MC2 and it does sound good when running. There is a little mess on the counter, no worse than the MC2 though.

GRINDER*MAN

* Mr. Magnolia, thanks for the update. Glad to hear you're happy with the mc4, and that clumping isn't too much of an issue. I'm leaning towards the macap m4 doser model, but still stuck in procrastination land re whether to upgrade my classic at the same time or wait a while. I was looking at an Isomac zaffiro but also not discounting going the whole hog and getting a hx or a dual boiler. Counter Space is a real issue so it has to be around 9/10" max widthwise. Also, when it happens it'll be a once in a lifetime event so I gotta get it right! Incidentally, where did you buy your grinder? I was looking at a dutch site called http://www.casabarista.nl/, and also http://www.espressocoffeeshop.com. Anyone have any dealings with either? Got an email back from casabarista re zaffiro/tea/brewtus options – they seem like a decent bunch.

RE*AC*TOR

I've dealt with both, both provided excellent service and feedback.

Bought Macap M4 from espressocoffeeshop.

Bought Brewtus from casabarista.

BTW the Brewtus has changed, there is a new model (which I received about 2.5 weeks ago). It has a fully fledged PID, as opposed to the old digital thermostat. In the US they are now calling this the Brewtus III as opposed to II, which casabarista still call it.

Mr Magnolia

I picked mine up from espressocoffeeshop.com and was very happy with all aspects.

GRINDER*MAN

Cheers guys. Have just ordered the M4 from espressocoffeeshop.

Reactor, thanks for the info on the brewtus. Nice snaps of it on the casabarista site. I'm edging closer! I checked out The Other Black Stuff - Well done, the site is great. The Guinness vid is really excellent. WHy don't you put it up front? It deserves to be showcased.

Looking forward to a review on the brewtus!:)