I’m sure some of us remember the day when I got my Mini B and declared it to be my endgame grinder. I remember that, and I’m still convinced that this should be seen as sufficient of an endgame grinder. But it wasn’t my dream to own it, even though it has everything you need for an on-demand 64mm machine – build quality, power, esthetics, easily accesible parts, reputation, longevity. The Mini is a grinder that will last at a lifetime. I got it knowing I’d still want to own a Super Jolly V Pro one day, but wasn’t sure if I’d ever get one as it seemed like such a ridiculous idea! It’s a big commercial machine, total overkill for home, and I couldn’t grasp that this is actually happening until it was delivered. After trying single dosing for a while, I’ve decided to walk the on-demand path...
La Marzocco Linea Mini – Drip/Cup Trays Noise
In this short article I’ll go through how I solved the rattling or buzzing of the cup tray as well as the drip tray. These are the only two complaints that I’d ever have about the machine, which is otherwise flawless. The buzzing of the two grids drove me insane at certain times, and I’ve tried literally everything. Silicone pads, foam pads, silicone liners, you name it. At some point I just gave up the fight, left it without anything and let it rattle. But I finally have a solution for both. I suspect this cup tray grid rattles due to either the tray grid being bent, but it also has a lot of play when placed on top of the machine. The steel can deform slightly with heat and also cleaning, as it isn’t as hard to bend as you’d think. My solution involves magnets and some edge protectors....
Mazzer Mini A – Updated And Still Iconic
The new Mazzer Mini A is here, and I have some thoughts! I will refrain from brand-loyal prejudice and be as fair and honest as possible. But of course, we’re talking about Mazzer here and I think most of us already know how well deserved their place in the industry really is. In this review, I will go through the new design, grind speed, grind adjustment, quick word on the burr set, retention and share a few numbers on grind amount consistency and conclude this quick read with my final thoughts. Disclaimer I’m not affiliated/sponsored by Mazzer and they also didn’t ask me to make content – I asked Mazzer to send me the grinder in order to help me make content. They aren’t paying me, I’m not getting anything for the review and my content. Design Let’s start with the new design – I really like it! It has...
Mazzer Mini Electronic B – SSP High Uniformity Burrs Upgrade
A quick disclaimer before we dive into the upgraded burr set – this post won’t include any *EY% numbers, no total dissolved units, no brew ratio figures, nothing insane. I’m not into getting caught up with numbers and prefer to stay focused on the experience and taste. Not that these measurements and numbers aren’t helpful, but they don’t communicate what the cup tastes like, so I’ll be leaving these out. Besides, we already know that SSP burrs affect extraction yield in a positive way. I’m making this upgrade in order to improve the taste of my cups, not to be obsessive about numbers. I will be updating this post as I go, the experience may change overtime as I put more coffee through the burrs. Now, with our expectations set, let’s proceed! Firstly, I knew this day would come the moment I decided to buy the Mazzer Mini Electronic...
Mazzer Omega – Single Dosing Done Right
I know this may be laughable to the well seasoned home-WBC baristas, but I’ve never owned a conical burr grinder. I’ve just discovered a whole new dimension of what espresso can be. Please, be kind and don’t get offended – this is what I imagine single dosing should be from my personal view based on solely my needs. Here’s why. I’ve been planning on buying a conical burr grinder that isn’t a Niche and wouldn’t break the bank. I’ve been attracted to those Mazzer 191C burrs from Kony S, but never found the Niche attractive. So why don’t I just get the Kony S? Well because it’s huge and my counter-space isn’t. Then I heard of the Key with 187C Robur S burrs, but the price puts it again in a weird spot for me as I’d probably get something else in that price range. And just like that,...
Mazzer Mini Electronic B – My Endgame Grinder
This probably may spark a few questions, but I’ll try to explain to those who wonder why I went with the Mazzer Mini. Some may disagree, but this is from my perspective based on my needs, requirements and opinion absolutely an endgame grinder. It won’t be a surprise to those, who understand what this grinder or Mazzer in general represents. My goal was to end up with a small basic commercial grinder rather than a top-end domestic model. And this just happened, I chose the Mazzer Mini. I want an on-demand grinder, not a single doser, that is build by a manufacturer with solid reputation for quality and longevity of their grinders, a grinder that will last for the rest of my life. And Mazzer Mini Electronic B is that grinder. Right out of the box, the grinder felt rock solid on the first touch – the quality is...
La Marzocco Linea Mini – First Impressions
It’s finally here, the La Marzocco Linea Mini. It’s been little over a month since it arrived and I have some thoughts to share with you. While I still want to keep the Silvia around and am grateful for everything I’ve learned on that machine, the Linea is my endgame. As you can see from my latest videos, the workflow with a dual-boiler machine is much more convenient. I was getting tired of the while rewarding but rather inconvenient workflow with the Silvia and decided to pursue my dream – own a La Marzocco. No upgrades in between, I simply had to go with the Linea right away. Spending money on something else while still dreaming of a Linea would seem like waste of money. The coffee I’m having from the Linea is unbeatable. I wasn’t able to produce such results with the Silvia with such consistency. The espresso...
Rancilio Silvia V6 – On/Off Switch Modification
For those who don’t know what the fuss is about, the newer european Rancilio Silvia models (usually referred to as E, such as the older V5 E or the new V6 E) feature an “Universal Energy Saving” device, produced by a company called Gicar. In other words – it’s a power saving feature and it makes sure the device turns off after 30 minutes of inactivity. The stock On/Off switch is a digital one and doesn’t hold it’s On position (jumps back to a neutral position after pressing). This makes it really difficult to use with a smartplug, as once the machine turns off you’d have to press the switch again to turn it back on. I’ve been keeping the switch in the On position with a piece of rubber thick just enough to fit in the gap and hold it in place. Did so right after i got...
Rancilio Silvia V6 – Auber PID Process, Impressions
After struggling to extract some flavours out of some pretty good coffees, i decided it was time to move on from my temperature surfing technique to something more reliable and repeatable. After convincing my fiancée about the idea, i went ahead and ordered a PID controller for the Silvia from Auber. I’ve received the package (from US to Europe) in three working days, which was surprisingly fast. The installation itself took about 1-2 hours as i absolutely didn’t want to rush with it. Auber has also provided a PDF with instructions. The kit definitely looks better than i expected and feels great – very solid with a high quality built. The display is white and bright, the system itself is easy to navigate. The improvement is significantly noticeable. Disclaimer : What you're about to read isn't science, but rather my observations and informations based on my personal research only....
Rancilio Silvia V6 – IMS Competition Showerscreen Upgrade
It’s absolutely not something you should definitely go ahead and get. By all means, you can still make yourself a nice espresso with the stock shower screen from Rancilio. But then there are options – some of them look convincing enough! That’s how i ended up upgrading the shower-screen with one made by IMS. The IMS competition shower-screen is more durable and resistant than the stock one. It also has a high nano-quartz coating, which enhances non-stickiness of the screen, improves the water flow, allegedly increases extraction consistency and makes cleaning very easy. It’s recommended to use the screen with the product code RA200NT for the Rancilio Silvia. It has an external diameter of 57mm and a central hole of 5,5mm (or M5 screw size). More on the screen can be found here : https://www.imsfiltri.com/docce/ra200nt/ Another upgrade worth considering is the screw holding the shower-screen. Some users are afraid...