Following on from an earlier post, I have been thinking about this - I got the dial gauge out and measured the lateral play in the shaft, at 27 clicks out ( my espresso setting ), the side to side movement is 0.15mm. It occurred to me that this is probably just the movement of the inner burr from touching one side of the outer burr to the other side and does not represent the total shaft play. If that is the case, does it matter what the total play is? Do better grinders control the lateral play to the extent that the burrs never touch from side to side movement?
The Unknown Hand/Electric grinder
So my experience with batteries so far.
I havent used it much (mainly for a single v60 a day, as my wife uses the ode and the moccamaster and I use the niche and gaggia).
I did a full overnight re-charge and it has just cut out this morning having done 6 lots of 15 grams.
It is still showing three lights when started with no load.
As I have a “grinder problem” according to my wife I am not short of alternatives and this one was really only bought for an upcoming road trip/holiday (when will airbnbs start to provide proper coffee kit….) I am not overly concerned, the coffee it produces is good and I can live with sticking it on to charge daily if needed.
My only real gripe would be the locking mechanism for the motor unit which is the wrong way in my head and has now twice nearly caused me to drop things as when checking its on properly it comes apart.
But the coffee is good and thats what counts :)
Norvin It occurred to me that this is probably just the movement of the inner burr from touching one side of the outer burr to the other side and does not represent the total shaft play. If that is the case, does it matter what the total play is? Do better grinders control the lateral play to the extent that the burrs never touch from side to side movement?
I’ve asked them to tighten all the tolerances, especially the lower bearing hole which will help lots..
Norvin Theoretically speaking, when the burrs are under load as in grinding, that should spread the force out evenly and act as a natural form of alignment. Having said that, some higher quality hand grinders are quite tight on tolerance. My Helor 106 has no vertical/horizontal movement at all… provided the bearing pre-load is done just right during assembly anyway, but will spin quite freely.
Thanks.
I dismantled it for the first time to have a look. The fit of the shaft in the bearings is good but the bearings were a sloppy fit in the housings.
I reassembled with a little Loctite 641 Bearing Fit to the housings and there is no play now.
Norvin All that is being tightened up as well. My prototype had a good tight bearing fit.
a month later
What setting do people use for Aeropress - I’ve seen 55 suggestedfor pour over
I measured 55 as pretty fine (25% < kruve 400 - see post above).
Based on this thread:
https://coffeetime.freeflarum.com/d/359-brewed-grind-references
8% kruve 400 would be a 75 on my grinder.
12 days later
I have had to send mine back, used twice a day in the office and it’s not coped.
Teaboy Could you expand a little on that please. I used mine daily initially then put it away. I have been finding that (it might be me being a knacker!) that if I tighten the grind by say half a turn, it was making no difference to the draw time. This meant I could not fine tune to alter the taste. Hopefully, someone will call by soon who is better than I with brewed and we can sort it
dfk41 Yes, sorry apart from the known issue with the slight play in the shaft I was happily using it but had to stop as the lugs are now disintegrating where the motor joins.
I am now looking for a replacement, do you have any recommendations, Kinu, mazzer etc I am unsure as this was my first hand grinder but I don’t want to go wrong twice.
- Edited
Teaboy Ah, how frustrating! I am afraid that I am the wrong person for hand grinders! I think that @DavecUK rated the JX Pro range
https://coffeeequipmentreviews.wordpress.com/2019/11/21/1zpresso-jx-and-jx-pro-hand-grinders/
Teaboy Wow, the picture suddenly makes sense!
I have used mine a reasonable amount and no similar signs.
james65477564 mine I used 2 to 3 times a day every day at work and have done since end July.
Teaboy Strange requirement to go by country, I’d go by features & support.
I don’t think grinders that adjust underneath, without clear visible indication of grind setting are ideal, but I have the Commandante X25 that grinds without too much resistance, finding it better for coarser settings.
There’s also the well regarded Kinu grinders from Germany.
Not sure there is much choice other than the very expensive Mazzer hand grinders from Italy.
Also consider maybe Made by Knock, 1Zpresso, Lido?
MWJB sorry, not specifically going by country, my thoughts are that anything can be made anywhere with the correct specs and materials.
Support is important but I really want a hand grinder that can be used day in day out without needing support, commondante or Kinu as mazzer are pricey, the trouble with Kinu though seems to be supply. I am not sure.
Kinu M47 - German company, but I think the workshop is in Romania if memory serves me right.
Mazzer Omega - Italian company, and presumably made in Italy.
Teaboy Yes, sorry apart from the known issue with the slight play in the shaft I was happily using it but had to stop as the lugs are now disintegrating where the motor joins.
Just seen the photo, can’t believe it, the motor lugs are polycarbonate, how on earth have they damaged the metal??
I will check the prototype one I have carefully tomorrow…especially as the improved production ones should be arriving soon!!
