Problems with my Specialita ...

skylark

Where to start … i,ve just ‘cleaned’ my Specialita down to the burrs and reassembled everything without any issues. Now, just cant get a decent grind despite it working aok beforehand. I’ve found the ‘chirp’ point and backed off an ‘incy wincy’ bit which is as close as i can get and still it’s nowhere near fine enough. Beans are on their way out datewise, being roasted 4 weeks ago now, but can this cause the issue. I’m at the point now where i’m sure the burrs are close enough to touching and when i power the grinder off you definitely get a ‘tinging’ noise, not during the grind itself but just as the machine winds down, so i’m reluctant to move them any closer. Have i missed something here? Just pulled latest shot which started at 3 secs despite there being a further 7 secs pre-infusion, which is my normal setting. The grind just isn’t fine enough. Worth messing with or should i just get a niche 🙂

Cuprajake

When you removed stuff did you mark location, I forget if the burrs can locate in multiple positions with the grinder

MediumRoastSteam

What Jake said. If you removed the burrs, you need to make sure they are sitting properly and aligned/level. If you didn’t remove the burrs from the carriers, then I am not sure.

skylark

I removed and cleaned both burrs, three screws to each. Can’t see that reassembly would be affected? It has crossed my mind to maybe replace the burrs with new although they look in an unused condition to me,

MediumRoastSteam

skylark - the only thing I can think of is that the burrs are misaligned, or you swapped them around, but I can’t see how that should make any difference.

If I were you, I’d repeat the process: take it all out again, clean all the surfaces very well, and re-install the again.

Remember, when tightening the screws, don’t do each individually fully and then move to the next one. Instead, go over all of them gradually.

Good luck.

skylark

Thanks. The burrs were really clean and the screws not that difficult to remove. I’ve not seen any information which advises that burrs need to be re-seated as before after cleaning so i’m guessing its not that. I will remove the cover and recheck all the screws but its because i’m virtually at the touching point and still the grind isn’t fine enough thats the strange thing hmmm?

MediumRoastSteam

skylark - something is not right. So best to revisit what’s been done. 👍 - there’s no reason the burrs got blunt all of a sudden. Something must have happened in the process, and the best way to check is to review the steps.

Or…

Have you removed the chute screen, or maybe didn’t put it back properly?

DavecUK

skylark I will remove the cover and recheck all the screws but its because i’m virtually at the touching point and still the grind isn’t fine enough thats the strange thing hmmm?

Sounds like it’s misaligned for some reason?

Waitforme

As MRS has said, take everything back out and refit. If it’s still not grinding correctly do the felt marker alignment procedure to check that the burrs are aligned 👍

skylark

I’ve had it apart tonite and all ‘looks’ to be ok so its mystifying. I have a low attention span and if a product doesnt work as it should its normally ‘back benched’ until i ‘can’ be bothered to fix it. So, as i need a working grinder i’m starting to look elsewhere. What do peoples think of the DF83 in lieu of a Niche Zero (it should be better, yes, bigger burrs). The DF83 is down in price it seems and a good deal cheaper than even a Duo. I’m thinking a white DF83 will do me for now, anyone able to talk me out of it, quickly?

Cuprajake

The eureka are a poor grinder imo

Df83 will do for the price but for £60 more you get better burrs and Better workflow in the duo but there not in stock I think the white ships end of sept.

skylark

Cuprajake

End of Seotember is the problem so I think I could be taking a punt on the DF83 now that it’s at that £599 price point. Seems a waste to go Niche Zero haven’t they’ve not dropped in.price although I could have one in a couple of days.

JHCCoffee

Fyi, I started with a Barataza Sette 270W. When it died earlier than it should have, I “upgraded” to a Euraka. I personally found it difficult to use and (like you) frustrating to deep clean, sold it within a month and bought a NZ. I also returned my barely used Rancilio Silva (another solid but painful to use machine) and bought my Lelit Elizabeth based upon recommendations from this and other forums. It was a very significant price leap, but it proved be a wise decision. In fact, hindsight being 20/20, I should have bit the bullet and bought a Lelit Bianca, to get flow control. That would have held off my latest purchase of a Decent till later, which will doubtless be followed by a Duo and a Nuri. 😵😋

coffeelover

I cleaned our Specialita last week and followed this video it works a treat now, better than before.

JHCCoffee

Fantastic. Well done 👏and thanks for posting the video.

skylark

Thats a good vid, why didnt i see it before i started. Everything i watched never even mentioned marking the position of the burrs!! Ho hum, damage done it seems so, as well as sourcing a replacement. I’m going to switch the top burr’s positioning to the next screw hole. There’s only three positions relative to the bottom burr so how can i possible go wrong 😆. Last resort is to play that referenced video again, and again again ….. d’oh!! Off to Costa tomorrow ….

skylark

well, i checked it all again and i cant see any problems other than, as many have mentioned, i have most probably misaligned the top and bottom burrs through carelessness (!). I’m assuming this can all be rectified with a fresh set of burrs, well seasoned. Seems little point for the sake of £25 in messing with the internals and need for shims etc. What do people think?

MediumRoastSteam

skylark - Unless the burrs are actually physically damaged, changing the burrs should not change anything. The burrs themsevles don’t misalign. It’s how they sit in the burr carrier that influences the alignment.

Cuprajake

how old is the grinder?

skylark

Cuprajake

Grinders around 9 months old, looked as clean as a whistle when i dismantled it.

MediumRoastSteam

The burrs are also in ship shape condition but for some reason i’m thinking i’ve ‘moved’ their physical orientation in the carrier and that in itself is the cause of the misalignment, the burrs having ‘settled’ in over the previous 9 months. My mindset was to put a new set of burrs in from scratch and then let them similarly bed in, does that make sense or am i just wasting dosh that could go towards another grinder.

coffeelover

I think I’m right in saying you’ll still need to shim new burrs if you want anything near perfection.