The Zerno has arrived 🙏

Definitely looks a lot nicer in proportion than the Philos.

I’ve no plans to change as I’m incredibly pleased with the Philos and Hoffman’s very honest review of the Z1 confirmed my position on that, but it does make you wonder why the Philos is so enormous when the Zerno is basically the same grinder but far smaller and neater looking.

@drdre89 are you in the UK?

What was the final cost if you don’t mind me asking?

MattH did exactly the same 🐔

I own a Kafatek MC5, my buddy owns a Kafatek Max, my other buddy owned a Zerno. We all got together and did a grinder swap and coffee tasting. Conclusion in short form was the Zerno just isn’t in the same league, from build quality to coffee flavor, and was sold the following weekend. The 98mm flat outshines the smaller burrs in flavor separation and clarity on lighter to medium roasts and the 71mm conical outshines in body and taming bitter astringent medium to dark roasts.

Then there’s the whole build quality and motor differences conversation but again, the Zerno doesn’t really belong at the table of 2-3k grinders.

I don’t own a philos but the motor difference between it and the zerno is enough for me to say the philos is better built. I think I have an electric pencil sharpener with a quieter more powerful motor than the zerno

Interesting view. Thanks for that. 👌

Yeah agree, the zerno was 2k us$ with all the burr options and case and everything so not wildly out of range of the mc5, plus the wait was longer for the Z but again I agree it’s not worth bringing up as a comparison

What I do not understand, is if is just another 64mm grinder using widely available burrs, what makes it stand out at the price point? I mean coffee is about taste, burrs are about taste. After that, it is aesthetics and type of motor etc etc. It is a bit like going to Harrods and paying £2.25 for a Mars Bar

The reason I bought the Kafatec was the burrs. The big Mazzer conicals are not in many grinders that single dose and tick all the needed boxes. Of course, then when I decided to make my mind up for once and all and started to research the grinder I realised the MC6 had switched out to their own in house designed exotically names Shuriken burrs. On paper their rationale sounds good but they have not convinced me yet that the flavour profile is suited to my taste buds. Perhaps using the Zero for so long, I just need a bit of time. As far as looks go it is industrial but does not float my boat one way or the other. So my earlier point was if you can buy the same burrs in multiple grinders, why choose the one that you did. The answer seems to be looks and belief in opinion pushed on you by others. But money and choice makes the world go round and remember, you do not have to justify your purchases to anyone except the mrs!

dfk41
Assuming two grinders can both single dose and take a specific size of burr, after that maybe we’re just buying workflow, build quality, longevity and perhaps a brand name but in theory the same taste of end product.

Dusk An interesting point and extremely rational……but is that the case? If you ask ten people to watch a video of a robbery, then ask what colour the van was they pulled up in, you might be surprised at the varying answers

Another reason I like the Philos. Yes it’s 64mm but had a (very good!) new burr designed specifically for it.

Did I mention I like the Philos? Wasn’t sure if I’d mentioned it at all yet. 😅

HarveyMushman ill admit i only skim watched, after his duo vid i kinda lost a bit of respect for him..

@Adrianmsmith

😂

I definitely think the Philos looks great, it’s just very large. But that exact sentiment could be applied to pretty much every Mazzer grinder.