Comments on: WBC Testing – Usability and Grinders

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 23:32:46 +0000

Did these comparisons ever get posted anywhere?

By: ChristianK

ChristianK — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:32:20 +0000

Hi James, I tried to find some more pictures and information about the Rossi. Is it a new model? Do you know where I can get more information? Thank you! Regards Christian

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:06:04 +0000

I am sad that

- Anfim wasn’t part of the grinder test. Word is they wanted to be.

- Mazzer chose to take a pass this year

- Elektra didn’t enter their new Nina grinder

- LM has apparently slowed down the development on their new grinder, and didn’t enter it

I think these grinders would have shaken things up a bit. With the Anfims now shipping from the factory with Phil Search’s timer modification, and the good stuff about the LM and Nina grinders, it would have been a really good shakedown and testbed to see where grinders may be going in the next few years.

Not to take away from the entrants – the doserless Compak has some great potential flawed by a couple of poor design choices (which Compak readily admits and is fixing), and the Mythos and Rossi and K30s all were a lot of fun to use and learn about.

By: James Hoffmann

James Hoffmann — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:01:44 +0000

The frustrating thing with the grinders is that between the 6 models we tested you could find what you wanted in terms of grind quality, distribution from the burrs, heat issues, usability and great control except that no one grinder had them all.

Some manufacturers are very close which is exciting though!

By: Peterj

Peterj — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:45:27 +0000

It’s really exciting that there is now more than 1 horse in this G.O.D. race, I just have to save up to buy more toys for the collection…ouch! Where does one stop in the persuite?

By: rob berghmans

rob berghmans — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:08:18 +0000

sorry mark, but in a commercial invironment : two second for every double dose is a whole lot of time at the end of the day.
you can (re)stack your cups, clean work station, add beans, take milk, reshuffle pitchers, say hello to someone, …
but, it’s true with higher speed the correct dosing gets shaky. with our Mahlkonig we have very irregular grinding doses (plus minus 7% average difference on a single 10 grams shot), which probably would be more stable when the grinder would go slower. Unfortunate Mazzer didn’t compete as i was interested in their upcoming grind on demand machine.

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 09:55:19 +0000

I was going to add, but forgot to:

Really though; when you’re taking the 5-7 second range for a double dose grind, do you really need anything faster? The Anfim does about 18g in about 5 seconds, similar burr stack to the Mythos / NS grinders; My Super Joly takes about 6.5 seconds for the same. Heck, my Ditting takes about 4 seconds to do an 18g press pot grind.

I think once you get below 5, 6 seconds for a double, it kinda becomes moot – I can’t think of things I can do with those extra two seconds ;)

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 09:52:38 +0000

I have that prototype grinder here that NS decided not to enter – the one with the same motor and burr stack that the Mythos has, though the path is horizontal, not 45 degrees like the Mythos.

The grinding speed is very similar – I’d estimate about 3 seconds for a double dose into my favoured Synesso 14g basket (which can hold about 18g – go figure).

Fast rpms plus a really efficient titanium cutting surface = quick grind delivery. All in a package that’s like 1/2 the size of a Robur or Major. Haven’t ground enough coffee to test for heat issues, but one of the ‘geers at this test told me the Ti coated burrs tend to produce a bit less friction heat than hardened steel on its own does.

By: James Hoffmann

James Hoffmann — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:36:37 +0000

Lance – the grinder testing was very, very interesting. Though in testing the Mythos was producing around 18g in 2.5 seconds. Maybe the motor speed is different in the UK?

By: Lance

Lance — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:33:27 +0000

Hi James
Its great to see you testing Grinders as well as machines. We all have the opportunity to bring a grinder of choice to competition. Coffee grinder quality is really improving at the moment and I think in the next 5 years most coffee shops will be using a grind on demand type grinder. I competed at the Bristol heat of UKBC 2008 a couple of days ago and used the Mythos/simonelli grinder. Its a beast of a grinder holding 3.8kg in the hopper. I had it set to dose 14 grams in 3.45 seconds. The judges all wanted to have a first look at the grinder after I competed. I am looking forward to the findings on the various grinders you tested and I look forward to the wave to grind on demand machines that are sure to flood the market place soon. It was a shame you could not be at Bristol. The standard was the best I have ever seen for a regional heat.
Cheers
Lance