[floydpink]

Why don't you get a cheap kitchen timer and do a trial and error with turning on the grinder, then turning it off in 5 seconds and see how close you are to the proper dose? I bet 5 seconds will be within a second or two of proper dose and the waste should be minimal. You'll use the timer again once you get your espresso machine to get dialed in to 25 second pulls more than likely.

I've had my Macap a few months and still never get EXACTLY the right amount of grinds and end up tossing a little after each session. Just don't leave the old grinds in the doser.

On a side note, if you haven't already picked up a cheap paint brush to sweep out the doser, it really helps, epecially to clear out the chute which is a great place to collect stale grinds. I stick the Shop Vac hoser in the doser and throat once a week as well.

As far as the mess, better get used to that, it's a messy hobby. Keep plenty of hand rags handy and invest in a Dirt Devil little vac for quick cleanup.

For the transfer of grinds without a portafilter and into a cone filter like the one on your technivorm, I would personally put a small plastic tupperware or something under the Macap doser and thwack out the grinds and transfer.

You didn't buy the grinder too early, you saved the expense of upgrading later.

I have an old Krups grinder with cheap burrs that I would feel fine using for drip coffee and it cost me about 20 bucks if I remember correctly, but there's no reason for not using that beauty of a grinder you just bought.