Rocky....To Dose or Not To Dose?

[floydpink]

Pete,

By "sweeps", are you referring to the putting of tape on the bottom of the vanes?

I've contemplated this and now that there is finally action in the forum, I'm thinking of doing it again.

Speaking of grinders, I am on a twice a year program where I open up the grinder and really get into the burrs for a good cleaning.

This was how I fried my Gaggia grinder as I locked up the burrs putting it back together and it cooked the machine when I turned it on.

That was the end of inferior grinders and pushed me into the prosumer model which is a breeze to clean and doesn't have all the pieces and plastic of the "almost good enough" grinders. It sucked at the time, but was a blessing in the end as I'd probably still be tinkering with the Gaggia and getting good grinds occassionally instead of every day.

I've also made damn sure to heed the importand advice of NEVER adjusting burrs WITHOUT the grinder running.

I've heard of some running white rice through the grinder to clean, but prefer to really get inside and use stuff like a cigar draw tool to make those burrs shine.

PS. The Super Jolly is a worthy contender for one of the best grinders out there IMO, but how the heck do you fit the hopper anywhere near a counter?

I'm under the impression that the Mazzer mini took the lead from the Macap M4 and trimmed down the SJ's hopper but is essentially the same as the SJ in all other aspects, but of course could be wrong.

[Blueface]

I am chuckling reading and learning all this "new" stuff to a guy that has grown up drinking espresso.
Heck, I remember when we made it by straining hot water through a filter holding coffee, while over the stove top, into a pot.
Things have come a long way.
Wife now ticked off and telling me she didn't want a coffee machine that created work. She wanted one to brew espresso.
Promised her I will do the maintenance.

[floydpink]

Originally Posted by Blueface

I am chuckling reading and learning all this "new" stuff to a guy that has grown up drinking espresso.
Heck, I remember when we made it by straining hot water through a filter holding coffee, while over the stove top, into a pot.
Things have come a long way.
Wife now ticked off and telling me she didn't want a coffee machine that created work. She wanted one to brew espresso.
Promised her I will do the maintenance.

Funny.

My wife comes from a part of Brazil where it is traditional to fill a mesh sock with coffee grinds and submerge it in a boiling pot of water. It's actually great.

I heard all kinds of stuff when my machine, grinders and everything else started showing up and taking over a counter.

She never really took a liking to the milk drinks of espresso as she finds it way too strong and prefers her drip. I roast 1 lb light for her every week and one dark for me.

The work is actually very minimal.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by floydpink

Funny.

My wife comes from a part of Brazil where it is traditional to fill a mesh sock with coffee grinds and submerge it in a boiling pot of water. It's actually great.

I heard all kinds of stuff when my machine, grinders and everything else started showing up and taking over a counter.

She never really took a liking to the milk drinks of espresso as she finds it way too strong and prefers her drip. I roast 1 lb light for her every week and one dark for me.

The work is actually very minimal.

When I reference a "filter", it was almost what you state of the sock.
It was actually a piece of cloth.

[Blueface]

Mr. Rocky is in Jacksonville since the 25th, taking a rest I gather from his long trip to my house.
Monday, Monday. Come on already!

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by floydpink

Funny.

My wife comes from a part of Brazil where it is traditional to fill a mesh sock with coffee grinds and submerge it in a boiling pot of water. It's actually great.

I had a Puerto Rican girlfriend that made coffee that way. It was quite good, I must admit. It was made with fine ground popular latino coffee brands, does not matter. Can only imagine done with fresh ground.

I like using the Rocky to make Turkish coffee when someone reminds me to make it. I shell the cardamon seperate and mix in. Sometimes, if the grinder is low on beans, I'll grind cadamon with the beans which is the proper way.

[Blueface]

Wow!
I am a believer now.
What a difference in the grind.
Came set to 8.
Didn't search zero.
Didn't have time as needed to run to a conference call and was dying to try some fresh ground espresso.
Simply dialed to 7 to see what would happen and love the grind at that setting.
Finally got lots of creme and a taste in the coffee only found in Miami cafes.
Man I am in love.
Now I know what you guys have all been raving about.
Wow!

Here is my new toy next to his lover:

[Blueface]

Wow do I get it now.

Learned how to alter my brew time and coffee consistency (richness/strength) by way of changing grind setting.

Played around with all ranges from 7 to 12.
Found that for our taste, with these particular beans, 8 is the way to go.

New tamper should arrive today.
I am all espresso'd out for the day as am typing at twice the speed I normally would.

[replicant_argent]

Originally Posted by floydpink

Pete,

By "sweeps", are you referring to the putting of tape on the bottom of the vanes?
This was how I fried my Gaggia grinder as I locked up the burrs putting it back together and it cooked the machine when I turned it on.

I've also made damn sure to heed the importand advice of NEVER adjusting burrs WITHOUT the grinder running.
I've heard of some running white rice through the grinder to clean, but prefer to really get inside and use stuff like a cigar draw tool to make those burrs shine.

PS. The Super Jolly is a worthy contender for one of the best grinders out there IMO, but how the heck do you fit the hopper anywhere near a counter?

I'm under the impression that the Mazzer mini took the lead from the Macap M4 and trimmed down the SJ's hopper but is essentially the same as the SJ in all other aspects, but of course could be wrong.

Yes, Pete, the vinyl/electrical tape mod to the vanes. I have thought about it, and like to tinker that way, but I really don't get that much waste in the doser. I will probably end up doing it when I am bored during a snowstorm or something.
I have cleaned other grinders with white rice and it seems to work pretty well, and a little brushing and a vacuum afterwards. I have cleaned the SJ thouroughly to get the goo out of the grind chamber when I bought it, (it was a bit sludged up), (there were q-tips, alcohol, bamboo skewers, etc., involved) as a maintenance item, and when I replaced the burrs not too long ago.
As a side note, I was roasting some Taznzanian Peaberry on Monday, and post roast, as I was loading the beans into a storage jar, I found a small rock that had made it through sorting, drying, bagging, MY loading the roaster, and almost missed. That would have toasted my burr set in a hurry and made me very grumpy. Keep a sharp eye out, fellas.

I cut the hopper down on the SJ, not needing a hopper that big in any case, and so I lined up the hopper with the cupboard, taped a metal ruler with Sharpie attached to the bottom edge of the ruler, and spun the grinder around to establish an even line. I then took my Dremel and using the cutoff wheel, I buzzed the line and essentially melted my way through the lexan in a rough cut. I then inverted the hopper and wet sanded the edge on some fairly rough wet/dry paper, cleaned up the edge, and Voila', a custom height hopper.
I have since bought an extra doser lid, and will re-cut the hopper to exactly fit the new lid for a more finished product.

My SJ is used, and has a few nicks in the black paint, and I will probably undertake a painting project on it someday as well, but I don't know what color/finish I would like.

Oh, and I am FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR from any expert on grinders/coffee/er... well... anything....