zfjohnson Senior Member Joined: 16 Apr 2005 Posts: 5 Location: Madison, WI Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Isomac Venus Grinder: Solis Maestro Plus Vac Pot: Cory large gasket, Silex... Drip: Chemex, SwissGold One Cup Roaster: WB Poppery I
Posted Tue Jan 17, 2006, 7:48pm Subject: Solis Maestro Plus -- quick question
Hello,
Just bought a new Solis Maestro Plus. I've only ground a few ounces but am extremely pleased with the results in the french press pot. One issue, though: I've noticed that the hopper is quite hard to turn when it is on the fine side of the dial. That is, it's hard to turn it to the positions between espresso and turkish. Hard, but by no means impossible. The machine is not dirty, and shouldn't be clogged, as I have only ground a few ounces at a course drip setting. It works fine, and I can still dial in these finer positions; it just provides a lot of resistance. Is this normal, or is it something I should worry about? Thanks,
Posted Tue Jan 17, 2006, 8:27pm Subject: Re: Solis Maestro Plus -- quick question
It's normal. If you take it apart and shake all the residual coffee out, it will turn freely. I am very happy with my Maestro Plus. It's low on static (especially if you moisten the beans first). It does a great job for me (drip) but I doubt that it would be good for espresso.
Posted Tue Jan 17, 2006, 9:05pm Subject: Re: Solis Maestro Plus -- quick question
Actually, the SMP is just fine for espresso--I have two and still prefer them for ease of use over my Mini. Clean the grinder, and remember to have it running before dialing down below drip setting.
Posted Wed Jan 18, 2006, 5:56am Subject: Re: Solis Maestro Plus -- quick question
zfjohnson Said:
That is, it's hard to turn it to the positions between espresso and turkish. Hard, but by no means impossible. The machine is not dirty, and shouldn't be clogged, as I have only ground a few ounces at a course drip setting. It works fine, and I can still dial in these finer positions; it just provides a lot of resistance. Is this normal, or is it something I should worry about?
Be sure you don't apply too much force when adjusting the hopper. The burr carrier has two small plastic tabs under it - if those break off you're in trouble! The suggestion to turn the machine on before going to the finer settings is a good one.
TroyR Senior Member Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 404 Location: St. Albert, Alberta Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: bezzera BZ02s Grinder: mazzer rio normale, bezzera... Vac Pot: bodum santos Drip: french press Roaster: i-roast 2
Posted Wed Jan 18, 2006, 6:41am Subject: Re: Solis Maestro Plus -- quick question
I was very happy with my Maestro Plus until recently. I used to only grind for press and vac pot and had no complaints whatsoever. But now I also grind for espresso. Once you adjust the grinder finer than 1/2 way between DRIP and ESP, grinds and bean fragments slip through the gap and work down into the channel in which those little plastic tabs rotate - soon you can't adjust the grinder without taking it apart and cleaning it. This is getting old fast. Time to upgrade I think.
scubadoo97 Senior Member Joined: 24 Jun 2003 Posts: 655 Location: Florida Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Solis SL70 Grinder: Mazzer Mini & Solis Maestro... Drip: French Press/Clarity Roaster: SC/TO
Posted Wed Jan 18, 2006, 4:25pm Subject: Re: Solis Maestro Plus -- quick question
I've never had too many problems with my SMP. The hopper should rotate freely from FP to Turkish with only a little resistance at Turkish. If not you need to clean the upper burr. I use a small toothbrush and brush the outside and inside of the upper burr. I also use a small paint brush to brush around the small dosing vanes in the lower burr then turn it upside down and tap out old coffee. I rotate the sizeing ring so I can operate it without the upper burr and while it's upside down turn it on. A lot of coffee will shoot out as the lower burr spins. Brush the area where the locking tabs fit in the lower section. When it's all clean the hopper will rotate with ease. On average you should do this weekly.
Z Senior Member Joined: 5 Dec 2005 Posts: 32 Location: NY Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Solis SL-70 w/unpressurized... Grinder: Rocky
Posted Sat Jan 21, 2006, 3:08pm Subject: Re: Solis Maestro Plus -- quick question
zfjohnson Said:
Hello,
Just bought a new Solis Maestro Plus...it's hard to turn it to the positions between espresso and turkish. Hard, but by no means impossible. The machine is not dirty, and shouldn't be clogged, as I have only ground a few ounces at a course drip setting. It works fine, and I can still dial in these finer positions; it just provides a lot of resistance. Is this normal, or is it something I should worry about? Thanks,
I just got a SMP myself. The Operating Instructions state: If the grinder has been filled with beans, the grinding control must only be operated with the motor running.
A caution on a supplemental safeguards sheet reads: "To avoid damage to the grinder, the grind setting should only be adjusted when the grinder is running with beans in the hopper".
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