Posted Sat Oct 11, 2008, 9:22pm Subject: Grind setting for Rancilio md50 with Starbucks Barista Machine
Hello Everyone
I recently got a Rancilio md50/st used off ebay. The other day I stripped it down to it's bones and cleaned everything. It works wonderful now and 150% times better than my blade grinder. Way better!
My question is how fine should I grind to get a 23 second shot that would make a decent shot on a starbuck barista (like the saeco)? I tried several setting but still haven't found that sweet spot. My first attempt was too course and I had a watered down shot. And my second attempt clogged up the machine and took along time to make a shot. Any tips for me would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!
Posted Sun Oct 12, 2008, 6:33am Subject: Re: Grind setting for Rancilio md50 with Starbucks Barista Machine
Hey Kyle, I've never used your grinder, have used the Barista, but the process for dialing in a grinder is the same reguardless of setup.
When dialing in the grinder, it's important to make sure all other variables are the same; make sure your grind dosage (by weight) is the same and make sure your tamping is consistant each time. ONLY the grind setting should be changed.
You can tell if the grind is close by feeling it; it should feel a like sugar or just a little finer. If it feels like kosher salt, you'll know that's way too coarse and if it feels like powder, you'll know its way too fine. I'd suggest feeling it to at least know you're in the range. Then pull a shot! If the first shot is too coarse, don't make huge jumps "searching" for the right setting, but rather dial the grind down in small increments. Second shot still too fast? dial down some more. Keep dialing down in small amounts until you get the desired shot time.
I'm not too familiar with you grinder other than it's really BIG; so get to know how the adjustment works on it. On my Macap, a small turn of the adjustment know results in very fine movement of the burrs where as my virtuoso has a relatively large burr movement from a slight turn of the of the adjusting hopper. If your adjustment makes relatively large changes in the grind, you'll need to be pretty careful to make small adjustments and obviously if you need to make large adjustments to see a difference, you'll know you have some forgiveness in it.
Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 3:46am Subject: Re: Grind setting for Rancilio md50 with Starbucks Barista Machine
Thanks Joel! I'll definitely give that a try today. Yeah, it is a really large machine but from stripping it down the other day I know it is built to last. I'll probably last a long time before having a problem. The MD50 also allows for small adjustments as well. When I was putting it back together I made the zero point on the dial be where the burrs are touching almost completely. And from what I have done I went from 8 (which was too fine) to a quick 45 (too course). I also tried 20 and it was still too fine. So I guess i have between 20-45 steps to find that sweet spot. But I will take your advice and especially dial in small increments. Thanks again! :)
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