mcaruana Senior Member Joined: 30 Apr 2007 Posts: 7 Location: Central New York Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Silvia (v.2) Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Posted Sat May 19, 2012, 10:32am Subject: Grinder Recommendations for Rancilio Silvia
For the last 7-8 years I have been using a Saeco Classico paired with a Solis Maestro Plus. A month ago, the Saeco died and I replaced it with a used Rancilio Silvia (v. 2) purchased on Ebay. After a major descaling and backflushing, replacing the dispersion screen, group head gasket, and frothing wand, I am very pleased with the Silvia's performance. However, I have also discovered the Solis Maestro is barely able to provide the precisely ground coffee the Silvia requires. So, I am now looking to replace the grinder.
I will keep the Solis Maestro for the occasional pot of drip coffee. I am looking to purchase a dedicated espresso grinder in $300-350 price range. The grinder will see light use --- I pull a couple of double shots daily. From my research, it appears a stepless machine would be an advantage.
The top two grinders I am considering at the Rancilio Rocky doserless and Ascaso I-1 Steel. Both machines seem to enjoy generally good reviews. The Ascaso is stepless, the Rocky is not. I also wonder if the Pasquini Lux is worth considering.
Any feedback or suggestions you can give me will be greatly appreciated.
Posted Sat May 19, 2012, 12:29pm Subject: Re: Grinder Recommendations for Rancilio Silvia
if you have the space and the patience to single dose, a used super jolly would be great for you. you should be able to pick one up at about 350(although you may need to replace the burrs at an additional ~40 bucks).
if you want something smaller maybe a used or refurb Baratza Vario or Preciso. Only thing that concerns me about these is that i constantly read from people that have had to have something fixed or machine swapped. Being on these forums probably magnifies this and likely the majority of machines are fine, though. Good thing is that Baratza definitely stands behind their machines.
mcaruana Senior Member Joined: 30 Apr 2007 Posts: 7 Location: Central New York Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Silvia (v.2) Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Posted Sat May 19, 2012, 3:22pm Subject: Re: Grinder Recommendations for Rancilio Silvia
Thanks for the quick reply. I should have mentioned that I am working with a relatively small kitchen. The space between the counter and upper cabinets is only about 18 inches. Most of the commercial machines, like the super jolly, are up 24 inches tall. The Mazzer Mini might just fit. However, I will take another look at the Vario or Preciso. Thanks again!
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,722 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Mon May 21, 2012, 8:35am Subject: Re: Grinder Recommendations for Rancilio Silvia
Standard kitchen cabinet height is, I'm pretty sure, 17 3/4 inches. There are many grinders that "fit" under there, but most of those require you to slide it out a bit to open the top and add beans - making them horrible for single dosing, if you're going to keep them under the cabinets. The Mazzer Mini is low enough to fit under the cabinets with the hopper in place. If you don't plan to single dose, it's not too inconvenient (IMO) to slide it out, fill the hopper with a few days or a week's worth of beans and then slide it back into position. The Macap M4, what I own, is about the same height and that's exactly how I use it.
Like you, I once had a Maestro Plus paired with the Silvia and found it inadequate. I limped along that way for a couple of years, in fact. This was mainly due to my ignorance, but eventually I learned enough about the process that I realized I needed a much better grinder. I upgraded to the Rocky, I thought since it was designed by Rancilio and got great reviews for being built like a tank (and many people even said it was a great grinder), it must be just what I needed. Also, it looked cool sitting there on the base next to the Silvia. I eventually upgraded and although I know there are much better grinders than what I now own (mainly commercial ones), I am very, very happy with my setup.
Here's my take on the Rocky...It's a pretty good grinder, but isn't in the same class as the Mazzer Mini or the Macap - not even close (IMO). The wide steps of the Rocky sometimes leave you with the incorrect grind setting, no matter what you do (one step is too fine, while the next step over is too coarse). You have to compensate by adjusting dose. This is something you would get used to, but you don't have to - so why do it? For the money, there are better grinders out there. Have you considered the Baratza Preciso?
NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,611 Location: Germany Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Poccino Opus One, Ariete Grinder: Eureka Mignon Istantaneo,... Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Melitta Linea Unica de Luxe Roaster: N/A
Posted Mon May 21, 2012, 8:42am Subject: Re: Grinder Recommendations for Rancilio Silvia
Even though it can grind fine enough, the Rancillo Rocky is not be the best grinder for espresso.
What you need to know is that the steps of this grinder are pretty wide, so when you dial in your grinder it might happen that from time to time you get stuck in between two steps for proper extraction, which can be pretty frustrating. The only way to work around that problem is to modify your dose accordingly by updosing. That might not be a perfect solution, because a difference of 0.2 g can change taste significantly, but a lot of people have to live with this trick.
I'd still prefer a stepless grinder.
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
tracerbullet Senior Member Joined: 13 Feb 2012 Posts: 152 Location: Saint Paul Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Mon May 21, 2012, 12:05pm Subject: Re: Grinder Recommendations for Rancilio Silvia
I'm no expert but my Rocky is fine. The beans I'm currently working with can be run on more than one setting. 8 works with a hard tamp or fuller basket, 7 is about perfect, and 6 is do-able if I barely tamp it at all or use a gram or so less. I get nearish to 2 oz in nearish to 25 seconds at each of these, and while the best setting is in fact best the others are still OK and don't give me bitter or watery or any other kind of espresso. I do have a triple basket so I am free to change my coffee weight easily.
I have recently used a rebuilt Mazzer Super Jolly and aside from it not fitting under the overhead cabinets and the doser being a PITA, I just don't think it did a better job in the end. Yes it's "nicer", yes it's likely more consistent, yes it's stepless, yes it has lots of plusses. But the end result, with the same bean and everything else, is the same fine espresso. Also, I use a bottomless portafilter and I get a pour worthy of a youtube video, once I figured out what I was doing I don't have any jets of water shooting through or any other issues I normally think of as being grind / distribution related.
Maybe I have to put a little more thought into it using my Rocky but I have no complaints with it at all. The lack of being stepless is just not a big deal, and in my experience over several months of daily use the steps aren't as wide as I perceive people to think. I see it get universally knocked and I'm not sure why. I'm sure some have upgraded and were happy, but I'm willing to bet the majority haven't ever owned one. And you'll find some people, me included, that are quite happy with it.
(I'm also quite happy it's not a monster in the kitchen that has to be brushed / blown out and the doser fiddled with every time I want an espresso)
this is exactly what we're talking about...making adjustments to compensate for not being able to adjust the grind closer to what we want -although most would recommend you adjust the dose, not the tamp pressure.
I had one and I was very happy with it most of the time, but I did have to make the adjustments in dose you have to make, and I am much happier with the grinder(s) I now own.
tracerbullet Said:
I'm sure some have upgraded and were happy, but I'm willing to bet the majority haven't ever owned one. And you'll find some people, me included, that are quite happy with it.
yeah, I'm one who upgraded...for the reasons above. I can't speak for anyone else, and for those who love Rocky or are deadset on purchasing one...I agree you can get really great shots once you learn how to compensate.
tracerbullet Senior Member Joined: 13 Feb 2012 Posts: 152 Location: Saint Paul Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Mon May 21, 2012, 3:41pm Subject: Re: Grinder Recommendations for Rancilio Silvia
Agreed w/ all the above. Didn't mean for my reply to look like it centered on your post, BTW.
Just meant that the Rocky isn't as bad as people seem to read and repeat over and over without (many / most) of them ever owning one. As you mentioned it is capable of grinding for great shots. I agree it needs a little more work than others. In my opinion however the compensation needs aren't very difficult, aren't always needed, and at 1/2 - 1/3 the price of a Mazzer, the rocky is fantastic.
(I suppose someone could state a case for a Capresso or even a Krups... but even I have to draw a line somewhere!)
Anyhow in answer to the question there, yes my # range changes with the bean used. I've never gone out of the 6-9 range overall, but I tend to slide up or down the scale with the bean used. What I have right now seems more forgiving than others, sometimes I have 2 quite acceptable choices, sometimes 3 work.
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