scjohnson Senior Member Joined: 25 Jan 2013 Posts: 4 Location: Virginia, US Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Fri Jan 25, 2013, 6:53am Subject: Portafilter doesn't fit in Rocky Rancilio
Hello all,
I just upgraded to a Rocky Rancilio as my 9 year old (cheap) starbucks grinder's motor starting wearing out. I really appreciate the grind, but I still have the 53mm Saeco espresso maker and it's portafilters don't comfortably fit in the holder under the spout of the doserless model. **
I'm getting ready to shim around to try and make it work, but wonder if I can find a portafilter that will fit my old Saeco (53mm) while fitting under the grinder spout like the Rocky's own portafilter. I've only seen the same bulky 53mm versions online, instead of the geometry accompanying the wider portafilters, and wonder if I'm stuck with this frustration.
Of course, the full solution is to upgrade my espresso maker, but (as I suspect people here understand) I need to tread carefully on the frequency of my large coffee purchases to keep the marital happiness.
Thanks for the suggestions,
stephen
** Details: If I put the entire portafilter in there, two shots worth of espresso fills up the grinder's spout and removing the portafilter drops almost half the grinds on the floor if you're not very careful. Putting only the basket under there leaves too much room between the spout and basket, again dropping a large amount of coffee on the floor.
stefano65 Senior Member Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 1,338 Location: Eugene OR Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Vibiemme,Elektra, Grinder: Vario,Macap, Vac Pot: not Drip: not Roaster: not
Posted Fri Jan 25, 2013, 8:13am Subject: Re: Portafilter doesn't fit in Rocky Rancilio
well pull the portafilter fork off (just pull straight out and it will come off) until you find a more permanent solution or you just will get use to hold the portafilter with your hand for the 8-12 seconds it takes to fill the basket up
scjohnson Senior Member Joined: 25 Jan 2013 Posts: 4 Location: Virginia, US Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Sat Jan 26, 2013, 9:17am Subject: Re: Portafilter doesn't fit in Rocky Rancilio
Thanks. That's what I'm doing now. Just took the grounds bucket from the old grinder and it fits ok underneath the spout. It looks a little ghetto, but this is where we are till we decide to get the new espresso maker.
takeshi Senior Member Joined: 12 Oct 2002 Posts: 731 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Silvia Grinder: Super Jolly Roaster: Amaya Roasting
Posted Thu Jan 31, 2013, 2:29pm Subject: Re: Portafilter doesn't fit in Rocky Rancilio
IIRC the fork is held on with screws but it has been a while since I've owned a Rocky. It's a bit too late but I'd strongly suggest a different grinder. Not sure why the Rocky keeps coming up as a good option despite the many recent threads stating otherwise.
Jmanespresso Senior Member Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 2,108 Location: Westchester NY Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Alex Duetto II Grinder: Compak K10 - Vario Vac Pot: Yama-SY5/SY8/TCA5 Drip: V60, Beehouse, CCD Roaster: Hottop B
Posted Thu Jan 31, 2013, 2:59pm Subject: Re: Portafilter doesn't fit in Rocky Rancilio
Well its not terrible.
Its just not great.
And for what it costs, you can easily get something much much better. But if Rocky is what you've got, you can certainly develop technique and enjoy good espresso while you save to upgrade.
Follow Your Bliss
Coffee makes your constantly overcome your prejudices and re-evaluate your own "received wisdoms" when it comes to judging cup flavors. -Tom Owen, SweetMarias
Posted Thu Feb 7, 2013, 8:11pm Subject: Re: Portafilter doesn't fit in Rocky Rancilio
I took the hacksaw to the spout with excellent results. Best results with a coping saw, after you gently squeeze the spout into a vise using rubber protectors, and mark the cutoff line with a needle.
After that i used a file, then 400, then 1000 grit sandpaper and rubbed the entire spout with 1000 grit, for that super pro look when i applied black automotive touchup paint from Autozone (it beats Valspar's big spray cans for small projects).
Really after the sawing off and the spout blackout Rocky doserles finally looked like a serious piece.
Rocky doserless serving faithfully close to 8 years now next to a Hamilton Beach Ulka pump Walmart $50 thermoblock machine for those brief lunch breaks, laugh but it beats the Handpresso i take on our vacations.
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