KCbean Senior Member Joined: 9 Jan 2005 Posts: 1 Location: Pincher Creek, AB Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Silvia on the way Grinder: ? not sure yet Drip: starbucks aroma grande
Posted Mon Jan 10, 2005, 10:35pm Subject: Anybody use Capresso Infinity with the Silvia?
Hi everyone, this is my first post on the fine site!
I'm going to be receiving my new Silvia in a couple of weeks and I'm trying to make a good decision on the grinder. I've read decent reviews on the Capresso Infinity, other than some coffee grinds left behind and a few small issues, it rates well in the grinding department.
I'm seriously considering the Rocky doserless, and may go that route, but its always good to research and perhaps find a good value. Has anyone used the Infinity with the Silvia, and does it grind fine and even enough? My concern is the Silvia maybe needing lots of grind adjustment etc.
This machine will be a big step up in quality for me, I'm looking forward to trying to get some good shots. I like the milk drinks so thats why I went for the silvia over the gaggia and others, hoping it will put out a bit more steam.
buzzmccowan Senior Member Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 183 Location: Dundas, Ontario Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Vibiemme DS home / LM GS3... Grinder: Mazzer Mini home / Anfim... Drip: Chemex Roaster: Diedrich IR12
Posted Fri Jan 14, 2005, 1:32pm Subject: Re: Anybody use Capresso Infinity with the Silvia?
My first post too,
My Silvia is going to arrive next week from esspressotec in Vancouver. It is replacing my Capresso Ultima that died last week. It wasn't really up to snuff to begin with, so I didn't even investigate fixing it (it doesn't appeal to the ritualistic nature of making a great coffee either...hence, the Silvia). Problem is, my wife got me the Capresso Infinity grinder for Christmas. Only after ordering the Silvia did I find out that it might not be the ideal grinder for the Silvia.
However, I can tell you that the Infinity is a far superior grinder to the first Capresso burr grinder I had. I find the grind very consitent in uniform size. It is much quieter that my other model and seems to produce less static. Having visited the tips section of the wholelattelove.com website, it says that this grinder isn't really compatible with the Silvia because it lacks a wide range of grind adjustments. There are 16 marked positions from the finest to the most coarse. However, these positions don't "click in" they are merely reference points for future reference. I sucessfully could grind between the marks without any problem. The only I can't say for sure is wether or not I get a fine enough grind. It looks promising but I don't have previous experience with the Silvia either.
Wait a week and I can tell you if this grinder seems to work alright with the silvia. Although I'll be getting through the learning to use phase, I also have a pretty good idea from the resources available on this site and past exprience (not on the Ultima...another well intentioned gift from my wife) whether or not I'm getting good shots using this grinder. I might have to resort to getting a Zassenhaus hand mill 'cause I've already broken the bank.
Sleepless Senior Member Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 129 Location: New York Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Spaziale S1 VII Grinder: Mazzer SJ, KA Pro Line Drip: Braun FlavorSelect Roaster: Behmor 1600, HotTop
Posted Fri Jan 14, 2005, 2:01pm Subject: Re: Anybody use Capresso Infinity with the Silvia?
I have a Capresso Infinity and a Solis Maestro Plus (which I bought before I knew what I know now about grinders). My espresso machine is a Saeco Classico and I can tell you without a doubt that the Infinity will not grind fine enough for espresso. I now use it for drip coffee grinding. Better to go with all of the solid, experienced suggestions on this site and get a Rancilio Rocky or a Mazzer Mini if you have a decent espresso machine.
- Steve
"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing sound they make as they go by" - Douglas Adams
Posted Fri Jan 14, 2005, 2:07pm Subject: Re: Anybody use Capresso Infinity with the Silvia?
Welcome to CG y'all :-))
You'll find that the Infinity and Solis Maestro PLUS may be capable (sometimes modification is needed) but these grinders aren't really up to thatask of grinding for espresso and will wear out quickly.
Good grinders start at ~$160-$180 (Nemox LUX, Innova i2 and LaPavoni PGC). Rocky is great but there are other alternatives at that price like the NS-MCI (from ChrisCoffee) and the Anfim/Pasquini (available for ~$200 as part of a package deal, but I can't remember the vendor).
Sumocomputers is working on a nice comparison page that has a chart with purchasing links, etc
Posted Sat Jan 15, 2005, 1:48am Subject: Re: Anybody use Capresso Infinity with the Silvia?
Sleepless Said:
I have a Capresso Infinity and a Solis Maestro Plus (which I bought before I knew what I know now about grinders). My espresso machine is a Saeco Classico and I can tell you without a doubt that the Infinity will not grind fine enough for espresso. I now use it for drip coffee grinding. Better to go with all of the solid, experienced suggestions on this site and get a Rancilio Rocky or a Mazzer Mini if you have a decent espresso machine.
This is interesting, since Al Critzer, a professionl who posts over on alt.coffee fairly often, has stated that he uses the Infinity as a traveling grinder to take with him to use on full commercial machines, for demonstrations. I wonder if this could have something to do with the fact that your Saeco isn't pressure regulated, and thus is probably ramping up the pressure to 14 or 15 bar. For instance, I bought a very cheap Delongi machine for a coworker, which I tried here at home first. I had to grind way finer with my Cimbali Jr. for it than I did for Silvia, since Silvia has had the pressure mod. Anyway, its food for thought. :-)
Chris
Please remember CoffeeKids throughout the year: www.coffeekids.org
Sleepless Senior Member Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 129 Location: New York Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Spaziale S1 VII Grinder: Mazzer SJ, KA Pro Line Drip: Braun FlavorSelect Roaster: Behmor 1600, HotTop
Posted Sat Jan 15, 2005, 6:14am Subject: Re: Anybody use Capresso Infinity with the Silvia?
Thanks for the info. I will take a closer look at whats going on. Sorry for any inaccurate info.
I would actually 'rather' use the Infinity, since it is much easier to clean. The Solis, for all of the good reviews I see, has some major flaws - flimsy tabs that can break off, coffee grounds can fall inside the body of the grinder to where the motor is... I actually get a scary amount of coffee falling out of the machine when I invert it after each grinding. It is hard to believe that noone can design a straightforward, easy to use and clean grinder for under $200.
I just got into this espresso 'trap' a few months ago and I am finding out that each time I make a step forward, things get much more complicated.
"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing sound they make as they go by" - Douglas Adams
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