dmauer Senior Member Joined: 30 May 2002 Posts: 7 Location: Boston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Silvia, Olympia Cremina Grinder: Solis Maestro Drip: a Braun of some kind Roaster: I live in a small condo and...
Posted Tue May 31, 2005, 6:48am Subject: My Solis Maestro is screwed up... what to do?
So I've had a Solis Maestro for around 2 years, and suddenly the other day it stopped grinding properly. Specifically, the grind is now hideously uneven, with occasional big chunks of coffee bean coming through, and it's essentially about as useful as a blade grinder.
I don't know where to start looking for problems, or how -- is something wrong with the burr? Does something just need to be adjusted? Do I need to buy a new grinder?
Anyway, if someone knows of something I should look at, please let me know... otherwise, does anyone know a shop near Boston MA that can do repairs on these things?
First thing: How clean is your grinder? When was the last time you took it apart and gave it a cleaning? Every week I take my Maestro apart by removing the hopper and top burr. I then lightly scrape away the built up coffee around the inside plastic near the bottom burr, brush the top and bottom burrs, and take some compressed air to the loose grounds inside. The biggest problem I have is grinds getting stuck in the plastic groves where the top burr sits in. I notice if I turn the hopper too fast while changing grinds I get a buildup which needs to be blown out.
dmauer Said:
... or how -- is something wrong with the burr? Does something just need to be adjusted? Do I need to buy a new grinder?
Since you have had the grinder 2 years now a new set of burrs would be in order. However, it is primarily dependant on how much you use the grinder and at which setting you grind.
Mainly: If you have kept the grinder clean and have used it regularly then I would say check out a new set of burrs. On the other hand, if you are going to get into espresso (or are already into it) down the line I would say save the money you would spend on a new set of burrs and put it towards a better grinder.
dmauer Senior Member Joined: 30 May 2002 Posts: 7 Location: Boston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Silvia, Olympia Cremina Grinder: Solis Maestro Drip: a Braun of some kind Roaster: I live in a small condo and...
Posted Tue May 31, 2005, 1:49pm Subject: Re: My Solis Maestro is screwed up... what to do?
Thanks... Actually, I figured it out... one of the little plastic tabs that holds the upper burr in place had snapped right off.
Krazy glue, it turned out, was all the situation required.
Anyway: I'd say 2 days out of 3 I just grind up a few cups worth of drip, but we've got a Silvia that gets a workout whenever we're not in a big rush to make it to work on time. Hopefully we'll upgrade the grinder eventually, but for now we're broke, so our old burrs will just have to do.
Silvia still manages quite a nice ristretto despite the Maestro's age -- not perfect, but better than most of the coffee shops nearby -- so I think we can hold off a little longer on dropping $250 on a grinder :)
duckman Senior Member Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 97 Location: Las Vegas, NV Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Carezza Grinder: Solis Maestro Plus Drip: Bodum Brazil, Kenya, and... Roaster: Wear-Ever PopcornPumper
Posted Tue May 31, 2005, 2:19pm Subject: Re: My Solis Maestro is screwed up... what to do?
dmauer Said:
Thanks... Actually, I figured it out... one of the little plastic tabs that holds the upper burr in place had snapped right off. Krazy glue, it turned out, was all the situation required.
Great! I'm glad things are working for you now. I totally forgot about those tabs. They can be a pain sometimes. Every once in awhile I'll pop off the plastic piece that snaps onto the top burr to cleanout coffee buildup and I cringe during the process for fear I'll snap one of them off. Overall I feel I am pretty careful during grind setting changes and cleanings that I shouldn't have any problems. The Maestro does seem to need a little extra TLC to keep it in working order.
Most people say that the Maestro isn't suited for espresso usage, but I seem to be able to make a decent espresso using it. However, I am starting to have upgrade fever already. :) I think I'll have to hold out for awhile though since I just bought everything in Nov. :(
dmauer Senior Member Joined: 30 May 2002 Posts: 7 Location: Boston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Silvia, Olympia Cremina Grinder: Solis Maestro Drip: a Braun of some kind Roaster: I live in a small condo and...
Posted Tue May 31, 2005, 2:22pm Subject: Re: My Solis Maestro is screwed up... what to do?
One must remember that to many on this board, "not suitable for espresso" means "will not produce espresso that is so freaking perfect you'll die." The maestro will grind well enough to make a good espresso. At least, mine always has. I've had *better* espresso at excellent coffee bars. But we're talking minor differences here. :)
JR Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2003 Posts: 1,807 Location: Germantown, TN (right next to Elvistown) Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Old Coffee Gaggia (x2.5) Grinder: Cunill Tranquilo Drip: the late Melitta Clarity... Roaster: GG/UFO
Posted Tue May 31, 2005, 2:52pm Subject: Re: My Solis Maestro is screwed up... what to do?
Wish I'd kept my burr carrier after I replaced the original burrs. I could have made one person happy, anyway. Think I threw it away.
"Not suitable for espresso" described my machine well, I thought--but I guess that means different things to different folks. Mine, after all the tinkering and tweaking, blasted a watery double in about 8 seconds, no matter how hard I tamped. I don't know anyone who would would call that "good". With loads of foamed milk, it could surpass $tarbucks, but that's no major feat.
Posted Tue May 31, 2005, 3:23pm Subject: Re: My Solis Maestro is screwed up... what to do?
The SMP, if cared for properly and paired with great beans, proper technique and a good machine, can produce excellent shots--though perhaps not God shots (but I *have* pulled a couple by divine accident). You need at least a Silvia. If you are getting eight-second pulls no matter what you do and the grinder is clean and set properly, other factors must be at play--stale beans, too cool brewing temp, too high pump pressure, too light a tamp (have you used a scale to test your tamp?), and probably channeling. Your rebuilt Gaggia may not be up to the task any more without a serious grinder upgrade--and manybe not even then. Usually, the rule of thumb is to go prosumer on the grinder even if your machine is strictly consumer-level--but that assumes your machine is in tip-top shape.
Sandy www.sandyandina.com ------------------- Life's too short to drink lousy coffee, play crummy guitars and write with ballpoint pens.
JR Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2003 Posts: 1,807 Location: Germantown, TN (right next to Elvistown) Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Old Coffee Gaggia (x2.5) Grinder: Cunill Tranquilo Drip: the late Melitta Clarity... Roaster: GG/UFO
Posted Tue May 31, 2005, 7:57pm Subject: Re: My Solis Maestro is screwed up... what to do?
ChicagoSandy Said:
The SMP, if cared for properly and paired with great beans, proper technique and a good machine, can produce excellent shots--though perhaps not God shots (but I *have* pulled a couple by divine accident). You need at least a Silvia. If you are getting eight-second pulls no matter what you do and the grinder is clean and set properly, other factors must be at play--stale beans, too cool brewing temp, too high pump pressure, too light a tamp (have you used a scale to test your tamp?), and probably channeling. Your rebuilt Gaggia may not be up to the task any more without a serious grinder upgrade--and manybe not even then. Usually, the rule of thumb is to go prosumer on the grinder even if your machine is strictly consumer-level--but that assumes your machine is in tip-top shape.
Nobody said SMP, but I guess that's irrelevant anyway--same burr set. I'm assuming this reply was to me, since it refers to a rebuilt Gaggia. That's kinda backward, isn't it? My Gaggia is (was) blasting shots in 8 seconds, so I should switch to a Silvia? No, that just means the grind was not fine enough. This problem went away completely when the Maestro went away. The Gaggia does an excellent job paired with the Tranquilo that replaced the Maestro.
dmauer Senior Member Joined: 30 May 2002 Posts: 7 Location: Boston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Silvia, Olympia Cremina Grinder: Solis Maestro Drip: a Braun of some kind Roaster: I live in a small condo and...
Posted Tue May 31, 2005, 8:04pm Subject: Re: My Solis Maestro is screwed up... what to do?
JR Said:
Mine, after all the tinkering and tweaking, blasted a watery double in about 8 seconds, no matter how hard I tamped. I don't know anyone who would would call that "good". With loads of foamed milk, it could surpass $tarbucks, but that's no major feat.
Based on what I've seen here, I would turn that around...
There are simply some good Maestros out there.
Sorry for the flurry of edits, but I wanted to add this: I agree with Donald, perhaps new burrs are in order. The replacement burr comes with the plasting burr carrier, so that would be replaced at the same time. I doubt that Krazy Glue will last long.
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