DrPete Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 1 Location: College Park, MD Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Briel Multi-Pro Grinder: Solis Maestro Drip: Briel Multi-Pro
Posted Fri Dec 9, 2005, 7:05am Subject: Help!! Solis Maestro grinding too fine!
I have a problem with the Solis Maestro I've had for about a year now... The grind has become unmanageably fine. Originally, I set the grinder to the pre-marked "espresso" setting when I made espresso, and it worked fine. Now the same setting will grind the coffee so fine that water will barely pass through the microfilter. I thought it was a problem with my Briel Multi-Pro at first, but then I used an ESE pod and some pre-ground espresso and it worked fine.
It's particularly annoying now, because it just won't grind coarsely enough to get antything that works with my french press. If I dial it up to the "drip" setting I can get a grind that makes decent espresso, but it's just nowhere close for the french press. I've tried cleaning, brushing, etc., and I'm ready to throw the thing out the window.
Posted Fri Dec 9, 2005, 12:18pm Subject: Re: Help!! Solis Maestro grinding too fine!
I wouldn't throw it out.
The machine will come apart. I used to have a Srarbucks Barista which is similar to your machine which I have taken apart and I have had my brother in law's Maestro apart. The case snaps together. First you have to pull the knob off, then with several knives release the catches on the bottom of the case and lift the case off.
There are some plastic parts in the upper burr carrier which may have broken. There have been things posted on the internet to modify the Solis 166 to grind finer for espresso. The effected part is the upper burr carrier which is th same as in yours. Do a Google search for modifing Solis grinders and you should find pictures of the burr carrier.
Baratza used to sell the parts for Solis but they have spun off a company which handles Solis now. They should be able to direct you to the new company.
itinerant Senior Member Joined: 1 Sep 2005 Posts: 899 Location: Vancouver Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Fri Dec 9, 2005, 12:27pm Subject: Re: Help!! Solis Maestro grinding too fine!
You can try disassembling it to inspect & clean it. Hopefully you can fix your problem from there. But your experience also makes the point that one should always overbuy with respect to a grinder. Spend more than half of your total budget on the grinder unless you have already settled on a Rocky, Mazzer or Cimbali. Buy one model higher than you think you need. The grinder is not the place to cut corners & few people will look back & regret having spent a bit more on a good grinder up front. A really good grinder will probably outlast your interest in it & shouldn't be doing strange things even 10 or 15 years down the line.
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