fanchee Senior Member Joined: 26 Aug 2006 Posts: 12 Location: TX Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Andreja Premium Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Posted Wed Sep 6, 2006, 2:03pm Subject: New Mazzer Mini problems... please help!
I got my new Andreja and Mazzer Mini yesterday. I set it up today and started playing around with it. I'm horrible, but that's not my problem. :)
My problem is, after pulling several shots and then adjusting the grind a bit (while it was running, per Chris' tech support)... now the grinder isn't grinding any beans! There are plenty of beans in the hopper, but when I turn it on, it sounds like it's grinding, but nothing is coming out. My beans aren't particularly oily, and they are fresh from a local roaster.
Before anyone asks, I did turn the grinder ON (the timer) while making adjustments, again per Chris' tech support. Any ideas? Thanks!
P.S. I do love the Andreja, it is so sweet! My skills are totally lacking, and I mean I suck bigtime. LOL. But I'm enjoying learning!
fanchee Senior Member Joined: 26 Aug 2006 Posts: 12 Location: TX Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Andreja Premium Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Posted Wed Sep 6, 2006, 4:18pm Subject: Re: New Mazzer Mini problems... please help!
Ok, so I seemed to have fixed it. I read Dan's directions on how to clean the grinder, took a deep breath, and jumped right in. It seems to be fine now. I'm not sure what caused it, if I should avoid those beans in the future? That's what I'm leaning towards right now, unless someone else can jump in with a possible explanation.
Back to the Andreja, it is just beautiful! Way above my skill level, have I mentioned how atrocious I am? It's quite appalling. But I'm having such a blast learning. I do have some newb questions:
How long can I keep the beans in the grinder's hopper and expect them to stay fresh? Days? Or just put enough to grind for that day in?
I bought a few airtight canisters today, will those keep beans fresh, and for how long?
I have been doing some water flushing after I pull a shot, but when I remove the portafilter, I can see coffee on the machine. How often should I be cleaning this off? I tend to be a neat freak on equipment that costs this much.
I never leave any beans in the hopper. Of all the different variables that go into acheiving great espresso, this is simply one more.
fanchee Said:
I have been doing some water flushing after I pull a shot, but when I remove the portafilter, I can see coffee on the machine. How often should I be cleaning this off?
krus Senior Member Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 178 Location: Indianapolis Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Appia Grinder: Robur Vac Pot: Bodum Arabica press pot Drip: Are you kidding?? Roaster: Hot-Top
Posted Sat Sep 9, 2006, 10:39am Subject: Re: New Mazzer Mini problems... please help!
Coffee freshness is very important, however, for beans that are freshly roasted allow about 3 days of de-gassing prior to using them. If you don't allow the de-gassing to occur you won't be able to extract as much flavor from the beans. After this, it is ok to dump them into your grinder, but only as much as you'll be able to use in about the next 5 days. After that they will rapidly deteriorate. For maximum freshness seal up the remainder in vacuum saver bags and toss into the freezer. When you get ready to use them allow them about 2 hours to sit at room temp prior to opening the bag and grinding them. Glass or plastic canister, in my experience, don't help preserve the flavor that much. As far as backflushing, backflush with water at the end of every session, but do a wiggle backflush first to flush the grounds off the gasket and screen. Use detergent about once a week. Good luck.
Posted Sun Sep 10, 2006, 7:31am Subject: Re: New Mazzer Mini problems... please help!
krus is pretty much right on except for putting your beans in the freezer. Coffee should never be put in the refrigerator or freezer. Put your beans in an air tight container and keep in a cool, dark place. I roast my own beans half a pound at a time so they don't get a chance to get stale. As a general rule, fresh roasted beans should rest at least 12 hours. In the case of blends like Malibar Gold, a minimum of 4 days rest is needed to get the beans to a drinkable state. You will have to experiment to see how much rest the beans you are using need. If you are getting your beans from a commercial source, try to get beans with a roasted on date on the package. If you go to a place like Starbucks, their packages have a sell by date that may be as much as 6 or 7 months in the future. Makes you wonder how many months ago the beans were roasted.
Luca Moderator Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 2,639 Location: Melbourne, Australia
Espresso: H: Maver W: FB-80 Grinder: H: Super Jolly W: Brasilia... Vac Pot: Hario TCA-2 Roaster: Sample Roaster at Work
Posted Sun Sep 10, 2006, 8:44am Subject: Re: New Mazzer Mini problems... please help!
Fred1 Said:
As a general rule, fresh roasted beans should rest at least 12 hours. In the case of blends like Malibar Gold, a minimum of 4 days rest is needed to get the beans to a drinkable state.
Yep, there does seem to be a lot of variation. 12 hours is pretty low for the coffee that I have drunk, although I do remember one yirgacheffe that was awesome at that age, or maybe it was even less. I'd always try for more like two days. I would have thought that MG would need a week or so. The Aus Barista Champ's blend tastes best from about day 10 to day 14. It is OK from day seven and drops off really quickly after day 15.
All of this goes to show that it is important to experiment. If I were you, I'd 500g (1lb in your arcane system, right ;P), shove it all in the hopper and drink it from 12 hours post roast until it runs out. After trying this a few times with different blends, you'll quickly have the answer to your questions.
i reckon that sounds excessive. but maybe that's my guilty conscience speaking because i probably clean less regularly than i probably should.
i understood that once a or twice a day for a busy cafe would be enough, that said i should ask how often do you pull a shot - it may only be once a week ;)
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