Jmanespresso Said:

Im like Jon.  I order multiple coffees each week, and use them all together.  Sometimes all of them in a single session, sometimes only one of them in a session.  The point is, if I feel like having of the other coffees, its as simple as grabbing that cofee and using it.  Sometimes, depending on the coffees Im using, I can use the same grind setting and just alter the dose.  Sometimes the differences in the type of coffees Im`using is too great to just use a different dose.  But, in the case, its really no different then changing dose per coffee.  I just write down the grind setting Im using as well.  

So, midway through the coffee, each coffee will have notes written about it in my little notepad.  Dose, Grind Setting, Temperature, and Extraction Ratio(Or volume, if Im being lazy).  Ive made markings on the adjustment collar of my Major, so returning to a previous spot is easy.  Every now and then the first shot of a coffee won't be perfect, but for the most part, Ive gotten quite good at using multiple coffees at the same time, with one grinder.



Basically, if you want to use multiple coffees in a session, you either need multiple grinders, or you need to single dose.  If you use one coffee for a time, then switch to something else for a while, filling up the hopper a bit is ideal.

You'll notice that people who stick with one coffee for a while, are often seen using a grind-on-demand grinder.. Like a K30, Capricio, K10Fresh, Mazzer-E, etc etc.  Not always though.  But, these grinders need to have beans in the hopper to work properly, and so you can see, their usage pattern marries perfectly with that type of grinder.

People who use multiple coffees at a time with one grinder, are single dosing.  There really isn't a way around it.  Single dosing is the easiest, with a doser'd grinder.  You have easy access to the chute, so you can keep the chamber clear of whatever coffee your using, so that your next shot, of whatever coffee, is only that coffee.

Its not ALWAYS the case of course, but these different usage scenarios lend themselves to a type of grinder.  I wouldn't buy a K30 to single dose, nor would I buy a Robur to keep the hopper full of beans.  I would however, buy a K30 and keep the hopper full, or buy a Robur and single dose.  Hmm..  Just like Jason, and Jon.  Heh heh.



As to your first shot running slower then the rest, I suspect that is very simple.  Little bit of coffee left in the burr chamber, which is stale, slowing down your shot.  My Major is damn good when it comes to retention.. its almost nothing.  Almost.  After a long idle period, if I turn on the grinder without putting anything in it, a little tiny bit of coffee will come out the chute.  Maybe .3 or .4.  If I forget to do this, my first shot will run slower than it should.  1)there is more coffee than there should be, and 2)the extta coffee is stale.   I would bet you that if you took a little bit of coffee and ground it through the grinder to purge, toss it, and then grind for your shot, your first shot will run properly.  You woulnd't need much coffee to toss...  Take a regular teaspoon that you would use for eating(instead of measuring) and grind that amount through.  Should solve your issue.

Posted February 20, 2013 link

Markarian Said:

Wow, that's a lot to take in. I always spin my grinder dry before each session, especially in the morning. I've heard the Vario is very good about not having a lot of grind retention and sometimes I even flush out a little just to make sure. Again, I've been working primarily with that Peaberry, which may have gone stale. I'm getting better results with other coffees at a lower dose.

What do you mean by Grind-on-Demand and Single Dosing? I've got a Vario-W, which obviously doses by weight. I never keep beans in the hopper, but rather pour in what I'm going to use for each shot.

Posted February 20, 2013 link