Rocky Rancilio or Mahlkoenig Vario

[tazz]

Tazz, try to find a place where you can test both of these grinders, I think it would help

Thanks a good idea, although most of my friends think I'm a geek because I don't drink instant coffee and as certfiable because I choose to grind and not buy ready ground.

I'm happy to go with recommendations from a forum like this, after all we all need someone else to blame for poor decisions

[Miguel]

Tazz, try to find a place where you can test both of these grinders, I think it would help

Thanks a good idea, although most of my friends think I'm a geek because I don't drink instant coffee and as certfiable because I choose to grind and not buy ready ground.

Don't worry, we are all geeks here and you can never have too many coffee related toys

[tazz]

Oh well, the deed is done. An 0rder for a Vario has been placed, having found a highly dubious supplier who seems to knock them out at a reasonable price.

[Stephen Leighton]

I hope you enjoy !!!!

[tazz]

OK, the Vario arrived today (well it arrived earlier this week, but I wasn't at home). Set it up, ran through the complimentary pack of Grindz and a sacrificial shot of beans and now ready to start playing.

I've read the instructions about grind settings and the timer, and having made the first cup using the pre-set settings am about to try experimenting with different settings. Do you have any recommended settings which I should try first?

[Stephen Leighton]

just dive in and see what happens, and play and experiment. There are no rules so get playing

[tazz]

Well I've been using my grinder for just over 3 months and am very pleased with the results. Still not settled on a final "ideal grind" for my coffee and have actually found that because my coffee changes every month that some coffees are better with a finer/coarser grind.

My daily use is for a Bialetti (morning heavy shot) and I use the 1 minute grind. In the past week I have noticed that the grinder is now pausing mid grind, but a slight nudge of the machine re-starts it. But as the timer keeps running I'm getting a reduced dose. Before I pack it up and send it back, is this a known issue and perhaps I'm doing some thing wrong?

[Stephen Leighton]

Sounds like it needs a good clean out if its slowing down the motor

[tazz]

Thanks for the advice.

I've just ordered some grinder cleaner and will see if that makes a difference.