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When I reread the instructions it said that use Extra Fine for SOME pump espresso machines (presumably not small ones like mine). I didn't read the instructions carefully when I first used it and and ground it on the Extra Fine settings. I have been having it ground at the store where I buy my espresso beans, therefore having to grind a a lot at one time and not having it freshly ground every day which is better for freshness. So I tried various FINE settings until I found the right one. There is one caveat that I see has been mentioned by some of the reviewers here. This is the first burr type grinder we have owned.
I actually had stopped grinding my own coffee because I could never get it fine enough for my small espresso machine. After making espresso a couple of times, my coffee maker clogged up and I had to take it apart and clean it out. Our old blade grinder finally broke so I bought one for my husband's birthday based on the reviews here and elsewhere. It is very easy to grind coffee TOO FINE for your particular espresso machine. This time I started courser and worked my way to finer so I wouldn't clog up the espresso machine again.Another thing that some others have mentioned: if you are grinding different kind of beans with it like we do, you have to remember to clean it out or you will end up having courser, lighter grinds mixed in with your dark finer ones, because the grinder does leave some coffee behind. He uses it for a french press.
I thought I would give it a try myself, and was amazed at what a great, and fast job it did.
I have found that Capresso products make morning coffee a delight. What a difference. This product is easy to use, not messy or dusty and looks great on a countertop. Who knew that a cup of coffee could taste so much different just by burring the beans rather than grinding them. Not me.
It's just a paperweight now. It worked very well at first. After about a year of use, only on Saturday and Sunday, the motor bound up.
The brush will not remove all of the grounds. It does a very good job of grinding the beans. Overall this is a good grinder. I primarily use it to grind beans for a cone shaped filter, so I cannot attest to its abilities to get very fine grounds. It tends to move out of position, and needs to be moved counter clockwise.As I stated in the beginning, overall it is a good grinder for the money. I will normally remove the bean canister, and give it a sharp smack with my hand over the coffee filter.Next step is to take the top part of the grinder unit (third image) and brush the grinds into a coffee filter. I found that if I tilt the whole unit forward, and give the back of the unit a few whacks with the palm of my hand, it will dislodge quite a few grounds.
You can somewhat see it in the second image. The problem is that there is a channel towards the front of the area (3 O'Clock to 5 O'Clock) where the bean bin rests.
The design of the grinding area was not done for easy clean-up procedure. Whenever I do that, it appears that the bean bin will not fit in like it should.
The unit itself is fairly quiet when compared to other burr grinders. There will be some caught up around the edges of the platform, under the platform, and under the conical burr piece itself.It is possible to pull that whole unit out, but installation is not easy as there are three springs and three ball bearings.The other problem with respect to clean-up is that I have turned the entire unit upside down over a sink to smack it with the palm of my hand in the hopes of cleaning it some more.
You just have to understand that clean-up can be a challenge. The only problem that I have found is that clean-up can be a challenge.
The base unit is the most difficult to clean (second image).
But the Capresso offers substantially better performance for not much more money. With the Capresso, there is very little dust.
It's easy to clean as well. And after several months of daily use, it shows every sign of being a very durable machine.
The Capresso delivers exactly what it promises: a commercial-grade, conical burr grinder at a very reasonable price. I generally use a stovetop espresso maker; if the grind isn't uniform there ends up being a lot of "dust" in the coffee.
If you want a top-notch grinder and don't want to spend hundreds of dollars, the Capresso is a great choice. I previously owned a basic Krups burr grinder, which was reliable and a definite step up from a blade grinder.
With the reduction gearing it is quieter, and the conical burrs deliver a more consistent grind.
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