it's great)

 

Still waiting for it to arrive...royal mail in December is rather poor! I've now found a. Espresso machine, so I'll have to see how easy it can switch between Aeropress grind levels and espresso. Or just learn to brew Aeropress with espresso level grinds!

 

It arrived, but the hopper was fitted during transport and has snapped off, unfortunately also has taken a bit of a scratch from the plug or similar to the side. Bit disappointing.

Just need to work on dialling it in now and look at a new hopper. Have filed a claim with royal mail to cover a new hopper but have a feeling they will say it wasn't packaged well enough.

Wish I'd bought new now!

 

I had one of these paired with my Gaggia Classic - first proper feeling of real coffee and it was great
The results I got were really good for espresso although as everyone else will say a Mignon is difficult to dial in to a new bean or to finely adjust as the beans age.
A great starting grinder though - good luck
Neil

 

How do I tell if the burrs are worn? I'm struggling to pull a shot that takes longer than 10seconds, with my cheap hand grinder I can get in the region of 30seconds?

I've tried adjusting it and it's making no difference. I've just tried to do an alignment to see if that will help and again, 10 seconds is all I'm managing.

I have the burrs making contact, turning by hand, with the dial pretty much on zero. I've just done a shot on #2, and a shot on #1 and it's exactly the same as before the alignment. I'm staring to think this "mint" machine is in fact well used and needs a new set of burrs.

 

Sounds like you may need to calibrate the geinder @Tal

Although this is an alignement video, it also shows the calibration - check around 2:55

find that point, and then you could maybe place a little marker (dot or something removable) where the zero landed. The dial numbers are only a point of reference on these grinder I believe, so if the number zero doesn’t land directly as you look at the grinder when the burrs touch and it’s something like 2 reading directly on, don’t worry. Just take the reading from where the zero landed in calibration

 

Cheers jackspro, I spent last night doing that...couldn't get it bang on, but got it reasonably good. Bottom one was out of alignment, as well as the top one.

I'm thinking I need new burrs, I'm using supermarket coffee, I know that will make a difference, however I used the same beans in a Hario hand grinder I have and had far better results in the same espresso machine.

 

@Tal

are you able to hear your burrs chirp?

 

Yeah, if I run the machine while adjusting it closer, it will chirp. I followed a video that explained that, which then suggested making it coarser by 2 notches and using that as the starting point for dialling in. Same results.

I then followed the video you linked above in a hope to improve it. I did move the "zero" point slightly with my alignment, but ultimately the same extraction times were achieved at the machine.

 

Ok, you see where it chirps, back off the slightest amount to just stop any chirping and no more (not the 2 notches mentioned above) grind a dose and report back!

What amount are you dosing? assuming that's correct for your basket? are you using a 0.1g scale?

 

I believe the Fracino Cherub double basket is 14g, so I've tried shots at 14g and then tried 18g in the hope of adding some resistance to the basket that way. But it made no difference.

My scale is not accurate to 0.1g, I need to get one, but I used the same scale/measurement for a hand ground shot and had reasonably good results.

I will try that this morning though see how I get on.

 

Ok, you see where it chirps, back off the slightest amount to just stop any chirping and no more (not the 2 notches mentioned above) grind a dose and report back!

I will try that this morning though see how I get on.

Following on those - my thoughts are the '2 notches from chirp' is just taking you back too coarse. I guess its a starting point to get you in the ball park, but with that start point for you, you need to go finer. Looking forward to hear how that goes.

My scale is not accurate to 0.1g, I need to get one, but I used the same scale/measurement for a hand ground shot and had reasonably good results.

That will help things so much.

As a side - it takes quite an amount of coffee to have the burrs done out.

 

Understood.
It could well be the supermarket beans I bought to try and dial in the machine before the decent stuff arrives, maybe it just can't grind them?
Just odd that the cheap Hario hand grinder can almost turn supermarket beans to flour consistency (it takes forever....)where as this barely feels close.

 

where as this barely feels close.

I have a feeling the grinder may just be too coarse at 2.

It could well be the supermarket beans I bought to try and dial in the machine before the decent stuff arrives, maybe it just can't grind them?

Bean to bean changes your grind setting no doubt, but the Eureka should have no short comings there.

The Cherub is also most likely running 15 bar which is quite high and will need a fine grind.

Also a 1g dose discrepancy could have a fair impact at 14g.

 

I have a feeling the grinder may just be too coarse at 2.


Bean to bean changes your grind setting no doubt, but the Eureka should have no short comings there.

After the alignment, I tried at setting +2 and at +1. But not at zero. Going to give it a bash now. Machine warming.

 

Sweet- go til it chirps, then take it off chirp the slightest bit, just til the sound disappears. Can you put a little mark where the zero is when the burrs touch?

 

Ok, so grinder set at less than +0.5 from "zero", overshot slightly in the basket. 15g.

I went to town on it with a cocktail stick to try to remove what I think was rather a lot of clumping. Tamped it reasonably firmly. And I managed a shot in 27seconds for a 30g pull.

Seems a lot better. Thank you. Was getting rather frustrated last night. The puck was very wet. Should I add more coffee? I've read on here some people squeezing 18g of coffee into the stock basket.

Lots of room for improvement still:
My tamp is 57mm, basket is 58mm, though I watched the seller of the Fracino make a great shot with the same kit, I need better scales that I can fit on the machine, and I need better beans.

 

And I managed a shot in 27seconds for a 30g pull.

Excellent work. How did it taste? Tamping pressure doesn't have too much effect.

Seems a lot better. Thank you. Was getting rather frustrated last night. The puck was very wet. Should I add more coffee? I've read on here some people squeezing 18g of coffee into the stock basket.

No the wet puck is fine, it can sometimes happen with a fine grind... nothing to really worry about. Updosing - it depends if your puck fouls on your shower screen from over dosing. Also, your basket is recommended dose which you should generally try to stay within +/- 1g. I'd suggest looking to upgrade your basket to something like a VST 18g.

Lots of room for improvement still:
My tamp is 57mm, basket is 58mm, though I watched the seller of the Fracino make a great shot with the same kit, I need better scales that I can fit on the machine, and I need better beans.

58 is ideal for sure. Scales will help no end. Beans too - raw ingredients often overlooked in this rabbit hole!

 

Also, your basket is recommended dose which you should generally try to stay within +/- 1g. I'd suggest looking to upgrade your basket to something like a VST 18g.

Picked up an 18g VST as reccomended, will be giving a go tomorrow.

Is 58.5mm seen as the go to tamper size for these baskets? I went ridged if that matters?

 

Will an 18g VST make a big difference? If so I'll buy one and get a tamper to fit that basket instead rather than the stock one. 58.4mm right?

My Rave order has shipped so hopefully I'll have it by Tuesday!

 

VST basket may challenge you again but once you’ve cracked it again it will work better. Dialling in and weight of coffee just start again and understand these figures for the VST.
What beans did you order from Rave?

 

I ordered a kg of Fudge Blend no5, that's what the guy who sold me my Fracino Cherub used, so I thought I'd start with the same beans and try to achieve similar results!

Is there a preferred supplier of VST baskets? Seem a big range in prices. Unsure if some are authentic or not?

 

Is there a preferred supplier of VST baskets? Seem a big range in prices. Unsure if some are authentic or not?

They should be about £30-35.

 

How long should it be rested after roasting date as a general rule?

Are larger baskets more difficult to pull than smaller ones?

 

How long should it be rested after roasting date as a general rule?

Like maybe a week to 10 days off roast.

Are larger baskets more difficult to pull than smaller ones?

Larger doses are harder to extract.

 

Like maybe a week to 10 days off roast.



Larger doses are harder to extract.

Nice one, so by the time the beans arrive they might need half a week or so. What will the effect be if I used them within that first week? Taste or difficulty when doing a shot?

Are larger doses more difficult to dial in?

 

So I've been using the damaged hopper since it arrived, I simply attached it back together using a smear of super glue and it appears to be holding up.

However it annoys me that it is damaged so will likely replace. Has anyone fitted a single dose hopper/bellow with good results?

 

Oh, wanted to say thanks to everyone in this thread, really helpful all of you. Very much appreciated

 

What will the effect be if I used them within that first week? Taste or difficulty when doing a shot?

I generally find them hard to get anything out of. Other signs can be quite a foamy crema.

Are larger doses more difficult to dial in?

Yeah, just generally a little harder comparatively.

Oh, wanted to say thanks to everyone in this thread, really helpful all of you. Very much appreciated

 

Hi again!

Has anyone with a Eureka Mignon tried the grind dial kits on Etsy? Are they a gimmick or do they work well? Do they fit snuggly etc?