On the prowl for a new grinder.....

Cuir_Beluga

Hi all, as it says, I am on the look out for a new grinder. My birthday is coming up and my family are usually quite generous with cash presents so I figured I may as well start thinking ahead 😛.

I have narrowed it down to the Compak Touch, Macap M2D or the Macap M2M.

So what say you all? The good, the bad and the ugly.

Also feel free to suggest anything else in the same price bracket. I could be tempted to spend a bit more if something is well and truly worth it.

3,2,1.....Go

Brett_H

I would also look at the Eureka Mignon. The M2M looks great!!

GeekKopi

Hi Sue. I posted a quick review on the m2m in the grinder section. Basically it's a neat little package with minimal electronics and with fine stepped adjustments. I 'upgraded' to this grinder from the mazzer mini manual. I also looked at the compak gbut their look didn't appeal to me. The compak is stepless and the m2m isn't but the steps are small and you can always compensate with the tamp.

Cuir_Beluga

I have been looking at the Mignon too Brett and can honestly say it stands a good chance of coming home with me 😛. I will re-read your review GeekKopi. Can I ask why the Compak didn't appeal? That is the one I am leaning towards- stepless and burrs vs stepped and blades.

GeekKopi

Cuir Beluga wrote:

I will re-read your review GeekKopi. Can I ask why the Compak didn't appeal? That is the one I am leaning towards- stepless and burrs vs stepped and blades.

It was simply a matter of styling. The Macap just looked better (to me). Performance wise in the cup? Same difference.

Cuir_Beluga

Great, thanks Geek 🙂.

GeekKopi

Cuir Beluga wrote:

Great, thanks Geek 🙂.

here are some pics of it. Don't mind the pink decorations you see in the background. It's baby shower day.

Cuir_Beluga

Oooohh, so nice and shiny. Lovely pics thanks Geek. It looks kind of tall 🙂. What if a boy pops out :o?

GeekKopi

Cuir Beluga wrote:

Oooohh, so nice and shiny. Lovely pics thanks Geek. It looks kind of tall 🙂. What if a boy pops out :o?

Not tall at all Sue. It's just the camera angle. It's a bit shorter than my espresso machine. Boy? Then we're screwed. It's all good. DNA tests and ultrasounds show it's a girl.

Cuir_Beluga

Goodo, thanks Geek 🙂. I wanted 3d scanning done but then figured we would see a little too much so didn't do it 😛.

GeekKopi

Cuir Beluga wrote:

Goodo, thanks Geek 🙂. I wanted 3d scanning done but then figured we would see a little too much so didn't do it 😛.

Same here. My wife thought about 3d scanning but then it would give away too much. We already found out the baby's sex so the only surprise left is how she looks.

Brett_H

I'm not a fan of all of the lower-numbered Compkas. To much collar movement in the K3 I owned and others I've used. By the time you start geting into great ba g for buck territory you're at a pretty pointy end and they don't look aesthetically pleasing there either. Having said that every grinder has its idiosyncrasies and will demand an interim learning-curve.

Cuir_Beluga

I waited until they were born to find out what they were. Matt I had a gut feeling he was a boy but Ben I was all over the place, first I thought he was a girl and then around 6 months I thought probably a boy because his movements were brutal. I used to squeal at times ;D.

Cuir_Beluga

Brett H wrote:

I'm not a fan of all of the lower-numbered Compkas. To much collar movement in the K3 I owned and others I've used. By the time you start geting into great ba g for buck territory you're at a pretty pointy end and they don't look aesthetically pleasing there either. Having said that every grinder has its idiosyncrasies and will demand an interim learning-curve.

Thanks Brett for that, you may just have saved me a few $$. Funny, I too think the pricier they get the less easier on the eye they get. Not all of course but some I have looked at.

GeekKopi

I too share that view point except for when it comes to the Elektra Nino (large conical). I think it's the bees knees.

Cuir_Beluga

That is nice Geek, very nice 🙂. Anyway if anyone else wants to chime in or make a suggestion please do. I'm off out for the day with my boys. Have a great day all 🙂.

Brett_H

GeekKopi wrote:

I too share that view point except for when it comes to the Elektra Nino (large conical). I think it's the bees knees.

I'd forgotten about that one.... How's it for grinds retention? Also, for that price I want a tamper that doesn't look like a dinky afterthought. The Versalab was my dream for a long time before someone who was a coffee shop owner and straight-talker de-bunked that myth for me 😉

GeekKopi

Brett H wrote:

I'd forgotten about that one.... How's it for grinds retention? Also, for that price I want a tamper that doesn't look like a dinky afterthought. The Versalab was my dream for a long time before someone who was a coffee shop owner and straight-talker de-bunked that myth for me 😉

no idea on grind retention on this one Brett. But if spending $3k for this one for home use I'm sure the owner can afford to grind through 100grams of beans before hand to purge old beans. 🙂 In a cafe setting this would look awesome and perform on par with the Robur from what I have read. Never seen it in real life though.

Koffee_Kosmo

Not only myself but countless others have been on this path as well With my first espresso machine I went to top end at first and was glad I did However with the grinder I started with an entry level unit while my mid level grinder became available Well that was a few grinders ago Now that I have a large conical I really can't go back A good coffee grinder makes more sense and is more important than one thinks So I recommend that you skip all future upgrades and save up for a large conical KK

Brett_H

Problem is mate that Sue doesn't have bench-space to burn. I own three large commercials but I'm not normal! These nice people are normal and we've not scared them off yet. Steady KK, steady mate 😉