I have this grinder and had issues with retention initially. I have discovered just a few taps on top have greatly minimized retention. Ive also added a bellows to this machine and it helps but tapping on top of the lid with the grinder running after all beans have been ground really minimizes retention.
Hey, how are you? Are you using the MH3 portafilter? I start trying the same tool with 17g and 6 grind size, should I be trying just single shots with this settings or it would work fine for double shots?
We used a cheaper portafilter from Amazon (link in description below👇🏽) Yes, It’s fine for double shots, but if you’re splitting your shots into 2 cups, you might need slightly more coffee - 18-19g minimum would probably be better 👍🏽
Hi, great review, I recently purchased the Sage version and have to say that coming from a Krupps grinder.... I`m well chuffed, I read a comment somewhere else about someone moaning that the grinder loses its setting when unplugged, on page 14 of the official manual it states that the grinder can retain the current setting displayed in memory by pressing/holding down the timer knob, Ive tested this and it does appear to work, I also find that pre-ground coffee is a little to coarse for my liking.... even for a v60, the Krupps did an ok job but even with a v60 there were a small amount of fines left in my mug but that hasn`t been the case so far with the Sage smart pro..... seems to have a nice even grind for a conical burr.
Hi, when I dial-in, I aim for 1:2 ratio and 30 seconds. I use Eureka Mignon Crono, but I will save up for the Mahlkoenig, and keep my Gaggia Classic 2019, for now at least. I enjoyed the video and will even order some beans from you, cheers.
That’s a very popular ratio and we can’t recommend Mahlkönig grinders highly enough! ONA Coffee has their own website and will ship beans across Australia and internationally 👍🏽 onacoffee.com.au
We have had ours for 8 years or so now. I have just replaced it with a niche zero. The smart grinder is a great first grinder, easy to use, easy to care for, cheap, and can make tasty espresso. That being said there have been some roasts that it just cannot manage, lighter roasts in particular cant be ground fine enough without the motor seizing. If you have a preference for roasts on the darker side it will do the job but just know it will limit your options when it comes to some coffees.
I’ve found it fairly reliable over a few years. The ring adjuster needs to be tightened as it wears and espresso does end up near the bottom of the range for some beans. The retention is ok but a pain if you change beans frequently.
Thanks for the comment, that’s great feedback. Interesting about the ring adjuster. Yeah, we feel you there…the retention issues are probably going to impact people’s experience the most with this grinder. Have you seen the aftermarket “bellows” that flush out the excess grinds? Might be worth a look. Happy brewing!
Thank you for making this video. I have exactly the same setup and had always wondering if my setting was good and looks I got the grind size right (with Aldi dark roast).
Mine is over 5 years old, solid product I use most every day. Its my espresso grinder and Ive never felt it isnt fine enough. Usually my error on a new coffee.
Ive had this grinder for at least 6 years. Paired with a Gaggia Classic that I've had for like 12 years. Still a bomb setup that I have dialed for a particular coffee ive been using consistently fir 5 years or so.
If people are comparing Cafe bought espresso to what is possible with this machine then I would suggest the machine would win hands down compared some of the excuses served up as espresso in many cafes these days. And I am talking about so called ‘boutique’ or specialist outlets. My hat goes off to those baristas who have been trained well, take their craft seriously and make some memorable coffees. But from my experience in Australia they seem to be a rarity. Anyway… i regularly pull shots that i would pay $6 for down here. I am not a barista but I like my coffee so i played with the machine settings and my brewing profile to find the sweet spot. I repeat the process with each different bean. Its all part of the fun, isn’t it?I use a Flair Pro.
Running one of these for my Breville dual boiler. I’ve got Campos’ house blend running 20.4 second grind time, internal grind setting 1, external grind setting 4. Works like a charm even after 2 years!
We have had ours for 3 years now , using it with the gagging classic 2019, we buy the beans from local cafe, so we can compare the taste, and I can confirm, it works great, all my friends love it when I make them a coffee, taste very similar to local cafe, who serves Melbourne quality brew(we used to live there and we are very fussy now in the U.K. for coffee) anyway for a home grinder, it’s worth every penny as I don’t feel the need to have a take away
Thanks for your comment and great to hear that yours is still working well after lots of use. Best of all, your supporting your local cafe and benefiting by sampling awesome coffee 🙌🏼 😊👍🏽
UK sucks for specialty coffee, we live in Thailand and the hot and cold drinks are top notch. However, my GCP runs with a more expensive Ceado flat burr grinder as the grinder is more important than the espresso machine.
This is my spare while I wait on my df83v; I was struggling forever with the Barista Express in combination with the Smart Grinder Pro (I wanted an external for pour overs and it’s easier to clean IMO than one built into the Express), however I recently upgraded my entire suite with a Lelit, Weber 20g basket, paper filters and puck screen, and pulled a solid shot out of this contraption at grind setting 13. HOWEVER, in order for it to reflect the “espresso” range on the display, I had to adjust the burr range internally to its lowest point which surprisingly didn’t hit a zero point unlike the inbuilt grinder on the Barista Express, so out of the box I don’t think it’s calibrated towards espresso use. That being said, retention is quite terrible 😂.
Thank you! Yes once it’s dialled in the Smart Grinder is very a very capable little machine. The aftermarket bellows to clear the retained grounds might be a good investment though 😊
I've had this grinder for a week. Dialed in my settings to 5 on the upper burr and 6 for the grind size. I thought it was funny watching the guy try to use the timer to dose out the right amount of coffee. All you need to do is press and hold the start button with a small, 1-cup glass container and a pocket scale under the chute. Grind up to the desired weight and take note of the elapsed time (it counts up instead of down when you press and hold the button).
Another Coffee geeky channel niceee! :) Welcome guys, glad to see you, would be good to have another point of view to this overly analyzed hobby :) Would you say Breville Smart Grinder Pro is a better suitable for first grinder compared to something like DF54? Thanks.
Thank you for the welcome! We’re hoping to bring some personality to the coffee party 🥳 The Breville is marketed for a range of coffee uses from espresso to filter coffee and has a hopper that gravity feeds the burrs on demand. The DF54 is what’s known as a dose grinder, it can hold a maximum of 50g with bellows fitted. It’s more than capable of grinding a range of beans but will be a lot more precise and retain very little to zero ground coffee each when compared to the Breville.
the actual "zero point"on my machine after a couple of years of wear on the burrs,....is burr#4 and 3 on the display, This is where you can hear the motor note slightly change when running no beans. at that setting the coffee is very fine and pretty clumpy. I work backward from this known point.sorta 12-6 ish. Add bellows to clear a minimum 1g or more from the machine with a couple of puffs.
While it’s well made, this grinder is probably best used for a home set-up. It might handle 1-2 + kgs of coffee per day but this would probably shorten its lifespan. A Mazzer Mini or VA Mythos grinder would be a better choice 👍🏽
