kenironside

Hi, please give me advice on a manual grinder. On CCB, prices range from R1.4k to R4k+. In your experience, where is the price/performance sweet spot? I'm grinding for Aeropress & bodum. Thanks, Ken

Briefly discussed here: https://www.home-barista.com/espresso-machines/commercial-220v-conversion-to-110v-t9601.html Regards, Ken

HI everyone, has anyone had any experience of this grinder: Sigma On Demand Temperature and Humidity Commercial Coffee Grinder. (http://www.sigmagrinder.com/?module=Html&action=SiteCompCh&sSubNo=6) It is Korean. A close friend is opening a coffee shop and is considering this (among others). I have never heard of them. The spec seems OK but I have no idea how consistent the grind will be. Thanks, Ken

Thanks!

Please excuse my ignorance - 'banks'?

Hi, I'm interested in this Jack Espresso Leveler. I know there are similar tools available e.g on CCB but I'm interested in this one particularly. Anyone importing?

Hi Matchstix, It doesn't look like a SAB - the steam tap design looks something like a Rocket R58 but the hot water tap design is unusual and strange. What is stamped on the boiler? - COMEA? It's a heat exchange machine with a rotary pump, looks like quite an old design. Looks like it has recently been refurbished, the copper hasn't started to discolour. Decent size copper boiler (probably 6-7 litres) so it will steam really well. HX means you'll be doing the 'flush' to get the right brewing temperature, esp in a home environment with occasional cups of coffee. E61 group head is reliable and easy to manage, you can pre-infuse easily. Kept hot by a thermosyphon. I can't see clearly whether the chassis is clean, no rust. (Rust is a problem; if there is rust you'll be pulling it apart, sandblasting and repainting, assuming the structure is sound.). Looking again, the chassis could be stainless steel and if so, that would be worth something. If it is working and in good condition (ideally, you should see it in action, pulling a shot, to spot leaks, make sure the pressurestat works, pressure gauge is reading OK etc) then I would pay max R7-8k bearing in mind you're in for another R1k for a portafilter and a decent filter basket, not to mention a decent grinder. R10k is too much IMHO Regards, Ken

Brilliant, thanks, turns out I am quite near them. Thanks for the help!

Hi, I'm visiting Joburg and need a few coffee accessories - shot glasses, cortado cups etc. Can anyone tell where is the best place in the northern area Sandton/Randburg/Midrand? Thanks, Ken

That's a really practical and interesting standard - with my Astoria CMA single group machine, I can deliver as fast as I can grind & pull the shot, interrupted by steaming & pouring. 10 cups would probably take around 20 min max.

Thanks, I have asked Koldserve and Ubuy advertise it as well. I'll follow up with them. Thanks for all replies.

Hi, is there a local (SA) supplier of Liquid Dezcal?

Thanks. The price is a bit eye-watering! Probably worth it if it lasts a lifetime.

Is there a local (SA) source? SA not mentioned on their website.

Hi Grebel, thank you, my tamper arrived this afternoon. It looks beautiful and the first tamp worked very well - pretty much no play with a 18g VST basket and very easy on the hand. I took one brass ring out so my fingers can easily touch the basket and tamper while tamping to check for an even level. Wow! you've done a great job on these and I can only encourage you to keep going and anyone else who might want to upgrade, this is a very good one, and quite unique! Also, what a pleasure to deal with Grebel - no fuss, no hassle, he went the extra mile. Thanks! Regards, Ken

Hi, no, sorry, I'm in Sedgefield, near George so still Western Cape but not Cape Town! I'll need a separate courier.

Sounds great!

I'm working with VST 18g baskets. Using a vernier caliper, the inside diameter at the top is 58.7mm but it slopes slightly down towards the ridge, 58.6mm. In other words, the basket wall is not exactly vertical, which is the logical result of the basket being formed on a mandrel. My current tamper is 58.1 and it leaves a tiny ridge of untamped coffee around the edge of a full (18g) basket once tamped. 58.4 is my best estimate of what will fit without binding, but exert pressure over the whole puck.

58.4mm, flat bottom. Let me have your bank details, ken AT kenironside.co.za Aramex are a great courier option. Regards, Ken

HI Grebel, Beautiful, I'm definitely interested, stainless, and I'll give you a dimension for my VST baskets. Regards, Ken

Looks like a two group cousin of my CMA Dora:

From expensive experience, buy the right one now or you will end up buying (at least) two grinders and spending much more than what you would on buying the right one now. The Hario & Porlex are both good choices, the Porlex is more portable and travel-friendly than the Hario. Regards, Ken

I have one. Only good for coarser grinds eg French Press, Aeropress, moka pot, etc. Quite inconsistent grind size. After a while the grind size control does not stay on place while grinding. Plastic box is very prone to static build-up.

Hi, what are you thinking of asking and where are you? I'm interested. Regards, Ken

Hi, I live in Sedgefield (between George & Knysna) but I travel to Gauteng regularly and I'm travelling to Cape Town this week.