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Permalink Reply by Chris DeMarse on February 10, 2009 at 9:23am

I have worked on mahlkonig, mazzer sj, Compak K10 Conic, Mazzer Robur and a handful of others... you really can't beat a conical in terms of what ends up in quality in the cup, in my opinion.

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Permalink Reply by Jesse -D-> on February 10, 2009 at 10:18am

I agree. I have used Mahlkonig, mazzer sj, mazzer major, mazzer robur, anfim super camino, compak etc.....
I can't really think of too many advantages to having flat burrs, but I can think of quite a few for conical.

There is more too a conical burr, so they are more temperature stable.
The coffee is gravity fed directly into a conical burr, and it has to change directions with a flat burr.
Quality conical burrs cut the coffee gradually down to the appropriate size, and flat burrs essentially crush the coffee and then cut it.

Flat burrs do cool quicker than conical.

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Permalink Reply by Troy Reynard on February 10, 2009 at 5:21pm

I have a compak, slower, quieter, more consistent grind, not as hot...superior.

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Permalink Reply by Sébastien RACINEUX on March 4, 2009 at 3:33am

If you have a injection machine (pump), the grinder conical gives a better results in the cup. But if you have a lever machine (La Pavoni...) or hydraulic machine, flat burrs are better.

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Permalink Reply by Jesse -D-> on March 4, 2009 at 6:20am

Why is this the case? or is it inexplicable like many things espresso?
Sébastien RACINEUX said:

If you have a injection machine (pump), the grinder conical gives a better results in the cup. But if you have a lever machine (La Pavoni...) or hydraulic machine, flat burrs are better.

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Permalink Reply by Bryan Wray on March 4, 2009 at 12:29pm

I suggest you read through the Titan Grinder Project posts. They go off-track here and there, but if you have a spare hour or so, it's a really informative read. I kinda followed it while all of the grinders were being shipped around and it was pretty cool. Anyway, here is the link.

-bry

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Permalink Reply by Sébastien RACINEUX on March 4, 2009 at 1:00pm

Conical burrs give a less homogeneous than flat burrs. Furthermore, the distribution gives two peaks, one peak of very fine powder which gives the complex aromas. But this pic of a fine powder with the malfunctioning machine and hydraulic lever because during the rise of the piston, the powder back into the group.

Jesse -D-> said:

Why is this the case? or is it inexplicable like many things espresso?
Sébastien RACINEUX said:

If you have a injection machine (pump), the grinder conical gives a better results in the cup. But if you have a lever machine (La Pavoni...) or hydraulic machine, flat burrs are better.

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Permalink Reply by dcforman on March 5, 2009 at 1:48am

Bryan Wray said:

I suggest you read through the Titan Grinder Project posts. They go off-track here and there, but if you have a spare hour or so, it's a really informative read. I kinda followed it while all of the grinders were being shipped around and it was pretty cool. Anyway, here is the link.

-bry

Thanks for the info. Exactly what i was looking for. Reading through it now...

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Permalink Reply by Fricodam on March 5, 2009 at 12:25pm

Conical burr grinders are able to produce a more even ground and assure that your espresso is not heated during grinding, which would reduce the aroma of the coffee. Do not compromise your coffee with the cheap grinder. On the lower side, italian made Lelit PL043 is the best shot. The grind range is from the finest one (for the Turkish coffee) to the very coarse one, and everything in between. Besides, it looks classy too.

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