Green Coffee Buying Club
Coffee Discussion boards => Hardware & Equipment => Topic started by: SJM on September 29, 2012, 04:45:33 PM
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Has anyone had the occasion to compare these two grinders? I have the MD-50 and have been tempted by the Pharos, but haven't seen any comparisons between the two.
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I've used a Pharos. Big and you better start working out, it's hard to hold and not easy to turn. The Lido might be more up your alley if you want a hand crank. I tried that one too, and am considering buying one.
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Hmmmm.....this guy sez the Lido is not competent for espresso.
I'm not looking for a hand grinder per se, but I have had my attention drawn to the Pharos.
I haven't read anything that hasn't stressed that the Pharos' grind is superb.
I'm curious if it will outperform my MD-50.
If so, I think I can manage what I have read about its faults, but I wouldn't bother unless its grind is really superior.
Susan
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Susan
Don't get me wrong, the Pharos grinds well, but it's difficult to hold and a real pain to adjust.
Read these two threads
Lido
http://www.greencoffeebuyingclub.com/index.php?topic=12962.0 (http://www.greencoffeebuyingclub.com/index.php?topic=12962.0)
Pharos
http://www.greencoffeebuyingclub.com/index.php?topic=11933.0 (http://www.greencoffeebuyingclub.com/index.php?topic=11933.0)
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Will do.
Thanks.
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Has anyone had the occasion to compare these two grinders? I have the MD-50 and have been tempted by the Pharos, but haven't seen any comparisons between the two.
Don't know about those two, but have seen lots of comparison between the grind of a Pharos and Compak K10. Just buy a K10 and you'll be good to go.
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Well, I had already read that whole thread about the Pharos road trip, and reading the one about the Lido confirmed for me that it is not what I am looking for. Truly I'm not supposed to be looking for anything at all, but the Pharos caught my attention.
The Lido appears to be a fabulous portable grinder and is compared favorably to other hand grinders: Hario Skelton, etc. But I don't need a hand grinder. My grinder will never leave the house. If I ever need another grinder, what I would need/want is a dedicated espresso grinder (so adjusting for various grinds doesn't matter) which would replace my MD-50. Since the reviews so consistently applauded the grind, (and it is soooooooo cool lookin'), I thought I would at least think about it. The grinder Peter mentioned is waaaaaaaay outta my price range, but this one is supposed to do as good a job....
Sigh...
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If you want to experiment with titan conical grinder Pharos is the ticket. It can be easily sold for $200 in good condition and might be worth considering before dropping big bucks on electric Titan conical grinder. But the MD50 with new burrs overall would beat the Pharos not on grind quality but convenience and usability; advantage MD50. At some point the machine needs upgrading, not the grinder.
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For someone who's all thumbs a hand-cranked grinder could be an unmitigated disaster!
(http://www.zabanamoozan.com/idiom/pic/image030.gif)
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Susan
Don't get me wrong, the Pharos grinds well, but it's difficult to hold and a real pain to adjust.
Read these two threads
Lido
[url]http://www.greencoffeebuyingclub.com/index.php?topic=12962.0[/url] ([url]http://www.greencoffeebuyingclub.com/index.php?topic=12962.0[/url])
Pharos
[url]http://www.greencoffeebuyingclub.com/index.php?topic=11933.0[/url] ([url]http://www.greencoffeebuyingclub.com/index.php?topic=11933.0[/url])
Both issues can be improved upon by making a few upgrades. Mine is easier o dial in now than the cimbali hybrid I had before and with the ball bearing upgrade it is easier to turn. The resistance is also a decent indicator if the grind is set right.
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Thanks all.
I did take the MD-50 apart yesterday for a good cleaning down through the burrs. (And as Tex referenced this 5-thumbed wizard did manage to lose one small part right at the get-go). Today I will reassemble her and see how I feel about her when she is all squeaky clean and shiny. The burrs should still look good, and should be fine; I put new ones in when I got it 5 years ago and only grind for a couple of shots a day max.
Perhaps my fascination with the Pharos will have dwindled after a good night's sleep....We will see...
Susan
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I can not speak highly enough on convenience. . .
+1.
I have a Macap 4. It has just 58mm burrs. I started the road show for the Pharos to see if I wanted to go that route with a 68 mm burr. Having done that, you couldn't give me a Pharos. I then toyed with snagging a Compak K10 at the SCAA but convenience (and paid grinder won out).
I don't have a doser and love dosing right into the PF with OE's collar. I can fly from Turkish to press pot in about 2 seconds. The increments in step adjustment are fine (about 4 seconds worth). No hopper to clean out; nothing needs vacuuming. It is an ideal grinder for my needs.
Is there a better grinder out there? Many of them. Do I have a want or need for another. No longer.
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Got it.
I'm really very fond of my MD-50, so I guess I will just keep on keepin' on with her.
She's all clean and ready for me to re-install her burrs, and tomorrow my shots will be crisper for the cleaning.
If/as/when she lets me down I will revisit this subject, by which time the Pharos will probably be history. In fact, by then I may be history..... ???
Susan
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as the resident Pharos Phan boy, I guess I should chime in...
for me, the Pharos is just about as easy/difficult to use as single dosing w/ a Super Jolly.
The cranking effort is what it is, but if I can turn an unmodded Pharos w/ a torn rotator cuff/labrum
and a nasty case of tennis elbow on the cranking arm, I don't think it's that big of a deal. The last
5 weeks, it's been a little painful to start the cranking initially with fractured ribs but once it's going, no problems.
The biggest difference is I've never had to adjust the grind setting eventho I change beans every
3 days. Never a sink shot. Also, other than Brazil and Ethiopia, there aren't too many SO that I
was able to pull a shot w/ using the SJ on a pump machine (didn't have a lever yet at the time) no
matter how fine the grind setting was, sinkshots galore. I haven't found an SO that I couldn't pull using the Pharos,
and that's without having to adjust the grind setting. Just change the dose slightly and it's espresso porn again.
It seems in the winter time, there's more static when dumping the ground but I haven't experienced
hardly any static the last 6 months or so.
I sold my SJ never having pulled a shot from it again once I got the Pharos. A friend w/ a SJ got the Pharos
and found the same. Another w/ a Macap MC4 and quickly sold it when he got his Pharos.
If I was given a SJ, I'd have to go buy a boat...
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as the resident Pharos Phan boy, I guess I should chime in...
for me, the Pharos is just about as easy/difficult to use as single dosing w/ a Super Jolly.
The cranking effort is what it is, but if I can turn an unmodded Pharos w/ a torn rotator cuff/labrum
and a nasty case of tennis elbow on the cranking arm, I don't think it's that big of a deal. The last
5 weeks, it's been a little painful to start the cranking initially with fractured ribs but once it's going, no problems.
When did you start playing in the NFL?
The biggest difference is I've never had to adjust the grind setting eventho I change beans every
3 days. Never a sink shot. Also, other than Brazil and Ethiopia, there aren't too many SO that I
was able to pull a shot w/ using the SJ on a pump machine (didn't have a lever yet at the time) no
matter how fine the grind setting was, sinkshots galore. I haven't found an SO that I couldn't pull using the Pharos,
and that's without having to adjust the grind setting. Just change the dose slightly and it's espresso porn again.
It seems in the winter time, there's more static when dumping the ground but I haven't experienced
hardly any static the last 6 months or so.
I sold my SJ never having pulled a shot from it again once I got the Pharos. A friend w/ a SJ got the Pharos
and found the same. Another w/ a Macap MC4 and quickly sold it when he got his Pharos.
What I hear you describing is the difference between a large conical burr and a flat burr. That was my experience going from a Macap M4 to the Compak K10.
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I don't know what I would do today if I had no grinder and had to decide what to buy; it would probably be a toss-up between a Cunill Tranquilo and the Pharos.
Since I have the Rancilio MD-50, and I just deep cleaned her, I'm gonna keep her. She couldn't have cost me $300, I did some nice mods on her, and gave her new burrs, and I think she will last me....
But....I was definitely tempted....
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I don't know what I would do today if I had no grinder and had to decide what to buy; it would probably be a toss-up between a Cunill Tranquilo and the Pharos.
Since I have the Rancilio MD-50, and I just deep cleaned her, I'm gonna keep her. She couldn't have cost me $300, I did some nice mods on her, and gave her new burrs, and I think she will last me....
But....I was definitely tempted....
IIRC, we paid less than $200 for our MD50 grinders, back in 2008? They were discards from Starbucks stores when they went super automatic.
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What I hear you describing is the difference between a large conical burr and a flat burr. That was my experience going from a Macap M4 to the Compak K10.
Thanks for your confirmation Peter.
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IIRC, we paid less than $200 for our MD50 grinders, back in 2008? They were discards from Starbucks stores when they went super automatic.
Well, your memory is usually better than mine, but I gottcha on the dates, because it was in 2007. Just yesterday I had to go to CG and do a search to find all of the instructions you gave me back then on how to convert my AT to a manual. That part is done and over, but I couldn't remember how you had told me to get that bottom burr holder out....
Susan
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IIRC, we paid less than $200 for our MD50 grinders, back in 2008? They were discards from Starbucks stores when they went super automatic.
Well, your memory is usually better than mine, but I gottcha on the dates, because it was in 2007. Just yesterday I had to go to CG and do a search to find all of the instructions you gave me back then on how to convert my AT to a manual. That part is done and over, but I couldn't remember how you had told me to get that bottom burr holder out....
Susan
You're referring to sticking a screwdriver blade up the grounds chute so you can lock the burr carrier while you remove the nut?
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Yeah, that one, although I also cushioned the screwdriver with a rag so that I didn't scratch anything....:-))))
Susan
The 5-thumbed wonder
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Yeah, that one, although I also cushioned the screwdriver with a rag so that I didn't scratch anything....:-))))
Susan
The 5-thumbed wonder
Screw the rag, just shove it up there and hold tight. There's nothing you can damage with a screwdriver. BTW: The nut should be tightened just past finger tight - centrifugal force keeps it in place.
Don't lose anything!
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Ah, the rag might not have done anything except make me feel better, but that's......priceless....
Finished this job yesterday and ground for a perfect shot this morning.
The MD-50 rocks !!!!
Susan
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Ah, the rag might not have done anything except make me feel better, but that's......priceless....
Finished this job yesterday and ground for a perfect shot this morning.
The MD-50 rocks !!!!
Susan
No, No Susan - no rocks in your grinder! :o
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One Pharos on order....
Seems like the only way to keep from spending the money on an HG-One....
Economics my way....:-)))))
Susan
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Hey SJM, cool you bought it.
I bought a pharos early on and hated it for many months, didn't use it, then finally did the voodoo daddy mods. The bearings, nylon lock nut, and bolt covers I would call absolutely necessary, as they prevent the adjuster from slipping, tighten down the whole shebang to keep out burr rub, and help dial it in very easy. The catch cup... undecided, kind of regret it.
Now I like the pharos for espresso because it's easier to dial in for espresso vs. the vario-w. It will take some testing to find how you turn the crank. I can't do it on the table, too much noise and banging. Lap grinder style works for me. I still need to wdt for the mypressi twist. I don't like it for medium and coarse ground coffee, leaves a muddy taste in the cup, guessing due to all the fines.
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Hey SJM, cool you bought it.
I bought a pharos early on and hated it for many months, didn't use it, then finally did the voodoo daddy mods. The bearings, nylon lock nut, and bolt covers I would call absolutely necessary, as they prevent the adjuster from slipping, tighten down the whole shebang to keep out burr rub, and help dial it in very easy. The catch cup... undecided, kind of regret it.
Now I like the pharos for espresso because it's easier to dial in for espresso vs. the vario-w. It will take some testing to find how you turn the crank. I can't do it on the table, too much noise and banging. Lap grinder style works for me. I still need to wdt for the mypressi twist. I don't like it for medium and coarse ground coffee, leaves a muddy taste in the cup, guessing due to all the fines.
I am hoping I can use it at the counter, since there is no convenient sitting place near the SAMA, but that doesn't mean everything can't get moved if necessary. I am quite famous (infamous) for moving the furniture around on a whim, although it has gotten a lot harder as my body has disagreed with my mind over my actual age....
As to the Pharos, it will be for espresso only, and I am looking forward to seeing what a difference the larger burrs make. It seems as if the really necessary improvements and adjustments have now been incorporated by OE, and that I will be able to find a way to use it without further mods. (which apparently wasn't the case with earlier iterations...)
Needless to say, I will keep you posted....:-))))
Susan
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Are there any good deals out there on a K10 or Wega clone?
I've been getting an upgrade fever from my Compak K3 though it works great and retains almost no coffee after I clean the chute up to the burrs single dosing each shot. I recall Wega deals on here a while ago though I am probably going to have to use Chris Coffee.
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I am hoping I can use it at the counter, since there is no convenient sitting place near the SAMA, but that doesn't mean everything can't get moved if necessary.
I can do it with dark roasts, but not light ones, the banging and noise bothers me. I have one of these in the kitchen which has become my grinding stool :) http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60178887/ (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60178887/)
Hopefully it works out for you! Some people grind under the arm, etc, all sorts of ways. Behind the back would probably be hard unless you are double jointed.
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I'd tried to get in on the Wega clone deal back then as well but was too late and the price went up.
If you find anything please share.
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I can do it with dark roasts, but not light ones, the banging and noise bothers me. I have one of these in the kitchen which has become my grinding stool :) [url]http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60178887/[/url] ([url]http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60178887/[/url])
That's a nice stool. I saw it at IKEA a few weeks ago and passed it up because I didn't need it. Maybe now I do. I have stools that are higher, but not ones that would allow one foot up and one down on the floor, which I'm guessing would make the grinding easier.
We will just have to see.
The Pharos may come.....and go....like so many other things....but I am looking forward to trying to get out of it what it's fans seem to get out of it.
Susan
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That's a nice stool. I saw it at IKEA a few weeks ago and passed it up because I didn't need it. Maybe now I do. I have stools that are higher, but not ones that would allow one foot up and one down on the floor, which I'm guessing would make the grinding easier.
They used to carry a small version of their bar stool - I have one of those as well, got it on closeout for $10. I couldn't find it on their site. The stools are eternally useful, for stepping up, sitting on, or even make-shift shelves (I put plants on them). :) Play it by ear, and you'll find your grinding position.
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They used to carry a small version of their bar stool - I have one of those as well, got it on closeout for $10. I couldn't find it on their site. The stools are eternally useful, for stepping up, sitting on, or even make-shift shelves (I put plants on them). :) Play it by ear, and you'll find your grinding position.
LOL
Too small and I will fall right over it....
just like I do with the 5 dogs....
Susan
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Congrats on the new Pharos! I would stay away from lightly roasted beans in the beginning to avoid slipping. You can run it with a power drill for break in; it takes a 1/2" coupling nut with a short 1/2 cap head bolt to make the adaptor. Not much fun hand grinding several pounds of beaned with the Pharos.
Pharos Mods? In the beginning using it stock would be a good idea; more difficult without the mods but better for resale. One way to tell where your at with adjustment is counting the turns for your dose. The stainless adjustment nut/roller bearing is my favorite mod, the others are really nice as well. I think a couple of months is sufficient to decide if it's a keeper.
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Congrats on the new Pharos! I would stay away from lightly roasted beans in the beginning to avoid slipping. You can run it with a power drill for break in; it takes a 1/2" coupling nut with a short 1/2 cap head bolt to make the adaptor. Not much fun hand grinding several pounds of beaned with the Pharos.
Pharos Mods? In the beginning using it stock would be a good idea; more difficult without the mods but better for resale. One way to tell where your at with adjustment is counting the turns for your dose. The stainless adjustment nut/roller bearing is my favorite mod, the others are really nice as well. I think a couple of months is sufficient to decide if it's a keeper.
Thanks for the input. I spent hours and hours and..... reading every post over at HB and can't quite tell where the line is between mods which are necessary because people have earlier versions and where they are nice even if you have a very new model.
I have finally decided to simply try it.
I think I will like it.
Do you happen to have pics of those bits needed to adapt the hand drill? I'm not quite sure I understand what you were trying to tell me.
Susan
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Has anyone had the occasion to compare these two grinders? I have the MD-50 and have been tempted by the Pharos, but haven't seen any comparisons between the two.
Don't know about those two, but have seen lots of comparison between the grind of a Pharos and Compak K10. Just buy a K10 and you'll be good to go.
I agree with this, I miss mine but I love my rotary pump over my expos viiiiibbbbbbeeeeeeee pump.
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I do have photos of the coupling nut, will try to post tomorrow. HD or Lowes have the 1/2" coupling nut, it's something you would use to connect two pieces of threaded rod. The cap head bolt is in the parts bin, round head with a large hex socket. The cap head bolt may need to be cut down with a hack saw if its too long; and you need a hex bit for the drill driver.
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I agree with this, I miss mine but I love my rotary pump over my expos viiiiibbbbbbeeeeeeee pump.
I must be missing something, but, what do pumps have to do with grinders?
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I do have photos of the coupling nut, will try to post tomorrow. HD or Lowes have the 1/2" coupling nut, it's something you would use to connect two pieces of threaded rod. The cap head bolt is in the parts bin, round head with a large hex socket. The cap head bolt may need to be cut down with a hack saw if its too long; and you need a hex bit for the drill driver.
Okay, I'm sure it will all make more sense when I have the Pharos here too....
Thank you
Susan
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I'd tried to get in on the Wega clone deal back then as well but was too late and the price went up.
If you find anything please share.
Will do -
sorry to divert the thread Susan
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sorry to divert the thread Susan
Heck, I hadn't even heard of a Wega before, so I couldn't have been more pleased....
another rabbit hole to examine....
:-))))
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I agree with this, I miss mine but I love my rotary pump over my expos viiiiibbbbbbeeeeeeee pump.
I must be missing something, but, what do pumps have to do with grinders?
Nothing actually. I had. K10, with an Expobar vibe machines sold the k10 to fund my S1 Vivaldi, then sold the expo, I did love that grinders performance but my machines weren't yielding mind blowing results so I stepped back to my k6 without a hiccup. I havnt read my ch into the Pharos because its hard enough to grind with my Skerton, I wouldn't want to deal with that at home as well.
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I've been wanting a Lido and a Pharos for the collection. I got to play with both during road shows. I've been on the search for used ones at a reasonable price, with priority going to the Lido because it was my favorite of the 2 grinders. I would like to try the Pharos with the mods.
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Pharos drive adaptor; 1/2" coupling nut and 1/2" cap head bolt. HD and Lowes should have both.
I cut the bolt down to fit flush with the coupling nut.
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Perfect !!!
Thank you.
I see that my credit card was charged for the Pharos yesterday, so I expect it will arrive soon.
I will make sure I've got these parts ready to rock n roll when it shows up.
Susan
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As posted on the Pharos thread on HB, this longer handle makes cranking the Pharos a breeze
and eliminates all rocking while grinding on the counter.
IMO, the ideal length is at 7" (middle of 5 holes) and the final version from Will will likely
be 2 holes at 6" and 7" but as I've posted, the protruding unused length gets in the way
if one taps the top plate while dumping like I do. I've ordered mine with just one hole drilled
at 7". I've tried it at 8" and it's cumbersome at that length and grinding isn't much easier than 7".
At 6", it's better than stock length (5") but still some effort and minor rocking.
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And per Sam's input I have one of these handles on order with Voodoodaddy as well....
I'm gonna be READY!!!!
Susan
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Perfect !!!
Thank you.
I see that my credit card was charged for the Pharos yesterday, so I expect it will arrive soon.
I will make sure I've got these parts ready to rock n roll when it shows up.
Susan
Who's got dibs on this one once Susan's done playing with it? :P
Oh, you know how she does things? ;D
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Perfect !!!
Thank you.
I see that my credit card was charged for the Pharos yesterday, so I expect it will arrive soon.
I will make sure I've got these parts ready to rock n roll when it shows up.
Susan
Who's got dibs on this one once Susan's done playing with it? :P
Oh, you know how she does things? ;D
Sheesh....
it's the peanut gallery weighing in again.....
:-[ :-[ :-[
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you got me there Yak, I really needed a third Pharos...
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I didn't want to miss opportunity to try HG One, so I visited my coffee buddy Sunday afternoon. We had superb Costa Rica Santa Elena espresso, HG One + Olympia Cremina are perfect pair.
But then I left his house with his old Pharos #312. He caught me by surprise, I couldn't help myself, beans I traded it for were already paid for, and so on and so forth, all the stories from the rabbit hole...
My new Pharos is non modified and I have some techical issues with my left wrist, so for now, I improvised docking station in the top drawer. Grinding is easy now.
Pharos outshines Vario every time.
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fantastic idea w/ the docking station. You're gonna luv luv luv the longer handle.
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Wooden docking station is not in the spirit of the grinder I know, so good thing I borrowed idea from Peter to hide it in the drawer, but it works for now.
All upgrade kits that I want seems to double the price of Pharos, so I will hold off for a moment.
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Wooden docking station is not in the spirit of the grinder I know,
Wow, I think it is perfectly aligned with the spirit of the grinder.
I've been thinking of a way to contrive something similar, but I'd put mine right up on top of the counter if I can find a space to allocate to the job. I think it's a brilliant idea.
Susan
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Wow, I think it is perfectly aligned with the spirit of the grinder.
I agree with that Susan.
Just execution is pitiful. I could have at least used something else but pressure treated wood leftover from my deck.
It works like a charm though.
Miroslav
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I have the complete Voodoo mod kit for a couple of months now, still not installed. IMO,
with RDT and the longer handle, that should address 90% of the common complaints of
the Pharos, for me 99%, the remaining 1% is having to disassemble to clean stray ground
behind the funnel but that's once every 6 months at most.
I'm in no particular hurry to install the kit but I suppose I will eventually.
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The holding block is just a prototype right? Pharos deserves some walnut or cherry wood :)
Extended handles are in production; price is reasonable. Must have Pharos mods are stainless adjustment nut w/pointer (has nylon tipped set screws for mazzer like adjustment), roller bearing, and possibly extended handle; especially for someone with hand or arm problems.
Lido handle? Voodoodaddy has made me a replacement handle for the Lido; that tiny knob gives me fits. I've got some hand issues from repetitive work and the larger knob should help.
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I have the complete Voodoo mod kit for a couple of months now, still not installed. IMO,
with RDT and the longer handle, that should address 90% of the common complaints of
the Pharos, for me 99%, the remaining 1% is having to disassemble to clean stray ground
behind the funnel but that's once every 6 months at most.
I'm in no particular hurry to install the kit but I suppose I will eventually.
It seems everyone has their own priorities - the bearing and nylon set-screw adjustment setup was absolute winner to me, with the aluminum bolt covers being secondary to allow for securing the alignment. Gives me consistency and adjustment ease without all the issues I had. Really wish I had done it a long time ago.
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I have the complete Voodoo mod kit for a couple of months now, still not installed. IMO,
with RDT and the longer handle, that should address 90% of the common complaints of
the Pharos, for me 99%, the remaining 1% is having to disassemble to clean stray ground
behind the funnel but that's once every 6 months at most.
I'm in no particular hurry to install the kit but I suppose I will eventually.
It seems everyone has their own priorities - the bearing and nylon set-screw adjustment setup was absolute winner to me, with the aluminum bolt covers being secondary to allow for securing the alignment. Gives me consistency and adjustment ease without all the issues I had. Really wish I had done it a long time ago.
And Sam, clearly you ordered something that you don’t need man. Peter's karma initiative fulfills you with sense of purpose... I will be watching carefully for Voodoo mod kits offered… 8)
Thank you for chiming in jano and hankua.
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Miroslav, is that form just an exact replica of the bottom of the Pharos?
Can I just trace around it onto a piece of graph paper and then use that to cut out a piece of wood?
I do have some nice Fir I could use....Cherry and Walnut are too hard for me to cut.
Susan
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Miroslav, is that form just an exact replica of the bottom of the Pharos?
Can I just trace around it onto a piece of graph paper and then use that to cut out a piece of wood?
I do have some nice Fir I could use....Cherry and Walnut are too hard for me to cut.
Susan
Susan,
Bottom plate fits right under the bottom of the wood, so curvature has to follow lower ground chamber.
I used bottom plate to mark two holes, and then marked the curve using lower ground chamber.
I call it docking station for fun, but Pharos really docks in. First left side (note that it opens inside) and then plug in the right side.
I will take few more photos as there are two support pieces at the bottom that don’t show here.
Miroslav
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Cool.
About a year ago I had one of the bones at the base my left thumb removed and had a painless year which has been wonderful. However, just after ordering the Pharos my left thumb started giving me trouble again, and I imagine that I have to wear a thumb splint again soon that holding the Pharos will be....difficult...
Susan
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I took few more pictures. I hope that everything is clear now.
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Thank you.
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It's here and I gotta laugh !!!!
People complain about getting the grinds out of this?
They haven't been digging out the chute of the MD-50 with a toothbrush for each shot.
So far so good...
Susan
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Susan,
How does Pharos compare to MD-50 finally?
I have zero static problem. I use Sam's trick with paper, so it's not so bad, but ground catcher mod would make this a perfect grinder. I just don't like it's $150 price.
Or, is your Pharos already at Yakster's... Just kidding.
Cheers,
Miroslav
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Hi Miroslav.
I'm not altogether sure how I am going to rate this over time.
There is no way that I can grind with it on the counter top; I do have to pull out the stool and put it in my lap; and it takes about 50+ turns to do my 16 grams for the SAMA.
I haven't thought I had a static problem, but somehow it seems as if the grinds don't come out as easily as they did in the first few days when I had it and I've been smacking it around more.
Still, that is less than I was having to do with the MD-50; with the MD-50 almost all of the 16 grams would still be in the chute and I would have to sweep them out with a toothbrush.
As for the actual grind ? The setting I had the MD-50 on when I stopped using it sure looked sweeter and silkier than the one that I have the Pharos set to, but.....what I'm getting out of the SAMA using this grind seems fine.
All of which means that I'm kinda too inexperienced to be able to compare them rationally, and I'm also lazy enough that I don't set up a whole barrage of tests.
What I do know is that I just like the pairing of the Pharos with the SAMA. They both have a very basic and utilitarian feel. I am absolutely sure that the SAMA gives me better shots than the Gaggia did, but I'm not sure what part of that is the Pharos? I might have been a better judge if I hadn't changed both the espresso machine and the grinder in such a short period of time in relation to each other.
But.....the Pharos does stay and is doing the daily deed....
Susan
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Thank you Susan,
It takes so many turns because you tilt the grinder. That was a trick I used when I was doing forced child labour - grinding for Turkish coffee for my parents and guest.
I rebuilt Cremina 83 two weeks ago, and got Pharos to make a perfect pair. But still I kept convenience setup Vario and Brewtus.
Pharos outperforms Vario every time.
Cremina is still hit and miss, few heavenly shots, then one sour, burnt, then heaven...
I enjoy the lever ride very much.
Cheers,
Miroslav
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There is no way that I can grind with it on the counter top; I do have to pull out the stool and put it in my lap; and it takes about 50+ turns to do my 16 grams for the SAMA.
50 turns? Wow.. I need 24-30 for 18g headed to the mypressi twist; grind is about 1/4 turn from "0". I recall in the vids OE said coarser grinds need more turns. Maybe the burrs just need a so-called break in *shrug*
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Thank you Susan,
It takes so many turns because you tilt the grinder.
Cheers,
Miroslav
Ah ha!!!! I wondered if tilting it had an adverse effect.
I will work on finding a way to do it on a flat surface.
(I'm not really handy enough to fabricate a jig like the one you made....)
Susan
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On the other hand, if you are not in a hurry, that way grinding is as easy as you need it to be.
I was doing that as a kid because I simply couldn't turn the handle. By tilting you control amount of coffee between the burs.
Docking station works very well, thank you.
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Sorry Miroslav, I bought the mod kit because a friend wanted to see it before deciding to buy it himself.
I suppose I "took one for the team" :-). But that was before RDT (aka 2 drops of water) and admittedly
at times and depending on the beans (like Bali) it can make quite a mess dumping out the grind.
But now with RDT, it's just short of miraculous and really you should not need the mod kit for dumping.
But the mod kit is still very useful for other reasons (like no more taking grinder apart to clean) and
perhaps no more burr re-alignments.
I also didn't understand why it took Susan 50 turns to grind a dose neither but I'd assumed grinding on
the counter. I've tried holding it and could not turn the handle. But if your grind is less fluffy than
the MD50, my guess is it's too coarse. Also when grinding w/ fewer beans in the burrs, perhaps
it's same as popcorning and you get a coarser grind.
I have not heard from Voodoo on handles yet, altho he did say maybe a couple of weeks (and it's
been a couple of weeks).
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I just played with the adjustment a bit....made it finer (1/4 turn from zero) ....and it still took more than 45 turns....even done flat on the counter (with my whole arm wrapped around it to try to keep it steady)....for 16 grams.
I'm finished playing with it for tonight but tomorrow I should be able to mess with it.
I have not even tried adding the drop of water to the beans, but....tomorrow....
Susan
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Just to tell you all that I am totally captivated by the Pharos and that as far as I am concerned absolutely no modifications at all are necessary.
What I did have to do to the Pharos was to use double-sided tape to attach the counter pad (which came with it) to the grinder itself. That's it.
When I grind I put the grinder (with counter pad attached) on top of a thin piece of that non-slip stuff you can buy for lining drawers or for putting under rugs, and ....voila.
The only thing that made grinding hard was keeping the Pharos steady; the grinding itself isn't hard at all.
The MD-50 makes a great door stop.....
Susan
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You did get the longer handle, though didn't you Susan? Have you tried it out yet?
Got it.
Installed it.
Didn't need it.
It's still "on", but I may well remove it; it almost gets in the way....
Susan
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no offense Susan but you're a better man than I :-).
The longer handle is awesome for grinding half roasted beans. It's the best upgrade since...
since... since the Pharos came out.
Congrats on your new cat 5 hurricane-proof doorstop.
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I found the part numbers for the McMaster Carr bearings. They make it easier to turn plus they keep the grind adjustment from moving so easily.
5909K31 is the bearing and 5909K44 is for one washer. You need two to make it work.
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no offense Susan but you're a better man than I :-).
'tough old broad' ya mean?
It makes no sense to me; every day I am made aware of the stuff that I used to be able to do that I simply can't any more, so my strength really can't be so good. On the other hand, just maybe "easy" means something different to each of us? I dunno. I did have a hard time getting the Pharos to behave until I figured out how to get it not go jump around on the counter. In addition to the supplied counter pad and the non-slip rubber stuff, I use my left hand and forearm to hold the monster steady on the counter. Once those two things are done, then all I have to do (as Sam suggested a while back) is position the handle so that it gets a running start on the grind, and off we go. About 30 turns and ....I'm done.
I dunno. I just don't see that any of the complaints that were raised against the Pharos hold up under scrutiny, especially with the current iteration of it. I would imagine that people with early models might well have issues that have now been fixed/adjusted/improved upon.
But...what do I know????
I like it....what else matters, eh????
Susan
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I thought a blonde roast means 30ml of white coffee in 30 secs...
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Well....who wins the prize for guessing how long (or rather short) I'd keep the Pharos????
Now both the MD-50 AND the Pharos are available.
The Compak K-10 is my new squeeze....:-))))
Susan
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wow, almost a whole year, most likely longer than you keep your ... well, it's been a long time...
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Good point....