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Sage Smart Grinder Pro en route to me via your code I've also ordered some of your Choc & Nut and Fruitcake beans, do you have any recommended settings to start with on the Grinder please for using in a Sage Bambino plus please?
Great review! I have seen a lot of comparison videos, and I am very impressed with your take on the pros and cons. The fact that you have been using it for 5 years has pretty much sealed the deal for me. Thank you from a Canadian across the pond. Cheers!
@Warran Grin You can't go wrong with this grinder if you're looking for an entry level grinder for both sides of the grind spectrum. Hello from the US! Enjoy!
Thanks for the review Kev, and for the discount code you sent me for Ireland. I am now using and am delighted with my new Sage Smart Grinder Pro, which was already discounted on the Sage site, and with the extra coupon discount I got it for €186.91. Keep up the good work!
Great video! Don't forget that when u remove the bean hopper and remove the burr u can change the position of the burr by removing the little plastic holder clip , twisting the burr and putting it back in for 10 more adjustments meaning 60 X 10 = 600 settings. For espresso you should try the finer setting in the actual burr and see if it imrpvoes the fineness adjustments.
Exactly ! Conversely, you can move the burr clockwise to get an even coarser grind if you are grinding for French press etc. I found, out of the box, the #60 grind wasn't quite coarse enough for French press. A quick adjustment and voila ! Job done. The ability to adjust the burr, to me, is a star feature of this 'entry level' grinder. It is also a lot quieter than the couple of 'domestic level' (aka cheap) grinders I have used in the past. I can not recommend this grinder highly enough - love it.
Thanks again for review, including caveats. I bought one. as shipped internal burr was on 8. I tried brewing some Hasbean Bolivia El Fuerte medium/medium dark for my rancilio sylvia. Used user setting 6. After a few grams constant clutch slipping. I did try adjusting internal burr, but that will just adjust offset. Throwing beans in whilst running was the best I got to. Even here extraction was useless - brew time of say 8-9s. Wondering if there's a lot of unit variability, but otherwise I think Im either going back to a modded cheapie (I had a modded sboly before which was loads better). Or a Eureka Mignon Specialita which of course is the better choice to pair with the rancilio. If I can stomach the £ !
The only thing I'll add is the retention on these is a bit annoying and that the burrs are conical. All that said, it's a great entry level grinder that I've owned for about a f ton as well. :) Well done mate. Subbed!
Hey! We need to use the small portafilter cradle and have found that at the standard 17.8 seconds, it grinds too much on the double espresso setting. Are you able to recommend a grind time? Thanks in advance!
I have had my Smart Grinder Pro for about 8 years, and I love it. I mainly do immersion style brews (AeroPress, French Press, Clever Dripper), and pour overs (Chemex). Once I figure out the grind and dosage I like per brewing style, I get reliably great cups. Since I don't make espresso, I cannot speak to the finer settings, clumping, or other issues. But, for the brewing methods I use, it is easy to switch from one setting to another, and get the precise amount I need for that brew. Also, after 8 years of daily use, I have experienced no issues with reliability or performance. The coffee world has better rated grinders, but I am not sure why? I don't want them. I like this one.
Cheers Simeon, the smart grinder pro is great, and the fact you've had it for 8 years is great. I've had mine over 5 years now and like you I've had no problems at all. Cheers :-) Kev
I have the same grinder. For the clumps issue I use the Blind Shaker from Weber Workshop no problem whatsoever after. Would you post a chart or table of your settings for different coffee brewing methods? It would be amazing to have a guide from someone who have the grinder since 5 years.
Thank you for the videos as always! I have just cleaned my sage Bambino and also have this grinder, would you be doing a cleaning video at all for the grinder?
Hey, great video! I think it'd be amazing if you could just quickly list the other two options for just espresso! Like if the MC2 is really expensive in someone's country of origin for example. Thanks a lot! Edit: actually, I'll just go watch the comparison video! Edit 2: or rather, I'll look forward to it!
I've had the iberital mc2 for some time now... not a huge fan. I found it quite tricky to dial in and the doses just aren't very consistent. I'm hoping the sage will be a bit less stressful to use!
@@Coffee_Kev The Sage is a much more pleasurable experience to use. Cleaner and more user friendly. The grinds do tend to be a bit clumpy but a spray of water and a good tap sorts it out!
Great and funny review, I especially liked the scientific explanation of imperial units of measure :) I saw MC2 not available anymore anywhere. Any other idea when wanting to grind predominantly espresso for latte? Thank you very much
I'm glad I saw this review through your latest email - I bought one of these last month, then wondered if I should have waited & bought a Niche Zero instead! I've decided to keep it, as I've found a mod that converts it into a single shot machine (which, apparently, vastly reduces the retention - it's available on Etsy). I'm actually waiting to use this, as I've bought a Sage Bambino plus (via your discount code - cheers👍, especially good with the extras Sage were selling with it, such as the barista accessories bundled with it) - also bought an Aeropress (which I've not used either - I bought it before I decided to get an espresso machine 🤣). I've also got a bag of Cafeterie ground coffee to use up first. I'll be watching a good few of your videos when I eventually start trying out home espresso!
Hi, I need some help getting the right amount for one and two shot on a bottomless portafilter with a dedica 685. no idea settings to start and people with same setup i can see online wasted a lot of beans until they found a solution but they didnt make it clear their solution in their post
What's produces better grinds of coffe this sage or the wilfa (which only retails round £120) This seems best for ease of use but how would the quality of coffee compare?
At first I just want a medium grind for my reusable K-Cup to make a black coffee with 8 Oz of water. I have a breville espresso maker as well, but only use that on special occasions. I'm thinking of buying this on QVC soon. Why is the lcd display on yours so fuzzy?
Is this the same grinder as used in the Sage/Breville Barista Express/Touch? I'm wanting to get rid of my Barista machine because of the noisy grinder. Also, the ground coffee comes out in lumps, never a nice fine grind.
I love my SPG, however since I have changed coffee beans (Exhale) the factory setting doesn’t meet the grind settings of the beans. Therefore, over time I adjusted the internal burr setting down to 2 and to 1 ext to get a decent pressure. However, even with that setting the coffee still races through, but does taste good. Beans from a fresh bag don’t seem to make much of a difference. Having to deal with such a fine grind, the burr clogged up this weekend which made me think. Bearing in mind what you said in the video about common mistakes, I put the internal burr setting up again to 4, but the coffee ran straight through at 1 bar. Is the coffee simply not suitable?
Does this grinder have any problems with oily Italian roast dark coffee beans? The espressione grinder i got was not allowing the beans to drop in to be ground! I had to return it as my old Cuisinart mill never had any problems grinding any bean.
Have had a Bambino and smart grinder Pro since Xmas but despite buying good quality beans (med/dark roast) resting them, distributing, tamping, weighing in and out, pre warming you name it I cannot get a shot that doesn't taste sour. Any chance you could do a video on dialling in as I am close to chucking in the towel
@@Coffee_Kev Im using standard wall double basket 18g in after grinding, distributing grinds, level and tamp preheating portafilter and cup have tried 1:2, 1:2.5, 1:3 and each grind set between 12 (choked) and 18(fast). 2.5k beans used from decent roasters and only one shot hasnt tasted sour!
unfortunately, at 229euro, was the cheapest of the "very good" home grinders. The Baratza Encore ESP (or other "better" machines) is almost unobtainable in Italy. Let's see when I'll start using it. I bought it because I was tired of manually grind my daily coffee and to see if my espresso would improve from my Aliexpress grinder.
@@Coffee_Kev let’s see. What’s really worrying is that after months of videos, expert tips, equipment update, fresh coffee beans selection from locals, I still don’t have any idea how to make a really decent espresso, hahahaha.
I bought a Gastroback advanced plus, which is a cheaper verson of smart pro, it doesn’t make any clump, and the grind is fluffy. The only issue is that it looks very cheap and makes big sound.
Thanks for the Video :) I‘m new in the World of Espresso. Now i‘m faced with the decision to buy the SGP or the Eureka Mignon Specialit. What would be your choice ? The price difference is arround 160$. My favorite drink is Cappuccino. Thanks a lot! Greetings Leo
Hi, if you're looking for an espresso grinder, between the SGP and the Eureka Mignon Specialita, definitely the Specialita. SGP is a great grinder but it's not on the same level as the Specialita, as an espresso grinder. Cheers, Kev.
Hi Alexandre. It would depend which recipe I'm following, there's quite a big range, but I tend to favour a more coarse grind these days for aeropress most of the time - and it won't be exactly the same from one grinder to the next even the exact same grinder, but I'm usually somewhere between 25-35. If I'm not following a specific recipe I'll usually grind at 30 on my SGP for Aeropress. Cheers.
I bought one of these and a Bambino about a year ago after a bit of research and watching some of your videos, many thanks! I eventually managed to get unpressurized baskets from Sage after the global shortage. I mostly grind for a double espresso and find that the clumping means grounds falling out of the double basket. I'm around setting 6 for about 18.8 seconds, maybe a bit too much but I'm having to stop two-thirds of the way and tamp to ensure the final third doesn't spill over so often. I think I missed a recommended video (due to Christmas shenanigans) on a magnetic funnel, was this video from you or do you have any recommendations? I would prefer to simply grind and tamp once and not have grounds spill almost every time. I feel like a funnel could solve the issue of keeping the clumps in a neat pyramid/cone resulting in much less faffing and a much improved coffee-making experience 🙂
Hi Chris :-) Just grab yourself a portafilter dosing funnel, and grind into the basket without the portafilter cradle. I'd then recommend distributing (evening out the clumps) either via the WDT method, or by using a distributor tool - if you watch this video, this basically explains the two methods (although he's using the hand method rather than using t spoked distributor, but it's essentially the same thing) th-cam.com/video/HjAyXWF9hM4/w-d-xo.html Cheers :-) Kev
Top informative review as always. Ive recently bought the dynamic duo from sage but im having some difficulties with my Sage smart grinder pro. When im trying to grind my favourite beans (colonna foundation) its struggling to grind at size 6. I'ts just making a loud racket noise and minimal to no grounds are coming out, do you think i need to adjust the internal burr settings? Thanks
I’ve got a Sage Barista Touch and was thinking about getting one of these for filter brews (and everything else). Do you think this will do a better job of espresso grinding than the barista touch itself would? Cheers
Hi, thanks for your video. very helpfull. I have 2 questions for you. 1. Could you please place a link to the comparison video for different grinders ? 2. Could you please list the other grinders mentioned on the video & any others you recommend up to £300 ? i'm looking for a new grinder. I only do expresso (for capucciono, latte, expresso). The Breville seem to be a good grinder for the convenience & features but there may be other grinders better. So hence my questions. cheers
Thanks :-). I've never tried to reduce retention, I just purge a few grams of coffee. I'm not aware of a way to properly do away with retention with the smart grinder pro. I've seen a "hack" where a piece of felt is used, but while I can see how this may reduce overall retention, I can't see that making any difference to exchanged retention (although I may be wrong of course) and it's exchanged retention that we'd really want to reduce, the retained grinds that end up in your next basket. Cheers :-)
Have you tried to reduce the static? That is usually very helpful with cutting down clumping. Also, you could invest in a sifter, there are some not super expensive espresso-oriented sifters that will help even out your grind, and by sifting it should knock out the clumps (just if you get one, be mindful of the material being used as this is a big factor in the amount of static produced). Just in case you didn't know, these tips helped me out on a much inferior grinder, so hopefully they'll help with this one too.
I had one of these for 10 months, then returned it as not fit for purpose to Amazon, where I bought it. Sage (Breville) agreed to replace it for me, but I declined as I didnt want to be in the same position in another year. The problem is that the impeller wears out and is not available as a spare part. some people are 3d printing their own, but this is not really a solution.
@@Coffee_Kev Hi Kev, mine had the modified impeller with the steel "cover" to it and it still wore out. I probably grind about 75g of coffee a day on average at a fine grind setting (6 to 8). The problem is that the plastic impeller tips protrude beyond the metal carrier so they still wear. Otherwise, I thought it was a great grinder for the money, If only Sage/Breville could be persuaded to supply the impeller as a spare part. The only draw back with this is that although a worn impeller can be removed quite easily through the top of the machine because it's smaller in diameter than a new one and can be withdrawn through the lower burr, to fit a new one you have to dismantle the machine from the bottom. There is a video on youtube on how to do this, including links to buying a 3d printed after market impeller th-cam.com/video/1lL8BInrki8/w-d-xo.html
I’ve had the Smart Grinder Pro for a few months, and think it’s great. My only slight complaint is that it sometimes spontaneously slips in its grind setting. For example, yesterday it was set to 14, but this morning I found it was on 13. By the way, a question: Santa’s bringing me a V60 soon. Obviously I know it’ll differ from bean to bean, but approximately what setting on the Smart Grinder Pro would you recommend for pourover?
Hi Maurice. Yes I've noticed this if the setting is already close to the next one, if that makes sense, as there's no physical click, you can be just into 14 from 13, and then the LED changes and tells you it's at 13, for example. Re pourover, it will differ slightly from one SGP to another, and depending on the beams you're using, but I'd go somewhere between 45 - 55 generally. Cheers
I wish someone would have mentioned that this grinder does NOT have an on -off button plug it in it comes on to switch it off you have to switch it off at the mains to stop it going into auto standby after 5 minutes NOT auto shut off. For this sort of money c'mon give me an on off switch. If you forget it stays in standby mode for days weeks I don't know how long forever. Not normally one to complain but the cost of electric at the moment. I cannot believe it has no On Off its 2020 not impressed at all
Thank you for your review! I just got my Smart Grinder Pro to pair with the Bambino Plus, and while I'm excited to finally have good coffee, I found out it is quite difficult to grind so that I reach 25-30 second of extraction time. I usually go with 17.5g in and 35g out, but it takes like 10secs. I reached number 6 of grind size , and I know it depends on the coffee, but isn't it already too low? I saw another vid of yours where you dialled in between 12 and 14. Am I doing something wrong? Maybe I should re-align the burrs? Please Help!
You can adjust the inner burr from factory 6 (I presume it's at) to say 4 or go all the way to 2 (with inner burr to 1 and the rotary knob to 1 you risk damaging the grinder because the metal parts touch and that ain't good). Another issue is eith the coffee itself: some beans choke the machine at a lower setting while other beans require a different number. I've found this out on my Barista Pro where I have the inner burr at 2 and grind at 1 and still too fast. The previous coffee I used was at 8 on the grind size and had consistent shots. Try and experiment but keep notes on each coffee so you don't have to go through the same process again.
Just one tip, Bambino plus works best when the puck is pressed as deep as the razor tool suggests. So try to put enough pressure to go that deep. In the past I used to press the puck much deeper and most of the time I got very bad espresso. If you found channeling, just increase the coffee volume.
Do you have any experience with the ROK GC Grinder? I was between this and the rok and went with the ROK based off of performance reviews. Hope I made the right decision
Hi Kev, do you know what the grounds retention is like on this machine? I have an iberital mc2 and the retention is awful! I can have over 5 grams left in chamber after each grind! I’m tired of purging and wasting coffee…. Cheers Andrew
I've had it about a month and it definitely retains some grounds, but definitely not as much as 5 grams. I always run it for a few seconds after finishing my grind and I always get a little bit deposited in the grind tray.. but it's easy to remove, dust off and replace.
Hi Kev, thanks for this - by the way, I’m into my third year of this Grindr, it’s great but I renewed the top Burr after two years because my shots were racing through. But I’ve since realised it was consistently doing the same thing it’s just my gaggia classic was “changing “ And I think the pump/OPV/basket combination was forcing through more water at a higher pressure. I’ve since found out (in the last couple of weeks) I can change the OPV with an Allen key and I’m re-dialling three different suppliers beans everything seems to be happening at once but I think I’m getting somewhere with the whole lot. I was delighted to see how pleased you are with the SGP, and that I probably didn’t need to change the top Burr-let’s see how it pans out, keep it up, thanks again.
Hey Aadil, if I may, give 35 a try and go more coarse from there. I typically stay around there for lighter roasts or up to 40 for darker roasts. Hope that helps!
I find when grinding in to the portafilter it’s pretty messy and the grinds drop around the portafilter in to the cradle base and on to the kitchen surface. This is when I weigh the coffee being ground, so I don’t think it’s because I’m grinding too much. Do you have any tips on how to stop it falling outside of the portafilter and in to the cradle and around the machine?
Hi Caroline. I tend to hold the portafilter and shake it slightly to distribute the grounds, this is a habit I got into ages ago. I can only imagine that if you don't do this, you might end up with a pyramid of ground coffee which leads to some of the coffee being repelled beyond the basket. Try giving the portafilter a wiggle as the coffee is grinding and see if this helps. Cheers.
I have my timer set up for approx a full basket but I pause it halfway through, tap the portafilter on a cloth on the kitchen side to distribute the grind, then return the portafilter to the grinder, unpause and let it finish the grind cycle. I find that as long as I don't let the coffee pile to high in the center, very little misses the basket.
Just bought the bambino plus and a grinder and am confused about grind size. In the pressurized basket, should the grind size be bigger then non pressurized?
Yeah, pressurised baskets try to make up for not having the coffee ground fine enough so if you have the coffee too fine and use a pressurised basket, you will probably choke up the machine. The general consensus is if you have a grinder which can go fine enough for espresso then ditch the pressurised baskets.
Yes if you're using pressured baskets you won't need to go as fine with the grind. If using the bambino plus I'd try around 14-16 if you're using the smart grinder pro. Cheers
Loving your work! Also the definition of scale on the F ton made me laugh :-) serious question though, have you or could you do a comparison of the Smart Grinder pro versus the inbuilt Grinder on the Barista express or Barista pro? That would be very interesting to me :-)
Cheers Jason ;-). Yeah, I'm about to buy the Barista Express actually (again) so I can do some videos (I bought it for my blog post review: bit.ly/3qvRYiR - but sold it not long after to recoup the cost, but this was before I started doing the TH-cam videos), I'm going to be getting the Barista Pro to use for a while to review too, so I'll do some comparisons of the grinders on both machines plus the SGP. Cheers, Kev.
Hi Kev, to my real surprise, I had tested more than 10 times by throwing the beans only at around 1 o'clock angle, I get very consistent result which very close to zero retention. Do you want to give it a try and share with me your results?
Hello Kev 👋 Do you know when your Melitta 6766579 review will be online? Read on ukcoffeeblog you ordered on 28th Dec. Really interested to see a review from a proper coffee lover as there doesn't seem many reviews for this particular grinder on YT. All the best for the new year.
@@Coffee_Kev I’m still going round in circles wondering what of the two sage grinders to buy the more I look the more I wonder one problem I have is I want change to decaf after morning shots I do like Lakeland because their warranty is great but they don’t do cheaper one I do get membership discount few times a year bla bla
@@Coffee_Kev I bought the sage with your discount code I only put 14grams in at a time with my dualit machine I don’t have a problem with retention… next purchase the Gaggia classic
Thank you for your review! You've been using the grinder for a while now. Do you drink filter coffee as well? Can you confirm the inconsistency of course grounds as another TH-camr claims: th-cam.com/video/u1J6YOsr338/w-d-xo.html
There’s a common problem with the older smart grinder pro model where a plastic piece used in the grinding breaks, and people replace that piece with a new one one if they can find it or a 3d printed one for cheap that works better than the original
Really enjoy the channel and it’s the reason why I bought this grinder. I am struggling with support. I put a request in to sageappliances uk and even though they state a response in 2 days it’s been 8 days and nothing
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Sage Smart Grinder Pro en route to me via your code
I've also ordered some of your Choc & Nut and Fruitcake beans, do you have any recommended settings to start with on the Grinder please for using in a Sage Bambino plus please?
Would this be a good pairing with a gaggia classic pro as opposed to buying a sage barista pro?
Great review! I have seen a lot of comparison videos, and I am very impressed with your take on the pros and cons. The fact that you have been using it for 5 years has pretty much sealed the deal for me. Thank you from a Canadian across the pond. Cheers!
Thanks Warran :-) Glad you found it helpful. Cheers :-)
@Warran Grin You can't go wrong with this grinder if you're looking for an entry level grinder for both sides of the grind spectrum. Hello from the US! Enjoy!
Thanks for the review Kev, and for the discount code you sent me for Ireland. I am now using and am delighted with my new Sage Smart Grinder Pro, which was already discounted on the Sage site, and with the extra coupon discount I got it for €186.91.
Keep up the good work!
What a fantastic deal ;-)
Delivery on this video is comedic at times. Really good viewing and a great review.
Thank you!
Cheers 👍😀
Great review, just bought one today so good to hear yours is still going strong after an F ton of grinding
Thanks Dan :-)
Awesome analysis from Kev (on all matters espresso) and easy to get your head around. Very impressive indeed
Thanks Raman :-)
Great video! Don't forget that when u remove the bean hopper and remove the burr u can change the position of the burr by removing the little plastic holder clip , twisting the burr and putting it back in for 10 more adjustments meaning 60 X 10 = 600 settings. For espresso you should try the finer setting in the actual burr and see if it imrpvoes the fineness adjustments.
Exactly ! Conversely, you can move the burr clockwise to get an even coarser grind if you are grinding for French press etc. I found, out of the box, the #60 grind wasn't quite coarse enough for French press. A quick adjustment and voila ! Job done. The ability to adjust the burr, to me, is a star feature of this 'entry level' grinder. It is also a lot quieter than the couple of 'domestic level' (aka cheap) grinders I have used in the past. I can not recommend this grinder highly enough - love it.
Perfect timing for the video I just bought one today great review
Thanks Avey👍
Just come across coffeeblog and LOVE the site. Great vid. subbed :)
Cheers :-)
Thanks again for review, including caveats. I bought one. as shipped internal burr was on 8. I tried brewing some Hasbean Bolivia El Fuerte medium/medium dark for my rancilio sylvia. Used user setting 6. After a few grams constant clutch slipping. I did try adjusting internal burr, but that will just adjust offset. Throwing beans in whilst running was the best I got to. Even here extraction was useless - brew time of say 8-9s. Wondering if there's a lot of unit variability, but otherwise I think Im either going back to a modded cheapie (I had a modded sboly before which was loads better). Or a Eureka Mignon Specialita which of course is the better choice to pair with the rancilio. If I can stomach the £ !
The only thing I'll add is the retention on these is a bit annoying and that the burrs are conical. All that said, it's a great entry level grinder that I've owned for about a f ton as well. :) Well done mate. Subbed!
Thanks for the info and video Kev. Just bought this via your discount code for delivery to Ireland. €38.00 discount. Many thanks
Thanks Chris :-)
Easy to use. We are using it specifically for grinding spices. So great.
Hey! We need to use the small portafilter cradle and have found that at the standard 17.8 seconds, it grinds too much on the double espresso setting. Are you able to recommend a grind time? Thanks in advance!
I have had my Smart Grinder Pro for about 8 years, and I love it. I mainly do immersion style brews (AeroPress, French Press, Clever Dripper), and pour overs (Chemex). Once I figure out the grind and dosage I like per brewing style, I get reliably great cups. Since I don't make espresso, I cannot speak to the finer settings, clumping, or other issues. But, for the brewing methods I use, it is easy to switch from one setting to another, and get the precise amount I need for that brew.
Also, after 8 years of daily use, I have experienced no issues with reliability or performance. The coffee world has better rated grinders, but I am not sure why? I don't want them. I like this one.
Cheers Simeon, the smart grinder pro is great, and the fact you've had it for 8 years is great. I've had mine over 5 years now and like you I've had no problems at all.
Cheers :-)
Kev
Thanks for the video! I have just picked one up and can't wait to try it out! Keep up the good work! 🤙
Cheers, hope you're happy with it 👍
@@Coffee_Kev Yes thanks! Its a great bit of kit works very well with my v60 and aeropress. 👌
For the money this is the best built and best in its class.
I'm inclined to agree 👍
I have the same grinder. For the clumps issue I use the Blind Shaker from Weber Workshop no problem whatsoever after. Would you post a chart or table of your settings for different coffee brewing methods? It would be amazing to have a guide from someone who have the grinder since 5 years.
Thanks, that's a good call - I'll work on that. Cheers :-)
Kev
Thank you for the videos as always! I have just cleaned my sage Bambino and also have this grinder, would you be doing a cleaning video at all for the grinder?
Thanks, yeah I'll do that, good idea :-) Cheers
@@Coffee_Kev oh nice one mate!
Thanks for the review, you talked me into this now 😂
Haha, no worries
@@Coffee_Kev delivered today and you're right: just perfect!! Thanks 🙂👍🏻
Hey, great video! I think it'd be amazing if you could just quickly list the other two options for just espresso! Like if the MC2 is really expensive in someone's country of origin for example. Thanks a lot!
Edit: actually, I'll just go watch the comparison video!
Edit 2: or rather, I'll look forward to it!
if doing just filter coffee, do you think there are better options for the same price. For example knock aergrind, 1zpresso etc?
I've had the iberital mc2 for some time now... not a huge fan. I found it quite tricky to dial in and the doses just aren't very consistent. I'm hoping the sage will be a bit less stressful to use!
Let me know how you get on with the smart grinder pro. Cheers
@@Coffee_Kev The Sage is a much more pleasurable experience to use. Cleaner and more user friendly. The grinds do tend to be a bit clumpy but a spray of water and a good tap sorts it out!
Great and funny review, I especially liked the scientific explanation of imperial units of measure :)
I saw MC2 not available anymore anywhere.
Any other idea when wanting to grind predominantly espresso for latte?
Thank you very much
I'm glad I saw this review through your latest email - I bought one of these last month, then wondered if I should have waited & bought a Niche Zero instead! I've decided to keep it, as I've found a mod that converts it into a single shot machine (which, apparently, vastly reduces the retention - it's available on Etsy).
I'm actually waiting to use this, as I've bought a Sage Bambino plus (via your discount code - cheers👍, especially good with the extras Sage were selling with it, such as the barista accessories bundled with it) - also bought an Aeropress (which I've not used either - I bought it before I decided to get an espresso machine 🤣). I've also got a bag of Cafeterie ground coffee to use up first.
I'll be watching a good few of your videos when I eventually start trying out home espresso!
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for that, here is the link to Etsy for anyone else interested:tidd.ly/3ZdXB7F
Cheers
Kev
@@Coffee_Kev Could you provide more info, link is not working anymore 😢
As you know I have a smart grinder pro on order with your discount code you have suggested bellows do u replace the hopper can’t fine a you tube video
Enjoying my Breville grinder after two years of use.
Thanks :-). Paired with an espresso machine, or do you use it for a brew method such as pourover? Cheers, Kev
Hi, I need some help getting the right amount for one and two shot on a bottomless portafilter with a dedica 685. no idea settings to start and people with same setup i can see online wasted a lot of beans until they found a solution but they didnt make it clear their solution in their post
What's produces better grinds of coffe this sage or the wilfa (which only retails round £120)
This seems best for ease of use but how would the quality of coffee compare?
At first I just want a medium grind for my reusable K-Cup to make a black coffee with 8 Oz of water. I have a breville espresso maker as well, but only use that on special occasions. I'm thinking of buying this on QVC soon.
Why is the lcd display on yours so fuzzy?
Is this the same grinder as used in the Sage/Breville Barista Express/Touch?
I'm wanting to get rid of my Barista machine because of the noisy grinder. Also, the ground coffee comes out in lumps, never a nice fine grind.
I love my SPG, however since I have changed coffee beans (Exhale) the factory setting doesn’t meet the grind settings of the beans. Therefore, over time I adjusted the internal burr setting down to 2 and to 1 ext to get a decent pressure. However, even with that setting the coffee still races through, but does taste good. Beans from a fresh bag don’t seem to make much of a difference. Having to deal with such a fine grind, the burr clogged up this weekend which made me think.
Bearing in mind what you said in the video about common mistakes, I put the internal burr setting up again to 4, but the coffee ran straight through at 1 bar. Is the coffee simply not suitable?
Does this grinder have any problems with oily Italian roast dark coffee beans? The espressione grinder i got was not allowing the beans to drop in to be ground! I had to return it as my old Cuisinart mill never had any problems grinding any bean.
Have had a Bambino and smart grinder Pro since Xmas but despite buying good quality beans (med/dark roast) resting them, distributing, tamping, weighing in and out, pre warming you name it I cannot get a shot that doesn't taste sour. Any chance you could do a video on dialling in as I am close to chucking in the towel
Hi Fiona. Sure. Just one quick question, are you using the standard baskets, or dual walled? Cheers :-)
@@Coffee_Kev Im using standard wall double basket 18g in after grinding, distributing grinds, level and tamp preheating portafilter and cup have tried 1:2, 1:2.5, 1:3 and each grind set between 12 (choked) and 18(fast). 2.5k beans used from decent roasters and only one shot hasnt tasted sour!
unfortunately, at 229euro, was the cheapest of the "very good" home grinders. The Baratza Encore ESP (or other "better" machines) is almost unobtainable in Italy. Let's see when I'll start using it. I bought it because I was tired of manually grind my daily coffee and to see if my espresso would improve from my Aliexpress grinder.
Hi Nick, I think the SGP is a fantastic grinder so you shouldn't be disappointed!
@@Coffee_Kev let’s see. What’s really worrying is that after months of videos, expert tips, equipment update, fresh coffee beans selection from locals, I still don’t have any idea how to make a really decent espresso, hahahaha.
I bought a Gastroback advanced plus, which is a cheaper verson of smart pro, it doesn’t make any clump, and the grind is fluffy. The only issue is that it looks very cheap and makes big sound.
As long as you are happy with it then that's all that matters:-)
Wish they had the MC2 in the US. I just bought a SGP
Does the Sage smart grinder is better then Sage barista pro integrated grinder?
Great review man, definitely subscribing. Do you have a recommendation for a grind setting for cold brew coffee when using a Bodum or similar press?
What setting do you recommend for this machine when making filter coffee ? (V60)
Thanks for the Video :)
I‘m new in the World of Espresso. Now i‘m faced with the decision to buy the SGP or the Eureka Mignon Specialit. What would be your choice ? The price difference is arround 160$. My favorite drink is Cappuccino.
Thanks a lot!
Greetings Leo
Hi, if you're looking for an espresso grinder, between the SGP and the Eureka Mignon Specialita, definitely the Specialita. SGP is a great grinder but it's not on the same level as the Specialita, as an espresso grinder. Cheers, Kev.
Thanks a lot for this video. Approximatively which settings do you use for aeropress?
Hi Alexandre. It would depend which recipe I'm following, there's quite a big range, but I tend to favour a more coarse grind these days for aeropress most of the time - and it won't be exactly the same from one grinder to the next even the exact same grinder, but I'm usually somewhere between 25-35. If I'm not following a specific recipe I'll usually grind at 30 on my SGP for Aeropress. Cheers.
I bought one of these and a Bambino about a year ago after a bit of research and watching some of your videos, many thanks! I eventually managed to get unpressurized baskets from Sage after the global shortage.
I mostly grind for a double espresso and find that the clumping means grounds falling out of the double basket.
I'm around setting 6 for about 18.8 seconds, maybe a bit too much but I'm having to stop two-thirds of the way and tamp to ensure the final third doesn't spill over so often.
I think I missed a recommended video (due to Christmas shenanigans) on a magnetic funnel, was this video from you or do you have any recommendations? I would prefer to simply grind and tamp once and not have grounds spill almost every time. I feel like a funnel could solve the issue of keeping the clumps in a neat pyramid/cone resulting in much less faffing and a much improved coffee-making experience 🙂
Hi Chris :-)
Just grab yourself a portafilter dosing funnel, and grind into the basket without the portafilter cradle.
I'd then recommend distributing (evening out the clumps) either via the WDT method, or by using a distributor tool - if you watch this video, this basically explains the two methods (although he's using the hand method rather than using t spoked distributor, but it's essentially the same thing) th-cam.com/video/HjAyXWF9hM4/w-d-xo.html
Cheers :-)
Kev
Top informative review as always. Ive recently bought the dynamic duo from sage but im having some difficulties with my Sage smart grinder pro. When im trying to grind my favourite beans (colonna foundation) its struggling to grind at size 6. I'ts just making a loud racket noise and minimal to no grounds are coming out, do you think i need to adjust the internal burr settings? Thanks
I’ve got a Sage Barista Touch and was thinking about getting one of these for filter brews (and everything else).
Do you think this will do a better job of espresso grinding than the barista touch itself would? Cheers
Hi, thanks for your video. very helpfull. I have 2 questions for you.
1. Could you please place a link to the comparison video for different grinders ?
2. Could you please list the other grinders mentioned on the video & any others you recommend up to £300 ?
i'm looking for a new grinder. I only do expresso (for capucciono, latte, expresso). The Breville seem to be a good grinder for the convenience & features but there may be other grinders better. So hence my questions.
cheers
Hello! I love your vid! :D I have a question, how do you manage, or do you have a hack, to reduce the grind retention on this grinder? Thank you :D
Thanks :-). I've never tried to reduce retention, I just purge a few grams of coffee. I'm not aware of a way to properly do away with retention with the smart grinder pro. I've seen a "hack" where a piece of felt is used, but while I can see how this may reduce overall retention, I can't see that making any difference to exchanged retention (although I may be wrong of course) and it's exchanged retention that we'd really want to reduce, the retained grinds that end up in your next basket. Cheers :-)
Have you tried to reduce the static? That is usually very helpful with cutting down clumping. Also, you could invest in a sifter, there are some not super expensive espresso-oriented sifters that will help even out your grind, and by sifting it should knock out the clumps (just if you get one, be mindful of the material being used as this is a big factor in the amount of static produced). Just in case you didn't know, these tips helped me out on a much inferior grinder, so hopefully they'll help with this one too.
I had one of these for 10 months, then returned it as not fit for purpose to Amazon, where I bought it. Sage (Breville) agreed to replace it for me, but I declined as I didnt want to be in the same position in another year. The problem is that the impeller wears out and is not available as a spare part. some people are 3d printing their own, but this is not really a solution.
Hi Mark. When was this? Reason I ask is I believe they redesigned the impeller a while back to make it more durable. Cheers
@@Coffee_Kev Hi Kev, mine had the modified impeller with the steel "cover" to it and it still wore out. I probably grind about 75g of coffee a day on average at a fine grind setting (6 to 8). The problem is that the plastic impeller tips protrude beyond the metal carrier so they still wear. Otherwise, I thought it was a great grinder for the money, If only Sage/Breville could be persuaded to supply the impeller as a spare part. The only draw back with this is that although a worn impeller can be removed quite easily through the top of the machine because it's smaller in diameter than a new one and can be withdrawn through the lower burr, to fit a new one you have to dismantle the machine from the bottom. There is a video on youtube on how to do this, including links to buying a 3d printed after market impeller th-cam.com/video/1lL8BInrki8/w-d-xo.html
I’ve had the Smart Grinder Pro for a few months, and think it’s great. My only slight complaint is that it sometimes spontaneously slips in its grind setting. For example, yesterday it was set to 14, but this morning I found it was on 13. By the way, a question: Santa’s bringing me a V60 soon. Obviously I know it’ll differ from bean to bean, but approximately what setting on the Smart Grinder Pro would you recommend for pourover?
Hi Maurice. Yes I've noticed this if the setting is already close to the next one, if that makes sense, as there's no physical click, you can be just into 14 from 13, and then the LED changes and tells you it's at 13, for example. Re pourover, it will differ slightly from one SGP to another, and depending on the beams you're using, but I'd go somewhere between 45 - 55 generally. Cheers
@@Coffee_Kev Thanks Kev!
Did Sage used to be the expensive Heston Blumenthal plugged brand?... Now it's Breville?
Do you know if this will go fine enough for Turkish coffee?
I wish someone would have mentioned that this grinder does NOT have an on -off button plug it in it comes on to switch it off you have to switch it off at the mains to stop it going into auto standby after 5 minutes NOT auto shut off. For this sort of money c'mon give me an on off switch. If you forget it stays in standby mode for days weeks I don't know how long forever. Not normally one to complain but the cost of electric at the moment. I cannot believe it has no On Off its 2020 not impressed at all
totally agree!!! i came to this video to check where is the on-off button, the manual indicates to plug it and then switch it on…
Thank you for your review! I just got my Smart Grinder Pro to pair with the Bambino Plus, and while I'm excited to finally have good coffee, I found out it is quite difficult to grind so that I reach 25-30 second of extraction time. I usually go with 17.5g in and 35g out, but it takes like 10secs. I reached number 6 of grind size , and I know it depends on the coffee, but isn't it already too low? I saw another vid of yours where you dialled in between 12 and 14. Am I doing something wrong? Maybe I should re-align the burrs? Please Help!
You can adjust the inner burr from factory 6 (I presume it's at) to say 4 or go all the way to 2 (with inner burr to 1 and the rotary knob to 1 you risk damaging the grinder because the metal parts touch and that ain't good). Another issue is eith the coffee itself: some beans choke the machine at a lower setting while other beans require a different number. I've found this out on my Barista Pro where I have the inner burr at 2 and grind at 1 and still too fast. The previous coffee I used was at 8 on the grind size and had consistent shots. Try and experiment but keep notes on each coffee so you don't have to go through the same process again.
Just one tip, Bambino plus works best when the puck is pressed as deep as the razor tool suggests.
So try to put enough pressure to go that deep.
In the past I used to press the puck much deeper and most of the time I got very bad espresso.
If you found channeling, just increase the coffee volume.
Baratzza sette30 vs Sage smart? Thanks for sharing
What grind setting you guys use? For how many grams
Do you have any experience with the ROK GC Grinder? I was between this and the rok and went with the ROK based off of performance reviews. Hope I made the right decision
Hi Kev would this be a good grinder to pair with a gaggia classic pro?
H Simon,
Yes that grinder goes great with the classic.
Cheers
Kev
Hi Kev, do you know what the grounds retention is like on this machine? I have an iberital mc2 and the retention is awful! I can have over 5 grams left in chamber after each grind! I’m tired of purging and wasting coffee…. Cheers Andrew
I've had it about a month and it definitely retains some grounds, but definitely not as much as 5 grams. I always run it for a few seconds after finishing my grind and I always get a little bit deposited in the grind tray.. but it's easy to remove, dust off and replace.
I would to use it in order to make coffee with a Bialetti Moka 😉
Fantastic video 😮
Cheers :-)
Hi Kev, thanks for this - by the way, I’m into my third year of this Grindr, it’s great but I renewed the top Burr after two years because my shots were racing through. But I’ve since realised it was consistently doing the same thing it’s just my gaggia classic was “changing “ And I think the pump/OPV/basket combination was forcing through more water at a higher pressure. I’ve since found out (in the last couple of weeks) I can change the OPV with an Allen key and I’m re-dialling three different suppliers beans everything seems to be happening at once but I think I’m getting somewhere with the whole lot.
I was delighted to see how pleased you are with the SGP, and that I probably didn’t need to change the top Burr-let’s see how it pans out, keep it up, thanks again.
Great review, I'm struggling to dial my Smart Grinder Pro in for Chemex brewing, how have you fared with pourover brewing?
Thanks :-) I don't do a tonne of pourover to be honest, only occasionally. I've used it a lot over the years for Aeropress though.
Hey Aadil, if I may, give 35 a try and go more coarse from there. I typically stay around there for lighter roasts or up to 40 for darker roasts. Hope that helps!
Which grind for turkish coffee?
I find when grinding in to the portafilter it’s pretty messy and the grinds drop around the portafilter in to the cradle base and on to the kitchen surface. This is when I weigh the coffee being ground, so I don’t think it’s because I’m grinding too much. Do you have any tips on how to stop it falling outside of the portafilter and in to the cradle and around the machine?
You could use a dosing funnel, but you can’t do this with the portafilter cradle in place, so you have to hold the portafilter.
Hi Caroline. I tend to hold the portafilter and shake it slightly to distribute the grounds, this is a habit I got into ages ago. I can only imagine that if you don't do this, you might end up with a pyramid of ground coffee which leads to some of the coffee being repelled beyond the basket. Try giving the portafilter a wiggle as the coffee is grinding and see if this helps. Cheers.
I have my timer set up for approx a full basket but I pause it halfway through, tap the portafilter on a cloth on the kitchen side to distribute the grind, then return the portafilter to the grinder, unpause and let it finish the grind cycle. I find that as long as I don't let the coffee pile to high in the center, very little misses the basket.
Just bought the bambino plus and a grinder and am confused about grind size. In the pressurized basket, should the grind size be bigger then non pressurized?
Yeah, pressurised baskets try to make up for not having the coffee ground fine enough so if you have the coffee too fine and use a pressurised basket, you will probably choke up the machine. The general consensus is if you have a grinder which can go fine enough for espresso then ditch the pressurised baskets.
Yes if you're using pressured baskets you won't need to go as fine with the grind. If using the bambino plus I'd try around 14-16 if you're using the smart grinder pro. Cheers
the real question is, where is that t-shirt from!
Haha, my mum! But ill ask her where she got it and let you know 👍
@@Coffee_Kev link it in the description so we all can get one :D
Any opinion on leaving this grinder turned on all the time in sleep mode or powering off?
Hey Dylan, I've left mine plugged in for about 6 years now. You should be good to let it sleep.
What grind setting do you use for aeropress and v60 on the smart grinder pro?
I’ve had it a couple years now and use about 40-42 for V60.
@@kessel12 Thanks!!
@@adrianforde520 and I'll throw my .02 in...on my V60, I do about a 35 on lighter roasts, up to 40 on darker ones.
Loving your work! Also the definition of scale on the F ton made me laugh :-) serious question though, have you or could you do a comparison of the Smart Grinder pro versus the inbuilt Grinder on the Barista express or Barista pro? That would be very interesting to me :-)
Cheers Jason ;-). Yeah, I'm about to buy the Barista Express actually (again) so I can do some videos (I bought it for my blog post review: bit.ly/3qvRYiR - but sold it not long after to recoup the cost, but this was before I started doing the TH-cam videos), I'm going to be getting the Barista Pro to use for a while to review too, so I'll do some comparisons of the grinders on both machines plus the SGP.
Cheers, Kev.
Hi Kev, to my real surprise, I had tested more than 10 times by throwing the beans only at around 1 o'clock angle, I get very consistent result which very close to zero retention. Do you want to give it a try and share with me your results?
Can you explain that a bit more, I'm confused ;-) Cheers.
@@Coffee_Kev sorry for my poor explanation. I am referring to the EAST direction of the hopper (which is 3 o’clock). Get it?😅😅
I’d like to hear more about this
Hello Kev 👋
Do you know when your Melitta 6766579 review will be online? Read on ukcoffeeblog you ordered on 28th Dec. Really interested to see a review from a proper coffee lover as there doesn't seem many reviews for this particular grinder on YT. All the best for the new year.
Hi :-). I have the Melitta in front of me right now. Review will be live next Sunday (10th of Jan). Cheers.
i do 11 on grind size, but the espresso is still kinda blonde
Not true. Baratza ESP is the same price and is a good competitive comparison to the smart grinder pro
The Baratza ESP is a great grinder, Please see my review:
th-cam.com/video/raxupidG3nM/w-d-xo.html
Cheers
Kev
You sound like Alan Macmanus but hey a nice review although.
Cheers, I'm rubbish at snooker ;-)
@@Coffee_Kev wow you know Alan? Thats awesome.
Sounds nothing like angles
@@DWR82 turn on your speakers before making any conclusions
Lord of the Beans.
Clean the device before filming?
If u get from Lakeland 3 year warranty
Thanks for that Barry :-)
@@Coffee_Kev I’m still going round in circles wondering what of the two sage grinders to buy the more I look the more I wonder one problem I have is I want change to decaf after morning shots I do like Lakeland because their warranty is great but they don’t do cheaper one I do get membership discount few times a year bla bla
@@barrytipton1179 Hi Barry,
Drop me an email at: kev@coffeeblog.co.uk
I should be able to help.🙂Cheers
Kev
@@Coffee_Kev I bought the sage with your discount code I only put 14grams in at a time with my dualit machine I don’t have a problem with retention… next purchase the Gaggia classic
Thank you for your review! You've been using the grinder for a while now. Do you drink filter coffee as well? Can you confirm the inconsistency of course grounds as another TH-camr claims: th-cam.com/video/u1J6YOsr338/w-d-xo.html
This is something I also noticed (watched the same video), have you maybe figured out the answer so far (I see you asked 6 months ago)?
It's LCD not LED
same difference ;-)
I imagined him hold drum sticks, then couldn’t make it through the whole video…
Afraid destroyed itself after six months
Oh no. What happened. Did they swap it under warranty?
There’s a common problem with the older smart grinder pro model where a plastic piece used in the grinding breaks, and people replace that piece with a new one one if they can find it or a 3d printed one for cheap that works better than the original
Really enjoy the channel and it’s the reason why I bought this grinder. I am struggling with support. I put a request in to sageappliances uk and even though they state a response in 2 days it’s been 8 days and nothing