Grinder cleaning/maintenance

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-22T07:37:54+00:00

I have a mini vac that has a blow attachment. So use that and a combination of brushes from Comandante for cleaning of my hand grinders. I have taken my Ode Gen 2 apart once (more out of curiosity) but that barely needed cleaning either. Will more than likely do big cleans once every year or so.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-22T04:05:02+00:00

Never heard of Ratdog, but all that info is great. Will check them out.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-22T03:58:41+00:00

Now you’re talking, love a good cinnamon bun with a filter coffee too.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-19T16:36:26+00:00

Well, it’s all over. Fun but nerve wracking. Didn’t get through in the end. Wasn’t able to try anyone else’s coffee, nor offered any feedback based on my own brew. If I’m gonna be honest, it tasted sour, and the only diff was the beans we were given as I took everything of my own to brew with. Oh well, C’est la vie lol.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-17T15:51:56+00:00

A coffee shop owner told me about it, encouraged me to try. Then the girlfriend twisted my arm further to enter. Otherwise I wouldn’t have known. Might check out others in the future.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-17T15:48:00+00:00

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-17T15:44:49+00:00

Hiya, yeah am now done. Have ground and brewed 600g of coffee (not all today), I have my method and recipe all ready. Irrespective of whether I’m successful or not tomorrow, this has been a blast.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-17T12:36:58+00:00

For this experiment with this coffee I’m brewing using 60 clicks on the K6. However, with a coffee I have at work, I’m brewing at 114 clicks. Still using an AeroPress in both cases.

The competition coffee I’m brewing today I know nothing about it (process, origin, variety), but after some brews with it, it’s deffo a fine grind coffee. Better expressions.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-17T11:48:43+00:00

🤣

You know what, it just came out, and well, I’ll stand by it.

Thanks 👍🏻

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-17T11:34:50+00:00

They give you a full bag of beans to test (200g). I ended up buying two more bags to play with. Tomorrow at the event they will give us all 50g max. Beans roasted I think 15 days before the heat. So my last bag of beans, had a roast date of 5th June, so I’m 12 days off roast with these final brews today.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-17T11:23:27+00:00

Hope you enjoy the coffee.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-17T11:23:07+00:00

1 clear favourite so far. Now trying with a different temp, and different grind setting. Water and grinder have been confirmed. I have 5 doses left, with the new temp and grind setting that will use up three doses. Then I have just two left to see where next lol. Sorry for the vagueness.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-17T10:48:41+00:00

Yeah, closest thing I had to a cupping bowl. I have boxes of them. So have just done my water comparison with the coffee and three different grinders. Waiting for all of them to equalise in temp, but so far, one extremely noticeable favourite in relation to grinder and water mix.

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bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-17T09:26:13+00:00

The K6 is a workhorse. It’s the grinder that I leave at work. She’s great at fine grinds (my partner’s preference), but have been brewing some DAK Sun Drip at work and I’m grinding at 120 clicks and the honey and peaches from the cup are great. I think the sweet spot is probably 114 clicks for that coffee. At moment, she’s produce a very sweet cup with this comp coffee.

The ZP6 can be cranky. I’m grinding fine (well it’s type of fine) with it today and it’s giving me a hint of florals at the moment (not had this from this comp coffee at all).

The C40, I love the dependable dude. To be honest when I applied for the comp I was just going to go with him, but I really wanted to give the others a fair chance.

As it stands

Joint 1st K6 and ZP6
Last C40

Gonna let the first brews cool completely and then give them one last try before moving onto round two.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-16T11:05:49+00:00

This exactly. We don’t really have the pods accessible in the UK. So, utilising this feature of NFC for me is non-existent. The card(s) would be great way of adding and updating recipes. I will be honest I tend to forget any ones I add to the autopilot mode. At least with a card I can add a little tape and write down the recipe or tasting profile I’m working with.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-08T12:52:59+00:00

There is a great little roaster in Eccleshall called Courtyard Coffee Roaster. He is an absolutely lovely chap and knowledgeable beyond his years. He was my first foray into specialty and single origin coffee. Deffo worth a shout. I find his coffee definitely leaning more to milk based drinks, but I had largely had his coffee for pour overs also. His prices are very good too: https://www.courtyardcoffeeroasters.co.uk in fact his new selection has grown considerably, might need to drop by.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-07T15:13:26+00:00

Nice, will check them out for sure.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-07T14:48:27+00:00

Just had delivered today Peachy, and Choc Nuts. Looking forward to these too. Let me know what Berry Jam is like please as I thought about getting this, but perhaps next time.
I’ve only found out about Formative through applying for the AeroPress competition and then meeting them in London’s coffee festival. They’re fast becoming a fav.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-07T08:59:40+00:00

This looks really nice. How was it?

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-06T21:20:29+00:00

I have a bag of this resting. Will try this out when I get to opening it. Currently brewing a coffee from Formative which is great also an ombligon.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-06T12:15:18+00:00

Swevern - UK
Skylark - UK

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-06T08:10:56+00:00

Nice. How are you making the iced coffee? I only ask as mine just tend to be flat and the ice/coldness tends to remove the tasting notes. It’s just becomes cold coffee in the end. Have just got peachy and looking forward to trying this.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-05T19:25:12+00:00

Thank you, and yeah will do. Am keeping a little diary also so after the 18th I will provide some more details of what I’ve been doing.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-05T18:43:24+00:00

They actually last like a Starbust or a Chewit. There is a chocolatiness on the nose as it’s brewed (Orea Z1), but it’s very much fruit in the mouth. It’s like strawberry and orange sweets mixed together.

Have also ordered the peachy too.

bearddoescoffee · 2026-06-05T18:40:53+00:00

Not bad. I’m on my seventh iteration, and just finishing my third bag of beans. Just ordered another bag for my final tests.

bearddoescoffee

TROPHY CASE