Ascaso i-Mini Cleaning

[guman1981]

It is easier to use a vacuum cleaner.

[Drevilette]

So, you drank most of a half liter bottle of whiskey before you started, huh?

[Drevilette]

Just pop the vacuum cleaner hose on the top and cover and uncover the exit.

[YIORGOSZ]

i've purchased from a site an i-mini and came to my office today. when i unpacked the box, much to my surprise i realized that it is made of plastic!! Obviously, there are two models. I have sent it back immediately. Now, i 'll head for the aluminium model. however i know that the burrs base is made of plastic but in your video seems to be some kind of metal.

Please, tell me about the material (or about the video camera which make plastic looks like metal...!!)

[windtlker]

Most of the people are stupid so you should also warn people to be very careful with having the grinder plugged into wall AC before starting to clean... Some people might lose their fingers (not that I have experience of my own, but I do have experience of stupid people)

[tirofaux]

@windtlker Good idea :)

[rixcat]

Hey there. I was watching your video because I just bought the same machine and want to get all the old grounds out before I make another cup of coffee. However, I cannot figure out how to remove the upper blade to see inside. Can you give me a hint?

[tirofaux]

@rixcat Loosen the small adjustment knob base screws about 5 turns each. Push the base away from the upper blade. Loosen the upper blade.

[Panoskol]

@tirofaux Hey, just wanted to thank you for the insight, I have the i -steel which is of similar design. This really helped :)

[metaspherz]

I am very interested in buying this grinder. Do you think it is a good buy for the price? Right now it is $224.

Btw, have you tried a mini vac on the grinder? I use one with my cheap Cuisinart grinder & Behmor roaster. Or for the price of a single can of air you can buy an adapter kit for your full size vacuum with pencil nozzles & brushes suitable for tight spaces. I once used canned air for cleaning my computer parts but it blew nasty dust everywhere. A vacuum is more efficient & cleaner.

[tirofaux]

@metaspherz i-Mini is good for it's price. Canned air creates more airflow than a vacuum cleaner.

[metaspherz]

I've heard that oily beans can really clog this iMini fast. It looks like several grams of stale powder is to be expected in the shute at all times before a new cleaning. But how often? I roast my beans to City+ which is really a darkish brown color but not black and oily. So if I buy this how often does it need cleaning with 2 to 4 doubles daily?

I've heard that gently pounding the side of the grinder with the ball of your hand will loosen some of the stuck grounds. Does that work?

[tirofaux]

@metaspherz I clean the grinder when changing beans, usually that's after one kilogram (two hoppefulls). Pounding can loosen grounds, but it will not help if the grinder get really clogged.

[helmineron]

is the inner housing around the burrs aluminum like the outer case?

[tirofaux]

Yes.

[helmineron]

thanks

[GuiaDoCafe]

Very nice video, this is a great grinder!

Unfortunately here in Brazil the cost of a Rancilio Silvia+Ascaso i-Mini is the equivalent of buying an Alexia+Mazzer Mini in US/Europe because of the extremely high import taxes.

I hope to see more videos of your i-Mini in action, this is the only video showing this grinder on youtube so far.

[]'s

[tirofaux]

GuiaDoCafe: Thanks. I may post a few action shots of the grinder later, but I generally find them a bit boring - you just press the button and coffee comes out.