The Mk4 and some other handheld grinders are meant to have some static charge to catch fines. I typically find that some fines are indeed stuck to the plastic capsule and that quite a bit of hull material tends to stick to the bottom of the grinder. There is also some appropriately sized grind material intermixed especially with the hull material and often a little that sticks to the plastic capsule. For this grinder or others with similar features, I’m curious how aggressive folks are with emptying? Just a gentle dump of the capsule leaving a solid gram or more of material stuck to the grinder (do you compensate recipes at all for this?)? Light tap to dislodge a bit? Multiple taps to get as much off as possible especially from metallic portion of grinder? Also, I’ve always been a fan of RDT, but that is supposed to reduce static and the Mk4 design is to utilize static to catch fines. Thoughts on whether it’s a good idea or not for this grinder? Interested to hear your routine be it scientific/theoretical or just habitual. Thx.
A spritz of water across the beans before grinding helps prevent that static.
I read that tip on here but only implemented it after my wife complained about all the stray coffee grounds.
That’s Rdt. Static is supposed to be design feature though!
I grind for AeroPress, so for me, static is a feature: it decreases the number of fines. I don’t tap on the catch cup at all.
No spritz / RDT for you then?
Right
After I grind, I firmly tap the grinder and the glass (you use plastic) twice with my finger. I never have had anything close to a gram stuck to any part of the grinder. After I tap, I use a cheapo makeup brush to clean all parts of the grinder. When I brush, I brush into the trash. I don’t try to save those grinds because they are not worth messing with.
If I noticed static the day before, I drip one drop of water off my finger into the beans after I have loaded them into the hopper, which I have found reduces static greatly. I don’t spray the beans because it gets too messy for me.
If I were you, I would also try a test, grinding into the glass container instead of the plastic. I would expect this change to reduce some static and help you keep your stray gram.
Sure, I agree probably get a bit more out with glass. Again though, the plastic on the Mk4 is by design to increase static cling for minimizing fines. I like the concept of that at least. I grind pretty fine (15-20 clicks) which is probably why more of my desirables cling as well. Im leaning towards being a bit more gentle with my emptying and maybe trying to add 0.5g to my recipes to stop worrying about leaving some mass behind on the grinder that probably only adds badness to my brew.
I use a Porlex hand mill. I gently tap to knock free any loose bits, then I don’t worry about the rest.
I mostly use a French press for brewing. I know the fines aren’t ideal for my brewing method, but they don’t impact the flavor or texture in a way that bothers me.
I press the button and coffee comes out a minute later.
Can’t find the button. Diagram? Minute seems like a long time!
I grind a week’s worth of grounds at a time in my Baratza Encore.
I have a small disposable brush whose handle I have bent to reach into the chute and sweep out the clinging clumps of grounds.
Spritzing the beans, or at least dipping my fingers into water and swirling them around in the whole beans before grinding doesn’t seem to help.
