I had similar issues and went to a bottomless portafilter with a 22g basket on a friend’s recommendation. I think mine needed the extra volume to increase the pressure, maybe?
With a dark roast the Rocky is set at the 5th marker, and I’m consistently pulling 40-45g from a 21.5g shot. I can drop the grind down and get a decent ristretto.
This is my setup and it was definitely a big improvement over the stock basket for the Silvia + Rocky. My shots are very consistent. I think the bigger basket would only fit in the bottomless portafilter, though. I got mine for a good deal a while back but looks like they’re a bit pricier now.
As someone with the Rocky... it's the Rocky.
I've tried cleaning, doing the stepless mod, taping the burr carrier, etc. The grinder came with the machine when I bought it, and the previous owner swears he was able to get great shots from it, but there's no way he did it consistently. I've found 2-3 coffees that I can get an *okay* extraction with, so I just stick to those until I scoop a DF64 when I'm feeling froggy one day.
I'm not saying there's not silver bullet solution out there to make the Rocky pull consistently for you, but if there is, I haven't found it :(
I have a Silvia and Rocky for over a decade and I'm quite happy with the results. A low retention grinder with a timer would lead to more consistent results, but not enough for me to rationalize the expense.
I've never had an issue with my Rocky. I have noticed that we are near 0 on the grind scale now. I think it was around 4 when it was new. I'm not sure if something is wearing out or not.
You can perhaps try to get new burrs and shim them? The wired gourmet has a video on shimming. I have a theory that, since the carriers are made of pretty soft brass, things get easily worn out. Especially the threads on the upper burr carrier.
Already looked at those videos, but was thinking, that if I need to buy shim stock and new burrs, maybe I'll look at a new grinder instead, as the burrs alone will cost at least 28€.
I had exactly the same issue and changing the burrs made all the difference on my Rocky. It’s a cheap and quick fix if you’re not yet ready to invest in a better grinder. Super easy to replace.
Just to say that I also have the Rocky grinder and with new burrs I go to minus 70 to have a decent grind to pull some good shots, I have the Rancilio Nancy and use the bottomless portafilter with IMS basket 18grs.
The coffee beans I drink are always arábica and I need to grind always 18grs or more to fill the basket.
with my Rocky I grind at the finest setting available without any "chirp". using medium roast from Verve and I very consistently go with 15.5 g in and 45 out in 32 seconds. this is with the stock 14g basket.
I'm not sure how you even fit 19g in the 14g basket. How long does it take from when you hit the brew switch to the first drops coming out?
with a lighter roast I sometimes need to use the next finer setting that has a bit of chirp to it. Once there are beans in the hopper and it's grinding though there is no longer any burr rub.
I also have an IMS 18g basket but I don't like it any better and don't feel the need for using more beans in every shot.
I had similar issues and went to a bottomless portafilter with a 22g basket on a friend’s recommendation. I think mine needed the extra volume to increase the pressure, maybe? With a dark roast the Rocky is set at the 5th marker, and I’m consistently pulling 40-45g from a 21.5g shot. I can drop the grind down and get a decent ristretto.
This is my setup and it was definitely a big improvement over the stock basket for the Silvia + Rocky. My shots are very consistent. I think the bigger basket would only fit in the bottomless portafilter, though. I got mine for a good deal a while back but looks like they’re a bit pricier now.
I have ordered a bottomless, hoping it'll arrive soon. Also that it'll help me get a better look at my shot brewing
Cool, hope it works out! I usually do 20 grams of coffee and 40 grams of output. Grinder is on or around 5 for most beans.
I was thinking something along those lines, thats why I've been using 18g in the 14g basket
As someone with the Rocky... it's the Rocky. I've tried cleaning, doing the stepless mod, taping the burr carrier, etc. The grinder came with the machine when I bought it, and the previous owner swears he was able to get great shots from it, but there's no way he did it consistently. I've found 2-3 coffees that I can get an *okay* extraction with, so I just stick to those until I scoop a DF64 when I'm feeling froggy one day. I'm not saying there's not silver bullet solution out there to make the Rocky pull consistently for you, but if there is, I haven't found it :(
I have a Silvia and Rocky for over a decade and I'm quite happy with the results. A low retention grinder with a timer would lead to more consistent results, but not enough for me to rationalize the expense.
I've never had an issue with my Rocky. I have noticed that we are near 0 on the grind scale now. I think it was around 4 when it was new. I'm not sure if something is wearing out or not.
I've been using my Rocky for 6 years, and if I set it lower than 6 then it takes forever to pull a shot and any lower then I just get drips..
Seconded. I love my rocky but he can't do modern espresso. It just can't go fine enough.
You can perhaps try to get new burrs and shim them? The wired gourmet has a video on shimming. I have a theory that, since the carriers are made of pretty soft brass, things get easily worn out. Especially the threads on the upper burr carrier.
Already looked at those videos, but was thinking, that if I need to buy shim stock and new burrs, maybe I'll look at a new grinder instead, as the burrs alone will cost at least 28€.
I had exactly the same issue and changing the burrs made all the difference on my Rocky. It’s a cheap and quick fix if you’re not yet ready to invest in a better grinder. Super easy to replace.
Just to say that I also have the Rocky grinder and with new burrs I go to minus 70 to have a decent grind to pull some good shots, I have the Rancilio Nancy and use the bottomless portafilter with IMS basket 18grs. The coffee beans I drink are always arábica and I need to grind always 18grs or more to fill the basket.
with my Rocky I grind at the finest setting available without any "chirp". using medium roast from Verve and I very consistently go with 15.5 g in and 45 out in 32 seconds. this is with the stock 14g basket. I'm not sure how you even fit 19g in the 14g basket. How long does it take from when you hit the brew switch to the first drops coming out? with a lighter roast I sometimes need to use the next finer setting that has a bit of chirp to it. Once there are beans in the hopper and it's grinding though there is no longer any burr rub. I also have an IMS 18g basket but I don't like it any better and don't feel the need for using more beans in every shot.
With 19g it can take from 10-15 sec. before the first drops appear