Blind Shaker Review: It's NOT for Everyone
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- čas přidán 14. 03. 2024
- Thanks to Lance Hendrick, the blind shaker has gained a lot of traction in the coffee world! While it might give you the best quality cup at the end, it has one major flaw and I am here to share that with you!
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I grind directly into the shaker. So my workflow is (almost) not more complicated than before.
Most of my grinders dont really allow for that easily
@@CabeensCoffeeCorner my df54 and my cheap shaker from alix, fits ok great, but need dosing cup to weight beans, but also need some correction do make even bed before tamping
Nice video Cabeen. I don't have a blind shaker, but something I plan to try out soon.
Thanks for watching!
I had been considering one of these, but I am pretty happy with dosing into the niche catch cup, inverting it into the portafilter and shaking them together.
That method really does work well!
Hey, that's how I do it!
I really appreciate your review. I had the same thoughts watching Lance's video and seeing how much grounds stuck to the blind shaker.
Thanks!
I really like your honesty and great points you made, I ordered one for $15 form bomer. Really just to try it.
It is fun to try!
It’s the shaking that makes the difference, charged particles stick together… shaking breaks up the particle size distribution, making a more repeatable flow. Lance should have done a “blind” on the blind, and just shaken the powder in a normal dosing cup before dropping it in the portafilter… This would have given the same results.
Good thought
Instead of direct on portafilter u can also do direct on dosing funnel
I should probably try that!
Liked your opinion here very valid. I have yet to properly try a blind shaker as I’ve only done the shaking from my Niche catch cup which might not be the same however I too can’t really tell the difference between one shot prepped with wdt and the one only doing the shaking.. just for my taste buds it felt the same, and workflow wise I still prefer simple wdt…. Oh well..
I agree with you!
Very interesting to hear the work-flow perspective of using a blind shaker. Definitely agree with the benefit of having a work-flow that is uncomplicated and enjoyable and would also sacrifice a certain amount of quality in the cup for a more pleasurable experience. Liked and subscribed.
Thanks so much!
I dont have any thoughts one way or the other but the videos with it pouring out looks awesome
It defiantly looks really cool!
Great video, super helpful. Thank you! You just helped save me some cash haha 😅
Glad I could help!
I have the Craig Lyn blind tumbler. I don't think the distribution is better than any other tool, but I enjoy using it. I have a Pietro grinder and its catch cup is hard to pour, so the tumbler makes it easy to transfer the grounds from the grinder to the portafilter. Plus it's just a cool ancient / futuristic feeling tool, and I like ringing the bell. I want to try the shaker because I feel like the pre-dump distribution would be better.
I don't know if it works with the shaker, but sometimes I push the handle thing against the inner waller and drive it around in a circular pattern to slowly dump out the grounds. I'm not sure if it helps with distribution, but it fun because it feels like some sort of miniature industrial mixing machine / eastern zen gadget.
I definitely like the ringing sound!
I have exactly the same thoughts as you. Easiest for me is to use my catch cup which is magnetic and shake it with the portafilter together. And I also have both. I dislike the most how the coffee sticks to the gyroscopic one.
Glad to hear my thoughts aren't alone!
what magnetic cup are you using?
I bought a Weber immediately after watching the video in question. I changed the forks on my grinder so I can grind directly in. I use a WDT tool after the dosing in the PF. So, it adds one extra step. Yes, sometimes a few grounds are stuck on the lid or tumbler surface, but not a big deal. Worth it? I suspect not. I am getting better and better with my workflow, so I still do it for now. I would love to buy a refractometer and see if there is a difference.
A refractometer is on my short list
interesting points. I'm a sucker for new things so I grabbed teh cheapo amazon one to try it. I've been using it daily driver to give it a chance, and while it has sped up my workflow (I don't shake for 5-10s just a few while grabbing the PF) it's introduced more channeling over my old WDT workflow. I know Lance said it was supposed to increase extraction which I kinda think it has, the channelling has been bugging me. Maybe i'm just inconsistent. But I agree, it's not for everyone, and the end of the day, if you aren't enjoying the whole process, re-evaluate stuff til you are!
Glad you saved some money with the Amazon one
@@CabeensCoffeeCorner I was actually able to improve it after I watched your video here. I took some 400 grit sandpaper to it and smoothed it out, then went to like 1200grt and finished it off with some mineral oil... grinds just fall straight down now... why they wouldn't do that in the factory I don't know...... but in the end it made only a slight improvement on the shot, the rest of the issues were still sort of there...
I have 0 problem with the work flow. It was pretty simple and never made a mess on me. However I found the shaker mostly unnecessary if not detrimental when it comes to the taste. I observed no Lance magic at all and while I do believe the problem could be on my end, it is what it is.
Glad you don’t mind it
I think a lot of people resonate with what you’re saying but I know for myself, I started with an 1zpresso k-plus so I got used to that blind workflow really early on. Haven’t really broken that habit since getting 4 electric grinders.
I will say, I haven’t enjoyed duplicating Lance’s workflow and end up resting the blind shaker on the portafilter and then WDT the top (with a spirographic tool, automates the workflow a bit).
Also have enjoyed messing with the porcupress so more theoretical densification but we’ll see!
That porcupress looks so cool!
I grind directly into a blind shaker which makes things a lot easier. I used to WDT, but with the blind shaker I don't need to. It's pretty much just as easy as it was before for me.
I wish I had a grinder that worked well with it
I got a Chinese knockoff one of these recently and although it does add more time into my workflow I will still probably use it because the improvement in taste quality was immediately apparent. I am using a 1zPresso hand grinder.
Lance's explanation for why it works is densification, where fines are scrubbed from the coffee by compaction into nooks and crannies in the larger particles. In theory, the more you shake it, the more uniform the particle size becomes as this scrubbing process continues.
Perhaps the results aren't as noticeable for you since you're using a much higher quality grinder but for me with my entry-level hand grinder it's a massive improvement. In theory, a very high quality grinder wouldn't benefit as much from the shaker since the particle size would be more uniform anyways.
If you're a cheapskate like I am, this could be a low cost (assuming you find a low cost unbranded one, mine only cost like 3000JPY) to boost the performance of a more entry-level grinder.
what grinder are you using
Cover the grinder receptacle cup with the blind portafilter that you use to backflush your machine. Shake a few times and pour into the portafilter. Knock the portafilter holder lightly on the counter and tamp. No extra money and no need to buy another useless tool like a leveler. Invest your money into better coffee bean storage tools like a Soul Hand vacuum cannister for your beans.
That is a great Idea!
I enjoy your presentations. Excellent camera presence and conversational style, way better than anything I could do. Try a video on coffee bean storage using 4 ounce Ball quilted crystal jars, weighing in 18 Gm beans, evacuating oxygen with an electric vacuum cannister tool (25 bucks) and storing in freezer or frig. I was away for a year and took the Mason jars out of the freezer and used them next day. Absolutely no degredation of taster or aroma.
Comment for support;)
Mazzer major repurposed for single dosing user here. As no catch cup or pf fits my grinder (until I modify it further), not much of a difference in workflow it would be to use shakers like this.
However, even though numbers shown by Lance were objectively pushing the audience towards this particular hardware, WDT was not far behind. And having 95% efficiency for the 5% price is no hard decision for a home enthusiast like myself.
So, single dose, RDT, grind directly into the pf, WDT, tamp, pull, drink, enjoy!
For the V60 flow catch cup replaces pf, puff out the chaffs+some fines and good to go!
Cheers!
That is some great feedback! Thanks for the support!
The blind shaker (Amazon knock off) is finally giving me donut shots (looking at naked portafilter) 😅 I never got that with wdt, which I take as a sign it's improved the distribution. I use picopresso with IMS basket and 1zpresso J-ultra grinder. I like the new workflow but agree lances raised method is hard to aim! I'm testing putting the basket in containers whose walls will "hold" the shaker and aim it for me
Sounds like a great little setup!
If you can just grind directly into the shaker. For sure get the shaker. If you cannot, then I think the extra steps, may be a deal breaker for some, unless consistency and quality is more important to you then, again, go the blind shaker.
I wish I had a grinder that could
@CabeensCoffeeCorner sorry to hear man.
I have a Robot and the deep basket allows me to do a bit of a shake in situ after wdt. Also, it’s Hedrick, not Hendrick : )
I am so bad at names! That's why I started saying just lance at the end lol. The robot is a great machine!
I have the DF64V. I grind into the dosing cup, do a puff, take the wooden lid, and put it on top of the dosing cup. Then shake, shake, shake. Shake, shake shake. Shake the booty and poor grinds into portafilter. I then do WDT only for the top 1mm of the puck bed. Is it same effect as blind shaker? Who knows. It's what I am doing and sticking with it. For now. Until some other video comes along 😂.
lol that's awesome!
I thought it was resonable to try a knockoff versiion with my new setup for $20. I certainly would pay $100 or more. If I don't like it I'll just get a WDT tool which does work
20$ is a way better deal
@@CabeensCoffeeCorner no way those things cost more than a few dollars to manufacture. You are paying for the R&D and marketing of the expensive ones.
Man, just use it in the video. Omg! Why is it so difficult?
Sorry
It's a mess imho, just not worth the hassle
Agreed