What is wrong with my new coffee grinders? (ElectricMysteryFilter)
October 25, 2017 1:34 PM Subscribe
I've purchase three coffee grinders in a row that have all failed in the exact same way. Please help me understand why this might be.
So here's the story. I'm looking to get a new coffee grinder and bought a fancy one from Amazon (the De'Longhi KG79 Professional Burr Grinder). Worked once, very exciting, the next day was dead.
So, ho-hum, I package it back up to Amazon and ask then to send me a replacement, which they do. Exact same thing happens, works once, then dead.
At this stage I'm convinced this product is just awfully made, so I send it back ask for a refund, and then pick out another one (the Krups Expert GVX231 Burr Coffee Grinder).
New one arrives, very exciting. The exact same thing happens. Works day one, dead the next.
So now I think the problem is my flat, rather than these poor abused coffee grinders. I have replaced the fuse on the plug and tried it in a different socket, doesn't seem to have solved it. None of my other appliances have ever broken down when using any of my plugs (what is so delicate about coffee grinders?).
So my theories are as follows:
1. All three coffee grinders malfunctioned in exactly the same way, by astronomical probability.
2. There's something about the electricity system in my flat that is somehow breaking coffee grinders (but not other appliances), and the fuse in the plugs aren't offering any protection.
3. Either me or my flat are cursed, possibly in a coffee grinder specific way.
Other theories or things I can test would be greatly appreciated. Deadline for sending back the third coffee grinder is looming (but feel bad breaking so many things and then asking for a refund, if that's what's happening).
I live in the UK in case that's important. Thanks in advance!
So here's the story. I'm looking to get a new coffee grinder and bought a fancy one from Amazon (the De'Longhi KG79 Professional Burr Grinder). Worked once, very exciting, the next day was dead.
So, ho-hum, I package it back up to Amazon and ask then to send me a replacement, which they do. Exact same thing happens, works once, then dead.
At this stage I'm convinced this product is just awfully made, so I send it back ask for a refund, and then pick out another one (the Krups Expert GVX231 Burr Coffee Grinder).
New one arrives, very exciting. The exact same thing happens. Works day one, dead the next.
So now I think the problem is my flat, rather than these poor abused coffee grinders. I have replaced the fuse on the plug and tried it in a different socket, doesn't seem to have solved it. None of my other appliances have ever broken down when using any of my plugs (what is so delicate about coffee grinders?).
So my theories are as follows:
1. All three coffee grinders malfunctioned in exactly the same way, by astronomical probability.
2. There's something about the electricity system in my flat that is somehow breaking coffee grinders (but not other appliances), and the fuse in the plugs aren't offering any protection.
3. Either me or my flat are cursed, possibly in a coffee grinder specific way.
Other theories or things I can test would be greatly appreciated. Deadline for sending back the third coffee grinder is looming (but feel bad breaking so many things and then asking for a refund, if that's what's happening).
I live in the UK in case that's important. Thanks in advance!
Best answer: I can't speak to the first grinder you tried, but I do have that same Krups grinder, and experienced the same problem. Worked fine the first time, then wouldn't work when I tried the following day. After much cursing, I eventually figured out the problem, which is that it is incredibly picky about how the bin the ground coffee is caught in is seated in the machine. If you don't place it precisely in the right place, the grinder won't start.
It's a total pain, but I can get it to work if I fiddle around with it enough.
posted by skybluepink at 1:51 PM on October 25, 2017 [4 favorites]
It's a total pain, but I can get it to work if I fiddle around with it enough.
posted by skybluepink at 1:51 PM on October 25, 2017 [4 favorites]
No suggestions as the what's wrong with your electrics except to add anecdata - I have owned that Krups grinder for... maybe a decade? and it has been basically indestructible.
Have the grinders all been plugged into the same socket when they died? That might be a common factor worth thinking about. Do you have any other appliances containing AC motors (food processors, for example) that work OK plugged into other sockets? I'd try and work by elimination, but also try not to kill too many expensive devices. All that said, getting in an electrician can't hurt.
On preview: yes, what skybluepink said about the grinder being picky about the container being properly seated is true; ditto the lid.
posted by parm at 1:57 PM on October 25, 2017
Have the grinders all been plugged into the same socket when they died? That might be a common factor worth thinking about. Do you have any other appliances containing AC motors (food processors, for example) that work OK plugged into other sockets? I'd try and work by elimination, but also try not to kill too many expensive devices. All that said, getting in an electrician can't hurt.
On preview: yes, what skybluepink said about the grinder being picky about the container being properly seated is true; ditto the lid.
posted by parm at 1:57 PM on October 25, 2017
How long are you running it at a time? My Bodum burr grinder has a duty cycle of only 20 seconds on/5 minutes off, per the manual. That means if I want to grind enough for a full pot of coffee, I have to run it once, wait 5 minutes, then run it again. Is it possible you're running it too long and burning out the motors?
posted by jkent at 2:20 PM on October 25, 2017
posted by jkent at 2:20 PM on October 25, 2017
Response by poster: I think Skybluepink has it! Some fiddling with the deposit bin has caused it to spring into life.
The saga is at an end. Thanks so much team!
posted by greytape at 2:24 PM on October 25, 2017 [5 favorites]
The saga is at an end. Thanks so much team!
posted by greytape at 2:24 PM on October 25, 2017 [5 favorites]
Mine gets fine grounds in all the nooks and crannies that stop it from sitting right. When it stops again clean all that with the little brush that probably came with it.
posted by bongo_x at 5:51 PM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by bongo_x at 5:51 PM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by nickggully at 1:45 PM on October 25, 2017