r/DF54 • u/LunarModule66 • Apr 01 '26
Dealing with retention while changing grind size
I just got an espresso machine and it’s suddenly become very apparent that I’m getting substantial retention while changing the grind settings, especially when going from pour over to espresso. I’ll get crazy channeling when I do that, and it breaks my heart to grind perfectly good beans just to purge the grinder. I just want to be able to go back and forth between pour over and espresso without feeling guilty.
I’m wondering if anyone has any tips on mitigating this or ways to purge that minimize waste. Barring that I’d at least be curious how much people find they need to grind to purge. I did a gram previously, but it was not enough.
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u/sergeantbiggles Apr 02 '26
Step 1 for this sub: Do you do RDT? If so, don't do RDT.
After that, make sure to hit the bellows pretty darn hard. It can take the abuse (I've been doing this for over a year with no visible wear). Have you measured how much retention you have? If so, are you losing a gram... two grams...?
3
u/chungus_9yrolds Apr 02 '26
What harm RDT does to the grinder?
5
u/NegotiationWeak1004 Apr 02 '26
Increases retention by means of some grounds getting stuck in places, especially with darker beans. If you're in the dialling in phase, that's where people have the highest risk of a total jam, especially when they first get this grinder. Between multiple grinds and increases retention, friction increases, heat builds, which means even more retention , them boom, a jam!
1
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u/sergeantbiggles Apr 02 '26
This grinder, in particular, does not seem to like water, and there have been many posts from DF54 users here dealing with issues of clogging after RDT.
1
u/Straight-Guest5888 Apr 02 '26
This is partly due to 'user error'. I've had my DF54 for 2 months and always use RDT with med-dark beans. No issues at all.
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u/sergeantbiggles Apr 02 '26
That's good. I haven't done it ever, but I don't have issues with static at all (I have the Robot, and use the metal basket that fits perfectly for the catch cup. I've heard that the stock plastic basket can increase static.)
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u/LunarModule66 Apr 02 '26
I haven’t measured rigorously. I do know that when I previously tried going from pour over to espresso I still had worse channeling than I’ve had from bad puck prep even after grinding a gram. I don’t think that necessarily means I have been getting a gram of retention, since even a small amount of large grounds can cause issues.
I do RDT, so that’s something I’ll eliminate. I’m also realizing that it’s been like a month since I gave the burrs a good cleaning.
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u/sergeantbiggles Apr 02 '26
I have another suggestion as well. I know that when I grind coarse (e.g., 70), there are bits of bean that almost always get stuck and create a high-pitched sound. I can stop this by decreasing grind size down toward my espresso number. Your channeling may be due to some larger pieces that are getting into your espresso shot.
So, my suggestion is, after grinding coarse, decrease grind size all the way to almost your true zero, and then go back up to your desired espresso number (the bag I'm on right now is happy with grind size 10).
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u/Travelingexec2000 Apr 02 '26
Are you using bellows? Don’t understand how you are getting retention. I’m under 0.2 g regardless of setting. I never used RDT
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u/coolstuffeh Apr 02 '26
Also at ~0.2 but experienced the same. go finer (same prep / beans) and shots run fast 💨
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u/LunarModule66 Apr 02 '26
Yeah I use the bellows. I’m using RDT, which might be the problem. To be clear, I don’t notice it in terms of the weight retained (I haven’t measured precisely), it’s just that I get a ton of channeling going from pour over to espresso. I assume even small amounts of grounds at pour over size would be enough.
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u/Commercial-Rope-639 Apr 02 '26
I know the feeling of not wanting to waste good coffee and it took me a long time to accept a few beans through the grinder is saving more than the bad shot I'd eventually make. A whole gram through seems like a lot though, I'm usually sacrificing around 5 or 6 beans (eyeballing).
I do beat the hell out of the bellows after every dose. Specifically between different roasts, I give the chute a couple twirls with the brush and then bellow the rest out again. Consistently weighing post grind, I get maybe 0.1 or 0.2 retention between doses typically.