Tech Tip: How to Clean the Macap M4 Coffee Grinder

One of the things we love most about the M4 is its worm drive burr adjustment mechanism, but that also means it takes a bit more know-how to take it apart for cleaning. Watch as Gail shows us how to take it apart, demonstrates best practice in terms of cleaning the internals and then puts it all back together again!
Want to learn more about the Macap M4? Check it out: www.seattlecoff...

[@brucemcclelland904]

Very useful. I’d bought new burrs for my (home) M4, which I’d never changed (it’s 7 years old), but I hadn’t begun the project of changing them. This morning (April Fool’s Day), still half asleep, I stupidly poured some water into the hopper instead of into my water heater. This caused the grounds to form a paste so that no beans would drop and no coffee would come out of the chute. Luckily, there was Gail, walking through the procedure for cleaning the grinder down to the burrs, so I saw how simple it was to unscrew the old burrs and install new ones. Cleaned everything up, dried it all off, and I’m back in business. But just imagine doing all that before you’ve pulled your first shot. Thanks, Gail.

[@MarcStifelman]

caffeine dependent cognition

[@mornrun74]

I know this video is as old as the hills, concerning a unit no longer currently offered for sale. But very enjoyable, clear, well done. My M4, for some strange reason, has fasteners on the worm drive which don't seem to be removable by the user. Nothing in my Allen wrench set found anything inside the hole on top of each fastener to grab onto. So I got my hopper off, cleaned the top entrance into the unit thoroughly, removed the finger guard and was able to clean and vacuum that reservoir and the interior chute, as well as the bean hopper. I felt frustrated that I wasn't able to go any further. I did purchase my first container of GRINDZ, and will start using that monthly. ( I'm recently retired, after spending forty-six years in a job which left me very little excess time, so I would be embarrassed to admit how long I neglected properly maintaining my Macap.) I actually called GRINDZ, and the representative stated that their product alleviates the need to take apart a coffee grinder. I do doubt her accuracy, because, obviously her advice will lead to more sales, but, in my case, I am actually going to need to solely rely on using GRINDZ regularly, and hope that my coffee tastes satisfactory.

[@GhostDweller]

i wish i had payed more attention when you mentioned the reverse thread. Dissassembled the whole thing (inside out) to discover this after i thought it was stuck. But on the bright side i know the mechanics now and the grider is cleaner than without disassembling. Question i came up with after removing the doser. Is there a spare component for this so i can leave the doser of completely. I only drink 2 cups a day so the doser is just gathering old coffee.

[@Maplesyrup416]

Did u find a solution for removing the doser. Im thinking of ripping it off throwing a plastic chute there instead. I might design one.

[@GhostDweller]

@@Maplesyrup416 i was told on several forums you can't just add the single shot dispenser part. Maybe you can 3d print something. I learned to live with it after i found put there is no easy spare part to just put on.

[@Maplesyrup416]

@@GhostDweller hey thanks for the reply. I might give it a tfy down the road. This is an amazing grinder. Q

[@andredehaan9006]

Thank you for showing how to disassemble, saved me a bit of money removing the chunk of plastic that was jammed in there. :(

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

Yeah, that must have been a very big project. After seeing a wide array of corroded burrs, we can't recommend to folks to introduce liquid to the equation! But great to hear that it made short work of your maintenance. - Kat

[@Burner0000]

This may have been a bad calibrating issue on my part. I re-calibrated last night and noticed the burrs may have just been too close together. Was able to pull a good shot today. :)

[@andrewgallagher8390]

Thanks for the useful and informative video. Very good instructions. You helped us a lot. Ta

[@MrDraidis]

This was gold ! Thanks heaps from Australia !

[@martinw93]

Kat, I've started doing your "mmm-hmmmm" thing at my work, its so contagious haha

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

Good to hear!!!! :) - Kat

[@suzannereid8977]

Gail...fantastic video! I followed right along and your sage advice was marvellous:-) thx!

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

I haven't heard of this ... they're not actually feeding down? Sometimes I've seen this with grinders and if you back them off and then bring them back down again, they'll start feeding. But that's the only thing I can think of... -Kat

[@taroman7100]

Thank you guys breaking down for a move excellent demo!!

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

Thanks for the tip! I'm scared of your lemon juice and vinegar solution! ;) - Kat

[@rachelb-prospero8]

Brilliant! Really clear and helpful

[@siikboy]

thank you, this is appreciated.

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

+siikboy Cheers!

[@SpaghettiToaster]

Hey I'm just trying to do this and the hopper just won't come off? I removed the retainer but it sits really firmly and I cant lift it off even with quite a lot of force. Don't wanna try any harder, scared of damaging the grinder. Is there a mechanism I'm not aware off? Or could sticky residue have glued it on that firmly? What can I do to get it off?

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

If you removed the retaining screw at the back of the hopper, it should come right off. Maybe try twisting the hopper a bit to try to unstick it. Otherwise, you might need to have a heck look at it.

[@helenOhelen]

For recent readers who may have this problem: It's gummy residue, IME. Yes, it can glue the hopper into the M4 that firmly, in addition to making it harder to adjust the grind. I have not regularly maintained my M4 and have had to carve the workings out of the sticky resin and it is a JOB. I use a bamboo skewer or a toothpick to scrape at the bean-jam, no metal. Also: I don't screw my hopper on, I removed all the guards in the hopper and doser. These items seem to be for the American market and its litigiousness, and they are more to clean, and make it harder to dust out. It's simple and safe (for adults) to operate the grinder without these various plastic obstructions. Use tools like a brush to reach in, obv.

[@user-qi9yl3ul4n]

Thank you very much. Very benefit for me!

[@armandocrimi9789]

Hi Gail i love your video Always well explained I have a question for you I have a Macap M5D Plus Same as the one you show on this video different adjustments in yours ( micro adjustable) Can mine be upgrated to have a the adjustment like the one you have ( i belive is the M5D Stepless) if yes you guys have the parts i will need ? Grinder are identical and have a 58 mm burr i believe Thank you again for your amazing video

[@Burner0000]

Have you ever heard of the Macap's not grinding? The beans not catching when entering the burrs? I've been having this problem off and on for a while now. Almost as if the burrs are too close together and the beans can't get in between the burrs. Tried cleaning them. Burrs are pretty new still.

[@barnz008]

No need to remove the worm drive, just the three small screws that hold the plastic gear on. One that is off then it unscrews the same way. I soaked my burrs in a lemon juice and vinegar solution for prob 30 min. Clean as a whistle, now!

[@sabatheus]

If I want to use it doserless, can I pull that doser off? Thank you in advance.

[@Maplesyrup416]

Dod you do it? Im thinkong of designing a plastic chute

[@barnz008]

Don't be. Works great to eat all the grime off. There's a bunch more you guys missed under the bottom burr. Don't be afraid to soak all those parts. But that machine was way cleaner than mine and really just needed the vacuum and a little dental pick action. My M4 is probably 5-6 years old and had never been cleaned. I know, the espresso Gods were getting quite impatient with me....

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

I'm sorry!!! ;) - Kat

[@thedude1249]

🟥THAT IS NOT THE CORRECT WAY TO REMOVE! Don't remove those 2 allen head screws, this is totally unnecessary and you will most likely strip them, they are very hard to remove. The correct way is to remove both black knobs on the worm gear tuner, yes, both of them come off, cover the knobs with paper towel as not to scratch and pull off with pliers. you will then see and have access to 2 small philips head screws, go ahead and remove both screws, you can now use the built in hinge to tilt the worm gear tuner away from the big plastic gear, go ahead and unscrew the top burr. Much much easier this way. 🟥