FAQ
Any questions about CafeSing ORCA / GRIZZ / OWL, please mail to services@cafesing.com. We'll answer frequently asked questions.
- Q01: Where can I buy ORCA grinder?
- A01: You can buy directly on cafesing.com. US shipping takes 6 business days; non-US countries typically take 20 business days.
- You can also buy it on Amazon. Elephantnum is our Amazon retail partner, and their customer service mailbox is services@elephantnum.com.
- Q02: Can the ORCA flat burr be used for pour-over coffee?
- Q02: Of course, initially, the ORCA flat burr was designed for handling light roast beans for pour-over coffee, but it was later discovered to work well for crafting espresso too.
- Q03: Why is there no paper manual?
- A03: Firstly, it's eco-friendly; Second, our product is easy to assemble and disassemble without tools, so you can watch a video and try it out a few times to get the hang of it—no need for a paper manual.
- Q04: Why do the flat burrs get stuck after installation?
- A04: The ORCA grinder is compatible with both flat-burr and ghost-burr. If you're installing a flat burr, adjust the grinding dial to the smallest setting clicks-1, tighten the bottom knob of the lower burr, and loosen it just 2-3 notches - that way, the upper and lower flat burrs won't get stuck together.
- Q05: Why does the GRIZZ grinder use 38mm not 48mm conical burr?
- A05: The 38mm conical burr is more labor-saving than the 48mm one, and labor-saving is one of the essential considerations in a hand grinder.
- Q06: If ORCA grinder can use 64mm SSP flat burr?
- A06: Please refer to this design review: https://cafesing.com/blogs/user-manual/orca-flat-burr-design-review
- Q07: I want to join a coffee competition; how can we collaborate?
- A07: Sorry, our product isn’t suitable for a coffee competition. It’s a tool for free play, and free play means inefficiency, which doesn’t fit with competitive events.
- Q08: I am a coffee rookie, plan to make my coffee at home. Is ORCA suitable for me?
- A08: Not the best option. Beginners should go for entry-level conical burr hand grinders (like Timemore). Once you've tried at least 6 good beans, you'll gain some taste know-how and brewing wisdom. That's when using an ORCA will open up a whole new world of flavor.
- Q09: Shouldn't you use an electric grinder to make espresso?
- A09: If you don't run an independent café (with three different grind sizes grinders for different beans), if you're like me and make two cups of coffee at home each day (so you don't use it a lot), and if you often brew different types of beans (Disassemble and clean the burrs to avoid blend flavors), then it's best to use a hand grinder. A good electric grinder is X times the price of a good hand grinder, X times the size, X times the difficulty of cleaning, and X times the difficulty of maintenance.
- Q10: Why make coffee at home? What's wrong with takeout coffee?
- A10: Both are good options. Making your own coffee, you can freely choose different beans and brewing methods (espresso, pour-over, french press, etc.). You can also goof off from reality for a moment, and it's really fun!
- Q11: Will ORCA release a new burr?
- A11: We are designing and expect to release a new ORCA burr in 2024.
- Q12: What are the differences between PIETRO and ORCA?
- Q12: PIETRO's design is awe-inspiring and smart; I tip my hat to the innovation of PIETRO. In short, different design routing: PIETRO created a new manual grinder system for the 58mm standard electric flat burr (similar to SSP 58mm flat burr solution), whereas we designed a slow-speed manual flat burr for the existing traditional hand grinders.
- Q13: What equipment do you use to make coffee at home?
- A13:
- Espresso machine: Flair58 electric version, electric preheating, manual pressure change;
- Pour-over coffee maker: V60 plastic version, fast flow rate, fast heating;
- Hand Coffee Grinder: ORCA;
- Coffee Scale: OWL;
- Temp Kettle: Fellow or Timemore, Fellow has a small water flow, Timemore has a large one;
- Coffee Beans: Not recommended; even reputable roasters can have bad batches.
- Q14: Can ORCA Ghost Burr to make espresso?
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A14: No. If you insist on using it in a semi-automatic espresso machine, ORCA can produce a taste similar to the Aeropress.
- Q15: Why OWL scale no Bluetooth? Will it be available in future versions?
- A15: OWL no Bluetooth, and not in the future; why do you need Bluetooth in a coffee scale?
- Q16: Will ORCA upgrade the magnetic powder cup?
- A16: Will not. The magnetic cup will increase the cost, and It will be a disaster if you accidentally force touch it and falls off during grinding. The threaded cup is a more straightforward and lower-cost design, allowing us to avoid some of the most infuriating moments.
- Q17: What are the new product launch plans for 2024?
- A17: We planned to upgrade ORCA, GRIZZ, and OWL from G1 to G2 and launch an X product in 2024. So far, OWL G2 and the unplanned ORCA Go have been launched. Other projects are moving slowly, and we're deciding whether to focus on completing ORCA G2 or launching product X for the rest of 2024.
- Q18: What gear do you use for outdoor espresso? Do you prefer the ORCA-GO or GRIZZ Grinder?
- A18: I’m guessing you’re making espresso outdoors for fun rather than good taste, since it’s not a stable environment. Lately, I’ve been using the HUGH-Leverpresso—it’s compact and usually hits around 4 bars of pressure, which is enough for outdoor. For hand grinders, both the ORCA-GO Flat-Burr and the GRIZZ are great for outdoor espresso.
- Q19: After watching MUVNA Mach YouTube video, some enthusiastic friends often ask me questions:
- A19:
- About the Brew Group head temperature on the Mach machine --- The MUVNA guys are nice; pls follow MUVNA IG and feel free to ask him directly.
- Regarding the Mach piston movement during espresso extraction --- A full extraction doesn’t always require moving the piston from the top to the bottom. For instance, with a 20g Dose and a 1:1 Ratio, the piston only needs to travel about a third of its range, so just 6-8 turns of the lever will do.
- How quickly can I reach 9 Bar on the Mach Espresso machine? --- 1 second.