Mahlkonig E65W GbS grinders on a cafe espresso bar

Mahlkonig E65W GbS Review: Grind-by-Weight and Sync for Cafes

The Mahlkonig E65W GbS is the grind-by-weight version of the E65, the 65 mm espresso grinder found on cafe bars around the world. It weighs every dose as it grinds and adds Grind-by-Sync, which lets the grinder correct its own grind size from each shot's result. It replaces the E65S GbW and sells for $3,099. This review covers what it does, how Sync works in a cafe, how it compares with the E65T GbS, E80W GbS and Fiorenzato F64 EVO Pro Sense, and which bars should buy something else.

The short version

  • Buy it if one grinder pulls most of your espresso and every barista should get the same dose without checking a scale.
  • Pair it with a Sync-enabled machine (La Marzocco or Sanremo) or the Sync Scale if you want grind size to correct itself through the day. It works fully without either.
  • Look elsewhere if you pull several hundred drinks a day from one grinder (the E80W GbS), need a lower-cost second grinder (the E65T GbS), or don't need Sync at all (the Fiorenzato F64 EVO Pro Sense).

What the E65W GbS does

The E65W grinds on demand into a portafilter resting on a built-in load cell, which Mahlkonig says weighs the grounds 6,000 times a second. You set the dose in grams and the grinder stops when it reaches it. Timed grinders estimate the dose from run time, and that estimate drifts as the hopper empties, beans age and humidity changes through a shift. Weighing removes the drift, so the dose stays on recipe whoever is on bar.

Portafilter detection lets the grinder recognise a single or double basket by its weight and grind the matching recipe without a button press. Grind size is set electronically through Mahlkonig's Disc Distance Detection, which measures the burr gap to 0.001 mm, so several grinders can be set to exactly the same position and a saved recipe always returns to the same setting.

Key specifications

  • Burrs: 65 mm special steel flat burrs
  • Burr speed: 1,700 rpm
  • Grinding speed: 5 to 6 g per second at 250 µm on 60 Hz power
  • Hopper: about 1.2 kg, with optional 250 g and 1.8 kg hoppers
  • Size: 7.7 in wide, 11.1 in deep, 24.4 in tall
  • Net weight: 26.9 lb (12.2 kg)
  • Power: 110 to 127 V, 580 W
  • Connectivity: Mahlkonig Sync app and Grind-by-Sync
  • Warranty: 1-year parts warranty on commercial Mahlkonig grinders

Grind-by-Sync in a cafe, explained

Grind-by-weight fixes the dose. Grind-by-Sync fixes grind size. The espresso machine reports each shot's time, and when shots run fast or slow the grinder moves its burrs finer or coarser so the next shot comes back to the recipe. In a cafe that means fewer manual corrections as the room warms up, the beans age and the hopper empties, and less dependence on one barista dialling in for everyone.

Mahlkonig lists these Sync-enabled machines:

  • La Marzocco, over Wi-Fi or the cloud: Strada S, KB90, Linea PB, Linea PB X, Linea Classic S, GB5 S and GB5 X, in AV or ABR configurations.
  • Sanremo, by USB cable: Cafe Racer, F18 Multiboiler, F18 SB, D8 PRO and D8.

With any other machine, the Mahlkonig Sync Scale weighs each shot under the portafilter and sends the result to the grinder over Wi-Fi. Without Sync, the E65W works as a grind-by-weight grinder and you set grind size yourself.

Pairing it with a PUQpress

Mahlkonig USA lists the PUQpress Gen 5 M3 for the E65W GbS. The tamper becomes the grinder's base, so the portafilter goes from grinding to a level, automatic tamp in one spot. With weighed doses and an automatic tamp, the two biggest sources of shot-to-shot variation on a busy bar are taken out of the barista's hands. The E65W GbS & PUQ Press M3 bundle pairs them.

How it compares

E65W GbS vs Mahlkonig E65T GbS

The E65T GbS has the same burrs, motor, Sync and burr positioning, but doses by time in 0.1-second steps and has no scale. It costs $600 less. Choose it for a second grinder, decaf or a guest coffee, and the E65W for the grinder that pulls most of your shots.

E65W GbS vs Mahlkonig E80W GbS

The E80W GbS uses the same weighing and Sync system with 80 mm burrs and more throughput. It's the better choice when one grinder serves a very busy bar; for most cafes the E65W covers the volume in a smaller footprint.

E65W GbS vs Fiorenzato F64 EVO Pro Sense

The F64 EVO Pro Sense also weighs every dose, on 64 mm Dark-T coated burrs, and its quick-release chamber comes out for cleaning without losing the grind setting. It costs less and Fiorenzato's commercial grinders carry a 2-year parts warranty, but it has no Sync. Choose it for weighed dosing on a budget; choose the E65W if you want grind size corrected automatically.

E65W GbS vs Mahlkonig E64 WS

The E64 WS is the home version of the same idea: weighed doses and Grind-by-Sync on 64 mm burrs with a 250 g hopper. It isn't built for cafe volume. For a home bar, read our E64 WS review.

What we like

  • Weighed doses that stay on recipe across baristas and through a shift
  • Grind-by-Sync with the most common La Marzocco and Sanremo cafe machines
  • Electronic burr positioning, so grinders and saved recipes can be matched exactly
  • Portafilter detection for hands-free single and double doses
  • The same footprint and accessories as the rest of the E65 family, including the PUQpress M3

What to consider

  • Sync needs a Sync-enabled machine or the Sync Scale; older or other-brand machines won't connect directly
  • The scale adds cost over the E65T GbS, which matters less on a secondary grinder
  • For the very busiest bars, the E80W GbS has more throughput
  • Commercial warranty is parts only, as with most commercial grinders

Verdict

The E65W GbS takes the most-used cafe espresso grinder and removes its two weak points: dose drift and manual grind correction. For a cafe where one grinder pulls most of the espresso, it's the safest choice in its size, and with a Sync-enabled La Marzocco or Sanremo it keeps shots on recipe through the day with little barista input. Choose the E65T GbS for a second station, the E80W GbS for the busiest bars, and the F64 EVO Pro Sense if you want weighed doses without Sync.

The Mahlkonig E65W GbS ships from Crawford Espresso, an authorized Mahlkonig dealer, with free shipping and the full manufacturer's warranty. If you're planning a bar around it, our advisors can help match the grinder to your machine and volume.

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