Before operating your grinder, make sure you have carefully read the Setup Guide.
Getting to Know the Display and Controls
The Mini G is controlled from the panel on the front of the grinder: a color TFT display with a row of physical buttons beneath it.
Menu/select button: opens the menu and confirms a selection. Pressing the menu followed by the dose button opens that dose for editing.
Cancel button: cancels a grind in progress, or backs out of a menu screen without saving.
Manual button (hand icon): grinds for as long as you hold it. Handy for purging, topping up a dose, or setting the grind.
Dose buttons 1, 2, and 3: three independently programmed doses, shown as one, two, and three cup icons.
Navigation buttons (up/down arrows): scroll through menus and raise or lower a value.
The main screen shows:
Top bar: status and alert icons (Wi-Fi, information, hopper, battery) and the clock.
Center: the dose counter and, if you have set one, the remaining-dose countdown for the coffee in your hopper.
Bottom row: the manual button state (ON/OFF) followed by the programmed value for each of the three doses, in grams (weight mode) or seconds (time mode).
While grinding, the display switches to show the selected dose icon, a progress bar, and the live weight or elapsed time. When a weight-based dose finishes, the weight turns green.
How to Use the Mazzer Mini G
The Mini G can dose by weight or by time, and in weight mode it can start from a button press or automatically when you set a portafilter or the dosing cup on the fork.
Make sure the hopper is fastened with its safety screw, filled with beans, and that the locking slide at the base of the hopper is open.
Switch the grinder on with the main switch (I position).
Press the dose button you want (1, 2, or 3). The selected dose icon highlights.
Place your portafilter on the fork, pressed against the spouts, or set the dosing cup on its holder, where the magnets will pull it into position.
The grinder tares the container and shows “tare in progress.” Wait for the tare to finish. You can start grinding during the tare, but the dose will be more accurate if you let it complete.
In keyboard mode, press the dose button to start grinding. In portafilter mode, grinding starts automatically once the tare is complete.
The grinder stops when it reaches your target weight (or time). In weight mode, the weight turns green when the dose is complete.
If you want a little more coffee, hold the manual button to top up the dose. The scale keeps reading as long as the portafilter or dosing cup stays on the fork.
Pausing and canceling a dose
Pause: while grinding, press the selected dose button. The grinder pauses for up to 30 seconds. Press the same dose button again to finish the dose. If you do not press it within 30 seconds, the dose is canceled.
Pause by lifting: in weight mode, lifting the portafilter off the fork also pauses the dose. Set it back on the fork within 30 seconds with the grounds still in it, and grinding resumes automatically.
Cancel: press the cancel button at any time.
How the dose counter counts
The counter on the main screen increments by 1 for each dose 1 and by 2 for each dose 2. Dose 3, manual grinding, and canceled doses are counted in proportion to the time set for dose 1, so the counter is a reasonable estimate of the total number of single shots ground rather than an exact tally.
To switch the grinder off, move the main switch to the O position.
Programming Your Doses
Each of the three dose buttons has its own programmed value. A common setup is a single, a double, and a third dose for a different basket or a different coffee. Doses are programmed in whichever mode is active: grams in weight mode, seconds in time mode.
Press the menu/select button, then the dose button you want to change (1, 2, or 3). The display opens the Grind Settings screen for that dose.
Use the navigation buttons to raise or lower the value.
Press the menu/select button to save, or the cancel button to exit without saving.
Repeat for the other dose buttons.
The grinder will not run while you are inside the adjustment screen. Save or cancel to return to the main screen.
Programming by time
As a rough guide, a change of 0.2 seconds is about 0.4 grams of coffee. Dial in your grind setting first, then set the times, and check the result on a scale. Because changing the grind changes how much coffee comes out in a given time, re-check your timed doses after any grind adjustment. Weight mode handles this for you automatically.
Grind by Weight, Automatic Dose Adjustment, and Manual Grinding
Grinding by weight
In weight mode, the load cell built into the portafilter fork weighs the coffee as it lands in your portafilter or dosing cup and stops the grinder at your target, to within about 0.1 g in normal use. A few things to know:
The container must be on the fork. The grinder tares whatever you set on the fork before grinding. Set the portafilter or dosing cup down, wait for “tare in progress” to clear, and then grind.
Lifting pauses the dose. If you lift the portafilter mid-grind, the cycle pauses for 30 seconds. Set it back down with the grounds still in it, and grinding resumes. After 30 seconds, the dose is canceled.
Keep the fork clear. Resting a hand, tamper, or anything else on the fork adds weight that the scale will read. Do not lean on the fork or use it to lift the grinder.
Vibration matters. The Mini G filters out vibration from a nearby espresso machine, but it still wants a solid, level surface. Avoid wobbly carts and knock-box drawers.
Automatic dose adjustment
Because the Mini G weighs every dose, changing the grind setting does not change the amount of coffee in your basket. Move the grind finer or coarser, and your 18.0 g dose stays 18.0 g. This is the main reason to run the Mini G in weight mode for everyday use.
Manual grinding
From the main screen, press and hold the manual button (hand icon) to grind continuously. Release it to stop. Manual grinding is the right tool for purging after a grind change, topping up a dose that landed a touch light, and running the burrs while you adjust the grind.
Switching Between Weight and Timed Dosing
The Mini G ships in weight mode. To change the grind mode:
Press the menu/select button.
Use the navigation buttons to highlight the Grind Settings menu (cup icon) and press menu/select to open it.
Scroll to the grind mode setting and choose between weight and time. Press menu/select to confirm.
Press cancel to return to the main screen. The dose values on the bottom row now show grams or seconds to match.
Check your dose values after switching modes, since a dose programmed in grams does not carry over to seconds.
Portafilter and Dosing Cup Activation
In weight mode, the Mini G has two working modes:
Keyboard: you place the portafilter, wait for the tare, and press a dose button to start.
Portafilter: you press a dose button first to select it, then place the portafilter or dosing cup. Once the tare finishes, grinding starts automatically. This is hands-free grinding.
To change the working mode, open the Grind Settings menu as described above and select the working mode setting.
Telling the grinder which container you are using
The scale needs to know whether you are grinding into a portafilter or the included dosing cup. In the Grind Settings menu, set the container type to match. Changing the container type sends you straight to the calibration screen; follow the steps in “Scale Calibration” below with the matching container on the fork.
Using the dosing cup
The included stainless steel dosing cup holds about 30 g and sits on its own holder, which replaces the fork’s side tongues. Magnets pull the cup into the correct spot every time, so it is a good fit for anyone who likes to grind into a cup and transfer to the basket. For the swap from portafilter fork to dosing cup holder, see Step 3 of the [Setup Guide – paste Intercom URL once published]. With the dosing cup holder installed, the fork should be set at its lowest height.
Grind Adjustment
Adjust the grind using the handle on the adjustment disk directly under the hopper while the motor is running. Hold the manual button to run the motor or adjust during a purge.
Clockwise grinds coarser. Counter-clockwise grinds finer.
As a rough guide, moving the disk one notch changes your shot time by about 3 seconds. Espresso is sensitive, so make small moves and pull a shot between each change.
The adjustment is stepless, and the disk stays where you put it without a lock. Note the position of the index mark for each coffee you dial in so you can return to it.
After any grind change, purge a few grams so the chute and burr chamber hold coffee at the new setting.
Never let the burrs touch while the motor is running. If the grinder goes quiet and stops producing coffee, the setting is too fine. Turn the disk clockwise to open it up.
If you grind by time, recheck your dose weights on a scale after a change in grind size. If you grind by weight, the Mini G adjusts for you.
Menu Options
Press the menu/select button to open the menu. The four menus are arranged in a grid: Grind Settings (cup icon), Information (i icon), Settings (gear icon), and Service (tools icon). Use the navigation buttons to move between them, menu/select to open or confirm, and cancel to back out.
Grind Settings: set the dose for each button, manage pauses during grinding, set the container type (portafilter or dosing cup), and choose the grind mode (by weight or by time) and working mode (keyboard or portafilter).
Information: total doses ground, remaining doses in your refill countdown, daily grinding statistics, the alert list, burr change status, service number (if set), and firmware version.
Settings: menu language (19 available), date and time, display settings and color theme, a user password, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Service: password-protected. Inside, you can manage burr change information and alerts, reset the counter shown on the main screen, set permissions for dose changes and the manual button, enable or disable the Wi-Fi module, update firmware, calibrate the scale, and reset the board.
The default Service password is 0000. If you change it, write it down. Mazzer does not provide a recovery procedure for a forgotten password.
Scale Calibration
Mazzer asks you to calibrate the scale at first installation, after any adjustment to the portafilter fork, after moving the grinder, and after changing the container type in Grind Settings. You will need the calibration weight that came in the box.
Open the menu, navigate to the calibration icon, and press the menu/select button.
Confirm that you want to calibrate.
Place your empty portafilter (or the empty dosing cup, depending on your container setting) on the fork and confirm.
Set the calibration weight on top and confirm.
Wait for the display to report that calibration is complete, then remove the weight.
Keep the calibration weight somewhere you will find it again. If doses start landing off target and nothing is touching the fork, recalibrating is the first fix to try.
Dose countdown
In the Information menu, you can enter how much coffee you loaded and the grinder will count down remaining doses as you grind, with an alert when the hopper is running low. It is a nice way to avoid running the grinder empty.
Wi-Fi
The Mini G has a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi module for statistics and cloud functions, where supported. To enable or disable it, open the Service menu, select Wireless module, and confirm. The display confirms the change.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Regular cleaning keeps stale coffee oils out of your cup and keeps the Mini G grinding consistently. Always switch off and unplug the grinder before cleaning, and never reach into the hopper, burr chamber, or chute while it is plugged in. Never clean the grinder with water jets or submerge any part of the body. Skip abrasive cleaners, and keep alcohol and solvents away from painted and plastic parts and printed markings.
After cleaning, the hopper, adjustment disk, and chute must all be reassembled with their safety screws before you use the grinder again.
Housing and hopper
Wipe the body with a clean, damp cloth. Remove the hopper (loosen its safety screw first) and wash it in warm water with a neutral dish soap. Rinse well and dry completely before reinstalling, then refasten the safety screw. Wiping the hopper before each refill prevents coffee oils from building up inside.
Removable chute
The chute comes off without tools for quick cleaning.
Switch off and unplug the grinder.
Loosen the captive safety screw on the chute and lift the chute off.
Clean it with the included brush and a dry cloth.
Set it back in place and tighten the safety screw.
Grinder cleaning tablets
We recommend running a grinder cleaner such as Cafetto Grinder Cleaner through the Mini G about once a month to clear oils from the burrs and chute between full cleanings.
Close the hopper locking slide and grind out the beans left in the burr chamber using the manual button.
Adjust the grind slightly coarser so the granules can pass through.
Open the locking slide, add one dose of grinder cleaner to the hopper, and grind it through into a cup or the dosing cup.
Return to your espresso setting, then grind and discard one dose of coffee before brewing.
Cleaning the burrs
A full burr cleaning every few months, or whenever shots start tasting flat, keeps the Mini G at its best. Mazzer’s instructions:
Switch off and unplug the grinder. Empty the hopper, loosen the hopper safety screw, and remove the hopper.
Loosen the chute safety screw and remove the chute.
Remove the safety screw on the adjustment disk. This screw is what prevents the disk from being unscrewed during normal use.
Unscrew the adjustment disk by turning it clockwise until it lifts off, bringing the upper burr carrier with it.
Brush out the burrs, the burr chamber, and the threads with the included brush and a clean cloth. Use a small wire brush for the threads if needed, and check that the grind adjustment springs are still seated in the body.
Test the threads: screw the adjustment disk back on anticlockwise without the upper burr carrier. It should turn freely all the way down. If it binds, clean the threads again. Forcing a disk onto dirty threads can damage them.
Lightly grease the disk threads and the underside surface that rides on the upper burr carrier with a food-safe grease.
Refit the upper burr carrier, thread the adjustment disk back on anticlockwise, and reinstall the disk safety screw in whichever of its two holes gives the best adjustment range.
Reinstall the chute and hopper with their safety screws.
After reassembly, your grind setting will have moved. Dial back in from a coarse setting with the motor running, and recalibrate the scale if you handled the fork.
Burr replacement
Mazzer recommends replacing the burrs when you notice a decline in grind quality or output, and the Information menu tracks burr change status for you. Use only Mazzer burrs made for the Mini G (233M bearing steel standard, or the optional special steel set). When the time comes, contact our tech team for replacement burrs and service.
Clock battery
A CR2032 coin cell behind the display keeps the clock running and is needed for the statistics and cloud features. If a red battery icon appears in the top bar, the battery is nearly flat. Replacing it involves removing the user interface lid and the bottom of the lid (two screws each). If you would rather not open the panel, contact our tech team.
Troubleshooting
The grinder stopped and will not restart
The Mini G has a thermal overload protection that cuts power to the motor if it overheats, for example, if the burrs jam. Switch the grinder off at the main switch, unplug it, and let it cool completely. If a jam caused it, clear the burrs (see below) before restarting. If the protection trips again under normal use, contact our tech team.
A bean is stuck, or the burrs are jammed
Switch off and unplug the grinder.
Turn the adjustment disk clockwise (coarser) a few notches.
Plug in, switch on, and hold the manual button briefly. The stuck bean should come loose.
Return to your grind setting with the motor running.
The chute is clogged
A very fine grind, oily beans, or humidity can pack the chute.
Switch off and unplug the grinder, and close the hopper locking slide.
Remove the chute (loosen its safety screw) and clear it with the brush.
Note your grind position, then turn the disk clockwise a few notches coarser.
Reinstall the chute, plug in, and hold the manual button until coffee flows cleanly.
Open the locking slide, return to your setting with the motor running, and dial in over the next few doses.
Mazzer advises against spraying beans with water before grinding on the Mini G. It can clog the burr outlets, risk a jam, and encourage oxidation on the burrs.
Doses are landing off target
Make sure the grinder sits on a stable, level surface, not on a knock-box drawer or anything that vibrates.
Check that nothing is touching the fork, and that the portafilter is seated against the spouts.
Wait for “tare in progress” to clear before starting the dose.
Confirm the container type in Grind Settings matches what you are grinding into.
Recalibrate the scale with the calibration weight.
Hands-free grinding does not start
Confirm the grinder is in weight mode and the working mode is set to portafilter.
Press a dose button to select it before placing the portafilter. In portafilter mode, the selected dose has to be highlighted.
Make sure the portafilter is resting fully on the fork so the scale can register it.
The hopper alert is showing
Refill the hopper, and update the remaining-dose countdown in the Information menu if you use it. Never run the grinder with no coffee in the hopper.
Still stuck? Contact our team of coffee experts and technicians, and we will help you sort it out.
Additional Resources
If you need help dialing in your grinder or pulling shots, check out the articles below or contact our team of coffee experts and technicians. Our phone consultations and post-purchase dial-in support are here to help you get the most out of your grinder.