See the User Manual for grind adjustment ranges, cleaning, burr swaps, and troubleshooting. Please read through the entire setup guide before following along. If you have any questions, contact our team at Clive Coffee.
Step 1: Out of the box and onto the counter
Remove the grinder from its box and set it on a solid, level, water-resistant surface. Never place it on a hot surface. Mazzer recommends a counter height of roughly 31 to 39 inches and at least 6 inches of clearance to walls or neighboring appliances, with the front left open.
Inspect the grinder for any damage. If you notice any, contact us immediately. Hang on to the box and packing materials for the warranty period.
Plug the grinder directly into a grounded outlet. Do not use an extension cord, power strip, or plug adapter.
In the box, you will find the grinder, the 60 g hopper with lid, the stainless steel dosing cup, the Dose Finisher (duct cleaning tool), a cleaning brush, and the manufacturer’s manual.
It is normal to find a little ground coffee in a brand-new Mazzer. Every grinder is assembled and tested by Mazzer, and that test includes grinding beans.
Tidying the power cord
The Philos has a compartment in its base for excess cord. If you want a shorter run to the outlet, unplug the grinder, loosen the pin on the back base cover by turning it counter-clockwise, remove the cover, feed the cord through the cover and into the compartment until you have the length you want, then hook the cover back on at the top, seat the bottom, and tighten the pin.
Step 2: Install the hopper
Make sure the grinder is switched off and unplugged.
Set the hopper into its seat on top of the grinder and fit the lid.
With the hopper empty, close the locking slide at its base by turning it clockwise until it stops.
The hopper holds about 60 g. The Philos is designed to grind through whatever you put in it, so you will weigh beans for each dose rather than keeping the hopper full. You can also skip the hopper and drop beans straight into the grinder under the lid.
Step 3: Set the dosing cup
The Philos has no portafilter fork. Coffee grounds should go into the included stainless steel dosing cup.
Set the dosing cup under the outlet duct. Magnets pull it into position against the duct, so it lands in the same spot every time.
Use only the dosing cup that came with the grinder. It is shaped to sit under the duct.
The Dose Finisher has its own magnetic housing on the grinder. Keep it there so it is always at hand.
Step 4: Power on
The main switch is on the body of the grinder: I is on, O is off. There is no timer or dose button. The motor runs whenever the switch is on, so the switch is how you start and stop grinding.
Switch on with the hopper empty for a moment to hear the grinder run, then switch off.
A safety microswitch under the body cuts power to the motor if the front cover or hopper is not fully seated, so the grinder will not run while it is open.
Emergency stop: the grinder can be stopped immediately with the main switch.
Step 5: Grind your first dose
Set the grind adjustment disk on the rear of the grinder to about 25, the middle of Mazzer’s suggested espresso range.
Weigh your beans on a scale. For a double shot, 18-20g is a good start.
Pour the beans into the hopper and replace the lid.
Set the dosing cup under the duct.
Switch the grinder on (I), then open the locking slide so the beans drop into the burrs.
When the beans are through, pull and release the duct knocker several times to clear the duct, letting it snap back freely each time.
Insert the Dose Finisher into the duct until it stops, and turn it back and forth for a few seconds, then switch off (O) and remove it. Tip it over your dosing cup to drop in whatever it collected.
Remove the dosing cup and pour the grounds into your portafilter. Distribute, tamp, and brew.
Mazzer’s burrs come finished and ready to use, with no break-in needed, but set aside the first 50 g or so of ground coffee rather than brewing it. That clears any residue from factory testing. Weigh your output on the first few doses, too; once the chamber settles in, the output will be very close to what you put in.
Step 6: Dialing in your grind
Turn the adjustment disk on the rear of the grinder. A lower number is finer; a higher number is coarser. Mazzer’s suggested ranges are 10 to 40 for espresso, 50 to 80 for moka, and 80 to 120 for filter.
The disk ships in stepped mode, so it clicks between settings about six microns apart. Note your number for each coffee, and you can return to it exactly. It can be converted to stepless; see the User Manual.
Adjust the grinder with no beans in the hopper. Never let the burrs touch while the motor is running.
Because the Philos holds almost nothing between doses, you do not need to purge after a change. Grind the next dose and taste.
Espresso is sensitive. Move one or two steps at a time and pull a shot between each change.
If coffee stops coming out, the setting is too fine, or the burrs have clogged. Switch off, open the grinder up as described in the User Manual, clear the burrs, and start a few steps coarser again.
For help dialing in, check out our article How to Dial In Your Espresso Grinder. For help pulling great shots, visit our Espresso 101 section.
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.