How do you set up the Macap MXD or MXD Xtreme?

After switching it on, press and hold the selection button above the display for about ten seconds. Then turn the button to select Dose No.1, Dose No.2, Continuous Dose, or D.T.S. Press the button to open a function, turn to change the setting, and press again to save it.

The Macap MXD and MXD Xtreme operate with time-controlled dosing. This means you program how many seconds the grinder runs. You then have to weigh the actual amount of ground coffee yourself.

This difference is important. A different grind size, a different coffee bean, or coffee that was still in the grinding chamber can mean that the same time yields a different weight. Furthermore, the MXD and Xtreme do not grind at the same speed: Macap specifies 3 grams per second for the MXD and 4 grams per second for the Xtreme. Therefore, never blindly adopt a found time setting.

My advice is simple: first determine the desired amount of ground coffee, then check your espresso, and only program the dosing buttons once that basic setup is correct.

Selectieknop boven het display van de Macap MXD voor het openen van het programmeermenu

First, recognize the two buttons

The selection button above the display is used to scroll through functions, open settings, and save values. The dosing button located lower on the grinder is operated with the portafilter or by hand and starts the grinding.

How do you open the programming menu of the Macap MXD?

Switch on the grinder using the main power switch. After the brief welcome message, a normal dosing function will appear on the display. Now, press and hold the selection knob above the display for approximately ten seconds, or until the text on the screen changes.

You will then be in the programming menu. Rotate the selection knob counter-clockwise or clockwise to scroll through the available settings. When the function you wish to adjust is displayed on the screen, press the selection knob once.

After opening a setting, rotate the knob again to change the value. Then, press the knob to confirm your selection. After programming, locate EXIT and press the knob to return to the normal operating menu.

The exact words or symbols may vary slightly depending on the software version. The operating logic remains the same: rotate to select, press to open or save.

Gemalen koffie uit Macap MXD wegen om single en double dosering in te stellen

Programming the first dosing button

Dose No. 1 is usually used for a single espresso or for your smallest standard dose. The button only controls the grind; you verify the result yourself in grams.

How do you set the single espresso on a Macap MXD?

Open the programming menu and turn to Dose No.1. On some models, this function may be referred to as single dose or single program. Press the selection button to open the setting.

The set meal appears on the display. Turn the selection knob clockwise to extend the time and counter-clockwise to shorten it. Press the button again once you have reached the desired value.

Then place an empty portafilter under the spout and grind one dose. Then weigh the ground coffee. Don't just check if the filter basket seems approximately full: a small deviation in weight can already be noticeable in the extraction time later on.

If coffee falls next to your portafilter, a dosing funnel in the correct portafilter sizecan help to keep the ground coffee better in the filter basket during grinding.

View dosing rings
Het Tamping Station Zwart van Barista Essentials is niet weg te denken als barista tool voor de thuisbarista! Dit zwarte tamping station verhoogd de kwaliteit van je koffie. Het zwarte tamping station van Barista Essentials ondersteund de filterdrager tijdens het tampen en je espresso krijg daardoor een stevige tamp.

Adjust the second dosing knob

Dose No. 2 is normally used for a double espresso. Adjust this dose independently and do not automatically assume that twice the single-dose time will yield the correct weight.

View coffee scale

How do you set the double espresso on a Macap MXD?

In the programming menu, go to Dose No. 2 and press the selection button. Extend or shorten the dose by turning the knob and save the setting by pressing the knob again.

Then, grind a full double shot into an empty, dry portafilter and weigh the ground coffee. Preferably repeat this several times. A single measurement can be inaccurate because there might still be coffee from a previous grind in the spout.

Macap recommends using Continuous Dose and a precision scale for initial adjustments. After a change in grind size, you should also take into account residual coffee from the previous setting. The manual advises not to use the first two double doses after such a change as definitive measurements.

Therefore, do not only use the seconds on the display as a reference point. The weight in your portafilter is ultimately the benchmark for your programmed dosage.

Accurately weigh your grind dose
Digitale koffie weegschaal met usb en timer voor espresso precisie van de Barista Shop 5

Grind without a preset time

With Continuous Dose, the grinder runs as long as you press the dosing button. This function is useful during initial adjustment, for minor corrections, and when you want to determine the amount yourself.

How do you manually grind or activate Continuous Dose?

Open the programming menu and turn the selector knob until the symbol or text for Continuous Dose appears on the display. Press the knob to open the function. Then turn to ON and press again to save the setting.

Go back to the operating menu via EXIT. Briefly press the selector knob there until Continuous Dose is visible. Place your portafilter under the spout and operate the dosing button. The grinder will continue to grind as long as the manual dosing is activated.

This setting is particularly useful when you first want to determine how much ground coffee fits into your filter basket. Place the portafilter on a scale, tare it to zero, grind an amount, and check the weight.

Do not use Continuous Dose for minutes on end. Macap states a maximum uninterrupted operating time of one minute to prevent the motor from overheating.

Check out coffee scale with timer
Filterdrager wordt tegen de doseerknop van een Macap MXD koffiemolen gedrukt voor Push and Grind.

Choosing how to start a dose

D.T.S. stands for Dosing Type Selection. With this, you choose whether to first select a dosage via the display or to start dosing directly with the dosing knob.

What is the difference between Standard and Push and Grind?

In Standard mode, briefly press the selection button above the display to cycle through Dose No.1, Dose No.2, Dose No.3 (if enabled), and Continuous Dose. Once the desired dose is visible, press the filter holder against the dosing button to start grinding.

In Push and Grind mode, you select the dose directly with the dosing button:

  • one press starts Dose No.1;
  • two brief presses start Dose No.2;
  • three brief presses start Dose No.3, if enabled.

Double or triple presses must occur within approximately two seconds. Continuous Dose is still selected via the selection button.

Push and Grind is convenient when you want to quickly switch between single and double shots daily. Standard is clearer when you want to check the active function on the display first.

WDT-tool wordt gebruikt in een portafilter met doseerring om klontjes te breken en espresso-channeling te verminderen

From programmed time to a usable espresso setting

After programming, you still need to check how much coffee the grinder actually produces and how your espresso flows with that. Always change one setting at a time.

View scale with Auto Timer

How do you check if the set Macap dosage is correct?

Grind Dose No.1 or Dose No.2 in a dry portafilter and weigh the ground coffee. Change the programmed time if the weight is too high or too low. Only after that, adjust the grind size if the espresso flows too fast or too slow.

For micrometric grind adjustment, turn the horizontal adjustment knob. According to Macap, + means coarser and – means finer. If there is coffee in the grinder, adjust carefully while the motor is running. After each change, grind a few grams through to remove old grounds from the grinding chamber. If the espresso flows too slowly, the grind is usually too fine; if it flows too quickly, it is usually too coarse.

A coffee scale with Auto Timerhelps you monitor both the weight and the extraction time. You can buy one via this link at Barista-Essentials. The Barista Shop may receive a commission without you paying extra.

Check weight and lead time

Frequently asked questions about setting up the Macap MXD

How do I open the programming menu of the Macap MXD?

Switch on the grinder and wait for the welcome message. Then press and hold the selection button above the display for approximately ten seconds, until the text on the display changes.

Which setting do I use for a single and double espresso?

Here's how to download your digital products:

How do I manually activate grinding on the Macap MXD?

Open the programming menu, select Continuous Dose and set the function to ON. You can then select Continuous Dose in the normal use menu and grind manually with the dosing button.

What does Push and Grind do?

In Push and Grind, one press of the dispense button starts Dose No.1, and two short presses start Dose No.2. A third dose can be started with three short presses.

Why doesn't the same meal always yield the same amount of ground coffee?

No, our products are free from allergens and therefore gluten-free. We only use natural ingredients and don't add any unnecessary additives.

I have another question.

Contact Geert-Jan the Barista

Macap MXD set up? Now check your espresso

The basic settings of the Macap MXD and MXD Xtreme are straightforward once you know the function of the two buttons. You open and program the menu with the selection button. You start grinding with the dosing button.

The most important step happens next: check every programmed dose in grams. A time on the display only tells you how long the motor runs. A coffee scale shows you how much coffee actually ends up in your portafilter.

Do you then want to understand how to evaluate your dosage, espresso yield, and extraction time together? Then The 3 Golden Rules of Espressowill help you turn individual settings into a practical control system.

This is how The Barista Shop helps you not only find a button but, more importantly, better understand what you are measuring and adjusting during brewing.

First, weigh your ground coffee, then check the extraction time of your espresso. This is how you program your Macap based on measurable results.

View coffee scale with Auto Timer
Digitale koffie weegschaal met usb en timer voor espresso precisie van de Barista Shop 2

To measure is to know

With a rechargeable digital coffee scale, you have the number 1 measuring instrument in the coffee world. To properly adjust your grinder, the correct amount of grams in your portafilter is essential.

Check out the digital scale with timer

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Macap MXD Xtreme met filterdrager en koffieweegschaal tijdens het instellen van de maaldosering

☕ Setting your Macap MXD and MXD Xtreme: Single, Double, and Manual Grinding

When you first navigate the menu of a Macap MXD or MXD Xtreme, it's not immediately clear which button you need. The button above the display is used to select functions and change settings. The button near the portafilter starts grinding.

In this guide, I'll show you how to access the programming menu, set the single and double dose, and activate the manual grinding function. I'll also explain why you should always check the grinding time in grams before saving the setting.

My practical advice is to first manually grind and weigh the desired amount. Once that base is correct, you can reliably program the time for your single and double dose.

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