A rugged, stylish Aussie that surpasses mere conversation piece status and functions exactly like you'd want for a home set-up.
Positive Product Points
Stylish in color. Durable in build. Perfect size for holding up to 5 pucks. Cost compares favorable to other knockboxes.
Negative Product Points
Try as I might, I have yet to find a negative point to this product. It's rare that I don't have any twinge of buyer's remorse with a product, but my Grindenstein has lived up to all I expected. Perhaps on the smallish side for some, it's the perfect size for me and my home espresso experience.
Detailed Commentary
In the seemingly stale world of a utilitarian product like a knockbox, it's hard to ignore a revolutionary product that screams "Buy Me!" Even the name is ultra-cool! With a recent upgrade to the Rancilio Silvia, I knew that the days of knocking my pucks into the garbage had to go. Not usually one to get caught up with styling of such wares, I have to say I was immediately captivated by the Grindenstein. I felt it would be a perfect complement to the new machine. But would it be functional?
I'm happy to report that this little box performs like a champ. I can usually knock out a full puck, there is no sign of wear, clean-up is a breeze, and I feel much better about my shot-pulling ritual. Plus it makes my set-up that much more attractive and eye-catching whether it is sitting under the portafilter of the Silvia or lounging on the base of the DL Rocky.
Buying Experience
Purchased directly from Dreamfarm, I found the price (US$, inclusive of shipping) to be nearly the same as I saw on eBay and other espresso-related sites. Choice of where to buy came down to the fact that I could only find "Marine" (the blue) being sold at Dreamfarm's site (again, something very unusual for me...to get hung up on a particular color). About 10 days after ordering, the 'Stein completed its journey from the Outback to the States.
Three Month Followup
After 3 months of use, there is still no sign of any wear and tear. I rinse out after every use, wipe down, and my Grindenstein still looks like new. I'm amazed that something stylish is so durable. I love it! With the falling US dollar, there was an adjustment...so the actual price was closer to $30 (they did mention this on the site if I recall correctly).
One Year Followup
1 year later and the Grindenstein is looking as good as ever. It withstands about 3 - 5 knocks a day and still comes back wanting more. The thing looks practically brand new. I intentionally looked for signs of wear and found none, except for two very light, small and hard to see indentations in the rubberized knocking bar. In an age of shoddily built products that seem to be more "throw-away" than durable, this little gem is a welcome surprise. I would recommend this to anyone that wants a lasting knockbox that has some stylish flair to it. You won't be sorry with your purchase unless you pull a ton of shots every day. I rinse and wipe mine down everyday, so perhaps that lends to its "good-as-new" look. A quick check on pricing and it seems that it has come down a little. You can find it at some big online e-tailers for about $20US and have it shipped free if your order is over $25.
