Nice price 40 grind settings Construction Capacity Materials weight
Negative Product Points
Lack of doser grind holder weight
Detailed Commentary
Let me start by saying I don't actually own this machine. I frequently demo espresso machines at work and when I need a grinder at work this is the grinder I turn to. That being said, if I wanted to buy a grinder without a doser, this is definitely the one I would get.
The first thing I noticed about the Viruoso is the weight. You'll notice that I have weight both as a positive and a negative. The reason being is that this thing is heavy, very heavy for its size. The Virtuoso is more than twice the weight of the comparably sized Starbucks Barista. Now while I wouldn't want this to be my grinder I travel with, I do associate the weight of the grinder with quality. Heavier components mean more durable materials and longer life span. The hopper and the outer casing is all plastic which means that the weight comes from the grinding discs and that is a very good thing.
The hopper is large, holding atleast 1/2 lbs. of beans at a time. I find that the beans slide easily and I have never had beans stick to the sides of the hopper. The ground coffee holder is huge for what you would normally use it for. I can't imagine anytime you would fill the entire grounds container for a single batch of coffee. Inevitably there is a little dust build up around the catch but it is nothing compared to other models I have used. I also find the grind consistent. Every time I demo an espresso machine I use the #3 setting on the Virtuoso and every time I get the same shot. I find that the coarsest setting, 40, is also good for pressing, however, I've only done this once.
What can I say besides I'd love it with a doser. You can remove the grounds bin and put your portafilter directly under the spout, but you always make a mess doing so. Spending less than $200, you can't expect a dose, you can only wish for one.
