A consistently reliable no frills 'can do' machine which easily bests the temperamental high maintenance bean sticking Solis Maestro.
Positive Product Points
Reliability. Reasonable grind. A can-do machine.
Negative Product Points
A little noisy and messy but not that bad. Not quit as consistantly fine a grind as some much more expensive machines but decently close.
Detailed Commentary
I sold my Solis Maestro which did a great job of grinding espresso except the beans constantly got stuck in the hopper just above the burr. I had to stop the machine and remove the jammed beans several times before I could complete grinding one small batch. Therefore, I cannot recommend the Solis to anyone who wants to grind well roasted slightly oily espresso beans.
The Braun on the other hand is a reliable Plain Jane work horse with to such prima dona problems. Although the grind from the reliable Braun is not quite as constistantly fine as the Solis, it is reasonably close as I can get a nice powder if I want for espresso with no problems. The Braun is a little messy and the noise a little higher than the Solis, but it is not that bad really. The Braun to me is the best coffee grinder available in its price range. If you want to own a good reliable affordable coffee grinding machine this is it. If you want the very best, consider spending several hundred more for a Rancilio Rocky or similar grinder and jumping past the temperamental Solis.
