Only one switch/timer, not that loud (about electric pencil shapener)
Negative Product Points
Clean up, small included brush, amount of grinds left in "upper" chamber after grinding.
Detailed Commentary
This is my second purchase related to esspresso making (the first was a used Gaggia Carezza). A grinder is a must as the grocery store grinders can't get anywhere close to the grind you'll need. Anyway, based upon my tamp pressure I set this on the finest fine (there's still four more finer settings and 16 total grind settings). Grind looks even (based upon my eyeball test). Clumps are from static and not uneven grinding. My tamp pressure, grind setting gets me within the golden rule 90% of the time.
Ratings: I gave a 7 for quality because of plastic (but that may be a good thing in terms of weight). I gave a 7 for usabilty because it does seem to leave grounds (+/- 2 grams) in the "upper" chamber and clean up should be easier, that could be a lot of stale coffee when compared to a 7 gram shot. I rated cost/value a 9, as it seems to do it's job rather well. I rated aesthetics a 9, it does look good to me and it's not that big. Remember I have no experience with other grinders, so ymmv.
As far as tips: I put just enough beans (weighed with a scale) in the hopper for the shot size I'm preparing. Then I grind all beans and use all of the grounds. I sweep any leftover grounds and do a daily clean (part of the my espresso making routine). This way there is almost no ground coffee sitting in the grinder. As suggested elsewhere I take a vacuum to the grinder about once a week. I don't know if the weight of the metal version is much more than the plastic version, but the plastic version can be easily lifted and "tapped" on to help move grounds from upper to lower chamber.
Buying Experience
Product wasn't available instore (this was one of the largest BBB that I've seen, included a wedding registry section). Anyway, I was able to use the 20% off postcard they sent me when I ordered it through the store (can't get the discount if you order it directly online yourself). After shipping (UPS ground to my door) and taxes my net was about $90 (plastic version). I think that was a good deal.
