If you are just getting into grinding your own beans for a drip machine and want to do it without breaking the bank, this is the way to go.
Positive Product Points
- Very well made; daily use for over 3 years and it still performs as well as it did on day one - Particle size/uniformity is more than adequate for a drip machine
Negative Product Points
- Dificult to keep clean - as with all blade grinders, cannot grind for espresso or press pot
Detailed Commentary
Most of the reviews for this product are really reviews for blade grinders vs. burr grinders. You cannot compare this to a burr grinder, but if you are in the market for a blade grinder, this is a great item.
I bought it over 3 years ago and have used it at least once per day since for use with my cone filter drip machine. For this purpose, it works fantastic. It produces particles in this medium-grind range with adequate uniformity to make a great cup. It cannot grind fine enough for espresso, or coarse enough for a press pot (at least not with consistent particle size). I grind in pulses (on for 1 second, off for 1 second) to allow the grounds to settle and to reduce heat. For the eight cup pot that I make every morning, it takes eight pulses to produce a consitent grind of the desired size for cone drip.
The only complaint I have is that particles like to stick to the inside of the unit, especially around the lip of the stainless steel grinding cup. You can knock most loose by tapping on the side of the cup and the unit with a spoon when you are done grinding (after 3 years, mine shows quite a bit of wear in my normal tapping areas), but a quck pass with a small brush is still necesarry to get them all.
That being said, the people who would bash this just because it is a blade grinder are correct in that burr grinders are far superior. Once you have become comfortable, have decided that grinding your own beans is right for you, and are ready to invest the money, you'll want to upgrade to a burr grinder.
