This is the last grinder anyone will ever NEED . . . WANT is another story.
Positive Product Points
Grind-on-Demand; a double shot in just over three seconds, an updosed single in just under two! Very little clumping or static (in part, depending upon the weather). Very neat. Very easy to clean and maintain. Excellent!
Negative Product Points
Very tall hopper holds 1.5 kg (3.3 pounds), which is a bit excessive for home use. On the other hand, the short hopper looks (to me, anyway) all out of perspective and even stranger than the regular one, so . . .
But seriously? Negative points? I have occasional clumping (depending upon the weather, usually), but even the clumps are light, fluffy, and fall apart easily -- so I guess that's not really all that negative, is it? Let me think . . . .
Detailed Commentary
This review is of the Mahlkönig K30 Vario, a stepless version of the K30 ES. (Note: since Mahlkönig acquired Ditting of Switzerland, the same grinders are available as the Ditting KE640 or KE640 Vario.) Very easy to set up and program, with separate buttons for a single and double dose, the grinder is programmed by time in 1/10th of a second increments. The grinding time is easy to reprogram in seconds, and the change-of-grind is the easiest of any grinder I've every used (or seen, for that matter). It is also, by far, the quietest! The portafilter holder is easily adjustable for any machine, and there is enough clearance for those "stilts" used by Elektra! Its 65mm flat burr set is very fast, very neat, with little-to-no clumping or static. and -- quite honestly -- overkill for most homes. Scratch that, ANY home! Then again, so is a Mazzer Robur, so . . . what the heck!
Also, unlike the machine pictured here, mine is black (not red).
Buying Experience
This grinder is available through a couple of online vendors, but living in the SF Bay Area, I took advantage of Mahlkönig USA being across the Bay from me. This machine was a demo model they had used in a trade show(s), and was purchased under full warranty for 35% off. Brian unpacked the machine, showed me how everything worked, re-packed it, and off I went. Quick, easy, and perfect!
Three Month Followup
The grinder continues to perform flawlessly. It is a joy to use, a pleasure to clean, and even fun. Unless for some reason I discover that I have some rare disease and will positively die unless I get a "titan" conical, there will never be any need to upgrade . . .
One Year Followup
A year has passed, and the grinder is still a star performer. It is so quick, so quiet, so easy to use. It has worked flawlessly for the past year, and has been 100% trouble-free. Light, fluffy grounds; any clumps fall apart if you look at them hard (well, practically); and it remains my cure for upgrade-itis. I am a VERY happy Mahlkönig owner!
