The gotta-have grinder for your gotta-have espresso machine!
Positive Product Points
1) "Tweak Factor" - with an infinitely-adjustable burr, you can play all you want with this and keep trying to dial in the perfect shot. 2) Great, consistent espresso grind. It's one less variable to worry about in your pursuit of a godshot. 3) You can get most of the grinds out of the doser.
Negative Product Points
1) It's big and heavy. 2) The fork that holds the portafilter is too low, and if you hit the doser bar too hard, the grinds miss to the left.
Detailed Commentary
Overall, I'm really happy with this grinder. There's a reason why many Starbucks use Mazzers. I rarely use the hopper, and I usually dump 8oz of beans into the neck and cover with my tamper. The tamper keeps the beans from flying out but also keeps them from "dancing," which some claim produces an inferior grind. This allows me to choose the beans I want to shoot and keep the rest in a ziploc bag for freshness. Plus, with the hopper off, the grinder fits easily under my counter.
The switch is professional and solid. The grinder is heavy steel and doesn't bounce around much. I did industrial design for a number of years and am impressed with how well this product was though-out and designed. Some people complain about where the cord comes out of the base, but it hasn't been an issue for me.
Plus, the doser bar makes you feel like a pro!
Buying Experience
It was Chris Coffee. What more can I possibly say? I would never buy anywhere else.
