Wow. A really nice grinder. A bit pricey but you can certainly tell and taste the difference.
Positive Product Points
-Excellent grind quality (Wow) -Very little clumping -Funnel routes grinds nicely into portafilter and breaks up any clumps -Noticed a improvement in taste (somewhat subjective but did notice an improvement) -Timer feature is handy -Extremely well built (Heavy !) -Not sure there is a better espresso grinder
Negative Product Points
-Timer feature works fine, but sometimes is a bit off for those who insist on 'exactly' the same weight for each shot. Some may choose to simply not use it. -Grind weight may change slightly based on the amount of beans in the hopper (common among most grinders)
Detailed Commentary
Upgraded to the Mini Mazzer Electronic Type B from a Rancilio Rocky. There is a quite a difference in quality which surprised me as I was already impressed with the Rocky.
The Mini Mazzer E (Type B) is a dedicated espresso grinder so you cannot purchase then plan to adjust to French Press, Drip ect.
I am not an expert on grinders but can verify what can be read on most Coffee forums. The grind quality is excellent and the build quality of this grinder is exceptional. It is HEAVY which for the most part means solid components throughout.
It is easy to use and dial in. My day-to-day set up is as follows: I am not too picky about leaving beans in the hopper for about a week. Volume of grind based on my timer setting varies +/- 0.5 grams. If I find it is giving me a bit too much or little I will tweak the timer now and again. Using Intelligencia Black Cat Espresso and extremely pleased with the results.
I was debating going for the Mcap M4 doserless too, however now that I have been reading more and seen both side-by-side glad I went with the Mini Mazzer E. The Rancilio Rocky (now my back-up grinder) is actually a nice grinder and I was getting a lot of enjoyment out of it, so especially surprised at the improvement moving to the Mini Mazzer.
Buying Experience
Caffe Tech has an excellent inventory (they always have what I need). Sometimes they seem a bit busy for the average client as they support mostly business clientele (or at least that is my impression). That being said a great place and their product knowledge is spot on.
Three Month Followup
After three months the grinder continues to perform excellent:
-Clearly tell it is much better than my previous grinder (Rancilio Rocky - which was not a bad grinder either) -The Mazzer Mini is espresso specific (Most know this but worth mentioning as to switch from drip to espresso would be very hard) -Still close to zero clumping and grind quality is fantastic -Only down side is the timer function (It works for daily use but for those perfectionists that want an exact weight, they will find themselves using the manual setting by holding down the button rather than the timer feature)
Very pleased with this purchase and use it every single day.
One Year Followup
Continuing to use the grinder daily for espresso. Performs as it had day one. Very consistant from shot to shot. I usually fill the hopper once per week. Very pleased.
