Internal "guts" are the same as the Commercial Rancilio MD40 grinder.Uniform ground coffee particle size.Solid brass machined burr carrier,razor sharp hardened tool steel burrs,they'll last a looong time!!
Negative Product Points
Plastic portafilter (doser forks) holder should be steel.Doser star wheel should be larger diameter & tighter fitting to the bottom of the grounds chamber,to sweep out all the grounds.Doser should have an adjustable range... 7grams - 11(12)grams,to dose for single baskets,double,triple.
Detailed Commentary
I love this grinder!! The Rocky in any of the three styles is a champ,like his namesake. Rock solid & built like a tank,Rocky has the same "guts" as the commercial Rancilio MD40 grinder for longevity & strength. I believe this is the best grinder in the market,at this price point. A precision grinder is of the utmost importance for the dialing in of your espresso machine, & has a grind range of approximately 80 settings. Equally important is the hardened tool steel,razor sharp flat parallel burrs. The low RPM motor preserves coffee flavor & aroma as the burrs shave the coffee beans to uniform particle size & maximum surface area,essential for excellent crema production. I grind for the Rancilio Miss Silvia,all the way to drip grind & everything in between. Rancilio could improve on the doser efficiency though...
Buying Experience
I bought the Stainless Steel Rocky from Jim @ 1st-line,excellent guy to deal with. Sales & Service second to none!!
Three Month Followup
I have been using the stainless steel Rocky for 11 months now, & am throughly pleased with the ruggedness & performance of this grinder.Other than the doser's (Negative Product Points) stated above, this is an excellent grinder at this price point. Invest in the best grinder you can afford,like the Coffeekid & others have said,it's sage advice!!! You're better off with a cheaper espresso machine & a great grinder,than the best top end home machine & going for a cheap grinder,thinking this will preform satisfactory.You won't pull consistently great shots with sloppy machining tolerances in the burr carrier & Rocky's is tight enough & heavy enough(429 grams,15.13 oz),almost 1lb of solid brass!!, to fill the bill.
