Quality you can rely on at a a price which is right - but go the doserless model!
Positive Product Points
This Rocky has a multitude of grind adjustments to choose from, making it responsive to minute adjustment, and suitable for both french press and espresso based coffees alike.
And because of the broad dial range of the grind, the Rocky responds well to changes in temperature, as a minute tweak of the dial, in either direction, can yield astonishing results.
My machine is the doserless model, which allows you to grind to order, without having to worry about excess grind, and there are no complicated dosing mechanisms to contend with.
Also, the doserless model makes it is relatively easy to swap between full strength and decaf.
Negative Product Points
The beans tend to go stale if left in the hopper for more than a day or two (which is prob the case for all grinders) - so only store what you can use.
And the grind mechanism can become stuck occasionally, especially if working with super moist beans.
But I have found that winding the grind right out usually takes care of the problem, and if you do need to open the unit up to give it a clean, it is relatively easy and uncomplicated to do so.
The lid rattles around a lot during usage, accounting for a fair amount of operational noise - but a thick rubber band can help hold the lid down, and may assist in retaining moisture.
Detailed Commentary
The Rocky has already been tried and tested prior to shipping, which explains some residual grind in the canister, which is kind of comforting, to know that the machine is working properly prior to shipping.
Otherwise, there is no assembly required out of the box, just add some beans, and away you go!
For excellent extraction, however, always start with fresh beans that have been stored well.
Stale or old beans, once ground, make for stale and bitter coffee, so if you are going to invest in a decent grinder, make sure you treat your beans with equal respect.
The unit is big enough to cope with a reasonable amount of demand from home usage, but not so big as to dominate your bench top.
Also, the styling, especially for the doserlees unit, is spot on. It makes just the right kind of statement along the lines of "I mean business when it comes to espresso!"
Some have commented that the machine is quite loud when in use, but then so are most commercial grinders, and that's essentially what this unit is: a commercial quality grinder packaged for home use.
It seems that little expense has been spared when it comes to the quality of the internal components, but a few corners appear to have been cut on the cosmetics of the machine, such as the plastic dosing shut on the doserless model, and the aforementioned problems with the rattling lid.
Still, I have no trouble producing a 30ml extraction from a 30sec pour, and I'm consistently happy with the quality of the coffee I'm able to produce using the doserless unit
Buying Experience
I purchased my Rocky online from coffee-a-roma in what was a hassle free transaction, with rapid delivery, and good communication both before and after the transaction.
Three Month Followup
Three months down the line, and the Rocky is still going strong!
For best results use quality beans, and don't store too much in your hopper - only what you can realistically consume in a day or two!
Also, it pays to keep the machine clean, by keeping the hopper wiped out with a paper towel, and by removing excess grind.
