Good form and function at a comparatively inexpensive price point.
Positive Product Points
Attractive and compact design to look at every day. Consistent grinding at slow speeds with easy adjustments. Virtually nothing gets trapped in the chute. I like the timer feature. Reasonable price.
Negative Product Points
Slipping grind receptacle, poorly set at the factory, narrow grinding range and inability to grind directly into a filter.
Detailed Commentary
First of all, mine is a Solis 166 (AKA Starbucks Barista), but it has nothing to do with Starbucks, which might explain why I paid so much less than the Barista.
All in all, I am pleased with this choice. I use it for espresso and drip. I had been using hand grinders (I have a small collection of them) which can give a wonderful grind, but this method becomes plodding and tiresome. Like most owners of this machine, I needed to adjust the settings to acheive a grind that is fine enough for espresso, which was pretty easy to do. It is now not coarse enough at the coarse end for French roast, but works well for espresso and drip. I like the look of it, and its compact size fits my coffee bar with lots of room to spare.
I like the timer feature and usually just put enough beans into the hopper for my immediate needs, then I dial the timer and go about getting milk out, or whatever while the beans finish grinding. A big annoyance is that the grind receptacle constantly slips out of it's cradle. I cleaned up lots of coffee that poured directly onto the counter from an unattended grinding before slipping a piece of folded paper into the plastic spring that was intended to hold the receptacle without needing to use chewing gum or paper clips...
Buying Experience
No comment
Three Month Followup
I have used this work horse lots and am pleased with it's reliable performance, but my listed negatives were annoyances that took time to get used to. This machine is still in production and I wonder if Solis has addressed these issues, though I consider it to be a great deal for the money I paid.
One Year Followup
Still working well...
4 Years later and I now keep decaf beans in the hopper for my wife (I use a Macap 4 for everything else)... I will probably use this until it dies, which doesn't look like any time soon.
