Grind away, beat the heat from the blade grinder....
Positive Product Points
Starbucks seems to offer products that work...perhaps not to the specs or expectations of the cognoscenti, but quite adequate and reliable for others. This grinder does its job. I've set it for espresso, drip and French press, all with decent results. There are enough variables in the grinding process, but the machine seems to provide a uniform grind at each setting I've used.
Negative Product Points
There is a significant amout of static electricity present....the ground beans can become hard to handle. Other than that, It fills the bill nicely. I assume at some point , should I continue to pursue making my own coffee with high end results I'll graduate to something significantly more robust and precise. Until then, this should do the job more than adequately. Given the fact that the marketplace has recongized that burr grinders are coveted, many companies have teemd their design and mnarketing departments to produce grinders that evoke retro design elements and a robust commerial look. Perhaps they're the real deal. The Starbucks grinder is simple, straight forward, and does the job. At the typical sales prices, it's a bargain.
Detailed Commentary
The Starbucks grinder is a well built, simple to operate machine. The settings are straightforward. The timer is a bit frustrating, as one has to gaugue time/volume. It’s not a big deal though.
For this price, I expected no doser, tamping, or anything else. Sure I wish it was bad of cast iron, but I don’t expect it to last forever either.
I actually like the fact that Starbucks markets this sort of thing. It’s easy to get sidetracked on their operation. The coffee can be poor, the beans stale, and the number of locations beyond ubiquitous. They do, however, seem to want their customers to appreciate coffee, be it in their stores by the cup or at home with capable appliances.
Buying Experience
Easy as ordering a tall coffee of the day. Starbucks sales persons are eager, helpful, and are reasonably knowledgeable about the stuff they sell. It's been my experience that if the store doesn't get lots of retail traffic for coffee makers, grinders, etc., they're not on the shelves. I find this to be the case at stores around college campuses.
Three Month Followup
Still cranking out good consistent results.
One Year Followup
Wonderfully reliable appliance. It continues to serve up ground cofee beans that appear evenly sized. Can't complain about anything except the static electricity issue mentioned in my initial review. Can't see upgrading unless/until it wears out.
