Great burr grinder! Simple operation. Clean and quiet. Hard to beat at this price range. Charging just as hard a year later. Sure am glad I bought it.
Negative Product Points
My chief complaint would be the lack of an old-fashioned ON/OFF switch. The timer rig I find tedious. Additionally, the grind setting can, at times, be somewhat inaccurate. It does great work for my staple Vac coffee and has answered well enough for espresso made with my Capresso 101 Espresso Toy.
Detailed Commentary
What great purchase! My 551 burned up and I was tired of compromise. The 166 won out over the 177 and others because of her looks truth be told. It's the quietest grinder I've owned and the most consistant (when I am not dialing back and forth between grinds). I thought people were crazy when they said that the grinder was THAT important...NOW I know.
As pointed out earlier, this timer switch thingy I find a little frustrating...like I need help in determining the quantity I'm grinding? What ever happened to ON and OFF? Not that this has created a lot of hate and discontent mind you, but there is NO economy motion here.
I myself have had no problem with the grind fineness, but then I am not using a TRUE espresso machine. I am making do with the fifth notch above the finest setting and though the grind quality varies from time to time, it is NOTHING like the gravelly stuff spitted out of my 551. What I have read indicates that this would not do for the higher end machines. Fine! I bought it for coffee not espresso and it has answered handsomely. For my Vacs and drip pot, the grind consistancy at the coarser is end is MORE than equal to the task. I am EXTREMELY pleased overall.
The only thing that would keep me from buying another is the new and improved Maestro. But the way things are going I'm not going to NEED another grinder for awhile.
Buying Experience
I have had GREAT experiences with the Coffee Bean Corral which began with the Solis 166. Shipping is always first rate and timely.
