Gaggia MDF Grinder

Real espresso is a combination of freshly roasted beans properly ground and pressed at high pressure using 200 degree water. When you do that, you produce something so delicious it'll blow your mind if you love coffee. When purchasing equipment to do this at home, the most crucial of these three factors is in many ways the grinder. You need to be producing a very exact, very fine grind that doesn't include larger chunks (it'll mess up the pressure, because water will "channel" here) nor coffee dust (which will end up in your cup). And you kinda' want a grinder that won't break.

There are surprisingly few grinders sold that meet these requirements. Some espresso drinkers try to get by with one of the only two grinders under $150 which can sometimes manage this: the Solis Maestro and the Capresso Infinity. Whether you succeed will depend a lot on whether you got lucky, and you got one that happens to be put together well. Both make use of plastic parts which will fail over time. Some people buy the Solis Maestro Plus for $150 -it's heavier than the Maestro, but otherwise no better: you're really wasting your money. The next step up is the Gaggia MDF. It usually sells for around $200, and the Amazon price tends to fluctuate, actually coming in under $200 some of the time with promotions, which makes it a wonderful bargain, though that may be hard to fathom for folks used to a $20 whirly blade grinder. The MDF used semi-commercial grade steel burrs in a semi-commercial (and hence longer lasting) burr set. It will produce the even, fine grind necessary for espresso, and when paired with another Gaggia, or a Solis or Rancilio or FrancisFrancis machine, you're ready to be a home barista and blow the minds of your friends. If you've got a bit more money, I'd recommend the Rancilio Rocky, which typically sells for $280: it's quieter and more rugged, but uses the identical burrs to the MDF. Up from there would be the Mazzer Mini for around $360, which should last you 20 years if not a lifetime. Most people who get into home espresso eventually end up with a Mazzer someday, and you could save yourself some time and money by just starting out with one. But the MDF is probably the best bargain going for being a true home barista. If you're terribly on a budget, Vaneli's Maximo is inferior but useable, and sometimes sells here for low prices.

I've had this grinder for over two decades and it has performed well. When I first got my machine, I wondered which setting number would be good for cappuccino, or any particular grind. The manual said that since coffee can vary from variety to variety, or even from one roast to another, it's a matter of adjusting to each batch of beans. Perhaps with 34 settings, people have found that to be helpful, but I have found my beans to be consistent enough that adjustments are necessary for type of coffee, but can be left alone for a particular type of coffee and a particular variety of beans from a source. At the time I got the machine, I got my beans from Peet's back when they had five stores and no other distribution channels. Although they are a larger chain now, they are still small enough that roasting can be well controlled, and they can still buy beans from a single source for a variety to meet the needs of the chain. For beans from other sources, where roasting is done at a variety of locations, or from beans from differing sources, you might need to pay more attention to adjustments.

A much bigger issue that affects strength and everything else is the dosing. From reading the other reviews, it does not seem to have changed since I got my unit. The top of the unit can be filled with beans, and the part over the dispensing area will fill up with a remarkably consistent grind. That round area is divided into six sections, like a wheel with spokes. Five of the sections get filled with grounds. One section is empty, and is above the dispenser. Each time the lever is pulled, the wheel rotates one position clockwise, and one section gets dispensed through the empty section. In theory, if the unit were full, the amount of coffee in each section would be consistent. Chances are that in real life, you would not want to fill the unit up for home use, since the grounds would not be fresh by the time you use them. If you grind just enough for a few cups, then the coffee will not end up in the compartments evenly, and dosing by counting pulls will not work. If you lift the lower lid, you can see where the coffee is, and you will likely see a small mound in the back and partly filled areas toward the front if you grind smaller amounts. You could redistribute things with a brush, but even that way, some areas would end up more compacted than others. Or you could merely gain the experience to know how much was dispensed compared to how much you need, and pull the handle accordingly. Another option is to gring with the lower lid off. As you watch grinds fall into the compartment, you can rotate as each compartment gets filled, dispensing as you go along. Then you can become consistent once you develop a good eye for it.

Whether you want to consider the dispenser poorly designed is a matter of perspective. If you believe that this unit was designed to grind beans for two cups of coffee, then it would be a fair conclusion. If you believe that this unit was designed for people who prepare 6-12 cups an hour, you might think that it's just fine. If you believe that it was designed for a higher level of fairly constant use, you would probably not be disappointed. But since this unit is most likely for home users, it's hard to claim that the dispenser is ideally suited to the task.

Experience will let you know how high the grounds are supposed to be when you put them in the filter basket, and it's not going to take you long to learn. While this unit is not fool proof, chances are that you are not a fool, so things will work out.

For me, the bottom line is that once you know the correct grind setting for your beans, the unit is more "set it and forget it" than what the instructions said, at least with consistent beans, but the dispenser is a lot less "set it and forget it" than what the literature implies.

Personally, I prefer a unit that takes the guess work out of getting the grinds to be the right consistency, since it's easy to get the amount dispensed right by eyeballing it. This unit does very well in that respect.

I use this in conjunction with a Gaggia Coffee (now known as Gaggia Classic; the new Gaggia Coffee is a different machine) and the two make a good pair. Learning how much coffee to dispense is a minor part, compared to learning how long to hold the switch on the espresso machine, or how to froth milk perfectly, but ultimately, it boils down to knowing how to make a proper espresso. If you can tell when to stop the water based on the color of the coffee coming out, then a bit more or less from the grinder will affect how full the cup gets rather than the taste of your brew. You can't automate a perfect espresso, but you can use the correct tools to allow you to make one with experience.

Buy Gaggia MDF Grinder Now

The Gaggia MDF fills a small, yet demanding space between the cheap and typically terrible $30-$100 burr grinders and the $500 Mazzer Mini. It's only real competition is the Rancilio Rocky and the Innova (if you can find one).

The main complaint about the MDF is that it is not continuously adjustable, which is true, however I have been able to position mine easily in the middle of two settings. This effectivly doubles the available settings and--with variations in tamp pressure--allows me to get really decent shots fairly consistantly.

I use this machine with my vintage swiss Elespresso machine (a Solis SL70 in disguise) and am consistantly pleased. It compares favorably with a Mazzer Mini on most days (I've got one of those too--as well as a La San Marco/Rossi) and for the price is a great buy. If you see a Rocky for the same price, that might be a better choice because of the larger number of settings, but only just.

For those not wanting to drop at least $300 on a grinder, this is a great choice. It fixes all the major faults of the Solis at only a few dollars more and is solidly made, reasonably consistant, and compact enough to sit next to most home machines on the market. Now if only it were a bit easier to clean...

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If you are reading this, you probably already know why a burr grinder is the only kind of grinder to get if you want to make good espresso (or coffee for that matter). And in the world of burr grinders, I think this is the best value out there.

The Good: The grind is excellent and very consistent. It's a work horse and will get the job done every day, all day, the same way.

The Bad: The doser is worse than useless. Not only does it not do what it is supposed to do, it makes it a pain to grind large amounts of beans for a pot of coffee (as opposed to a shot of espresso). Easy work around though: rather than hitting the doser lever twice (which if it worked perfectly would dispense 14 grams of coffee just the right amount for a double shot), I just pull it until my portafilter is overflowing, level the top into a small bowl, and get on with the tamping. Also, some people feel the gap in grinds is too great (i.e. the jump from setting 5 to setting 6 increases too much) I've only found that to be a slight problem, and only with very picky beans. Hasn't been enough of a problem for me to complain about at all.

The Rest: The price is right. $200 bucks (less with a coupon) and you are in the high-end coffee game. Sure you have the doser issues, but that doesn't effect the quality of the grind which when it comes right down to it is the only thing that matters. The cheapest quality grinder that comes in a doserless design is the Rancilio Rocky, which is a great unit it's just that a) it costs about $85 more and b) isn't sold by amazon.com so no free shipping.

All in all, in a non-commercial setting I don't feel it's worth the extra dosh for the Rocky. For value and grind quality, this bad boy is 5 stars take away 1 for the bad doser design.

I say buy it.

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Let me preface this review with the following statement: I consider myself a grinder novice. I've been making French Press coffee for the past 4 years, but this is my first grinder purchase. Up until now, I had let the coffee shop grind the beans (Oren's Daily Roast, mostly). Why the sudden urge to finally cough up the money for a quality home grinder? The answer is simple: a 5-pound bag of Jamaican Blue Mountain beans (picked up in Jamaica @ duty free). Ideally, you want to grind your beans just before brewing to have the best flavor, so I started shopping for my new grinder.

After spending at least a week sifting through reviews on this and other coffee sites (coffeegeek, coffeekid, ect.), I purchased this grinder with high hopes. I had considered the Solis Maestro Plus as a lower-priced alternative ($149), but opted to pay the minimal additional cost to take a step up to the Gaggia ($200). Also, there was a $25-off coupon on a Friday Home and Garden sale, and I figured it was worth the cost (purchase price: $175 after $25-off, plus free 2-day air shipping with a trial of Amazon Prime).

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

The unit arrived in 3 business days, the delay a result of Memorial Day weekend. The most interesting thing I noticed when unpacking it was the presence of coffee grinds in the box. I then found the notice in the box that stated that this was not unusual, as all grinders are tested with actual coffee beans. I found this to be an excellent show of quality standards. The machine has a decent weight to it for its size, and takes up minimal counterspace (a big concern if you have a NYC apartment).

ON GRINDER SETTINGS:

There are 34 grinder settings: 1=fine (Espresso) and 34=coarse (French Press); the setting is adjusted by rotating the top. As I do not own an espresso machine (yet), I've only experimented with the coarse settings (32-34).

USING THE GRINDER:

Use is simple enough. Load the beans into the top, pick a grind setting, and turn on the power. There is no timer on this machine, so it will grind for as long as you keep it on.

The grinds are then deposited into the doser. You then pull the lever on the side of the doser to deposit the grounds into the FILTER HOLDER (read below). Each lever pull is supposed to deposit 7 grams of grounds (the amount recommended for a single shot of espresso). If your doser is not full, the first couple of pulls will not contain 7 grams of grounds.

Noise isn't a real issue. I wouldn't call it noisy, especially when compared to a blade grinder. But it IS a grinder, so a little noise has to be expected.

ON THE DOSER:

-First, there is no mechanism on the machine to catch the grounds deposited by the doser, only a FILTER HOLDER. This is essentially two "arms" below the doser meant to hold an espresso filter in place while you fill it (and most espresso filters should fit).

If you do not own an espresso machine, this may be a hassle. For making my French Press coffee, I have found that my half-cup measuring cup fits perfectly in the filter holder. This is fine for small amounts, but to grind enough to make larger amounts of coffee (like a pot), you would need to grind until you fill the doser, then dose over and over until you have enough grinds. It can get a little messy, but you're working with coffee grinds, so a little mess isn't unexpected.

NOTE: The doser is NOT removable.

-Another note about the doser is the possible effect on quality/taste.

Leaving ground coffee in the doser exposes it to air, which over time will reduce the quality of the flavor of your coffee.

This issue is not restricted to this brand/model, but it should be a consideration of anyone willing to spend $200 on a grinder.

To deal with this, you either have to: 1) grind just as much as you need, then dose until the doser is empty, or 2) leave some grinds in the doser. Option #1 will require some experimentation in grinding time, as there is no timer. Option #2 may not be a big deal, but if you spend this much on a grinder, then you should be getting your money's worth in fresh cups of coffee. (This hasn't been a concern for me, as I grind several days' worth of beans at a time, then vacuum-seal and refrigerate. If this is available to you, I highly recommend it.)

ON THE GRIND:

I've had my model for about 2 weeks, and I've had excellent results. I've taken the time to research the acutal burrs used in various grinders, and have found nothing but good things about the ones used in this machine. The ground is uniform each time, and works very well for my French Press (setting #32, a little more than one rounded tablespoon per 4 ounces of 200 degree filtered water, brewed for 4 minutes. I've noticed an immediate difference in taste with grinding my beans immediately before brewing, and static in the grounds has been negligible.

If you're reading this, then chances are you haven't convinced yourself to shell out $250 for a Rancilio Rocky (or even more for a Mazzer Mini), but you don't want to deal with the issues of the Solis Maestro and the like. As someone who values a balance between cost and value, I figured that the quality was worth the extra money. Thusfar, I've been having some great coffee, and I'm sure it will only get better with more experimenting. Aside from the workarounds required by the doser (dropping the rating to 4), I've found this to be an excellent product.

Update 8/2/2006: Regarding grinding time, I've found that grinding roughly one second per ounce of water of coffee for my French Press has given me great results.

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La Pavoni PA-1200 Napolitana Stainless Steel Automatic Espresso Machine

La Pavoni PA-1200 Napolitana Stainless Steel Automatic Espresso Machine

This is my third machine in 12 years. My first machine was a Krups Novo with a thermal heat block and a back pressure or modified filter holder. My second machine was a Starbucks Barista with a stainless steel boiler but also with a back pressure filter holders which produce a simulated espresso. The La Pavoni Napoletana is the real thing. You can't make or buy a better espresso.

This is an excellent espresso machine for the starter or the advanced barista. Heats up quickly and the heavy brass boiler, brass head and filter holder keep the machine ready for use. Consistently pulls espresso with a nice crema. The steam function provides plenty of steam to whip up thick frothed milk for cappuccinos. The grinder is easy to adjust maybe a little loud and holds enough beans for about 14 shots. The grinder isn't centered over the filter so you need to hold the filter tipped towards the back to keep the coffee in the holder. The machine is solid stainless steel, the drip trays are plastic but good enough. The reservoir holds 3 liters and is a little tight to remove and replace. The pump supplies plenty of pressure. I use the grinder setting between 5 4 depending on the bean.

Note: If you want a real espresso machine stay away from the machines with thermal heat blocks or steel boilers and any machine that uses a back pressure or modified filter holders isn't going to make a real espresso.

October 2011 Update: Well, I've been using this machine for 4 years now. 200 pounds of coffee beans and 4400 shots of espresso later the machine is still going steady. The plastic buttons are a little worn and the plastic bean reservoir has yellowed a little but the pump still puts out and the boiler heats as fast as ever. I now use the grinder setting between 4 3.5, (probably a sign of wear). I'll post another update in 2015 or sooner if the machine gives out.

Having used a roomate's decent Starbucks Barrista for a year, then suffering through a horrible Krups model (which I returned in disgust), I knew that when I finally got around to buying an espresso machine, I wanted a quality machine at a reasonable price. A strong pump and good innards are required to make an espresso with beautiful golden foam. I adore cappucino so require a good steamer that makes excellent foam. And I didn't have an espresso grinder (but know that proper fine grind is CRITICAL). No one knows coffee like the Italians, so buying one made there was also preferable. As I did my research the LaPavoni Napolitana fit all my requirements.

I am completely and utterly besotted with this machine! It is perfect for those looking for a quality machine without breaking the bank. As far as I'm concerned the makers didn't skimp on any essentials. Right from my first shot, this machine brewed the perfect espresso. It's very easy to learn and use. Also very easy to maintain and keep clean.

Also, disregard the comments about the water reservoir being difficult to remove and refill. Mine was absolutely not difficult to remove and I'm a 100-lb-weakling type! I HIGHLY recommend this machine to anyone considering purchasing one. Every shot is perfect. I am addicted beyond all description, but it matters not, as I'm always a few short steps a way from a affordable, quality crack... er, espresso!

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I knew I had to have an espresso machine after using a friends Starbucks Barrista but that machine proved hard to find... guess it's discontinued, so I opted for a Starbucks Serena which was a huge disappointment!! I promptly returned the Serena and ordered the Napolitana instead.

I went out to meet the UPS truck, and as I signed for my new machine, the UPS lady let the box tumble down the stairs of her truck and onto the ground..urgh!!

I eagerly unpacked the new machine, plugged it in, followed the directions to prime it, got steam...but no pump!! I was so disappointed!! I started to fill out the Amazon return form, but decided to sleep on it. The next morning I pulled out a screw driver, thinking that something had jiggled loose from the poor UPS handling, and after removing 2 screws and carefully prying the top off, I found that the wiring harness had slid off the pump. I pushed it back on, marveled at the simplicity of the parts inside, and had it put back together and brewing great espresso in 5 minutes (I don't know that I would recommend doing this, as I probably voided the warranty, but who's going to know :) ).

I brewed a great espresso the first time I used the machine, and am getting a little better with each one. I like the fact that I can make adjustments with the grinder, and adjust how much pressure I use with the tamper, and thereby have control over the quality of my crema, and the strength of the coffee. Even though I am a novice barrista, I like the fact that this machine allows me to learn and get better.

The quality of the machine seems excellent. The stainless steel looks great and is easy to clean. The portafilter is heavy and stays hot for a long time. The steam frother works great. The grinder is noisy, but I've never used one that wasn't. I look forward to using this machine for years and years.

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we've had this machine a few years now, bought on the suggestion of a friend who had one who bought because his friend did lots of research and decided this is the best machine on the market. My mom also has this machine. She bought hers after buying another $500 machine that just did not stack up to this and ended up giving that machine away to buy the LaPavoni. Great crema every time (you do it right). It's true there is a steep learning curve with this machine. It takes weeks to dial the burr grinder in exactly, depending on your bean, elevation, time of year, etc. Also how hard to tamp the coffee is super important. There is a built in tamper, but you can't really get the leverage you need to tamp it hard enough, so buy a $5 tamper to go with it. Coffee is an art form and this is your brush! Just don't expect spectacular results right out of the box, if that's what you want get a "pod" machine, wuss. But for aficionados who can afford it, this is the one to get.

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I have owned one of these machines for about 5 months. I'd say it is well worth the money especially considering it has a built in grinder that works well. I've used many different blends of coffee and have learned that the grind is super important. If you are not able to pull a nice shot with good crema then you don't have the right grind. This machine also requires a nice firm tamping and the proper amount of space left in the porta filter before you lock and load. The weak points are 1. The steamer: It is not powerful enough for nice tight micro foam. That said using the adaptor you can make a nice foam that tastes great. 2. The lack of temperature adjustment. 3. The normal single boiler woes.

This is a great starter/intermediate machine for someone who is not ready for the financial commitment of a prosumer machine in the $2000 range. It is reliable, efficient, great looking and easy to use once you figure out the items mentioned above. It taught me a lot about espresso making and frothing.

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Melitta 64008 Red Ready Set Joe Filter Cone

I have been using one of these filter cones for a couple years at home and work. I recently bought a few extras and now take one with me (and my favorite brand of coffee) when I travel it's a great upgrade from hotel coffee. I use the Melitta #2 unbleached filters and get excellent coffee. You just put ground coffee (drip grind) in the filter, add hot water (appx 195 to 205 degrees F), and in a minute you have a perfect cup of coffee. I've used a number of different methods and gizmos over the years, until I started using this, my favorite was the French Press method.

This is quicker, simpler, easier to clean, and you can take it with you. The coffee tastes great, clean, full, no off tastes. You can of course vary the strength (both the caffeine and flavor) by adding more or less coffee to the filter, and varying the temperature of the water. I find I get the best taste when I bring the water to a full boil then let it sit about a minute. When you're done you toss the used filter with grounds into the garbage, and you're done. This is great if you and your spouse/kid/partner, etc drink different kinds of coffee or one likes decaf and another likes regular. And you make just one cup at a time so you're not brewing a whole 12 cup tank when you really only want a cup. I also like to use this with a 16 oz. travel cup which is 6 oz. larger than my normal cup. I simply add a bit more coffee a bit more water, and presto! I have exactly the right amount of coffee to hop in the car and off to work or whatever.

You can spend a ton of money for a high tech coffee maker, but you won't get better coffee.

Been using a one-cup coffee cone for decades, and I have a suggestion: Buy #4 filters instead of the #2 recommended ones. The smaller, #2 filters aren't tall enough, so it's too easy to slop boiling water over the edge of the smaller filter.

The #4 filter fits similarly except that the #4 extends above the rim of the cone to hold more water if you tend to over-pour.

I just purchased the cone featured here (mine is black) and bought it from Bed Bath and Beyond (please note that I've bought other, more costly items from Amazon.com whose prices and service are among the best).

Bought the new cone because the open space at the bottom should make it easy to see when the cup is full instead of lifting the unit from the cup. One thing I noticed is that the bottom is slightly rounded on mine, so it doesn't fit as well on the top of the coffee cup. Not sure if that'll matter much when there's coffee and water in it. That's why I give my new cone only 4 stars instead of 5.

In any case, inexpensive coffee cones make coffee as well or better than costly machines. Again, buy #4 filters.

Great for people who like to keep things simple!

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This product is exactly what I've been looking for. The industrial strength coffee maker at work isn't used properly so I prefer to brew a fresh cup. Not a fan of the french press and graininess so tried this as an alternative. Works great! The strength of the coffee will depend on how much you put in the filter, so it will take some tries to get used it it. Awesome product!

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I got two of these plastic coffee brewers cup, one for the office and one for home. I usually brew a whole pot of coffee in the mornings, but sometimes later at work, or in the afternoons and evenings at home, when I know I won't finish a whole pot or there's nobody to share with, I brew a single cup with this cup. Along with the filter cone filters, and a coffee grinder, this is a very quick method to have a freshly brewed single cup of coffee at any time without having to brew a whole pot of coffee. I have also traveled with it! very handy too in small hotels that provide hot water. If you are an avid coffee drinker, surely will get a lot of use from it.

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The Melitta Ready Set Joe filter cones are available in red or black, and I have one of each. In fact, I like thise cone so much that I even bought a third one for a coworker who loves it. So far I haven't detected a difference in coffee taste between coffee brewed with the two colors.

The cone is easy to use and easy to clean; as a bonus it even comes with a few starter filters included so you can make a cup of joe right out of the box. Interestingly the origin of "a cup of joe" is commonly thought to be traced back to the 1900s, when Admiral Josephus Daniels outlawed alcohol on all ships. Coffee became the drink of choice and hence a cup of "Joe." Other explanations of this term also exist.

To use the cone just place it over a cup, insert a cone filter, add coffee, and pour hot water over the coffee grounds. The water slowly drips into the cup, so the user would be advised to first heat the cup by letting some hot wate sit in it prior to making coffee. The resulting cup of coffee tastes great, and one doesn't have to clean out a coffee maker afterwards. Just rinse out the plastic cone and you're done.

The Melitta cones are suitable for making coffee only, not for adding oil to a car engine or for using as a garment enhancement.

Espressione Professional Conical Burr Coffee Grinder, Black/Silver

This is quieter than most conical burr coffee grinders. The ground coffee beans so far have been of a consistent size. Seems to grind consistently and quickly for my needs. So far, I am impressed. The disappointment came when I attempted to clean the machine. The upper conical burr that is supposed to be easily lifted out is locked or frozen and cannot be removed. Although electra craft has responded to my emails regarding this matter, to send it in for repairs will be at my expense. It is still under warranty. I am not sure that I want to invest any more money with expensive shipping charges to and from. I could by another unit somewhere else for less money. My advice, buy a coffee grinder locally where you can return it if it doesn't work.

I never write reviews, but I thought I should for this to help keep people from buying a product they might not be happy with. I found many flaws with this grinder and was not at all satisfied. First, the description and instruction booklet aren't accurate. There are 15 grind settings, not 10 (but they aren't actually very different between grinds -see below). The upper burr can be removed (with significant difficulty) and lower can't be removed. This makes brushing out and cleaning the deeper parts of the grinder fairly difficult. Also, the instruction booklet advises against filling the ground coffee container above the max fill line, but there IS no max line on the ground coffee container. In actual use, I was not at all satisfied with the quality of grind this grinder produced. I used this for french press coffee and the grinder doesn't grind coarse enough or consistently. There was a lot of dust and smaller bits so that when I would go to press my pot, the plunger would stop about halfway down and become too difficult to press. I also noticed that between the coarsest and finest grind settings, there is hardly any difference. I don't make Turkish coffee or espresso, but I tried grinding at many settings and the resulting ground coffee was only adequate for drip brewing. Fine grinding isn't too fine and coarse is definitely too fine. Finally, the ground coffee container IS NOT anti-static as advertised.

For the same price, you can find a similar burr grinder with a large bean hopper that produces a MUCH better grind in terms of consistency and dust. See the Bodum Bistro Burr grinder. This grinder's price is the same and it produces a wider variety of grind sizes and has a glass ground coffee container that greatly reduces static even in the driest of climates. The burr in this grinder is also much easier to remove and the lower parts are more accessible for cleaning with a brush. I replaced my Espressione with this one and I am quite satisfied.

To summarize, this grinder is practically worthless. If you want versatility and consistency in grinds or don't buy it. If you want a static free container, don't buy it either. Finally, if you want to be able to clean your grinder with ease, avoid this one. There are many others out there that are much higher quality for the same price.

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My experience is totally the opposite of some of these reviews. First, it is not quiet, it sounds something like the vacuum cleaner but that doesn't bother me for the time it takes to grind enough coffee for a cup.

I've started grinding again recently as I've been buying my beans in bulk (cheaper). Pulled out my old Pavani, which I use for regular coffee, and bought this Espressione unit which I use for decaf. I only do one cup at a time.

The grind is beautifully fine (and consistent) and I could go finer if I wanted to, which would be several grinds finer than my Pavoni gives me. Whenever I finish grinding with the Pavani, there are grounds sticking to the top and sides of the gound coffee hamper; I open it up and get a certain amount of ground coffee around the counter area. When I grind with the Espressioni there is very little static, no coffee is stuck to the lid and very little to the sides and bottom. My counter stays completely clean, and I don't waste any coffee.

In contrast to another reviewer, my ground coffee container does have a max line, but I don't get anywhere near it grinding one cup's worth at a time.

I plan on buying a second one for my regular coffee, it is such a pleasure to use!

Added 25 Sept 11: I purchased a second grinder, this time from Amazon. There are differences from the first. The labels on the grind coarseness/fineness are different. The first one labels them clearly from fine to coarse, with several degrees you can choose in between. The second one labels only 1 to 15, and I had to hunt through the manual to find where it said which end was fine and which was coarse.

As one reviewer complained above, there is indeed no marking for MAX on the cup. Not a big deal, as the max line is right where the little lip is at the top of the collection cup that its lid sits on.

The cup for the second grinder is slightly less anti-static than my first one. So obviously there are differences from one to the next I guess these can be "treated" non-uniformly.

A reviewer complained that they had to keep giving the grinder a shake while grinding as it would stop pulling the beans into the grinder. Yes, I have experienced this with my first one but not the second one. I give it a little shake or slap on the side. ;) Works everytime. Again, not a big deal.

All in all this grinder is still head and shoulders above any other coffee grinder I have ever owned.

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Many burr grinders deal with static so I was expecting some, but not to the degree that the Espressione Professional Burr grinder has. The grounds become so full of static that they seem to be jumping out of the grounds-catcher when I remove it from the machine and it gets worse when I remove the lid. It is quite messy and impossible to control. While I am happy with the quality of the grind, I am wasting too much coffee in addition to the frustrating mess I am left with after use. If I grind more than one catcher-ful, it is difficult to replace because it is a tight fit and even more so with grounds in or around the cup . I would not recommend this appliance. There are many others to choose from and I will be buying a replacement soon.

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I just got this and had to try it out. I am a advid expresso drinker so I will always grind a fine powder. This is my first burr grinder, having owned a couple of regular blade grinders in the past. It came with relatively easy to understand instructions. I made sure I read them through and disassembled what I could on the grinder prior to my first use so I would know how to clean it. I filled the beans in the above hopper, set the grind settings to the finest, set the cup amount to 5 cups, and pressed the start button. Much to my surprise it was actually quieter than the blade grinders I used in the past. It ran for about 20 seconds and gave me enough grounds for a pot of my expresso. Very pleased at this point, very impressed, and would recommend it for anyone else that wants to purchase a machine for home use. I think it will last and it has a nice appearance to even set on my counter top.

Update: 1/25/12: Still going strong Grinding exactly as I described previously, cleaned once and use it daily Hoorah!

Update: 2/24/12: This grinder is very easy to clean with a brush. I still use it daily and now I can honestly say I can tell the difference in the roasting process of different coffees,what I mean is I can tell if the beans have been over roasted or if the beans themselves are fresh or not. Still working stong everyday. I still say a great grinder.

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Mr. Coffee FTTX95-1 10-Cup Thermal Coffeemaker, Black

First the good:

--It looks nice sitting on your counter.

--The beeping sound to signify the end of the brewing cycle is nice.

Now the bad:

--You will never get anything but a warm cup of coffee out of this coffee maker. And if you add milk or cream to your coffee, the result is lukewarm at best. You will aways have to put your coffee in the microwave. This is true no matter how close you follow the directions, and no matter how creative you get. Even if you remove the carafe from the unit after the brewing cycle is completed, your coffee will only be warm. The instruction manual says to completely fill the carafe with very hot water and let it sit for 10 minutes before brewing in order to heat up the carafe. Okay, during the morning rush to get out to work, who has time to let their kitchen faucet run for a few minutes to get hot water (especially in the winter) and then wait for 10 minutes with the water in the carafe and then wait for the brewing cycle to end?

--The carafe is stainless steel no glass lining (which is the best insulation material) Not sure who the genius is that thinks stainless steel is an insulator.

--The Pause-and-serve mechanism broke on the third day. I went to pull out the carafe to grab a cup and coffee came splashing down all over my hand.

--This isn't a huge deal but the clock is so bright I'm fairly certain it could serve as a beacon to guide large ships sailing past rocky coast lines.

this was a gift for my husband, we've had it for about 2 weeks. he tends to nurse a pot of coffee over several hours, so we thought this would be better than the conventional coffee makers. it doesn't have a warming plate, so we don't have to worry about leaving it "on" accidentally. the coffee doesn't burn after sitting there for a couple of hours. it also has a water filter insert. my husband is overjoyed, he has his hot coffee when he wants it and says it tastes better than our old coffee maker coffee. he loves the programmable coffee brewing feature as well.

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I had one of these for about 3 months before it died. I used it to make about 5 cups a day and after a while it just quit working. Aparently the element burned out from the low water levels I was using. Mr. Coffee customer service was great though, after an email I had a replacement in just a couple days. When it worked, the coffee was good once I adjusted recipes to match the machine. The water filter is a nice touch if a bit pricey for replacements and it seemed to be effective. One hint, use hot water to preheat the carafe and the coffee will stay warmer longer.

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I had this coffee maker for about 6 months before I moved into a new house, unboxed it, and started using it. As the user image I added to Amazon can attest, this coffee maker and I did not part ways amicably (unless you consider being thrown off a 15 foot high deck on to a boulder in 5 degree weather an amicable breakup). You should strongly consider buying another model, but I don't know what to tell you to get ... none of the coffee makers I can find in stores appear to be truly well made.

First, the cons:

In summary, what you are looking at here is a coffee maker that will make increasingly bitter lukewarm coffee that you may, depending on the day and your luck, find in the "thermal carafe," or find all over your counter, cabinets, and the floor below. The details:

The filter basket is cheap plastic and has a tightly ribbed bottom surface that is impossible to clean. This seems endemic to most every drip coffee maker on the market today. My kingdom for a coffee maker with a stainless filter basked that I can surgically clean! The gunk builds up on the little plastic ribs in these plastic baskets. It is impossible to clean (ever try to get the brown staining out of a white plastic filter basket?) and it contributes to coffee that gets increasingly bitter over time.

Unless you follow the instructions and pre-heat the carafe with hot water, your coffee will never come out anything more than tepid. The "thermal carafe," as someone else has pointed out, is stainless steel inside and out -stainless steel is an efficient _conductor_ of heat, not an insulator. How about a true thermal carafe, with a glass lining on the inside and some actual additional insulating material between the glass and the outer stainless steel shell?

The check valve in the lid of the "thermal carafe" will stick shut on you. For me, it took maybe 6 uses for this to occur. When this happens, the coffee will be unable to enter the carafe as it exits the filter basket, instead pooling on the carafe lid, then continuing to spill on down the sides of the carafe, all over your counter, and down into whatever is below that (unless you have a counter that will pool 10 cups of water around your coffee maker for you). When the coffee got into my new cabinetry as it dripped over the edge of the counter on its way to spreading across the floor, that is when the coffee maker found itself hurtling to the boulders below my deck.

A timer feature is useless on a coffee maker that requires as much user involvement as this one. On coffee makers I've had in the past, I would set to brew coffee at approximately the same time I woke up. With this one, if I were to properly use this machine, I would need to wake up 1/2 hour before the timer was set so I could go and pre-heat the carafe, then stand watch over the unit until I was satisfied that the machine was not about to make coffee for the counter, cabinets, and floor instead of for its own carafe.

Pros:

For a machine that smacked into a boulder after being thrown downward from approximately 15 feet, it suffered surprisingly little damage. The plate where the carafe is normally placed shattered, revealing the guts of the machine below, and it was a bit scuffed up, but that was about it. I think this is because it took more of a glancing blow off of the boulder, although in my blind rage I must admit I really didn't watch that closely ... I was more concerned with cleaning up the mess back in the kitchen.

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When our last coffee pot died, we looked at many models, since my husband and I drink a lot of coffee. I wouldn't call us coffee snobs, but we do have definite opinions on good versus bad coffee. Our previous coffeemaker, which we loved, had a thermal carafe, and the only problem we ever had with it (until it finally expired after years of faithful and trouble-free service) was that pouring out of the carafe always ended in a few drips. Mildly annoying, but certainly not a deal-breaker.

We got this one because of the features and the thermal carafe. Here's how it works:

First, you can't pour the water into the reservoir at any rate faster than a drip without having it splash all over the place. This is because they handily placed a flat panel in the middle of the grill over the reservoir, apparently just to splash the water back in your face. So, having splashed about a quarter of your coffee water onto your counter, you wipe it up, get more water and pour it S-L-O-W-L-Y into the grill. Then you put in the coffee grounds and turn it on. I didn't time it, but it felt like about 20 minutes to get that water through the grounds and into the pot. I once made the mistake of moving my hand near the top of the coffeemaker during this process (intending to turn on the disposal), and discovered serendipitously that quite a lot of steam escapes from the top where the edges of the lid don't quite meet the sides. Ouch.

Another ouch: don't -DON'T -try to remove the carafe and pour the coffee before it's finished. The stop-pour feature simply does not work. You'll get burned and make a mess. But not to worry; it's just the beginning of the mess.

Ok, now you try to pour your coffee. You tilt the carafe forward while pressing a button on the handle with your thumb. No matter how hard you press, you will get --a trickle. If you are like me and drink from a mug that holds closer to 16 ounces than eight, this means you are holding the d*** carafe for a full two minutes, with your thumb losing circulation all the while. And the less coffee in the carafe, the slower it comes out. And to add to the fun, the spout is not designed to inhibit dripping, so you now have coffee drips all over the counter you had just wiped to clean up the water that splashed back on you from the grille.

So. You bite back the language you don't want your kids to hear, and simply unscrew the lid of the carafe to pour the coffee. Right? Wrong. You unscrew the lid alright, but here's what happens: coffee goes everywhere. There are copious, large coffee drops hanging off the bottom of the lid. I can't figure out how they designed this lid so that there is a good ounce hanging there. And it goes all over the counter, which (by the second or third time you've used this wonderful product) you now have covered with paper towels. The lid is finally off, the counter is protected, but your coffee cup is still empty. You tilt the unlidded carafe forward, carefully, and observe a flow of liquid that more closely resembles rafting-grade whitewater than anything that should ever come out of a spout. Lots of coffee goes into your cup, and lots more goes on the paper towels.

You wipe the drips (there are several) off the sides of your cup, and put the top back on the carafe. Here's where the thermal carafe should keep the coffee warm. Well, I have to agree with someone else here who posed the question: what idiot thought that stainless steel is a good insulator? This carafe has no glass. Buyer beware. The coffee wasn't even that hot in the first place because I had ignored the printed instructions to fill the carafe with hot water and empty it again BEFORE I brew the coffee, so that the carafe won't suck all the heat out of the coffee immediately. They MUST be kidding, right? Ahhh -apparently not. Hear me now: ignore this instruction at your own risk, unless you like lukewarm coffee. And if you have to keep taking the lid on and off to pour your coffee without getting carpal tunnel syndrome from that d*** button, the carafe insulates even less.

My final note on this was about something so stupid as to be hilarious. That notorious button on the handle, the one you press to allow the coffee to flow -no, correct that, trickle -has a picture on it. It is an icon showing the carafe in a forward-tilted position. No, really! I guess if, like me, you were stupid enough to buy this thing in the first place, you might need that icon to understand that if you hold the coffee pot level, nothing will come out of it. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!

My husband, who is a very peaceful and non-violent man, was threatening to take this THING out into the driveway and run over it with his car before we got a replacement. We now have the Zojirushi, and all is once again well with the world.

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