a very good grinder for all needs other than espresso; plus, watch out for static
Positive Product Points
easy to use, adjust and clean; decent quality conical burr grinder
Negative Product Points
does not grind nearly fine enough for espresso; a bit static-y on occasion
Detailed Commentary
The Antigua has served me very well, especially paired with our Bodum Santos vacuum coffee maker. It seems to produce a consistent grind. This grinder has a timer switch, a clear hopper and grounds bin, and a hopper lid that snaps on tightly. The hopper holds quite a bit of beans, perhaps around 1.25 pounds. It looks fine and is very easy to adjust, just rotate the hopper bin to point the indicator to the symbols for espresso, drip coffee maker, or French press, or steplessly anywhere in between. Removing the hopper is a snap: rotate beyond the coarsest setting and it lifts off. The top burr then just lifts out for cleaning. I'm not sure how often to clean it so I've just done it every 4 months or so.
The main drawback (at first) is the static generated. I've tried almost every solution I could find on the internet, including wiping the bin with a fabric softener sheet and lining the grounds bin inside and out with tin foil. The one step that seems to work is to grind the night before (which obviously defeats the purpose of grinding fresh beans - I roast my own beans every 3 or 4 days). Another trick is to pull open the bin just a little after the grind is finished and stick in a metal spoon. Doing this, and leaving it for a few minutes, greatly reduces the static-scattered grounds.
The other drawback which I've just discovered this week when I took delivery of my first espresso machine (a Gaggia Carezza) is that even at the finest setting, the Antigua doesn't grind anywhere near fine enough. The water just pours through the portafilter in 12-15 seconds. I've tried tamping extra hard and also adding more grounds, but still am getting short pull times. I've ordered a Macap M4 stepped doserless, though, so in a few weeks I hope to be a much happier barista.
Buying Experience
purchased second-hand on eBay; a straightforward transaction with a fair price and good shipping; had to search around a bit to find a white model to match our other appliances
