Overall a well suited grinder for the home, albeit fairly pricey considering the mostly redundant extra features.
Positive Product Points
Keeps the countertop relatively tidy with small wastage, no constant doser cleaning only requires a quick brush of the funnel every now and then. Pleasing asthetically. Quick to grind and reasonably quiet. Ease of use.
Negative Product Points
Although all of these problems have a work-around these are my main complaints: Uneven distribution if left to its own devices, sharp edged portafilter holder, difficult to adjust grind with only two hands. Electronic dosing works by timer, so if you change the grind frequently consistency is out. Power cable protrudes from the side.
Detailed Commentary
I decided to give the Mini E a try after having various hulking commercial grinders in my kitchen for the last few years and really wanting something less invasive and partner friendly. The Mini E seemed to have all of these qualities. The controlled dosage originally appealed to me but soon became apparent that if the grind is adjusted and the time stays the same, you're going to have either too much or little coffee. So basically I just hit the continuous button and fill until halfway, settle and then fill. The first thing I noticed is that the dosing is not that fabulous and if you leave it to fill without moving the portafilter, you're going to have a hard time re-distributing correctly. I initially experimented with the grinder filling my baskets and just simply levelling off, resulting in being spritzed in the face by several streams of hot espresso using a naked portafilter. I have since found the best results by rolling the portafilter in a nutating motion on the rest, after initially filling the middle of the basket.
The other main problem is that to adjust the grind requires two hands, especially with tight new threads, and as you should be grinding whilst adjusting there is no off/on switch as such. To run the grinder manually you must depress and hold the continuous button. To combat this issue I have adjusted the single dose button to the smallest dose possible and press this giving me just enough time to twist the adjustment wheel. Although the cleanliness aspect is great, the dosered version is easier to work with. I expected better from this grinder to be honest, it has bigger burrs than a regular mini, no clumsy doser, but useabilty was what I didn't get from this without alot of workarounds. Can't fault the workmanship though, but for alot more dollars than its other siblings I probably wouldn't buy this model again.
