large hopper, consistent grounds, fine adjustment, excellent espresso
Negative Product Points
doser gets in the way if not using a portafilter, doser portions inconsistent, oily grinds will cause coffee to stick to hopper
Detailed Commentary
I bought the metallic version of the machine along with the Rancilio Silvia and the bar base. The asthetics were pleasing, although the power switch, located on the bottom of the right side, is not very accessible when the grinder is placed on the bar base next to the Silvia (which has its steam tube on the right side as well). The switch would be better located on the left or front.
The adjustment dial is pretty useless. You need to find the zero point of the machine, and then experiement with the settings to find the optimum grind. Once you do, though, the grind is consistent and excellent. You can even grind for Turkish coffee using this machine.
Unfortunately, oily beans tend to cause the coffee to stick in the hopper, stopping the grind. I found I had to tap on the machine, or resort to using a fork to unstick the beans.
The doser gets in the way if you're grinding for drip or french press, but it works well with portafilters. The doser only gives out consistent portions if you grind a lot of coffee at once.
Buying Experience
Purchasing the machine was easy from the store's web site. Tracking the order was an entirely different matter, as site navigation was quite poor. Shipping was on time and efficient.
