Why the Rocky?
I have used both commercial and domestic grinders in the past, but never actually bought one, until now. A lot of my friends thought I was crazy spending so much on a grinder, but I justified it by thinking that it would be the last grinder I would buy, and that it would last a long time.
Also, I’m one of those people who buys something, then later down the track wish I had spent a little more and had bought the better one. So the extra spend was worth it for me.
I like sticking to big names, and products with well-known reputations. The rocky fits this well. Well established, well known.. (just like a trusted Rolex). This was a big buying point for me, as well as it being a quality product.
Using the Rocky:
The first thing you notice when running the Rocky, is how quiet it is.Without beans, it is virtually silent, yet the motor gives off a confident purr. The quality of the machine is evident from here. When grinding, the motor runs effortless… just hit the switch and Rocky will deliver.
The size of the Rocky is also a winning point for me. Its small enough to fit in most bench spaces, yet big enough to look serious.
I’m really happy with the Doserless setup, as I only make maybe 3 espresso’s a day. The version is smaller, and every grind is fresh. Not sitting in the doser waiting to be used, or getting stuck in the corner. Cleaning is also easier.
The controls on the rocky are adequate. There is a main switch on the bottom right had side, and a run switch on the bottom left hand front. Being left handed makes the Rocky a little awkward to use, as I hold the pf with my left hand, I have to cross under my left arm to hit the run switch with my right hand. Not sure if any other users have found this. But its no big deal. maybe would have preferred to have the button in the centre.
I was also surprised at how little mess this machine made. The chute fires coffee directly into the pf, and I usually don’t have to wipe up anything after grinding. Just put the pf under the chute, hit the run button, wait until you have enough coffee, and give the chute a little flick to get the entire grind out.
Materials & Looks
I love the feel and the materials used with the Rocky. Its all steel, with a stainless base, and backing, with the backing sporting a nice Rancilio badge. The main body seems like a powder coated sheet steel of some sort.
Construction is very solid, and machine is very heavy, 8 kilos to be precise.
The overall look of the machine, is clean, and basic. The machine almost looks like it will never outdate. Very square, no use of angles or curves, and a round hopper that sits on top.. beautiful.
I’ve tried to give everyone a good perspective of user experience. There’s not much I would change about this machine as I appreciate its minimalism. It’s a great grinder, and does its job well. Money well spent if you ask me. |
