Rancilio Rocky Doserless Espresso And General Purpose Coffee Grinder
 | Average Customer Rating: Recommend The Rocky Doserless Grinder is one of the markets best built home and light commercial coffee grinders for the money. With a body weight of 17 pounds (with the motor making up 11.5 of those pounds), its brushed stainless steel housing, and heavy-duty plastic accessory components, there is no doubt that the Rocky is one of the toughest grinders in its class: Because of its tough build and performance, but reasonable price, the… Product details and pricing info |
|---|
5 Customer Reviews Posted
- The rocky mostly rocks
- This is my first burr grinder to go with my first home espresso machine the Rancilio Silvia (I've worked in a few espresso places over the years so am familiar with commercial machines).
the grinder works very well and can create whatever grind you will need from espresso to french press. In terms of grinding performance I'd give it ***** , however overall it has a few design features that are lacking:
1) beans get stuck in the screw holes inside the bean hopper/holder- so that you have to turn the grinder upside down and whack it to get the stuck beans out. I've read you can stick cut up pieces of foam earplugs into the holes- pretty cheesy.
2) the chute the ground coffee goes through is blue plastic. ugly, and I understand it can crack and break over time, stainless steel would seem better here
3) grounds spill out of the portafilter while filling regardless of technique. I think this may just be the way it is because you need to fill the portafilter slightly heaping prior to tamping. the placement of the removable portafilter holder seems a big high, forcing more grounds to spill, I'm finding I often use it without the holder.
So, I'd buy it again, but wish it was designed a bit bigger.
It seems absurdly expensive, but I don't know what to compare it to and it seems to work very well. - 2008-08-05, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- A bit spendy, but...
- ...it's worth it! This is a SOLID machine that has a commercial feel. All the experts recommend spending at least as much on your grinder as you do on your espresso maker. Considering most $300 espresso makers are not that great, the Rocky is actually a a money-saving investment. (OK, I know that's not totally logical, but it can help take some of the sting out of paying $500+ for an espresso machine...) Personally, I use a stovetop espresso maker and have found the Rocky produces excellent grinds for it. Most users probably won't need to use even a fraction of the settings on the dial (*really* is there that much of a difference between 18 and 19 when you have 40 grind settings?), however, if you buy lots of different kinds of beans, this can come in handy. The only improvement I might suggest is to make the top of the bean hopper seal more tightly. I think it lets in too much air, so I rarely fill it all the way up. Win by TKO!
- 2008-01-18, 4 of 4 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- When you're ready for a real grinder
- If you make 3-5 lattes a week on a $50 espresso machine, this grinder is not for you. But when espresso becomes more serious, and you have a machine to justify it, this is a REAL grinder.
Smooth, powerful, and quiet, the Rocky is built like a tank. At some 18 pounds, it feels like it's bolted to the counter.
The grind size is easily adjusted by depressing a single lever on the front while rotating the hopper. Depress the power switch on the front and a stream of uniform grinds pours out the chute. Release the switch and the grinder stops. The rack below the chute is easily pulled out to grind into a larger container.
After 6 months of use, I've found that the Rocky simply does not have the static problem that many others have. It also does not require frequently cleaning, and doesn't seem to mind if you want to grind enough for one shot or 100.
While not cheap, it's pure quality and an excellent value.
Rancilio Rocky Doserless Espresso Grinder - Stainless Steel - 2008-01-16, 3 of 3 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Very Pleased Customer - Worth every penny!
- Even if you can't afford this, please do yourself a favor and find a way to buy this. I am so pleased with it. It is quiet and very efficient. It somehow makes the coffee beans smell better, and coffee taste better than other grinders I have tried. Very precise control of the grinds. Well built, strong and quiet. I highly recommend this grinder. Don't pay twice and buy something cheaper, you will regret it!
- 2007-05-25, 5 of 5 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- This Rocky delivers a knockout!
- I have had my Rocky doserless grinder for nearly nine months and I have never regretted the purchase. This is one of the premier prosumer grade coffee grinders and delivers consistent quality for espresso through drip and (almost) up to press pot. It is solid, relatively quiet - I use mine in my office at a small university and do close my door to muffle the noise a little more - and a great option for grinding for each individual shot of espresso. Plus, its compact form factor and mechanical-cool look mean Rocky can sit on the corner of my desk, next to the Gaggia Factory lever machine that it serves.
The highlights of the Rocky are its solidity and quality, its ease of adjustment, and in the case of this doserless model, its ability to grind for each dose of espresso or brew with minimal holdover of grounds. Because the path from burrs to chute is so short and unobstructed, I can rap the side when I am done and dislodge any leftover grounds, or simply remove the two screws holding in the chute to use a brush to clear it. The metal hoop below is perfect for holding a Gaggia or Pavoni portafilter when grinding, and can be removed with one quick tug to allow you to grind into a filter, press pot, or bag. Rocky's weight keeps it steady - it is no flimsy lightweight - and I personally like that the power switch and grind switch are separated on the doserless model. Having the grind switch on the front is convenient.
The only things keeping Rocky from getting five stars have to do with the grind settings. On the coarse end of the adjustment, Rocky just doesn't quite make it to a real french press grind. This is an issue that was noted on coffeegeek reviews and which I didn't care about when I bought the machine, but which I now wish I had considered. Also, and this is a niggling point, the grind adjustments are stepped, not stepless. In a perfect world, I like to think that all grinders should be stepless like the Mazzer Mini that I occasionally get to play with. That said, the steps are close enough that I have not found a problem in getting the grind I desire, and the system of a release button on the collar that adjusts the burrs is slick and simple.
If you are in the market for a top end consumer coffee grinder, take a good long look at the doserless Rocky. When a Mazzer Mini would be overkill (and overpriced), but you want something closer to commercial grade than a Solis Maestro, Rocky hits the sweet spot. - 2006-06-23, 25 of 26 people found this review helpful, Rated:
