Rancilio Rocky Doserless Burr Grinder
From Rancilio
Rancilio RAN-ROCKYDOSE -55 different grind setting -Commercial quality grinding burrs -Convenient direct dosing system -Coffee bean hopper -Dimensions: 13.75" x 4.5" x 9.5" -Quiet, powerful and safe -12-month parts and labor warranty Its Italian and its called, Rocky so that means its a champion. The Rancilio Rocky, designed specifically for espresso, enjoys the reputation of being one of the toughest, most durable grinders on the market. Based on the engineering and innovations developed from Rancilios commercial grinders, the Rocky has set the bar for other grinders competing in the home espresso market. Because of its tough build and performance, but reasonable price, the Rocky is a popular choice for cafes and restaurants that need a medium duty primary grinder or a first line decaffeinated beans grinder. Its wide range of grinding options can convert coffee beans to anything from uniform coarse grinds to fine powder. This quality grinding is crucial for home, as well as high-end and commercial espresso machines and its a dream for the espresso connoisseur. With so many settings, you can adjust the Rocky to very exact specifications.
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.
The grinder? The doser?
The grinder makes a huge difference in espresso, when you take advantage of its precision. On my last lot of beans, a grinder setting of 12 produced something like brewed coffee, while 10 justified the price of this machine. For me, anyway, it takes time to find the right balance of coffee amount, grind, tamping, and extraction time. New beans need a new balance.
As to the doser: If you usually grind for one espresso at a time then you seriously do not want the doser getting in your way.
Rocky Grinder
We love our coffee. We've always ground our own and used good beans. We bought a nice new espresso machine several months ago, and buy high-quality coffee like Intelligentsia. We enjoyed the coffee we made, and I thought a high-quality grinder would really top things off.
The pros: It looks good, is of very sturdy construction, is easy to understand, very convenient to fill with beans and not have to pour beans every day. Easy to grind to almost any consistency. Only messy if the operator is messy, like my husband.
The con: I'm just not sure I can taste a $300 difference in my daily espresso. It's good, no doubt - but is it really that much better than before? We have not yet, but are considering, taste tests to see if we can discern between the Rocky and our old blade grinder. We sure thought we were coffee experts (snobs!) and bought into the "the grinder is the key to perfect coffee" idea, but just aren't sure it makes THAT great a difference for us. The quality of the coffee is the most important factor, I believe.
The product does what it says and does it well. But is it truly necessary for a very good cup of coffee? That is up to your palate to decide - ours said eh, maybe not.
