“I have just received the Kitchenaid Burr Grinder to replace a Melitta Calibra that had given reasonable service, but had breathed its last.
The Unit looks to be solidly built and has some useful features - in particular the facility to seal the lower hopper - so if you grind too much coffee, it doesn't go to waste. If you're using an Espresso machine, there is an attachment to help you grind directly into a portafilter but I've found it just as easy to use the hopper. It's also significantly quieter than my old grinder.
You do need to read the manual the first time you use the machine, but it doesn't take long to get the hang of it. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the finest ground was well suited to my Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine - a piece of kit that is known to be fussy and needing a very fine grind (something the Melitta was never quite capable of doing) - and I got a very acceptable cup of Double Espresso at the first attempt. It will probably take a little trial and error to get things exactly right but so far so good.
Admittedly, it's early days, but the KitchenAid Burr Grinder has made a very good first impression and seems to be well worth the little extra outlay over a like-for-like replacement.”
