De'Longhi, Coffee grinder KG79, Black, 1 - Pack

After studying budget burr grinder reviews here and elsewhere I decided to buy the De Longhi KG79. Some reviewers say it doesn't grind coffee fine enough for espresso, however I find the result on the minimum setting is a fine powder which works well in my espresso machine. It's at least as fine as ready ground espresso coffee and the powder clumps together as it should if held in the hand. Certainly the taste of the coffee it produces is very satisfying, which is the main thing.The De Longhi grinder is extremely easy to use. Just put enough beans in the hopper, select the grind and the amount required and press the button. I find it produces a little more powder than selected, but this isn't a bad thing. Rather too much than too little. I haven't had any problem with the ground powder not being collected properly and spilling under the machine. It all ends up where it should. Because the powder is fine some can collect in the upper corners of the box so I just tap it gently on the worktop after sliding it out and before taking the lid off.The lid on the bean hopper and the powder collection box fit snuggly and positively in the grinder. This is integral to the safety mechanism as the grinder will not work unless both the lid and the collecting box are correctly in place. It also adds to the high quality feel of the machine.Obviously grinding coffee isn't going to be silent, but I don't find this machine too noisy. If it runs out of beans the noise gets much louder, so I always check sufficient beans are in place before starting the machine. Overall I couldn't be happier with this De Longhi coffee grinder. It looks good, is well made and produces the fine coffee powder necessary for espresso machines.

I spent some time considering the best way to "upgrade" my coffee experience using a 12 year old Russel and Hobbs combi coffee maker. I like my coffee made with the expresso method, but with a bit more water than most peoples tastes. I looked at £300 bean to cup machines, new combi devices at around £125 (I need to be able to make pots of coffee too) and finally settled on this £32 grinder and a £6 water filter jug for beter water quality.I have to say as I sit here drinking my freshly made coffee I am very pleased with my purchaes, I do not think I coud have found a more cost effective way to improve the quality of my favorite drink. It looks,smells and most importantly tastes better than ready ground coffee. I only grind enough coffee for one cup at at time and put it into the machine within seconds of grinding, with it ready presurised and the jug and cup ready warmed. From everything I have read I think using good quality beans, water that tastes nice on its own, and having as short a prepartation time as possible is far more important than the kit you use.The machine itself is very compact and exudes quality despite its plastic casing. The settings are straightforward and seem acurate. It is a bit fiddly getting the ground coffee out without making a bit of a mess, but I am getting used to it. As for the fineness of the grind I can only say it is perferctly good for my tastes, I use it about 2 clicks up from finest and thats plenty good enough for me. Its certaily a lot finner than the ground coffee I was using.As for longevity well we will have to see. If the machine lasts a couple of years befere it dies I think I will have had my moneys worth. At that point I can either buy another one or perhaps upgrade to that £300 cup to bean machine afterall.This comes highly recomended to anyone using ready ground coffee, together with an inexpensive water filter.

I've owned blade coffee grinders in the past. They are messy and uncontrollable and produce a poor grind. Mine have been thrown away. I decided on the KG79 after reading reviews on Amazon. I've been using the grinder for a week now and I'm very happy with the performance. I can't comment on the long-term build quality of course.I like the ability to preset the number of cups and the fineness of the grind. I use two coffee makers: French press and an AeroPress. Pre-ground coffee is too fine for the French press and results in excessive fines. It's great in the AeroPress however -- but it takes longer to make a cup. After a couple of day's experimentation I found the setting for a courser grind that works well in the French press and produces full-flavoured coffee while minimising fines. It's easy to use: load with beans, press the button and in a few seconds there's your ground coffee ready to go. Nice product - I recommend it.Update 19 October 2011.I've now been using the grinder for three months. Very pleased with the grinding performance and general quality of the item. But it has a flaw. This flaw is not unique to this product but all grinders that use a particular type of plastic for the ground coffee container (polycarbonate I think it is). Static electricity. The plastic builds up a charge attracts the grounds and makes it almost impossible to get the grounds out without spilling some somewhere, usually over the kitchen bench. I used to tip the grounds out but now I use a teaspoon for most of the grounds and tip up the container only for the last bits. Even with care I still spill something, either under the machine or around the plunger. You have to remove the lid of the coffee container and this always has fine grounds clinging to it. These will spill on whatever you rest the lid on. I put it in the kitchen sink to minimise the problem.