Crew Review: Rocket Espresso Spluga Grinder

A stepless, touchscreen grinder built for the home bar

Named for a mountainous valley on the border of Italy and Switzerland, Rocket Espresso’s new grinder is actually much more compact than you’d expect for such a mighty namesake. The goal with this grinder is to provide prosumer performance and adjustment in a smaller footprint than a commercial grinder. Does it succeed? Let’s take a look!

What We Cover in This Video

Our video review covers:

• Where the grinder gets its name.
• The build quality, metal casing, plastic control model, and other odds and ends.
• The modern, angle-heavy aesthetics (fits with Rocket’s new machines).
• The feel and performance of that big, lockable grind adjustment collar.
• 65mm burr performance.
• How the grinder should hold up to wear and tear with elements like its IP68-rated microswitch.

Design & Build — What You're Actually Getting

The Spluga’s aesthetics and design are a nod to Rocket Espresso’s updated line of full-sized espresso machines. If you are eyeing (or already own) a machine like the Giotto, the Spluga pairs nicely. That said, it’ll look good next to most modern espresso machines, Rocket or not. One thing that’s important to note is that the grinder features a metal body, but a plastic control module. While this is quite common and we don’t feel that it impacts the performance or longevity of this grinder greatly, it’s good to set expectations. Another thing to know is that the portafilter hook on this grinder is not hands free. We felt that it held the portafilter securely with a hand to keep it steady, but you shouldn’t expect to pop it in and walk away.

Touchscreen & Customization

The Spluga’s touchscreen is adjustable, bright, and responsive. We like that it worked well as a beginner, as the options aren’t overwhelming, but it also has plenty of customization for advanced users. Touchscreen grinders sometimes feel a little overdesigned, but the adjustability of grind time, activation methods, and display choices made this one feel justified. Perfect for the newer user or the espresso-tinkerer.

Grind Adjustment & Performance

The Spluga features a unique stepless adjustment that offers something different compared to typical dials. This adjustment is a rotating collar below the portafilter, and it can be unlocked for a macro adjustment and locked for a micro adjustment, giving you good fidelity compared to the rotating thumb dials of other grinders. If you’re not familiar with stepless adjustment, it brings the burrs closer together with a screw-like mechanism, creating a near infinite number of grind settings. Dialing these grinders in can be tricky, but it’s a good skill to learn as stepless adjustment makes for better espresso. One note for the Spluga - the adjustment dial sits on the back of the grinder, which may be confusing if you’re used to controls on the front (don’t worry, it’s easy to see and reach).

Performance-wise, the Spluga handles beans like a pro. The 65mm flat steel burrs grind fast, especially for a home espresso grinder. We clocked a double shot grinding in 5-6 seconds, with a rate of around 2.6-3.3 grams per second. This grinder is designed for home use, so don’t expect it to stand up to a commercial environment in terms of volume, but it does offer performance in the neighborhood of its commercial counterparts for home users.