Rancilio. It's the most recognized name in commercial quality espresso machines and grinders. And now, the company has packaged all the professional features and functionality that they're famous for into its latest line of Rocky grinders. The Rocky Coffee Grinder is ideal for the coffee enthusiast looking for better control over grinding. Featuring 50mm burr grinding plates crafted of the finest tempered steel, the Rocky is designed to deliver 55 different types of quality grounds at the press of a button, all without imparting additional heat during the process. As for its functionality, it comes in a doser or doserless variety. With the doserless, you'll have more manual control over the amount of grounds you deliver to your chosen filter or carafe. And with a doser, you'll have the ability to tap out the right amount of grounds into the portafilter and then go straight to your espresso machine in mere seconds.
Features & Functionality of the Rancilio Rocky Coffee Grinder
Commercial Quality Grinding Burrs: The tempered steel grinding plates rotate at super slow speeds to prevent heat build-up, which can ruin your perfectly roasted beans. The hugely productive motor is also insulated to prevent overheating.
Excellent Home Hopper: The compact hopper is blue tinted for UV protection of your beans, but still easily see-through for monitoring of your bean level. The hopper holds over a half pound of beans, and lifts off for easy cleaning.
55 Ways to Grind: A twist of the grind dial on the Rocky gives you 55 levels of control over the output of the grinder. The ultra-fine threading allows you the versatility of going from espresso to drip to French press coffee brewing, and every other type between!
Quiet, Powerful and Safe: Rancilio designs for commercial use, and that means creating motors and grinders that emit as little noise as possible. The Rocky Grinder is no exception, and is one of the quietest available. Safety is just as important, with the balance of the grinding elements designed to prevent rocking and torque. Should the grinding mechanism jam or become overheated, a thermal protection devise shuts it down to prevent damage to the motor or the grinding mechanisms.
Pros
Commercial-Grade Burr Grinder - The 50mm steel grinding plates are the same construction and quality as Rancilio's commercial grinders. Note that the Rocky is not made for a commercial setting, it's just built tough!
Perfect Capacity - Smaller than the big commercial grinders, this machine still handles a little more than a half pound of beans at a time.
Cons
Too Much Machine? - This is a high quality, high output commercial style grinder. Make sure the features fit your home needs.
Power Switch - Some users have complained about the placement of the power switch on the Rocky. Its location may make it difficult to handle the portafilter and operate the machine at the same time.
Large - The Rocky weighs 18 pounds and the motor makes up 11 of them. This will certainly take center stage in a small kitchen so make sure to measure your space prior to purchasing.
How Does it Compare?
The doserless style where you grind into the portafilter can be a little messier than a model with a doser, however it still seems like for casual use that the doserless style will win for freshness.
Tips and Tricks
Our experiments with Turkish coffee grinds on the Rocky have been hit or miss. Every other grind has been super consistent.
Suitable Applications
Coffee Press, Drip Coffee, Espresso, Fine Drip / Pour Over
I feel silly for asking this, but I cant seem to find the proper setting for the Rocky Dozerless when making DRIP coffee in my Technivorm MochaMaster Machine. Ive been using 30, but someone said I could drop down to 25. Im aware this is all relatively variable, but can I get some suggestions on what setting I should use on my Rocky for making great DRIP coffee on my machine?
Best Answer:I currently use a setting of 30 on my Doserless for coffee I am brewing in my Technivorm MochaMaster machine. I tried 25, but it didn't taste as good as it does on 30. I have used this many different coffees and find 30 works best.
I am at a crossroads on which grinder to buy, either the Vario the Rocky. I will be using it for drip coffee with my Moccamaster and I will be purchasing a Nuova Simonelli Musica. I think the Rocky may be a better built machine overall but I am also thinking it may be easier to switch back and forth between drip and espresso. Thoughts and suggestions?
Best Answer:Nathan, as someone who owned both machines, I can unequivocally say Vario. I kept Rocky for almost three years and finally grown frustrated with the necessity to weigh my coffee every single time, its coarse settings changes (inability to fine-tune the grind) and the amount of coffee that gets stuck in the shoot. I bought Vario just about two weeks ago as a result of having one at work and cannot be happier. It is well built, do not think that it is flimsy. It is precise, consistent, and easy to operate. You do have to tune it to both grinds by using scales and measurements, but once you do, you never have to use your scale unless you change your beans. Even then you can keep records of all the settings, and simply change to them. Push the button, and it grinds just the right amount. No fuss, no coffee stuck in the shoot, no problems. To me, it was well worth the $100 extra, no doubt about it.
Thank you for your quick reply and evaluation. After reading many reviews and weighing the pros and cons as well as get a different perspective from you, I have decided to go with the Vario. I believe it will suit my needs and be a good grinder for many years. Thanks again.
We have two Rancilio Rockys--one for morning espresso and one for decaf in the evening, and we are quite satisfied with both. Adjustment is easy, though you want to make changes a little at a time and see how long the resulting pull takes. I shoot for about 30 seconds for a two-shot pull.
We try to avoid excessively oily beans, and shy away from very dark roasts, which tend to be bitter to our taste. We've had no problems for three years, but we just acquired the second Rocky last month.
I own both. I've had the Rocky for over10 years now. He has now been relocated to the cabin with its soulmate Silvia. They work great together as a set. Rocky has been 100% reliable and really quite a joy. However, the grind control is pretty coarse for dialing in fussy espresso beans. Not a big problem, but definitely a consideration.
The Vario, when it works, has much, much better grind control than Rocky. However, I have literally been through **5** machines at this point (just over 1 year). I've found them to be stunningly unreliable. I've had replacements-of-replacements-of-replacements to the point where it is completely laughable. I'm on a first name basis with Baratza's tech support team now. The first unit ground 1 shot and died. Second one was DOA (didn't even spin). Third lasted 10 months and then went *poof* with a pop and a sizzle. 4th one arrived filthy (theoretically a refurb) and with levers that kept falling during the grind (another common problem with this model). My 5th has been running for about 2 months now without any problems. So far.
The programmed grind time is nice, but I also experience the wild "spray" out of the chute, particularly with dark roasts (Peets roasts in particular). It makes an epic mess every single morning, but the grind is good, so we wipe it's a$$ every morning.
So, as much as it pains me to say it, for real espresso grind control you need the Vario.
However, what the world really needs is a _Rocky_ with finer grind settings. If I could buy that, I'd gleefully set the Vario out on the train tracks and cackle as it gets run over.
Hi Nathaniel, I have a Baratza Vario for over a year. On an average day, I brew one pot (8 cups) of drip coffee and 2 or 3 shots of espresso. So far I am quite satisfied with it. I do not know anything about the Rancilio. But I can offer my experience with the Baratza:
1, The Baratza come with two holders, a container for the coffee ground and a portafiller holder. At first I hesitate about such design. I thought that a permanent portafiller holder would be more sturdy and convenient. After owning it for a year, I think it is an advantage for grinding coffee for drip coffee. Changing from one to the other is very easy. Both fit the slot quite well. Of course, there is no spill for the enclosed holder, and there is always a little bit for all portafiller holders. 2. There are two sets of adjustment for the grinding levels, enough for any coffee beans I have tried so far. And there are 3 settings that you can set automatically. I use one for espresso and one for drip coffee. 3. I have not been diligent cleaning the burr. In fact, I have never cleaned it. So far, it still works fine.
I have the Vario. It's smaller. I do have a couple issues with it but they aren't earth shattering:
- the dials move while it grinds. I had to stick tape just below both dials (the fineness dials) to keep them in place...don't know if this is a defect or common thing that happens. To me that's totally unacceptable but whatever
- the plastic part that moves up and down where you can sit your portafilter on broke. I'm not rough with this machine. The plastic simply cracked on its own. Again unacceptable IMO
otherwise I still like it enough to prefer it even if I see its end of life.
I bought the Vario after considering the Rocky because I tend to buy dark roasted, oily beans. It's great because the beans never get stuck in a chute. In fact, the Vario tends to suck them right into the burrs. Were it not for that, I might have gone with the Rocky.
They are both fab grinders. I use my Vario with my Moccamaster and the coffee is amazing, though I sometimes wish I could set the grind a little more coarse.
Bottom line: dark roasted, oily beans demand the Vario. Medium or lighter roasts: not my preference, but the Rocky might be a more versatile choice.
The Rocky is a tank. extremely well built and will last a lifetime. For drip coffee or French press it is the clear winner. You can change settings easily, but it doesn't have fine enough steps to dial in great espresso.
The Vario produces a better espresso grind, but changing from espresso to drip wastes a ton of coffee. It isn't practical for anything other than a dedicated grinder.
I own the Vario and have been very pleased with it. I only use it for espresso, so really, I am not using it to its full capability. As I know nothing about the Rancilio Rocky, I cannot speak to how it compares with the Vario. Ease of use and durability are as important as the accuracy of grind I would say. You should be able to get all 3 in a good burr grinder.
We love our Vario. So far we have been using it for espresso exclusively. We don't even own drip coffe machine. We chose Vario based on the reviews and with very limited counter space this was a perfect fit. Compared to our old grinder Vario is heaven and a keeper. Good luck with your purchase. Elizabeth
I have had the rocky for a few weeks now and I am very happy with it. I am using it with a expobar office lever espresso machine. I have not used it on a drip. I don't think that you are going to find a better grinder then the rocky for the same price rage.
All I know is I love the Baratza. No problems at all. Once you know your settings, can't imagine it would be hard to change from one grind to another. However, I use the Rancilio Silvia for espresso, and I know it's high quality as well.
Joseph: I have a Silvia and I'm about to pair the Baratza with it. (my gaggia just broke after 8 years of use) What setting do you recommend for Silvia espresso grind?
Iam using my rocky with expobar office lever and it works great. I don't know how it will work with a drip. I haven't tried it yet. It's very user friendly
Is it worth spending the extra money for the Rocky, over the Breville Smart Grinder or Baratza Virtuoso? 95% of the time I make use a drip coffee maker, and only occasionally make espresso or use a French press, but I want a grinder that produces an even, consistent grind and will have a long, trouble-free life. Any advice or experience is appreciated!
Best Answer:I was in the same boat, but I was only looking to use it for drip. Now that I have a Technivorm Moccamaster, I wanted a good burr grinder to replace my blade grinder. I talked to the folks at SCG and other places and everyone started with the Baratzas, but I was hesitant after reading many reviews on many sites about the build quality, After much anguish, I decided to go with the Rocky Doserless, which I received a couple of days ago, due to the glowing reviews on quality and discussions with SCG. So far it has improved the coffee, is quiet and does a nice grind. The only minor issue I have found is that the switch would be better if it was on the side instead of the front. I put the filter in the filter basket and stick that under the snout and grind right into that.
I just bought the rocky doserless grinder. My main reason for buying this particular grinder was that it would grind fine and smooth enough for espresso coffee making. I do not know about the other grinders you mention but ... for drip coffee you will probably not need the exceptional fine/smooth grind that the Rocky can produce. The Rocky grinder is basic in that you put beans in the hopper and hold a rocker switch ON til you have enough grind for your current effort. I use a coffee cup to catch the grinds. I am enjoying the grinder very much. It meets meets my coffee making needs now and hopefully for a long time to come. (Am hoping to pick up a Silvia espresso machine someday.)
The Rocky is a heavy dependable unit... I have two of them, and they have not let me down for years. I use it for espresso and french press... My guess is that it may be a bit much if you are doing drip most of the time, but it will be great if you want to change it up at some point and do other grinds. It can take a beating for a long long long time...
If I had to choose between the other brands you mentioned, then I would go for the baratza. I have had one of those too... great for drip... But the rocky is more of a near pro level grinder.
I have two Rocky grinders. I was so pleased with the 1st that I bought a second for another home. Very little maintenance is required (have only use "Grindz" twice in about three years--and I prefer oily beans!) My only previous experience with a burr grinder was a Capresso Infinity and it was fine for French Press and drip but the Rocky is far superior for espresso. Espresso is not the same drink.
A consistent grind is the most important thing . If the grinder doesn't produce a consistent grind you'll always be chasing the last cup you made trying to improve and never catching the proper formula. If you want consistency Spend the money and get the best grinder you can afford. Also, You never know when you might be upgrading your coffee requirements.
I have bought 2 rockys and they have weathered well . My son's gets way more use and may have to have the blades sharpened/replaced. The rocky weighs more than the other brands & is sturdier/more stable than the baratza, which I also have. It costs more and has way too many grind levels. The rocky also has a more commercial look, which I like.
Bart, I use the Rocky 95% of the time for espresso and only now and again for drip. It works very well for all grinds but I can'y really say if it's worth the difference if you use it mainly for drip. Sorry I can't be more helpful. Douglas
I purchased this grinder few years ago. Ever since, I haven't been able to set the grinder to a number lower than 10 or higher than 30. Any advice you can provide to resolved this problem?
Thanks in advaced..
A shopper on Jun 19, 2014
Best Answer:When I was looking at purchasing a Rocky I did research on what settings to use for my four coffee makers. All I found was "trial and error".
Evidently, the scale on the bottom of the hopper is merely a taped on scale, which is not calibrated to any standard.
My particular Rocky will advance a little above 30; but, it is reluctant to be set much, if any, below the number 15.
But, it sure does a fine job for espresso as well as the large grind for cold press style coffee.
Search the Internet for adjusting the Rancilio Rocky burrs. There is at least one youtube video.
Set the adjustment at zero. Unscrew the three screws at the top on the inside of the bean container. Lift off the clear plastic bean container. Turn on the machine and then turn the burr adjustment until you hear the burrs touch.
I have two of these and like them very much. They work at any setting. A third had to be sent back because you couldn't set it to any number. It was replaced with no problem. Yours should have worked properly from day one. After all the time that has passed, I don't know what your options are at present.
I am not sure I can help. I grind espresso on 10 and brewed coffee on 35.
Try adjusting in increments of 5 and then running the grinder for a second or two before further adjustments. As you close the burrs, the beans can cause things to seize up.
DISCLAIMER: I'm completely new to espresso all together. That being said, I received my Breville Dual Boiler and Rancilio Rocky yesterday with the veltons bonsai blend and am having the hardest time locking in the grind for the above machine. Please can someone steer me in the general direction? I'm new at this and keep getting a sour/bitter cup.
I have the same grinder and it has plenty of room for grind adjustment. I would make certain that the grind/tamp combination results in a 25-30 seconds to pull your shot of espresso (actually that is the time I use for a triple shot, but everything I read says it's about the same for a single or double--the portafilter basket sizes differ but not the time of the pulled shot). I have no experience with your coffee maker since I have Rocket machines--however, too coarse or too fine a grind greatly affect the taste. Timing counts.
With that said, I too went through about 1/2 a pound of "Bonsai" when my machines first arrived. Now I can dial in the adjustments for various coffees quite quickly--just be patient.
Usually, the grind size and temperature are the biggest factors that affect espresso quality. After these, your method of loading and tamping the espresso basket are important. The Breville double boiler allows you to customize the pre-infusion and brew time also. Generally, too hot may give you a bitter brew, and too long or too coarse of a grind gives you sourness.
The instructional videos on SCG are great, I highly recommend watching them to learn the basics of good brewing. A pressurized basket may also help you control things while you learn how to use your machine. Practice makes perfect, as they say.
I have the same two machines. I use the single wall porta filters and I have my Rancilio grinder set at 10. I set it at 10 when I got it and did not have issues locking it or anything else. I think I set it at 10 w/o coffee beans in it although this should not matter. To decide on the setting, I called the Seattle Coffee Gear and got a recommendation. Overall, it's been working fine with all differend kinds of coffee beans. Just follow the instructions. If it still does not work, it may be defective....
I just bought the Rocky to use with my Oscar. It took a bit of trial and error to get it set. Having read reviews I thought the grind would be down around 5. That was way too fine. I am now at 11 with a very light tamp. Remember that it is a combination of grind and tamp. Switch to a light tamp and then try bracketing the setting. Try 10 and then 20. Work towards the right setting.
I am sure some of the really high end machines want a really superfine grind. But you and I don't own those machines.
I have a Rocky Rancilio (no doser) with Saeco Aroma espresso machine. After much experimentation - and frustration - I have found a) setting the grind at 10 produces the best result (for the Saeco, the Breville might be different I guess); b) equally important is the tamp, especially the correct diameter tamper so that the grounds are evenly compressed in the filter basket. I bought the Rattleware tamper at around $29. Major league difference.
I have these two machines. My grind for intelligencia beans is set around 10 give or take one or two notches. Is your pull getting you into the right pressure area (black area on pressure dial)? Sour generally means that it's pulling too fast....might be too coarse of a grind, too little beans, not enough tamping pressure. Your disposed of coffee puck might also be an indicator. Should be pretty solid. MIne sticks to the machine usually
I haven't used that variety of coffee beans. I purchase a bag of decaf and one of regular Verona from Starbucks and mix them. When grinding, I set the grinder at three marks to the right of the # 10. If the coffee beans dry out before I am through the container, I move the grinder to four marks to the right of the # 10. Good luck!
I just received my Chemex and I'm trying to calibrate a good starting grind for it with my Rancilio Rocky. Using 50g of coffee and a Chemex filter, roughly what brew duration should I target for 800ml at 200° F? I know tastes vary, but am just trying to create a good baseline for now without expending too many beans. :-)
Best Answer:When reading the other answers remember, every grinder is different! Even from Rocky to Rocky. My best advice would be to shoot for something a little bigger than drip grind, but smaller than French press. It is like a science experiment. Just go for it and then adjust accordingly.
For a Chemex I would probably suggest grinding at around 45 or so on your Rocky. I use 44 grams of coffee and pour about 100 grams of water every 30 seconds for a total of 700 grams of water. The total brewing time should take about 4-5 minutes. Hope this helps!
Most people shoot for a 5 minute brew for a Chemex. With a 30 second variance either way. I have found that I tend to go pretty coarse on my grind for a Chemex, and without being there it is tough to explain, but keep trying, you'll get it.
I use anywhere from a 5 to 7 depending on the coffee and know strong I want not that day. Most days I grind between a 5-6. I use a kitchenaid coffee grinder for reference.
Best Answer:I've had both and the rancillio is far better constructed. Baratzas fall apart after a year or so... or at leas they did with me, I went through 3 on warranty within 2 years before I just decided to get the rancillio. Also, it grinds far better than the vario, although, the vario was easier to clean.
This is what I have read on-line. Very disappointing about the Baratza quality issues. Since you have owned both products your opinion is very important to me. Thanks for your input.
I have not. I use it for a Miss Silvia espresso machine that requires a consistent fine grind. It is heavy so I bought an "as seen on tv" sliding tray to move it forward from underneath the kitchen cabinets to fill the bean hopper. I sure don't see any reason that it would not grind courser just fine. I am well pleased with my unit.
I don't make French press but I do use it for both espresso and brewed coffee. It is a breeze to switch. And my brewerd coffee is set at 35. 50 is coarsest, so there is plenty of room left.
The doser-less version would work just fine. I use mine for my Rancilio Silvia, Chemex, and French Press. I use a small pocket scale to weigh up only what I need to grind at the time.
I've not used it for french press, but have adjusted the grind to see what it can do and I think you would be very happy with it. This is a great grinder!
That's what I hear. But, two other people who responded to me said they use it for French Press. I wonder if it depends on the individual grinder you receive? Thanks for your input, much appreciated.
Could also be individual preferences on coarseness. I did use it a couple times, but then went and bought some beans ground for french press. There was a noticeable difference.
Thanks, Misti. I am using a cheap blade grinder now for the French Press. Actually, the coffee tastes pretty good to me using the cheap $10 grinder. If I buy the Rancilio I will test it for French Press and if it is no good, I'll use it for drip coffee and espresso. I really need a good grinder for daily use, particularly for espresso. I am finding that buying one grinder that does everything, at a reasonable price, is hard to impossible to do.
In reality, that grinder does not exist. We, unless you want to spend big bucks or have a Bunn G3 on your counter. I have a buddy rebuilding me one of those, and if it will fit, i will have it there. But if that falls through, I will be getting the Baratza Virtuoso. I have used it at a friends house, and it does a great job. He has had his for a few years, with no issues. These I will use for pour overs. I now have a Mazzer Super Jolly and a Rocky, use the SJ for pour over and get lots of fines, and use the Rocky for espresso. As soon as I have the new grinder for PO I will use the SJ for espresso. I dont think you will every find one grinder to doit all. And if you do, I think you will get tired of readjusting and dialling it in every time you change the grind size. check out home-barrista dot com. they have lots of discussions on this same question. But it will most likely leave you with more questions. Good luck I hope you find what you are looking for. oh, and I would not have any problem buying another Baratza problem. My Solis worked like a horse for 12 years before I replaced it last year.
The Rocky is not good at all for french press. I have tried and there are too many fines. Go with the Vario or Virtuoso. The Vario with the steel bur set is best for the more coarse grinds, and the one with ceramic is better for espresso. The Vario is has been known in the past for a lot of problems, but they have worked very hard to improve them and the customer service from Baratza is amazing. And from what I have read and heard, they have improved them a great deal.
Hi Dan, Thanks for your quick reply. It is a tough decision for me. I want the machine mostly for drip, sometimes French and sometimes espresso. It is amazing how difficult it is to choose a grinder when you step up to a semi-professional model. I hear what you are saying about Baratza improving their machines. but, have they really? I am going to do a little more research on that point because the Baratza grinders sure look appealing as an all around machine. I also noticed in a few videos that Gail from Seattle Coffee Gear goes to the Baratza when she wants to grind a shot.
Although I use it most of the time for espresso grind It does an excellent job for Fench Press and filter drip. You just need to experiment a little to get the grind that suits you best. Hope that helps. Douglas
This is good news to me. If I can grind coffee for a French press pot, that will be great. The grind quality for the French Press doesn't have to be perfect for me to be happy, just doable.
I am considering the Paquini Lux and the Rocky. Seems like Rocky has a much larger user base, but I am curious about grind consistency, ease of cleaning and maintenance and overall user satisfaction with the product? I make about 6 double shots per day, once a week 18 to 25. I have a Silvia and have been using a Solis (Baratza) Maestro grinder (Ok at best, not happy with grind consistency). Thanks Peter
A shopper on Jun 19, 2013
Best Answer:I bought the Rancilio Rocky Coffee Grinder with doser for my boyfriend about a year ago. We love it! We both love espresso and have at least two each daily. It will depend on your espresso machine, but we find the grind setting at 9 perfect for espresso. We also brew coffee via the pour over method and we found that setting it at 25 is great for this application. My only complaint is that it is a little messy even with the doser and we actually had to take off the plastic cupping under the doser so that our portafilter would fit underneath (the plastic prongs were too narrow for it to fit under the machine. It was easy to remove and now it works great! We clean our grinder once a month with Full Circle grinder cleaner and this seems to work really well, just buy some cheap whole beans to run through the machine after cleaning. Good luck!
I have been using the Rocky for about a year, and in general, I have been quite satisfied with it. I generally use it once a day and have had no real problems with it. The grind is consistent and the machine is efficient. The process can be a bit messy, but this is not significant. The only thing I have noticed that I would consider a negative is that occasionally the burs get stuck or jammed during the grind process. I find that I have to shake it a little to get it going again.
I have Rocky and I like it. Very consistent grinding with different kinds of coffee.
One thing I do not like about it is that when coffee beans go all the way down to the bottom and you add new beans they do not spontaneously enter the burr but you have to, sort of, push them in with a spoon. A bit annoying but not too big of a deal.
I have had it for about 6 months and have not cleaned it in any special way. Maybe I should clean it!?
I have found grind consistency to be very good. Cleaning is easy, are you looking at doser or doserless? I have doserless and it catches about 1. 1/2 grams of grounds between burrs and chute. I modified the chute so I can scrape most of them out. And use a vacuum to clean it almost daily and tear it apart and clean it quarterly. I would keep the Silvia and just upgrade the grinder. And them make the decision to upgrade the espresso machine if you want.
We are very happy with the Rocky. We had to adjust the grind until we got it how we like and and haven't moved it since. We usually use the same brand of coffee beans - but when we try something different we may need to move the grind a notch, not a big deal, easy to adjust
Peter, I had the same set up as yours (Silvia and an old Maestro) until my grinder gave up the ghost. I upgraded to the Rocky and like it a lot. It's a bit hard to get the correct grind setting, but I ended up with it at 12 and it works like a champ.
I have no experience with the Paquini Lux So it's a bit difficult for me to compare directly. The Rocky Rancilio is a great machine, easy to adjust and very consistent .It is probably one of the best values in its price range .
Haven't had my rocky for more than 6 months. I like it and don't find any problem with consistency. front of base comes off easily which makes cleaning easy. Haven't cleaned interior yet
I've personally found, ( in comparison to the Mazzer I use at work,) that its a very consistent grinder, but maintenance is not the easiest on it, and I would say that's its only drawback
The Rocky grind consistency seems great to me. I believe the consistency (uniformity of grain size of the ground coffee) results in a finer grind being possible than with a machine from which the grind varies in size (the small grounds clog up the pores between the large grounds and prevents water from passing through when fine grinds are selected). The Rocky allows for a very fine, consistent grind.
It's amazing how the grind settings vary for different coffees. I realize the setting on the machine varies from one machine of the same model to another (it all depends on the internal adjustment screw) but I have used settings from "4" all the way to "12" for the same pull time for a shot.
I am have a problem with my rocky. Suddenly it stopped grinding. I made a mistake in not cleaning it since I got it like 3 years ago. I took it apart and it was coated with coffee residue. I cleaned it real good and put it back together like the video says to do on this page. But it will wont work. Only a little trickle comes out. Any ideas?
A shopper on Feb 3, 2013
Best Answer:I bought Rocky end of December last year (1.5 months ago). We are using it every day and have re-filled it with coffee beans 4 times. Last re-fill was of an almost completely empty grinder. The first grinding after the re-fill - nothing coming out. I mixed the beans and still nothing. I emptied the grinder and added a small amount of beans and made sure that they are actually entering the area where the burr is. Then I added a bit more. The grinding was smooth after that. It seems that coffee beans just do not enter the burr area as "naturally" as they should. Seems that it is better to re-fill the grinder when there are already some beans in it. Of course, this is not ideal when changing types of coffee you are using. Have no idea what cleaning may do.... My grinder is still brand new.
Have you tried cleaning it with cleaning beans? You can purchase the cleaner from Seattle coffee gear and they seem to work really well. You run them through just like you would run the coffee beans through. Also, try using only a few beans at a time and set it to a coarse setting (30) at first. Good luck!
I find that when using medium-dark beans (I usually use Peets "Deep Roast") the grind exit clogs.
I take the portafilter out of the way, make sure there's a container underneath, and then hit the top front of the machine with the heel of my hand. This usually knocks the grind plug out of the exit. In the early days, some people said they used chopsticks; the "Rocky Hit" works better, and the machine's been find for five years so far.
This seems to be very bean dependent - if there's a light film of oil the output tends to clog on espresso grind.
This may sound odd, but try tilting it back slightly, let go and let it bang on your counter a few times. This will help dislodge any fine coffee grounds. Also twist the bean hopper from course to fine several times. Finally, try grinding coffee at >40.
Sounds like a plug somewhere. Is it the doser or doserless? I wonder if the gasket between the casing and the doser or funnel is pinched and causing the problem. Is everything running properly other than just the trickle? the motor and burrs spinning at normal speed?
I'm sorry that I cannot offer any words of help. I just received my grinder a week ago and all is well. After hearing this, I will be diligent to clean it out! Good luck with your search.
I've used the Rancilio Rocky about 4 times a week for nearly 9 months and now I can't adjust the coarse setting. I took apart the grinder and found that coffee grounds and worked their way into the threads of the grinding head. That grinding head is what moves to adjust the coarseness, the plastic hopper is attached to this grinding head (screw in for finer grind and unthread or loosen for coarser grind). I'm just curious if anybody else has had this problem with the grinder?
I completely took apart the grinder and had to use a large pipe wrench to remove the grinder head because it was so tight. Once I removed it I could clean off the threads and then I put it all back together. It works better for now but after I took apart the unit to me it looks like an engineering flaw in the design of grinder because there is no way to keep coffee grounds from getting up into the threads of that main grinder head. let me know if you've had this problem before or how you fixed it. I also run cleaning beans every couple of weeks through the machine.
Best Answer:The same thing happened to me. It wasn't as hard for me to get the head off though. I just took a toothpick and got the grounds out of the threads. It was really easy. Probably not much of a way to avoid it. I use my grinder 6 times a day and have had it for 2 years. Have only cleaned it once. If it's happening more to you I would check what side of your machine you have the grinder on. If it sits near the steam wand of your machine, it's possible there is more moisture getting into the machine (making the grounds more moist) than if it were on the other side on your machine.
I haven't had a problem with this, although every 3 months or so I take the whole thing apart and blow out the grounds inside with an air duster. This alleviates a lot of the build up of grinds inside the Rancilio.
I use mine about 6 times a week, for the last 2.5 years, and have changed the burrs on it once. I also use the cleaning beans every month or so.
You may want to take a look at getting a "pump" lid on the hopper....I think that's helped a lot to get rid of the excess grounds in the grinding chamber.
I've had mine for over a year and use it everyday for espresso grind and use Grindz once a month with no issues. I think you might appreciate some of the burr cleaning videos for the Rocky. It sounds like you didn't unscrew the lower burr carrier to take the tension off. This u-tube video is the best I've found. https://youtu.be/I3A6O9cMtmI
Decisions, decisions! I just purchased a Technivorm Moccamaster KB741 coffee maker and have been enjoying the accompanying (pre-ground) Velton's coffee - in fact, I awake every morning anticipating that first cup of coffee. As my supply of perfectly ground coffee dwindles, I'm considering retiring my 23-year old Krups blade grinder (it will serve as a decent spice grinder) and upgrading to a burr grinder. I've narrowed it down to Rancilio Rocky Doserless, Baratza Vario and Baratza Preciso. I'm somewhat partial to beans locally roasted in Sandpoint, ID by Evans Brothers Coffee, so fresh beans won't be a problem. And while I'm at it, I'm tempted to include a Saeco Via Venezia espresso machine. Am I on the right track? Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Best Answer:I have the Rancilio Rocky Coffee grinder and love it! It replaced a good burr grinder that I purchased from Starbucks about 15 years ago. When I upgraded to the Rocky, it made a huge difference in the quality of espresso. My advice is to stay away from the Saeco Via Venezia if you plan to make lattes. I also had that model (which replaced a Starbucks version of the same machine). The problem is with the milk frother. It makes huge foam bubbles and not the smooth version I was used to when I had the earlier version that Starbucks marketed. I now have a Silva Rancilio espresso maker and love it. I had the temperature regulator installed (PID) but would skip that if I were to order it again. I am a daily maker of lattes (either hot or cold depending on the season) and have done this since 1995. I started with a Krups (it died after three years), then purchased the Starbucks Barrista (worked great for 17 years and had the steam wand with a pinhole), then purchased the Saeco which I could only stand to use for a year. Since then I have been in love with the Silva Rancillio. I purchased the Rocky grinder after a year and the quality of my espresso went up even higher. Best of luck!
We owned a lower-end Baratza for many years until it finally died. Then we decided on the Rancilio Rocky Doserless (our daughter had one and really liked it), and we have been very pleased with it. The price seemed right and we already had a Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine which we love; seemed a no-brainer. It takes a bit of experimenting to get the right grind dialed in, but then it's perfect.
On a personal note, we live in La Grande, OR, but in another life we lived for a few years in Moscow, ID, and used to go up to Sandpoint to ski. Last year, we decided to take a trip down memory lane and ended up in Sandpoint and had some great espresso at Evans Brothers Coffee. You are so lucky to have access to such a wonderful supplier. Thanks for reminding me that we need to order some beans from them.
Hi Betsy, I can't help you with the grinder, (I too, have a krups that is at lest 25 years old!) But I am on my second Saeco espresso machine and have ordered a third as a back up. My current saeco is at least 4 years old. I bought a new one because I thought it was breaking down. My very resourceful husband found online instructions for fixing what ailed it and it's running fine. I really like it and it makes great coffee! My school has a Saeco machine that provides espresso, americano, hot chocolate, tea, etc. The secretary sets it up and maintains it. The money from the purchases goes to kids who don't have lunch money and the upkeep of the machine. It's been around for at least 7 years. I think they are a pretty reliable machine. Now and then something needs tweaking. Hope that helps.
I have been playing with coffee, coffee makers/brewers, roasters and various types of grinders for over 50 years. I spent the past 7 years putting off the expense of the Rancilio Rocky, and spending more than that cost on inferior mills and grinders.
You an buy a better grinder than the Rocky; but, that would be in the commercial grade range.
Keep digging around in the "reviews" section of SCG and I think you will find that the Rocky is the one for serious coffee lovers.
I have a Saeco Venzia that I have had for a couple of years. I replaced a Saeco Aroma and both are great machines. I use a non pressurized portafilter and a Baratza Virtuoso grinder. I had some early problems with the grinder but Baratza excels in their customer service. I would consider the Rocky if you plan to upgrade later to the Silva. Hope this helps.
We also use a burr grinder (Capresso) and have enjoyed our Via Venezia espresso machine since purchased in September of 2013. The machine has worked flawlessly and makes a perfect cup every time.
I have a kitchen aid Burr grinder thats works fine. As for the Saeco machine? I love mine. its the second one in about 12 years and my son and brother in law also use this machine. I LOVE IT.
We have the Rancilio Rocky Doserless and are very satisfied with it. In fact we bought a second one for our vacation home. Keep your Krupps for grinding spices.
I have been looking for a good grinder for some time, and have come down to the Rancilio for both quality and aesthetics (usability). I use an AeroPress almost exclusively, and the Rancilio would allow me to grind directly into the aeropress filter, but....is this just totally overkill? Will I have a different taste experience is I used, say, a Krups or Encore, or some other entry-level grinder? I currently use a Hario Mini for grinding (which I have been doing for two years now) and am getting tired of hand-grinding. I live alone, and only grind on a per-cup basis (double-shot, or ~22g for Aeropress).
I've had the Rocky for about a month now, and have been quite happy with it. I use it with a Pavoni Europiccola, and though I'm still getting the hang of that machine, the Rocky has improved my shots dramatically. I am the only one in the house who uses it, and typically have a couple of espressos in the morning. I also grind directly into the portafilter - it's doserless. My only issue with it is that a small amount of grounds remains at the top of the spout, and the only way I can find to get that out is to lets some grounds run through and spill onto the counter before putting the portafilter in place.
I can't speak to your other questions, though I did switch from using a cheap Cuisinart burr grinder that left tons and tons of fines along with a Chemex. I still love the Chemex, though am in more of an espresso mood these days, but in retrospect, the Cuisinart grinder was junk, though I didn't realize that until I used the Rocky. Maybe it's overkill, but I am very happy with it, and also feel like it will last for years - the thing is built like a tank.
Hi - you may have already purchased by now, but I have the Rancilio and am very happy about the purchase. I too thought it might be over the top - nope. I burned through 2 basic machines trying to get a fine espresso grind (the entry level ones are ok for coffee or french press in my opinion) and decided to search for a better solution. Now I have made perfect shots of espresso on 2 different machines! Creamy, not bitter results , love the doserless style - and the settings are easy to adjust. The Rancilio works on a lever pull espresso machine and an automatic - I have no reason to go to any nice coffee shop because my espresso is better. It's well built - looks like my coffee/espresso set up are probably the nicest appliances in the kitchen, but worth it. It's a waste to buy the same things over and over that don't last. They look nice and clean too.
I use the Rocky to make 1-2 24oz press pots daily and was turned onto this grinder by a friend who uses an aeropress exclusively. My friend was very impressed with the quality of coffee he was making with the Rancilio Rocky and proved it to me by making me several great cups. Here in East Nashville, I have the luxury of a great shop that roasts coffee daily and have been grinding their exceptional product in the shop weekly with great results. However, being able to fresh-grind the beans directly into the press pot has made a marked difference. I love my Rocky and look forward to using it every morning and otherwise. You can't go wrong with this grinder or this shop.
Hi Michael, I am just a novice coffee nerd, but I noticed a huge difference in the appearance of my ground coffee when using the Rocky. I had previously been using a Kitchenaid burr grinder and I thought it was serviceable, but the Rocky provides infinite settings and the grounds come out perfectly uniform and lovely. Another reason I upgraded is because I don't ever want to buy another grinder, and the reputation of the Rocky and Rancilio brand in general convinced me. So far so good! I am very happy with it. I will have to get out my Aeropress and give it a try with Rocky-ground beans tomorrow! Thanks for the idea.
I bought this grinder because I needed it for espresso. I have a Krups but it does not grind it fine enough. This grinder is similar in size to the Krups and looks nice. I love the machine and it makes great espresso/cappuccino drinks with little to no residue in the bottom of the cup....we like glass cups. I don't know how fine you need your grind but this machine does it all!!!
Grasshopper you're walking my path. After getting our Aeropress I too bought the hand the same grinder. It just takes too long by hand, so we indulged and got the rocky. From all we read a consistancy of grind is paramount for the Aeropress experience. If you can afford it get it. A 20 second grind at a grinder setting of 20 works for us. Mucha Java!
I have used two other burr grinders and thought it would not matter but I was totally wrong! The Rancilio was a great purchase for me and I highly recommend the purchase! The grind is much better once dialed in and much easier to use.
I bought a Rancilio Rocky a few months ago, and I'm loving it. I personally bought it because I needed a high-quality grinder for a lever espresso machine I had been wanting to use, but I've also used it with my Aeropress like you've described.
If you're only buying this for an Aeropress, I think you'd be better off saving your money and getting something a bit more economical. It's a great grinder, but I don't think the Aeropress requires such a high degree of fineness or precision. A true connoisseur might tell you otherwise, but I enjoyed the heck out of my Aeropress back when I was using only a $30 Mr. Coffee grinder, and I don't think upgrading to the Rocky changed my Aeropress experience that substantially.
As long as you're not doing the inverted Aeropress method, your coffee maker will fit under the Rocky's grind dispenser, which is quite convenient. Still, unless you're planning on buying an expensive espresso machine in the future, I think you should keep shopping.
Best Answer:i stopped using a french press. i was tired of the grit. for a hario paper filter drip system i set it on 20. for a french press start with 20 and see if the grit level is acceptable. move to coarser or finer to adjust to your taste.
french presses get cold quickly. i would remove the glass carafe from the metal holder and put it into a pot of hot (175+ degree) water to keep the coffee hot. use a pot holder or towel to pour into a hot (not cold) cup. be careful and have a spare bodum glass carafe in case of breakage.
make sure your grinder blades are sharp. if the grind is inconsistent, it's time to have them sharpened or buy new ones.
the rocky is the best grinder for the money. it's heavy but stays put. the question is whether you want a doser or doserless machine. doser only if you do multiple espresso shots at one time, all the time.
I don't brew with a French press, aka piston de cafetière, but I brew with Hario V60 and Chemex pour over drippers. For those, I set my Rancilio Rocky at the 35 mark. Maybe that will give you a frame of reference; I suppose you'd want to grind coarser for a piston de cafetière.
I don't know as I use a Rancilio Silva espresso machine that needs really fine grind. I use a non-oily roast and find that a 9 or 10 setting works best for me. However you need to have a courser grind for the french press so maybe start at 20 and try it?
In the past, I filled the dispenser full with coffee beans. I found that with the weight of the beans, it caused a jam. Plus the seal on top of the lid is not good. It's just a loose cover. I like my coffee beans fresh. So now I only place two scoops on beans into the dispenser, then grind it for a double shot of expresso. No issues ever since.
Since this incident. I used the cleaning tablets once month (or two) to remove/reduce the oil andany loose debris.
By "jam" do you mean beans kind of wedge around the dome cover vs actually dropping in the chute under the dome lip to get ground? Mine does that too sometimes.
Cleaning the hopper can help... Oily beans leave a residual film that increases the likelihood of them wedging. I have been known to use a fork or something on occasion to stir and get grinding started. Once some of the beans are going the vibration keeps the action until it finishes.
I've used mine nearly every day for two years and never had it jam. Sometimes the motor whines up with no beans grinding, which is due to the beans not falling into he grinder. Open the lid and use a spoon or your finger to circulate the beans and they'll start dropping back in. I think it happens w larger coffee beans getting sideways on the opening down low.
I make mostly french press coffee. How would you compare this grinder to the baratza virtuoso which presently is leading my list for producing a consistency coarse grind. Does the Rocky produce more consistent grinds in the French Press range that make it worth an extra $100 ? Thanks.
A shopper on Jun 18, 2016
Rancilio Rocky Coffee Grinder
Baratza Virtuoso Burr Espresso Grinder V2
Best Answer:I've only used the Baratza so I can't fully answer your question. We usually make vacuum coffee, but for travel we make French press which I grind at 30 on the Virtuoso.Recently for a trip I ground 40 ounces is one session without any problems, the grind was consistent throughout.
Love the rocky grinder. Many settings to adjust, however i only use it for espresso drinks and never used the model you are asking for comparison with. Good luck!
Best Answer:It's much easier to find the right settings with the Rocky. I had the Virtuoso until the motor burnt out, and I definitely saw a quality difference with the Rocky upgrade. The total amount of settings are the same though - it's just a more subtle grind adjustment between numbers.
we have a fairly high end Breville espresso maker and use the Rancillo Rocky grinder at about the middle setting. It is "continuous" scale I.e. It doesn't skip from one setting to the next. So I think it would be OK for a wide range of espresso makers.
The adjustment increments are so small it's difficult to tell from one notch to the next. You'll start by going about 10 notches before zeroing in on the right one.
Best Answer:There is no settings for the grinding as it is adjustable from 0 to 50 with the lower reading producing a finer grind. I grind my coffees at about a 28 setting which is used in a bunn coffee maker. I have to pour the water in half at a time so it doesn't overflow but I like the taste with a finer grind. This grinder will any grinding you need, trust me on that one and we have one at our cabin which has worked flawlessly over 6 years. I would start with a mid 30 grind for your French press and adjust to your liking. I have used the 28 setting before but there is sludge in the bottom of the press. Hope that helps and if you want a grinder that lives as long as you do, this is it.
It seems, from reading others comments, and from my experience, the Rancillio Rocky's numerical band is only a reference for the user. This "band" is merely stuck on, and does not relate to any "presets". It is my understanding that for French press and for cold brew one wants a very coarse setting. For this I would suggest Starting the grind setting at the half way point from totally tight - to wide open. Then adjust more "open" from there. I use the half way open setting for cold press and it seems to work well.
There is no guide For a French press I recommend the Highest number since it would be the most coarse Or you could google more about it just like what I did before to find answers
My Rocky doserless spins to the course side smoothly but when I try to spin it towards the espresso end it is incredibly difficult. It takes about 8 attempts with no beans in the hopper and grinding the residual beans out between to reach the no.10 setting. Any thoughts?
Best Answer:It is definitely very difficult to go to a finer setting, especially if you are by yourself, since it is fairly complicated with just two hands. The machine will automatically try to spin much coarser very quickly, so you are fighting the machine's normal way of rotation. This will be different on each grinder, but it doesn't mean that there's anything wrong, because it is certainly harder to go to a finer setting. It does sound like you're going finer in the right way, only while the machine is grinding, but it does take some patience.
If it just doesn't seem to be going fine enough, you can always take the burrs apart to do a deep cleaning, to make sure there isn't anything that seems to be obstructing it otherwise, and you can use a vacuum and air compressor to make sure it is all the way clean. Here's a video about that process! https://www.seattlecoffeegear.com/learn/videos-home/maintenance/cleaning-rancilio-rocky
Sounds like coffee grounds have fouled the external threads - the brass part that the hopper mounts to screws down/in to get a finer grind. Follow the cleaning videos, and make sure you clean any coffee residue out of the inner moving brass part threads.
Seattle Coffee Gear recommends cleaning burrs on a weekly to bi-weekly basis, either with a cleaning brush or a burr grinder-specific cleaning product, such as Grindz. In order to access the burrs on the Rocky you must remove the bean hopper. This is not identified in the owners manual as a standard practice. Are any of you removing the bean hopper, and if so are there any special issues to be aware of before you start? There is a black plastic plate, with three screws, holding down the hopper. If you remove this is there a special sequence or protocol so that you don't cause any problems with the grinding output control?
I am removing the bean hopper every couple of months to do a full cleaning (and blast out the coffee grounds with an air duster). I run Full Circle Grinder cleaning beans through it about once a month (I brew one espresso a day). I already took out the black plastic finger guard plate because it tends to stop oily beans from going in.
When I put it back together, i just screw in the top burrs until it stops, then back it off until the blue hopper aligns to "0". If I'm feeling dangerous (or just need new burrs), I set the hopper at "3" and just remember that if I go to 1 or 0 the burrs will be touching and could damage the grinder.
Best Answer:Since water is not coming in contact with the plastic, the plastic does not need to be BPA-free, and no, the Rocky does not use BPA-free plastic.
I know it varies from one person, and one grinder, to the next, but I still wanted to ask for initial opinions. I just got a Rocky, and I want to figure out a good setting to start off with for coffee to be brewed using a siphon. The consistency should be something between drip and espresso I think. Any advice?
My hopper won't turn to adjust the grind when I press the lever down, what could be wrong? It's on number 4 and I want a higher number grind.. I don't want to break it.
A shopper on Feb 15, 2015
Best Answer:You'll want to take apart the burrs and clean them out. It's likely that you have a bit of a clog that's impeding the burrs from changing, so if you can take off the hopper and hopefully clean with a vacuum and air compressor, then possibly remove the burrs to clean them more thoroughly, you'll be able (after some scrubbing and deep cleaning) to reassemble so that it can resume operation for you. We have a video that helps to show this process:
I see there "HSD-ROC-SS" and "-SD" models online. What's the difference, please, and which is yours on offer? Thanks
A shopper on Dec 20, 2014
Best Answer:The -SS version is the Doser, and the -SD is the doserless option. We carry both versions, just choose the one you want from the drop down menu. We generally suggest the doserless option for a home situation, but both are very popular!
Best Answer:We generally recommend Doserless grinders for home use so that you can grind right into your portafilter, but yes, there will be some clumping with this Rocky (and many grinders). As long as you keep the Doser clean and free of older grounds so that what you're grinding is fresh you can certainly avoid clumps with the Doser model. With the Doserless model you can use a toothpick or skewer to break up clumps before you level and tamp your grounds in your portafilter. Either model would work just fine, it just depends on which solution to eliminating clumping you would prefer!
How high is the chute on the Rocky doserless? Wondering if I would be able to grind directly into a french press that's about 7 1/2" tall?
A shopper on Jun 1, 2014
Best Answer:The grind chute on the Rocky Doserless is 5 3/4 inches high from the base to the bottom of the chute, but depending on your french press you may be able to tilt it to fit underneath. For example, I am able to fit the 8 Cup Bodum French Press found at the link below under it just fine by tilting. Hope this helps!
Best Answer:The larger numbers indicate a larger grind size on the Rancilio Rocky grinder. You could theoretically recalibrate this grinder and move the burrs apart, but our technicians don't really recommend this, and then you would lose the very finest grind settings that this unit offers. We would instead advise purchasing another grinder like the the Baratza Encore if you require coarser grinding than the Rocky.
This timeframe will vary based on individual usage, grind setting, etc, and so you may find that your burrs last a bit shorter or longer. I would imagine that yes, the burrs will last longer if you are grinding coarser for drip.
Best Answer:The Doser option of the Rocky is shown on the left, while the Doserless is shown on the right. We generally suggest Doserless for home use, as a Doser is essentially a container that you grind in to and then "dose" out portions of grounds into a portafilter. The Doserless model allows you to grind right into either a container or the portafilter via a chute on the front of the machine. This grinder is not the easiest to change grinder settings on, however, so if you plan to use it for both espresso and drip, it can be frustrating to dial back in to espresso. Also, you may waste beans because you always need to have the grinder running as you dial the unit back down to a finer grind. Hope this helps, but let me know if you have any other questions!
The Baratza grinders like the Virtuoso and Preciso have timers and are therefore easier to adjust back and forth between grind settings. The next step up is the Baratza Vario or Vario-W, which are nice stepped options that are easy to adjust as well. The Varios offer more grind settings and a finer grind with better burrs than the Virtuoso and Preciso. Of course with any of these you do still need to have the grinder running as you dial the grind finer to keep grounds moving through the burrs, so keep that in mind!
Best Answer:The Rocky grinder is on the finest setting at zero, while larger numbers represent a courser grind. Be sure to dial the grind down to a finer setting only while the unit is running, in order to prevent the machine from compressing on grounds between the two burrs.
Best Answer:Every grinder is different and every machine is different, so there will not be one setting that is absolutely going to work for your set-up without experimentation. Here in the showroom, our Silvia uses about an 8 on the Rocky, but even depending on the age of your beans, the settings can change. I'd suggest starting there and then timing your shots, to get the 2 ounces of liquid for a double shot extracted in the 20-30 seconds when tamped with 30# of pressure.
The cabinets in my kitchen are 14" - 14 1/2 above the counter. The Silvia fits under the cabinet. Is the height of the Rocky grinder 14" with the coffee bean holder? Are there other alternatives that may fit better? Is there a smaller coffee holder available?
I am considering the purchase of a Rancilio Rocky Grinder. I have noted that most reviewers use the grinder for espresso grinds. I intend to use mine for a medium/courser grind as I have a Chemex pot, using the thicker filter papers. Also, I get coffee beans at Costco - the ones custom roasted by Starbucks, and they are a bit oily. Would the Rocky Grinder be good just for this type of use, or should I consider another grinder?
A shopper on Jul 9, 2012
Best Answer:Yes, you can use the Rocky for your coarse applications, such as French Press or Chemex. Any beans can be ground in this machine, but I would suggest using a product like Grindz more often if your beans are super oily, as it has an additive that helps remove oils from the grinder and is food safe.
Many thanks for your advice. I did buy the Rocky, and it is a superb machine. I now get a very consistent robust brew because it produces a consistent grind. The beans are a medium roast, not super oily, but I will use the Grindz provided with the purchase and re-order more when I need it.
All other espresso machines and grinders are covered by a limited, commercial-class warranty. For more information on service and support, please discuss with your commercial sales rep.
gets the job done for less moneyReview by home barista
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I bought this grinder with my Rocket Cellini espresso machine since I didn't want to spend 1k plus on an expensive grinder. It works great most of the time but takes practice to get the grind dialed in just right for espresso shots. My only complaint is that it gets jammed sometimes with oily beans and I have to either bang it or take it apart to get it working again. It also clogs easy and that requires unscrew the grinder output section and remove the grounds from the expeller area. I recommend a better grinder if you have the extra funds to spare. (Posted on 5/23/2016)
FantasticReview by Flyersgolf
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This grinder is excellent. It may take a few uses to decide on the size of the grind you are looking for. The adjustment was easy. Beans that are more oily have been no problem. Easy clean up, great reliability. (Posted on 5/15/2016)
Would buy it againReview by JB
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Doserless model.
I removed the rail, put a suitable coffee cup (the correct height) under the chute as a platform for my portable 100g scale. I place my scale and basket on top of the coffee cup and grind the correct amount. Any extra grinds fall into the cup. Setup works like a charm.
Glad I got this model. It is rock solid and the grind is very consistent. (Posted on 3/13/2016)
Excellent grinderReview by Kay
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We have been using our new doserless grinder for 2 weeks now, and it's awesome. We have a Rocket espresso machine and it's a great combination.
It dials in a perfect grind for our espresso machine, and it is rather quiet (much quieter then our old Gaggia). It's not messy at all - I was concerned because I didn't want grinds being dispersed all over the counter. The footprint and profile is also very attractive.
I considered other grinders that were much more expensive, but I'm really glad I chose the Rancilio - now I can spend those hundreds on more coffee! (Posted on 1/4/2016)
Cheapest Espresso GrinderReview by BSA
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After 5 years of reliable service, but unsatisfactory results (not sufficiently fine) I re-calibrated my old Baratza Virtuoso for finer grinds and enjoyed them for about few months until It just gave up.
So lesson learned - if you want to brew espresso - this is the cheapest TRUE espresso grinder.
It's not perfect, many folks above posted it's issues and some of ideas to fix them, but keep in mind - there are more pros than cons (as long long as later are not showstoppers)
I should've spend the money for Rocky from the get-go and saved now wasted $200 for failed and unsatisfactory Virtuso
I bought one here as open box and used additional discount, so I got pretty good deal for essentially brand new grinder. Me happy now. (Posted on 12/26/2015)
Love it- no issues, great grindReview by Chris
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We love this grinder.
1. Regarding clogging: don't use over-oily beans; oily beans mean your coffee's really old, or roasted really dark. We haven't had any clogging issues at all. We roast about ~1000 lb a year as a hobby/part-time biz and all our customers prefer medium roasted espresso blends over the old, traditional Vienna roasts you'll pick up at SBux or the grocery store anyway. Much more flavor complexity.
2. Some people complain the coffee grinds being spit out of the grinder can get kind of messy. We bought the doserless model and set a short, wide-mouth mason jar (available in grocery stores) under the grinder, and we've never had any grinds miss the jar. Then we scoop the grinds out of the mason jar into our portafilter if we're making espresso, or dump em in the Chemex filter. This grinder is actually a lot cleaner than our old Baratza Encore.
3. Just a thought for those who are debating whether they need a grinder with additional adjustment settings to 'fine-tune' their espresso grind. The Rocky has plenty of adjustments, and if you're really geeking out and think you need more precision for your espresso shots, just adjust your tamp pressure or coffee quantity in the portafilter. We use grind setting #7 for light/med espresso, and #8 for med/med-dark espresso and with the proper tamp get awesome shots on our Rocket machine.
Plus, it looks cool. (Posted on 12/5/2015)
Reliable but wouldn't buy it againReview by Richard
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I just logged on to order some cleaning compound and realized that we have had this grinder for more than six years. Like someone else said, it's built like a tank. We grind each cup fresh and use it several times every single day. It does a fine job of grinding coffee.
That said, I wouldn't recommend it. For this price there must be something out there that is less annoying. The problems?...
--it jams, especially with oily beans.
--there is no way to clear a jam. Even if you turn it upside down and dump all the beans out of the hopper (and this is a heavy machine) you don't have access to the jam. I rock it and slap it and poke things up the spout, but sometimes it takes ten minutes to get it going. again.
--the only way to empty the hopper is to turn the whole machine upside down.
--it's messy. The model we have throws grounds in a pretty wide radius. It came with a metal bracket to hold the basket a few inches under the spout while grinding, but we discarded that. We hold the basket directly under the spout, but we still get grounds all over the counter.
(Posted on 9/30/2015)
Built to lastReview by Greg
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This grinder is an upgrade from a Hario hand grinder for me. I was wanting to get into pourovers and already had been doing french press for a couple years. In probably 5 years once I save up some money I'd like to get into espresso. So really I wanted something that'd do espresso to french press with more emphasis on coffee. I wanted something that would last me an extremely long time and could withstand using multiple times a day.
Oringinally I wanted something in the sub200 range. But after reading hundreds of reviews, it seemed the Baratza's will break. I was unsure about the big jump up to this grinder. It appeared as if I wanted a grinder built to last that would do it all, this was the answer with no real competitor close.
Over two months of daily use now grinding a variety of beans (about a pound of different beans every other week) and I absolutely love it. It's taken some learning to perfect my pourover technique and grind sizes but now I'm having several friends tell me it's the best coffee they've had. Unlike some other users I used cheaper starbucks beans as I learned my way around grind sizes and perfecting brews but never had an issue with things jamming. I now use a local roaster and fresh beans which makes all the difference with my coffee though. Still no issues.
I had anticipated a louder machine, I'm quite happy with the noise level. When I have house guests (who sleep above the kitchen), using my grinder doesn't wake them up. It's heavy enough it will not move on the counter. Do watch the video from SCG on how to adjust the grind size (always run the burs as you decrease the size to avoid getting anything stuck). I did have an issue with a plastic serving spoon having static but now use a tiny glass jar which not only works perfect for the volume I need but also has zero static. I have the doserless model and took the metal rack off the front to have extra room. I occasionally brush the inside out with a brush but otherwise a few light taps on the chute and all the few remaining loose grounds fall out. (Posted on 3/8/2015)
Why Did I Wait?Review by Jeff
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Absolutely loving this grinder. I soldiered on with my Solis (from Baratza) until after 12 years, kaput. Hmmm, maybe this is two endorsements in one.
The one issue I had with the Solis was that if I was working through several shots for friends or dialing in that custom blend, boy, that thing would vary. Really made it a challenge to pull consistent shots.
Fast forward to the new addition to my coffee station, the Rocky doserless. Silvia has never worked better. Even if the shot is a little long or short, the one thing I can count on is consistency. There are a number of variables to getting your grind, but the grinder shouldn't be it.
The Rocky is every bit as stout as the Silvia. Grinds quick, cool, quiet -- probably no point in comparing the noise to a discontinued model (the Solis), but a good bit quieter.
The grind is very consistent. That extra finesse in the burrs pays off big in pulling the shot. Who needs volumetric metering in an espresso machine when you pretty well know what you're going to get counting it off? OK, maybe overstating it, but really, the impact is almost as if I had picked up a new espresso machine.
Espresso Heaven! (Posted on 1/19/2015)
Clogs constantly and jamsReview by Micheal
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Seems built heavy,BUT POOR QUALITY= What I mean,I have been making home Espressos for OVER 12 yrs and have NEVER had a grinder that plugged up every 3-4th espresso. It is a poor design where the ground leave the grinder through the shoot. I would NOT recommend this head ache to anyone. Micheal (Posted on 1/18/2015)
Great GrinderReview by Bill
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I am not a coffee expert but this grinder does make a difference in the taste of coffee. Used the same beans in an old blade grinder we had and this one and the Rocky is well worth the money spent.
Build solid and does a great job in grinding the beans.
If the manufacturer could put plugs in the screw holes that hold the plastic grinder cover on in the bean container it would save the end user from digging out the beans after each use. (Posted on 1/16/2015)
Quality at the right priceReview by Carl
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Mine is the doserless model. Like others have stated, it delivers coffee in clumps & leaves I don't know how much behind. I count off 8 seconds after hearing the beans have been ground (it's quite audible). After those 8 seconds, nothing comes out. Having had a year's experience grinding beans in my Starbucks Barista, I know it takes 1 1/4 Tbs to properly fill my 58mm portafilter, so 1 1/4 Tbs is all I place in the hopper. Doing this assures me I'm getting most, if not, all the coffee out the dispenser that I put in the hopper.
I've 15" clearance to park Rocky between uses, so anything taller than that would never fit. In a small kitchen, space IS important so do measure.
I use the number 10 setting for my Nuova Oscar. A smaller number was too fine a ground.
If you're hedging between this & a lesser-priced make because of budget, don't. Get Rocky. I've read the reviews of the grinder that replaced my Starbuck's Barista. It definitely lacks the quality mine had & may very well not last the 11 years mine has let alone it's first. Make do with what you have while saving the coins to buy Rocky. If yours is busted & you MUST have something, good luck! (Posted on 1/2/2015)
Very reliable grinderReview by Tequila Monster
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If you want a grinder for home use that has every setting you will ever need this machine will perform well. I have had mine for seven years and have never had an issue. I would give it six stars for price and value because I don't think you can get another machine of this quality in the same price range. (Posted on 12/2/2014)
Excellent espresso grinder but poor chute and doser design.Review by Mauro
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This product is worth 5 stars in terms of espresso grind. You "only" have 9-10 settings for espresso (1 through 10) depending on what kind of beans you have and it does a very good job. The unit as a whole is built like a tank yet has a small footprint which is a plus in a home kitchen. I've tested the Rocky for a week now and I am very happy with the purchase overall. Unfortunately the grinder has three major flaws. First, the chute design relies on momentum from the burr motion to get the grounds down to the doser. This is of no importance if you pull dozens of shots a day but if you only pull 3 or 4 then that means you are leaving somewhere between 2-3 grams of coffee in the chute. I use a small brush to clean this up every time and it takes 30 secs of so but you must be aware of this. Second, the grounds come up clumpy (something others online have commented on) so you need the doser to remove the clumps, which brings me to the third design flaw. The doser works well but has two issues. First, it shoots the grounds to the left. Not sure why but it does. So I basically never use the portafilter directly to avoid making a mess. If you don't care about messy grounds then this is not an issue. Second, the doser blades appear to be 1/8" too short in diameter which means you leave behind a rind of coffee in the doser that could get moldy over time. Again, with my little brush after I clean the chute I also clean the doser around. All of the stuff above is a 45-60 sec inconvenience (hence the 4 stars) but overall this is a good espresso grinder at a good price. (Posted on 11/30/2014)
Best grinder for espresso machineReview by Bikegirl
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After 1 month of ownership, we are thrilled with this grinder. The grind has been consistently perfect for our Rancillio espresso machine. It was hit or miss with our previous Kitchen Aid burr grinder. (We've had beans get stuck a couple of times, causing the machine to stop grinding. Emptying the machine, and reloading solves the problem.) (Posted on 10/24/2014)
Great ProductReview by coffee snob
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My first expensive coffee grinder, but well worth the $. Well built and solid, it gives consistently good grinds for every espresso I make and I make a lot. Have not had any issue with clumping at all as mentioned in one other review. Great little machine! (Posted on 10/5/2014)
Not all burr grinders are equalReview by Clint
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I have owned this grinder for almost a year. I came from using a Krups burr grinder. There is no comparison. Believe the hype about a good grinder. I was struggling to get a good shot with my Saeco Poemia, until I purchased this grinder. I ordered the doserless version and removed the portafilter holder railing. To mitigate any clumping i use the WDT method, which is using a cup or old yogurt container and cutting it so it fits in your portafilter. Dose, then take a bamboo skewer or the like and swirl the coffee. Finish by removing the cup and leveling off any excess coffee. I have not done any microscopic measurements but the bottom of my cup has no powder, which indicates a very consistent grind. I clean my grinder every two months and is easy to do. I paid twice as much for my grinder as I did my espresso machine and would do it again.
(Posted on 9/18/2014)
Perfect grindsReview by Pamela
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IMO, a great grinder is more important than an expensive espresso maker. I will HIGHLY recommend you buy a QUALITY grinder like the Rancilio Rocky to go along with any espresso or coffee machine you own (I have the Saeco Aroma, which is fantastic). You will be amazed how a precise, freshly ground bean will make any coffee/espresso maker taste like a coffee shop brew. (I bought the doserless model and took off the wire bail.) (Posted on 9/8/2014)
Best value grinderReview by David
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I have used the "Rocky" for 3 years. Extremely well built to last, consistent and flawless. You don't need to spend more. This is by far the best value in a grinder and I expect that it will outlast me. (Posted on 8/23/2014)
Built solid but, not enough adjustment for espresso Review by Americano
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I owned the Rancilio Rocky (for 2 weeks), before returning it. Between the extra bad clumping, lack of fine-tuning the grind, and gobs of grinds left in the grinder I found it inadequate for espresso…but it’s built so well your kids and grand kids will be able use it to pull pitiable shots too. (Posted on 7/26/2014)
Great so far! And Excellent Ordering support from SCG.Review by Richard
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So, like everyone else I'd read that fresh grind matters, but contented myself for a couple years with our Rocket Giotto buying good medium-roast espresso beans from a local roaster (can usually get w/in 2 days of roasting at our local Central Market), and grinding at the store. Sure, I didn't always get the grind I want with the store grinders seeing all the use they do, but I always thought I pulled a pretty good shot, adjusting for varying coarseness with my tamp pressure.
I was so, so wrong. With the Rocky, the little double-walled bodum glass shots are foam from top to bottom as the shot develops, that resolves after the shot finishes and the bubbles rise to 1/4" of crema or so. Wow. And if I overgrind one morning and use what was left in a day or two I can clearly see the difference as the crema depth reduces to what I thought was 'good', before. Fresh grind *really* matters, I get it now.
Anyway, debated long and longer before getting a grinder; we spent for the espresso machine so I told myself it was worth the money for a good grinder to accompany it, still I had a hard time justifying >$500, which pretty much narrowed it down to the Rocky and a couple of the Baratza models. Got the Rocky (doserless) despite the stepped settings and metal burrs because it was a metal housing, pretty easy (one setting method, one on switch, one momentary grind switch), and got good reviews here.
Oddly our order showed up with the hopper plastic wall shattered outward - I mean literally, a giant chunk of about 1/3 the diameter was blasted out, although the Rocky box and the external shipping box were pristine - so this was not shipping damage but happened at the factory. I can only imagine that the lid to the hopper wasn't quite on level when the boxing equipment at the factory pushed the lid down and stapled it, so the offcenter lid shattered the hopper. SGC were on top of it - only asked for a photo and gave me the option of a full return or a new hopper, with the suggestion that the new hopper would be quicker, so I went that route and got it inside a week. It let me see how the grind adjustment is zero-ed out since I had to screw the new internal base and hopper back onto the top grind plate, plus affix a new label.
With the doserless I removed the metal bail almost immediately and we grind into a small tupperware from which we transfer to our portafilter, esp. since my wife and I prefer different beans (she prefers really dark, I prefer more N. Italian medium/dark) and we're still getting a feel for how much to toss into the hopper each morning.
On the upside the metal housing is clearly sturdy as heck and the thing weighs a ton for its size, which means fairly low noise. Grinding with the hopper lid on vs. off is clearly also quieter. Grind is consistent, and the stepped adjustment couldn't be simpler with the way it locks into place. Tray base beneath the snout is a good backup for any bean spray (although per above we're not using the bail and grinding right into the portafilter, which I imagine could tend to get a bit "flingy").
Comments/Complaints are very minimal - the 3 screw holes in the little domed cover inside the hopper hold one bean each that you're never getting rid of short of keeping tweezers handy or inverting the whole thing. Seriously considering 3D printing some small plastic caps but afraid they might end up in the grind with vibrations. The 'snout' does sort of tend to collect a pile every now and then that will puke back out at you if you slide the grinder across the countertop and it kind of vibrates/bounces on its rubber feet, but shoving a bendy-straw up there and fishing around gets it out. The snout is plastic, ground beans can be static-charged, and/or oily beans can clump in humidity....that's life.
Oddly I read a lot of other posts here using settings from 8-12 for their espresso; I've not gone below 18 yet and am getting 20-30second small shots. I guess I tamp too hard? Slowly dropping the grind but so far the espresso is amazing even with more 'standard' beans (e.g. canned Illy whole beans) than the locally roasted ones I was buying. I might eventually drop down to 15-16 but I kind of doubt I'll end up much below that.
Only had about 3 weeks now, long enough to drop a few settings on grind and to get a feel for consistency, not long enough to have an opinion about long-term reliability, cleaning aspects, etc. yet, hence not going overboard giving "5's" anywhere, but might edit as time goes on if the site allows.
SCG's service on our order however deserves a 5-star, but that's not available on the review format. :-) (Posted on 5/11/2014)
Very HappyReview by Jim
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I have been using a spice grinder and heard that with a burr grinder I would get much better results. The Rocky delivers that and more. Very easy to use although I had to alter the filter holder to accomodate the one I have, mine would not fit.
All in all though I'm impressed with the grind and it has definitely changed the flavor of my espresso for the better. (Posted on 4/15/2014)
quite happy (with the doserless model)Review by Scot
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This machine is easy to use and extremely well built. Love it, I've had no issues. (Posted on 4/9/2014)
Me Likey!Review by Allen
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Before the Rocky doserless i used a Cuisenart blade grinder, so this is my first burr grinder. I wasn't positive how much of a difference it would make, but all the reviews say grinding is an important aspect of quality coffee. I take pride in my coffee I served to family & friends so I decided to give it a try.
I did a lot of research. I wanted quality, but did not want to break the bank either. Frankly, the Rocky cost more than I really wanted to spend, but I decided it was the best grinder with the performance and build quality I wanted at the lowest cost.
I'm not disappointed. My wife is not a coffee drinker, so when she heard the price she wasn't thrilled. After she got used to the idea, she kidded (really) me saying "This is grounds for divorce!"
I was not impressed with the directions that came with machine, but figured it was not exactly a rocket ship and started to experiment.
The Rocky is easy enough to use daily. With the blade grinder I was grinding once every 4-5 days. I am pleasantly surprised at the taste difference. The only con (and I know it happens with all grinders, including the blade grinder) is the static electricity that causes a few grinds to spread on the counter. I'm surprised they cannot engineer a solution, but not a huge problem.
My experience with the Rocky has encouraged me to try different coffees. Now I am broadening my barista skills to coffees from different countries.
The Rocky seems to be a good quality grinder! I recommend it!
(Posted on 3/28/2014)
Welcome Back Rocky!Review by Todd B
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Love the Rancilio Rocky coffee grinder! Commercial quality with pro components. Brass burr is easy to get on and off and the grind is always consistent.
This is actually my second Rocky. I switched to the new Baratza Forte earlier this year (just because it was the latest and greatest) And even with all the hype, it couldn't compete with Rocky! I sold the Forte and purchased my second Rocky and am never going back! (Posted on 3/20/2014)
works well with a forgiving espresso machineReview by tlh
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I had a Barataza Solis Plus which gave up the ghost and wanting to upgrade we chose the Rocky with flat heads. It grinds fast, quiet and is easy to fine tune enough for most mid grade espresso machines. We have paired it with the Gaggia Classic and it does quite well. We have been able to adjust to different roasts and have no complaints. Yet I think a medium roast is the best for the Rocky.
The only item I would change is to lower the holder down a bit so the grinds in the doserless can fill the holder without going back after a slight tamp. (Posted on 3/11/2014)
It is all about the grinderReview by Tom
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I have a saeco via venizia with a non pressurized portafilter. I had been hesitant to spend more money on a grinder than my machine. Now I wish that I didn't wait so long. I love drinking espesso straight or machiattos now. This will let me wait a year or two till I need to upgrade the machine.
Mine came calibrated so that it grinds best for espresso around number 12 to 14. This allows me for esy adjustments for the roast etc. However, the way it's set makes a muddy french press at the coarsest setting. Maybe I'll keep my old krups for that. (Posted on 3/2/2014)
Great MachineReview by Elliott
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Solid machine. This grinder has some heft to it. Runs quiet with little vibration. Quickly dials in for a grind giving a shot in 30 seconds. I really like this machine. (Posted on 1/21/2014)
disappointedReview by CC
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I have wasted so much money on coffee beans that the Rocky simply cannot grind. I push the grind button only to hear the motor, with nothing happening, so I have to turn the machine upside down to empty the bean container and keep experimenting the other coffee beans. The beans do not appear to be oily, and you can't judge the oiliness of packaged beans anyway. I am really disappointed and frustrated that it's a toss-up when you buy beans to not know in advance if the machine will even grind them! (Posted on 1/19/2014)
Great choice for my first espresso grinderReview by BlazinBob
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I ordered the Rocky Doserless grinder along with the Rancilio Silvia espresso machine. It's been a great combo! The grinder works very well. The first grinder I received was damaged, however. SCG was prompt in getting me a return label after I provided some photos and a description of the damage. I'm satisfied with their service, especially considering it was on a Saturday morning when I called regarding the matter. The Rocky looks great and does seem to be well made. I'm hoping to get many years of service out of it. (Posted on 12/7/2013)
good with reservationsReview by Carol
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My only complaint is that it is a bit messy, in that the coffee grounds seem to sprinkle around and don't catch neatly in the portafilter. In every other respect it's great. (Posted on 11/4/2013)
Great grinder, just a bit clumpyReview by Ben
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The rocky is a fantsatic grinder, i have had the doserless for alomst a year now and it makes the perfect espresso grounds, however i never grind directly into the portafilter because the clumps just spoil it, with the rocky you will need to grind into a cup and then give it a shake/stire then pour into the portafilter so you get a consistant density of coffee. othereise the water won't flow through evenly and it won't make a good tasting espresso :) although, i love my rocky and this method also saves on getting coffee all over the countertop :) (Posted on 8/10/2013)
Should have got the Rocky to begin withReview by 2birdlover3
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I just bought the Rancilio Rocky, after my (second) Baratza Preciso died beyond repair after only having it for a year and a half.
What a difference in grind! I dialed 8 for espresso on the Rocky and got superfine, powdery espresso grounds. My Rocket Cellini pulled a perfect shot with this grind!
I just wish I had purchased the Rocky from the get-go, would have saved myself money. Get the Rocky, I believe it is the best for the price you can find. (Posted on 7/30/2013)
Rocky -- my first higher end grinderReview by Peter
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The ladies at SCG are correct': the doserless is far better - even for espresso. So glad i do not have the doser to clean, etc. Nothing to clean up with doserless. Cannot imagine a better home-level grinder - its built like a tank. is it the best grinder, of course not. and its not plastic and not from china (Posted on 7/18/2013)
Outstanding Review by Coffee Novice
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Outstanding quality! Here to stay and a heirloom to be!
Enought said (Posted on 7/6/2013)
It's worth every penny!!!Review by CindyG
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I used a low end burr grinder for about 10 years to make drip and press coffee. The coffee was OK, but I was never entirely satisfied with it. And the thing that was crazy making about the cheap coffee grinder was the mess it made. Even though I don't intend to use this expensive piece of equipment for expresso, it was worth every penny I spent on it. The flavor of my drip and press coffee are excellent. The grind for press coffee is a bit small, but it's not a problem for me. It's beautiful to look at, there's little or no mess, and the coffee is excellent. I couldn't be happier with it. (Posted on 6/20/2013)
FantasticReview by Michael
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Finally purchased the Rocky. I had originally acquired a used MD40 It worked great for espresso, but was hard to adjust and a bit much for one person. My Rocky is doserless, which is much better for my needs (one person who also likes brewed coffee on occasion).
I love the Rocky. It is fantastic. And I had to buy from SCG since I learned all about espresso from your videos. (Posted on 6/8/2013)
Much Improved from other grindersReview by Ward
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Much better and more consistent grind. So much quieter than the Baratza I had. I was worried about mess that reviewers on another site complained of but this is so much cleaner than my two other grinders. I'm very happy with it and love the matching between it and my Silvia. (Posted on 5/12/2013)
This is the best grinderReview by StevieD
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After reviewing many grinders online including the videos at Seattle Coffee Gear, I decided to call them. The help at Seattle Coffee Gear was fantastic and they were right - the Rancilio Rocky coffee grinder is fabulous. Although some of the reviews commented on the lack of fine tuning of the grind, that has not been an issue. It is easy to use, grinds just the amount of beans that I add and with no mess. Buy this! (Posted on 5/10/2013)
Best Product I have bought to enhance my home brewingReview by Johann
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I cannot believe how much of a difference a good grinder makes in my espresso production. This is truly a worthwhile investment. I've been stalling from buying this for a while I I did not believe that it would make that much difference - but it truly does. I am now drawing 2 oz shots in 23 secs, with superb taste and crema. I am able to now quickly dial in my settings as I change beans, with few wasted shots.
I drink a few shots per day, and several more on weekends. My highest load is when we have guests over - and this makes production easy.
It is literally unbelievable the difference this grinder makes. In the past, I've used a hand grinder (burr), pre ground premium coffee, and coffee shop grinds, this grinder has made the best espresso from my machine to date. Grinding just before brewing make such a difference. If you are in doubt, go ahead and get one - you will be astounded.
As for some of the other reviews, I don't find it that messy - few grounds on the collection plate, but none all over the counter. It is not that loud either, I can grind coffee without waking up the rest of the house.
Excellent value, great service from SCG
(Posted on 5/9/2013)
Great step up from basic conical burr grinderReview by sfbombayite
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Upgraded to this from a Capresso Infinity, which is really not able to grind fine or consistently enough for espresso. This was a substantial upgrade, both in price as well as quality. The Rocky produces consistent and much finer grinds, which makes a difference with even a basic espresso machine/brewing setup. The price is high, but reflects the commercial-grade components. Compared to Baratza grinders, this doesn't have a grounds container or timer, making it a bit less user friendly. It's also a lot less easy to clean up the burrs (requires some disassembly/careful reassembly), and the machine doesn't really come with any useful instructions. However, if high quality grinding for espresso is the main criterion, this machine is an excellent buy. (Posted on 5/1/2013)
Great GrinderReview by Tom
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I bought the doserless Rancilio Rocky after reading a bunch of reviews. This replaces a Baratza that died on me. I'm very pleased with the Rancilio. It produces a little static but that's okay. The Baratza did too and it claimed to be anti-static. The removable portafilter holder is a great feature for when I want to place a Hario #2 filter basket under the spout. Some reviewers complained that the blue coffee holder was ugly. I think it's great. Some complained about the noise. It's not bad at all, much more pleasant grinding tone than the Baratza. Some folks complained about the placement of the grinding switch and the fact that you have to hold it down. Personally, I like those features. Finally, some folks complained that it isn't stepless. I've tried the two different methods today that I use most often - espresso for the La Pavoni and pour over coffee. Both turned out perfectly. I'm a happy camper with this grinder. (Posted on 4/23/2013)
works very well, with a few minor caveatsReview by Laura
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This is my third burr grinder, after a cheap one I forget the name of and a KitchenAid pro line. It took me some time to find the right setting for espresso -- I ruined a couple of perfectly good shots with too fine a grind (sad day when your machine labors and hums and no coffee ever comes out....) Start highish, 15-20, and work down from there.
As others have mentioned, the switch is in an awkward place at the front of the machine, and since I'm left handed its especially annoying. It works fine, it's just a little wierd to use.
I had not had the problem of beans getting stuck in the slots of the feeder, but I rarely grind really dark oily beans. I do wish it was easier to get the beans out of the hopper so that I could swap in decaf for those afternoons when I've already had four shots.... :) (Posted on 3/24/2013)
love itReview by mark
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out of the gate...it was the best coffee I have made with my Rancillio esspresso machine.....worth every penny. (Posted on 2/8/2013)
Rancilio Rocky--It made a difference I could taste!Review by Earle
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I’m extremely pleased with the Rocky grinder. To be honest, I didn’t believe a grinder could make such a difference in espresso. About a year ago the Rocket Premium Plus espresso machine became part of the family dining ceremony and prior to that we had been enjoying French press coffee ground in a Capresso Infinity. Being a scientist (and skeptical of “taste tests” which are not scientifically designed—and are abundant on the internet), I figured that one of the best of the inexpensive burr grinders (see Gail and Kat’s comparison video at SeattleCoffeeGear.com) must be very nearly as good as a more expensive grinder. For me, a relatively new espresso aficionado, the difference in coffee flavor produced would probably be minor—especially since I was still learning to be consistent with grind relative to tamping. But the Seattle Coffee Gear videos went so far to say that the grinder was perhaps even more important that the espresso machine. After extensive Internet research I finally purchased the Rocky. What a surprise. Even I could taste the difference. Better grind consistency produced better crème and flavor. My tamp consistency improved markedly (due to a more uniform grind?). Perhaps uniform-sized coffee grounds increase the porosity of the coffee and therefore the surface area in contact with the water. Is this what improves the espresso?
I purchased the doserless Rocky and highly recommend it. The only drawback is the position of the on/off switch located at the lower left-hand corner of the front. Since our Rocky is positioned right next to the Rocket, the switch is awkward to push. There is probably a design reason for its position but for my purposes a more convenient location would be above rather than below the coffee dispenser. That way coffee grounds would not spill on my hand holding the switch “on”. The machine lacks a timer and the addition of one would obviate the switch position issue.
My family is so pleased with the Rocket/Rocky combination that we are about to buy the pair for another home.
(Posted on 12/11/2012)
Rancilio's Rocky Coffee Grinder is FantasticReview by Eric
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I ,too, had a Virtuoso Preciso and could not obtain a fine enough grind for my Rocket Espresso machine. However, the Rancilio took minutes to dial in -- perfect crema!! It's worth the money. (Posted on 10/4/2012)
Great grinder for a great cup of espresso ristretoReview by Gene
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I had a Virtuoso Preciso, but was not happy with the finess of the grind for my taste in espresso (ristreto) even though I had the settings as fine as possible. The Rocky does a great job! I have the grind set at 10 and any lower would be too fine! Yes its noisy, but heck ITS A GRINDER! (Posted on 9/26/2012)
Pretty solid machine but a little priceyReview by Jb
Price
Quality
Value
Pros:
Grinds fine enough for espresso
Grinds consistently for espresso and drip
Motor handles grinding throughout the grind range
Cons:
Pricey
Pretty large steps between each grind setting. Would like finer adjustments.
At fine grind settings beans periodically Stick in hopper and dont grind without a gentle tap.
Pretty solid machine
Fine grind is a little clumpy
Residual grind sticks in delivery spout after grinding
(Posted on 7/30/2012)
Rancilio's Rocky Coffee Grinder is OutstandingReview by Jim
Price
Quality
Value
The Rancilio Rocky Coffee Grinder is outstanding. Using it in place of a hand grinder, I am now able to make a consistently robust, yet not muddy, cup of coffee. I use the coarsest grind setting (turning the setting counterclockwise as far as it will go) on a modestly priced medium roast bean.
Others have complained about not being able to grind all the beans unless they have a load in the bean hopper. I have not had this problem. I just load what I need into the hopper.
Regarding the problem of beans getting into the slots where the screws are (for removing the plastic grinder cover inside the bean hopper for cleaning the grinders), all I do is lift up the grinder and tip it upside down. The grinder may be a bit heavy, but this is the fastest way to remove beans stuck in those slots.
For me, this is a fantastic grinder! (Posted on 7/21/2012)
Great grinderReview by Ray the Polak
Price
Quality
Value
Great grinder! It took me 10 minutes to dial it in and I am getting consistently good espresso shots.
Pros:
Easy To Use
Cons:
None (Posted on 5/28/2012)
Tried and TrueReview by Older Gent
Price
Quality
Value
Rocky is 10 years old this year. It has been used every day and sadly doesn't get cleaned very often and I have used oily looking beans many times. Never had a problem with any part of it. I get a great constant espresso shot every time. Generally I will just grind enough for us in the morning; with guests over I will fill up the hopper somewhat and my guests don't have to hear the grinder. When we entertain everyone wants coffee because ours is very good.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Easy To Clean
Cons:
Messy (Posted on 5/15/2012)
Worthy purchase exceed my expectationsReview by James loves espresso
Price
Quality
Value
Great purchase, it has made an incredible difference in the quality of coffee. It is quite a leap to make a purchase for a grinder at this price, but we use it everyday and I would recommend you find a high-quality grinder such as this one. One weird quirk was no instructions were provided. We did find some videos and online information that helped.
Pros:
Great Taste, Commercial Grade, Easy To Use
Cons:
No Instructions (Posted on 5/8/2012)
Great grinderReview by toad
Price
Quality
Value
Perfect
Pros:
Great Taste, Quiet, Commercial Grade, Easy To Use, Easy To Clean
Cons:
None (Posted on 5/8/2012)
Great Grinder with one hiccup.Review by Jed
Price
Quality
Value
This grinder is easy to use and has great fineness resolution with many setting notches. It really picked up my coffee game.
The only qualm I have is that the doser doesn't *quite* match the portafilter baskets. One dose in the single shot, or two in the double, mean the 58mm tamper will hit the basket edges and stop well before you've put 30 lbs of pressure on the coffee. I have to put just a bit more coffee in the basket to get that compression. With that said I've loved the machine.
Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use
Cons:
(Posted on 4/5/2012)
Awesome grinder!Review by SB Coffee
Price
Quality
Value
Have used this every day for a month. It was easy to dial in. Easy to adjust (although I use it primarily for espresso). Consistent grind every time, Had a Gaggia MD unit before this one. Like the doserless much better.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Consistent Grind, Great Taste, Easy to dial in
Cons:
(Posted on 4/4/2012)
Awesome grinderReview by Linus Franklin
Price
Quality
Value
Awesome grinder, easy to use, easy to setup, removal portafilter holder makes it easy to grind drip coffee, mostly metal construction and plastic used is antistatic. The only comment is finer grinds tend to clump a little. Very little wasted grinds, not much is held inside feeder so when changing grind settings not much is wasted between changes.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Easy To Clean, Solid build, Commercial Grade, Anti static feeder
Cons:
Finer grinds are clumpy (Posted on 2/27/2012)
Great GrinderReview by Cindy
Price
Quality
Value
Great grinder...use for espresso, press and drip...like all burr grinders, it does not switch instantly between grinds, but no complaints. It is amazingly "not messy", coffee goes right in the portafilter!
Pros:
Easy To Use, Not messy, Commercial Grade, Easy To Clean
Cons:
(Posted on 2/23/2012)
will never go back to a coffee grinderReview by Miskenpm
Price
Quality
Value
Since using the burr grinder, I can tell a huge difference in the taste of my coffee. Before I started using the burr, my coffee would taste bitter and now I am enjoying my cups of coffee. My husband thought I was nuts to spend so much money on a grinder and now he has admitted that he too can tell the difference! I am very happy with my purchase. Now it is time to update my $20 coffee pot to the espresso machine I just ordered.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Easy To Clean
Cons:
(Posted on 2/12/2012)
Excellent resultsReview by Peter
Price
Quality
Value
Does a great job once it's dialed in.
Ground coffee spills around the portafilter, and has to be wiped up. But this is not a major inconvenience.
Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use
Cons:
Messy (Posted on 2/12/2012)
Good Grinder, But ExpensiveReview by Avid Coffee drinker
Price
Quality
Value
I purchased the Rocky Mountain doserless Grinder as part of a package with the Rancilio Silvia. Other, less expensive, grinders were also paired with the Silvia, but on the advice of my local barista, I purchased the Rocky Mountain. I've had it about a month and am happy with it so far. It is noisy and messy, but what grinder isn't? The container holds about a half a pound of beans. I made the mistake of letting it get a little too low, and although there were beans in the hopper, there wasn't enough "weight" to push them through the burrs. I will keep the hopper filled now. One minor detail is that you have to hold the grind button with one hand; it stops grinding if you release it. Overall, this is a good, well-made grinder.
Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use
Cons:
Noisy (Posted on 2/2/2012)
My new loveReview by Paco
Price
Quality
Value
The word that comes to mind is "quality". It is heavy, powerful, quiet and not partularly messy. Just perfect for both my wife and me. She started using it to grind coffee daily for her whimpy french press. I am very impressed and satisfied with our purchase.
Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use, Quiet, Not messy, Commercial Grade
Cons:
(Posted on 2/2/2012)
Nice Match!!Review by SpressOhead
Price
Quality
Value
I upgraded from the I-2 mini. (Ascaso) The stepless mini was just too much hassle for dialing back and forth. Since I just bought a new Bezzera BZ07 DE (volumetric) I thought I'd give the highly-acclaimed Rocky a shot as it has "click-in" settings. Wow! I got a near perfect dial on the first click at 15! (I use home-roast exclusively) We'll see how it pans out in the future, but right now, I'm lovin' it! My only complaints are the no-seal lid, which I fixed with a rubber band, and the switch positions aren't so perfectly positioned. But I can live with that. Those two things aside, I'd go five stars. The machine as fairly quiet and smooth. I was amazed at how fine it will go without bogging-down. Anyone who can't make espresso with this is gonna have to give up . . . . party rock it!! (not sorry)
Pros:
Easy dial-in, Price vs quality, Quiet
Cons:
Bad switch positions, Non-sealed hopper lid (Posted on 1/30/2012)
Fantastic!!! Best Grinder I ownedReview by Carlos
Price
Quality
Value
Great for any use specially Home.
Pros:
Quiet, Commercial Grade, Easy To Use
Cons:
(Posted on 12/19/2011)
What A GREAT Machine!Review by Ed
Price
Quality
Value
I am truly amazed at the difference a high performance grinder makes in the quality of my shots. I have it 'dialed in' and now have totally consistent shots!
Pros:
Easy To Use, Easy To Clean
Cons:
(Posted on 12/13/2011)
Love the RockyReview by Alaskan Girl
Price
Quality
Value
Bought the Rocky and love it. Have never had any problems, knock on wood. Only use it for the Silvia, but only because I don't like switching the beans back and forth. Use my old grinder for regular coffee. Heavy, but solid.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Easy To Clean
Cons:
(Posted on 11/20/2011)
Grinder without spending a $1,000.Review by irvinj
Price
Quality
Value
Rancilio Rocky Doserless Coffee Grinder - Open Box; For the price I paid I cannot complain. But... you must keep in mind this grinder is for home use and now and then requires a "jiggle" to dislodge a bean or two which clog's the burrs. I might add it can be messy but then one does not get into espresso and its associated drinks without a mess. That is just the wonderful way coffee is. Once calibrated (dialed in) the grind is always consistent. I can honestly say I enjoy this machine and the pleasure of the coffee drink(s) it permits me to produce. Yes, I would purchase again.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Great Taste
Cons:
Messy (Posted on 11/18/2011)
Great grinderReview by Big E
Price
Quality
Value
I bought a Ranchillo espresso machine last year and decided to save a little money and not purchase the grinder at the same time. This grinder is really a better quality than my old burr grinder and it really made a difference. Wish I had purchased both at the same time.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Quiet
Cons:
(Posted on 11/7/2011)
As good as they sayReview by BonBon
Price
Quality
Value
I use this every day, paired with Rancilio Silvia, they work fabulously together, Rocky is considerably quiet, super easy to use, and fabulous looking I have to say. I am completely head over heels for this machine! If you really are particular about your coffee/espresso and it's a bit of a hobby, then this is the machine for you.
Pros:
Quiet, Easy To Use, Large variety of grind, Looks Great, Perfect grind every time
Cons:
Expensive (Posted on 10/12/2011)
Nice grinder. I use it with oscar.Review by MZ
Price
Quality
Value
basically enough for home use. and if u have a good espresso machine and you're an experienced user, this should be enough. there's only one problem: the doser is too close to the supporter underneath.
Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use
Cons:
Doser is too low (Posted on 9/29/2011)
As Expected!Review by rcph
Price
Quality
Value
The machine performs as advertised; it is very good with no dissappointments.
Pros:
Machine is as advertised
Cons:
No Cons it's good (Posted on 9/28/2011)
Rancilio Rocky Doserless Coffee GrinderReview by Madmax
Price
Quality
Value
Perfect addition for the Rancilio Silvia Espresso maker. These two products go hand in hand for a great cup of coffee. Doserless grinder was a great choice after reading all the posts & then actual usage of this product.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade
Cons:
(Posted on 7/27/2011)
Perfect match for Silvia machineReview by Boris
Price
Quality
Value
My friend has it and he's mastered latte creation almost to perfection. I've just purchased Rancilio Silvia machine and was using it with my old KitchenAid ProLine burr grinder quite successfully or so I thought.
It is absolutely true when people say: grinder is the most important part of your espresso preparation. From exactly the same coffee beans my espresso tastes 100x better after I've started using Rancilio Rocky.
Simply no comparison. Buy it - you won't regret it.
P.S. machine came with coffee grounds stuck all over it. I first thought what the hell -- I don't want a used machine. Then I found a label from manufacturer that they test every machine with real coffee beans. So, don't be alarmed if you see coffee grounds with your new grinder (apparently it is normal).
Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use, Quiet, Quick Brewing
Cons:
(Posted on 7/24/2011)
Solid Grinder with One Annoying HabitReview by Teebs
Price
Quality
Value
Everyone says it, and it's true: the Rocky is a great grinder. But it has one annoying habit. Rocky doesn't like oily beans and after a bit of grinding, will spin without grinding even though there are beans in the hopper. Simply emptying the hopper and then scooping the beans back in seems to work, but it's annoying to do that frequently. If you're in the habit of using Starbucks espressos or other fairly oily beans, Rocky might not be the best choice for you.
Pros:
Cons:
(Posted on 5/30/2011)
Transformation!Review by John
Price
Quality
Value
I use the grinder for making espresso. I had a burr grinder, but my shots took less than 10 seconds no matter how I tamped them. The taste was so-so also. With this grinder, the difference in grind was like night and day - unbelievable. I had been thinking I needed a new espresso maker, but didn't have the fortitude to spend $1,700. But would an expensive grinder help? After watching many videos, I held my breathe and took the plunge, and now know it was worth every cent. After re-learning tamping, the shots take 20 or so seconds with beautiful crema on top, and a full rich taste - a real transformation.
My only suggestion for improvement is at least for my portafilter, it would be better to have a little more space between the chute and the rest bar to allow more coffee to settle in.
Pros:
Quiet for a grinder, Easy To Use, Perfect grind
Cons:
(Posted on 5/13/2011)
just as promisedReview by Sandy
Price
Quality
Value
This open box Rocky seems as good as a new product. Gives me a chance to enter the world of home espresso making at a reduced price. I have a lot to learn but the Rocky can make tiny changes in the grind consistency enabling me to hone my shot pulling skills. So far so good. The Rocky replaces a Cuisinart burr grinder which was just awful.
Pros:
Great as good as new
Cons:
Not a great manual (Posted on 3/19/2011)
A solid machine that does the job!Review by caferunner
Price
Quality
Value
Love this grinder; it is a huge step up from what I was using before. I use it in conjunction with my Rancillo Silva. It is rock solid, easy to use and delivers consistant results.Right after I got the Rocky, I noticed that the dispensing chute was cracked on the left side. It turns out that this was a production problem that Rancillo was having for a while. I called Seattle Coffee Gear on a Monday morning and the warranty replacement part was in my mailbox two days later. I have no complaints about SCG [..service.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Great Taste
Cons:
Hard To Clean (Posted on 2/28/2011)
love itReview by Jim the Runner
Price
Quality
Value
i have been using the rocky doserless just about every day since it arrived for both espresso (with a gaggia espresso machine) and for pour over. it's been consistently great for both, no major complaints or flaws i can think of. i really like that there is a removable tray beneath the grind chute and that the filter holder is removable. the UV-resistant blue plastic is a nice touch to the otherwise plain stainless steel. have not tried to clean it yet so i can't really comment on that. a few quirky comments:
-the grinds can get a little messy on the counter top after each use but i can't think of a burr grinder that wouldn't have the same problem
-i do wish the filter holder was a tad bit lower so i could let the grinds pile up higher as they come out of the chute before tamping
-the screw holes inside the bean hopper trap a few beans inside- pretty insignificant but still strange
-wish it weren't so expensive!
Pros:
Easy To Use
Cons:
Messy (Posted on 2/22/2011)
Excellent grind [...]Review by Bobby B
Price
Quality
Value
We have the Rancilio Sylvia and have enjoyed this for 2 years. However, we could not get a consistent grind from our favorite coffee shops or with other grinders. The Rocky doserless was the perfect companion to the Sylvia but we struggled with the price point. After 2 years of inconsistent shots, we took the plunge and it is well worth it! This grinder is consistent and predictable and has a history of reliability. With 55 settings, you are sure to be able to dial in to the grind you need for your machine. [...] Life is too short for bad espresso and there is plenty of it out there. Don't waste $ on a bad grind and a bad shot.
Cons:
Static with fine grind (Posted on 12/31/2010)
gotta have itReview by mn
Price
Quality
Value
If you have a high end espresso machine, you CANNOT use pre-ground coffee. The pre-ground coffee from a coffee shop or (gasp!) the market loses its flavor almost immediately. A serious coffee drinker simply must grind their own coffee on a per need basis. Here is where the Rocky comes in. OK, not exactly cheap at but it works great. Just figure out what your grind is, (a little trial and error) and you will pull a shot of aromatic espresso with a beautiful thick crema with no problem. great investment if you're into coffee
Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade, Easy To Clean
Cons:
(Posted on 11/18/2010)
Best Grinder We Have OwnedReview by wired in the Arctic
Price
Quality
Value
Consistent grind and commercial build. Easy to use and very clean (no more static charge in the grind with ground coffee spilled on the counter). Measured discharge with the pull of the arm.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade
Cons:
(Posted on 11/16/2010)
A great inexpensive espresso grinderReview by Ditt7
Price
Quality
Value
The 'Rocky' performs very well as my first espresso grinder. We also have a French Press brewer in the house and the Rocky makes it easy to change the grind as needed. The motor is VERY solid and shows no signs of fatigue when grinding larger amounts for a crowd.
My one complaint is that Rocky can be messy. The ground coffee comes out of the far right side of the chute and is a bit clumpy making it easy to miss the portafilter when using the attached portafilter holder. On my unit, the sleeves used to attach the portafilter holder were lose from the manufacturer. Getting inside the unit to tighten them up was less than pleasant, but nonetheless a minor issue.
Overall, the Rocky has performed very well.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Quiet as grinders go, Easy To Clean, Commercial Grade
Cons:
Messy (Posted on 11/9/2010)
Great Purchase!Review by Rolaids
Price
Quality
Value
We purchased this to go with our new Saeco Xelsis at our small business. We use it to grind decaf and one dose is the exact amount for the Saeco. It is very quiet and very well built!
Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade, Quiet
Cons:
(Posted on 11/4/2010)
A Dramatic Jump into Serious EspressoReview by Garrett L.
Price
Quality
Value
I began my hunt for a grinder with the infamous Capresso Infinity and after two weeks of solid testing, I was shocked at the "top notch" reviews it was receiving. As Kat and Gail mention in their "Choosing a Grinder" video, it couldn't grind fine enough. I never thought I would spend [$] on a grinder but after receiving my Rocky, I can safely say this was a purchase to last and am very happy. The grind quality is leaps and bounds over the Capresso and it feels like a machine and not a toy.I did run into a normal concern when the unit arrived, it being covered in coffee grinds as they do test each machine at the factory before shipping out. The only comments I can make on this is that the 2010 model (current) has a black plastic base versus the older style stainless base. Also, the lid on the Rocky is a very loose style plastic top and I ended up going out and purchasing a Click Clak lid which helps seal the hopper and push grinds through the chute to prevent stale grinds sitting.All in all, for someone who enjoys Italian quality and takes espresso seriously, this is a great start. From here it just goes up in price heading into stepless models.
Pros:
Good Noise Level, Consistent Grind, Solid Build Quality
Cons:
Top Lid is Loose (Posted on 11/2/2010)
Best Bang for the BuckReview by Embs
Price
Quality
Value
GET the doser model. Despite what others say, it's nice to have a place to scrape your portafilter off before tamping. A great grinder overall, we keep ours on about setting 4 or 5 for perfect shots of lavazza super crema from the quickmill anita.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade
Cons:
No cons so far (Posted on 10/11/2010)
Best for the Price?Review by Verne
Price
Quality
Value
This is a fine machine, well built, well designed, with easy grind adjust and quick action. Frankly I don't see why you would need anything more expensive. ALSO..no waste! Unlike other grinders I have had that do now allow you to put excess grinds back into the holding chamber. Highly recommended.
Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use, Easy To Clean, Quick Brewing, Commercial Grade
Cons:
(Posted on 10/6/2010)
better than expectedReview by Nick
Price
Quality
Value
better than expected. I love this grinder. it gives a very consistent grind. I am only using it for espresso. I love the doserless and the removable tray.
The only Con i can see from this grinder is that its not stepless. otherwise its a great grinder.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade, Great Taste
Cons:
Not stepless (Posted on 10/4/2010)
I simply love it!Review by Orts
Price
Quality
Value
I use this as my primary grinder for espresso-based drinks. I dont switch bean types often (always caffeinated, usually espresso roast) so build quality, noise levels, and grind control were my primary objectives.
My wife bought a Rancilio Silvia for my birthday and the cheap conical burr grinder I had been using with my previous (pressurized filter) machine caused my draws to be very quick (<10sec) and thin, and had little crema. I realized the grind was simply too coarse (Silvia is notoriously finicky) so I ordered the Rocky. Now I get amazing shots that taste far better than could ever have imagined - it really does make a huge difference!!!
Pros:
- The construction of the Rocky is really impressive, the motor is rather quiet, and the light blue plastic (for UV protection of the beans, apparenltly) looks less silly than I had feared.
- I like the doserless as the grounds are always very fresh since they go straight to the filter basket. The Silvia basket sits perfectly in the holder while grinding.
- It's also fairly easy to adjust grind with the rotating collar (both up and down).
The only drawback (and this is a nit) is that it can get sloppy as you near a full basket. The grounds seems to accumulate on the right side of the filter basket and spill over; however, this can be easily remedied by pausing when about 3/4 full, gently tapping the basket to even the grinds, and then resuming operation.
Caveat emptor: If you wish to use this grinder to switch bean types frequently it could be a problem as it is a bit difficult to empty unused beans from the funnel. However I do not often switch back&forth on bean types, so this is not a problem for me.
Pros:
Great Taste, Commercial Grade
Cons:
Messy (Posted on 9/18/2010)
Rancilio Rocky: still getting acquaintedReview by cinichol
Price
Quality
Value
I'm sinking deeper into my coffee obsession daily, and so finally sprang for a really good grinder. This thing is what everyone says it is: a serious hunk of metal, well-made, small footprint, simple to adjust (once initial kinks are worked out). I took it apart to examine things (as shown at a website or two), and love its simplicity. Very refreshing to see an appliance that isn't a cheap piece of plastic junk. Am still getting it calibrated, though. The instructions are awful, and it's hard piecing together all the info available around the web. The cleaning is kind of a pain; you have to UNSCREW the hopper and, to REALLY get it free of sticking grounds, even unscrew the burr thing. It's not very easy to just brush or blow out the old grounds. I really don't want stale coffee slipping into the fresh stuff I'm grinding, so this is an issue for me. Why get such an expensive and serious grinder if stale grinds are going to wind up in your brew? Maybe they don't; maybe they just sort of accumulate in the spaces down around the burrs; I'm still figuring it out. In any case[...]video which covers calibration and cleaning, as well as more details on adjusting for fine. (The three-handed operation I keep hearing about is confusing!) Otherwise, I am fond of the thing, and hope to have it all figured out soon. Oh, and a couple other important facts: the grind range is GREAT, and the coffee I've made so far has been terrific. Very even grinds, which of course is critical to controlling the brew.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade
Cons:
Hard To Clean (Posted on 9/14/2010)
one sturdy machineReview by steve
Price
Quality
Value
works great, very precise
Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade
Cons:
(Posted on 9/9/2010)
Fast, simple, & quietReview by skeeterbait
Price
Quality
Value
Perfect companion to the Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine. Vastly better than my former Kitchen Aid Pro grinder - much finer & consistent grind. (I was counseled my the folks at SCG to upgrade 2 years ago but resisted b/c I thought I had a very good grinder already). The portafilter is easily supported while grinding, no scooping or measuring required. As others have pointed out subtle coffee flavors are not revealed unless the grind is just right with a machine like this. Worth the $$ if you going to buy good coffee. I have no problem with the placement of the power switch as some have said - my left hand slides easily beneath the portafilter. Easy daily clean up but weekly maintenance is a bit challenging due to screw location.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Great Taste
Cons:
(Posted on 8/27/2010)
Solid & SteadyReview by Joe P.
Price
Quality
Value
I upgraded form a Virtuoso. This unit is great, quiet and grinds like a champ. It is built solid. I change the grind daily from drip in the am and espresso in the evening. The adjustment works perfectly and does not feel weak or like it will break like my former grinder.
Minor quirks are the 1) switch placement not optimal-- need two hands to operate, 2)no timer function to grind a pot of coffee, must hold & stay there, 2) Screws inside hopper fill with beans, obviously not a big deal but a design glitch that has not been addressed
Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade
Cons:
Small Quirks (Posted on 8/20/2010)
Great GrinderReview by mizelti
Price
Quality
Value
Though purchasing this grinder wasn't one of the quickest decisions I've ever made, it may have been one of the best. It hasn't taken long for "rocky" to become my favorite kitchen appliance--no, machine. I have used other burr grinders from the 25-200 dollar range; they are all louder and more complicated, with more moving parts. All "rocky" requires is: remove the lid, drop beans into the hopper, replace the lid, press the button, and catch the gorgeous grounds in the container of your choice (portafilter, paper filter, french press...). It is so simple and easy it makes perfect sense, and perfect coffee. I'll condense the words of the blogger who convinced me to buy a high quality grinder--when it comes to making great coffee/espresso, the grinder is the main ingredient. Along with this great grinder, I have also found a retailer (SCG) with whom I couldn't be more pleased.
Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use, Commercial Grade, Easy To Clean
Cons:
(Posted on 7/31/2010)
The Best Espresso machine I had!Review by Gianni the real Italian
Price
Quality
Value
I purchase several months ago an espresso maker from [...], the brand was Cuisinart. The Cusinart was OK but my wife did not like it and I returned. Then I purchased the Rancilio Silvia 3, and now we all enjoy the best espresso and cappuccino in our lives.
Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use, Easy To Clean, Quick Brewing, Large Water Container
Cons:
(Posted on 7/28/2010)
So THAT'S what coffee tastes like!Review by M
Price
Quality
Value
The Rancilio Rocky Doserless Grinder is a coffee connoisseur's must-have machine. It grinds quickly, evenly, beautifully. Furthermore, it is sturdy, simple, and relatively quiet. The price caused me to procrastinate, but was forgotten as quickly as the bitter taste of blade grinder brew. I would most certainly recommend this grinder (and this retailer) to a friend.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Great Taste, Commercial Grade, Easy To Clean
Cons:
(Posted on 7/28/2010)
Voted "Most Helpful Review"Review by Latte Da!
Price
Quality
Value
Although I have been drinking coffee for years, I have only just begun tasting it. I am thoroughly enjoying my Rancilio Rocky Doserless grinder. It grinds beautifully, evenly. Furthermore, it is sturdy, easy to use, and relatively quiet. The pricetag is a little frightening, but don't let it deter you; you will certainly get everything for which you pay. I would definitely recommend this grinder to a friend.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Great Taste, Commercial Grade
Cons:
(Posted on 7/26/2010)
Great Grinder Imperfect DesignReview by FuzzyTeeth
Price
Quality
Value
[...]. After using it for about a week, I have to say that it is a night and day difference from my now, broken Solis Maestro grinder. For espresso, I have a Rancilio Silvia and I use an AeroPress for coffee. The only complaint that I have is in the design. The deep recessed screws in the hopper always catch a few beans. Also, the button used to dial the setting is a bit flimsy. Other than these minor annoyances, I would highly recommend this grinder. [...].
Pros:
Easy To Use, Great Taste
Cons:
Design (Posted on 6/3/2010)
Gonna Fly NowReview by WiredAndReady
Price
Quality
Value
This is all it is cracked up to be. Takes awhile to get but worth the wait. I have owned several grinders over the years, many with adjustable grinds and most at around 100 bucks. They didn't stand up to daily use and the expression 'you get what you pay for' apply applied. This is not only a piece of fine craftmanship, it is a piece of art. Grind setup and cleaning could not be easier and I am confident that it will serve us well for years to come. If you like a fine espresso, bite the bullet and drop the coin; it is worth every penny.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade, Easy To Clean
Cons:
(Posted on 5/23/2010)
So far, so goodReview by Highly Caffeinated
Price
Quality
Value
After many years of using cheap machines I recently purchased a Silvia. Made due with my cheap burr grinder for a while then decided to upgrade. Did allot of research and for the price vs. quality decided on a Rocky. The general consensus out there is to go with a doserless. Personally I decided to buck that trend and get the doser model. I like being able to turn it on and let it grind while I do other things as opposed to being glued there with my portafilter. The main trade off is you may have some ground coffee in the doser from your previous grind. I do not believe my senses are that in tune to be able to call this a serious design flaw. If you are the kind of person that obsesses over every aspect of your espresso process, the doser may not be for you. If you are serious about your espresso but realistic about your ability to discern the country of origin of the bean and what day of the week it was roasted on I would recommend the doser model.[...]
Pros:
Cons:
(Posted on 4/24/2010)
Good Basic GrinderReview by E61
Price
Quality
Value
Good value for the money. If you're unable to spend more this is a good choice. The main draw back for home use is the relatively limited number of grinding steps. For some beans the grind fineness seems to be between steps.
Pros:
Easy To Use
Cons:
Messy (Posted on 3/30/2010)
Rancilio Rocky doserless grinderReview by GregW / Oregon
Price
Quality
Value
I purchased this to replace an older inexpensive burr grinder for use with both my ECM Giotto Plus Premium expresso machine and Technivorm Moccamaster drip machine. It has impressed me for both. The grind settings are easy to change between the two.
It is relatively quiet, very contemporary and good looking and fits under most standard upper cabinetss. Highly recommended.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade
Cons:
(Posted on 3/28/2010)
Purchased to replace commercial grinderReview by Aaron
Price
Quality
Value
Purchased to replace commercial grinder taking up way too much space on kitchen counter. The Rocky doserless has a small footprint and it fits nicely under the kitchen cabinets. Much to my surprise, it is LESS messy than the commercial grinder with doser. The grind is uniform and perfect for my Astra Gourmet. My wife is happy to get "That Beast" off of the kitchen counter, and I am totally satisfied with the grind from the Rocky.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Relatively quiet, Perfect size, Excellent grind, Commercial Grade, Easy To Clean
Cons:
Small bean hopper (Posted on 3/22/2010)
Well worth the cost.Review by Ben
Price
Quality
Value
The improvement in the taste of my moka brew is fantastic.
Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use, Commercial Grade
Cons:
A little messy (Posted on 3/21/2010)
Great machine, very consistent.Review by billsalt
Price
Quality
Value
Works very well paired with the Ascaso UNO with PID.
Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use, Consistent, Commercial Grade
Cons:
Noisy (Posted on 3/20/2010)
good but messyReview by Tom
Price
Quality
Value
The unit does a good job grinding. Few issues:
1. The coffee that comes out kind of sprays here and there. We solved this by grinding the coffee into a larger plastic container.
2. The coffee we are currently using is a little more oily and we find that from time to time the unit plugs up and i have to give it a slight shake to get the coffee grinding again. I'm assuming this is more of a coffee issue and not the grinder but I guess its worth mentioning because after all the grinder should grind all types of coffee. Overall we are very happy with it and I would recommend it. The other day I ground a pound for a friend in a few minutes. Mu wife and I use it daily. Its also a good looking unit so its not an eye sore in our kitchen.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Easy To Clean
Cons:
Messy (Posted on 3/20/2010)
Good product for the moneyReview by Beth
Price
Quality
Value
Initially I was extremely frustrated because it continually jammed and I had to pick up this heavy grinder and tip it over to clear it out. Then I spoke to someone who told me to stop using starbucks and instead use our local roaster(I didn't even know we had a local roaster). Made all the difference. Hasn't jammed since. Love it!
Pros:
Easy To Use
Cons:
(Posted on 3/19/2010)
great grinderReview by uhhhh
Price
Quality
Value
I can't see how you'd ever need to improve on this for a single user-or even an apartment full of roomates.
I am pretty picky but I can't find much of anything wrong with it. Really.
And you buy this...and you never have to move up later. And the ones in the price point below the Rocky are incomparably lamer and much more loud and flimsy. One purchase, instead of 2 or 3. Save planet by buying less stuff. One machine, one purchase forever.
Built to last.
So don't question the price point unless your totally cheap. And if you really like coffee and espresso, doserless allows nicely for both obsessions.
Pros:
Easy To Use, Great Taste, Easy To Clean, Commercial Grade, Reasonably quiet
Cons:
(Posted on 3/19/2010)
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