Customer Reviews

Rancilio Rocky Doserless Grinder

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have had my Rocky doserless grinder for nearly nine months and I have never regretted the purchase. This is one of the premier prosumer grade coffee grinders and delivers consistent quality for espresso through drip and (almost) up to press pot. It is solid, relatively quiet - I use mine in my office at a small university and do close my door to muffle the noise a little more - and a great option for grinding for each individual shot of espresso. Plus, its compact form factor and mechanical-cool look mean Rocky can sit on the corner of my desk, next to the Gaggia Factory lever machine that it serves.

The highlights of the Rocky are its solidity and quality, its ease of adjustment, and in the case of this doserless model, its ability to grind for each dose of espresso or brew with minimal holdover of grounds. Because the path from burrs to chute is so short and unobstructed, I can rap the side when I am done and dislodge any leftover grounds, or simply remove the two screws holding in the chute to use a brush to clear it. The metal hoop below is perfect for holding a Gaggia or Pavoni portafilter when grinding, and can be removed with one quick tug to allow you to grind into a filter, press pot, or bag. Rocky's weight keeps it steady - it is no flimsy lightweight - and I personally like that the power switch and grind switch are separated on the doserless model. Having the grind switch on the front is convenient.

The only things keeping Rocky from getting five stars have to do with the grind settings. On the coarse end of the adjustment, Rocky just doesn't quite make it to a real french press grind. This is an issue that was noted on coffeegeek reviews and which I didn't care about when I bought the machine, but which I now wish I had considered. Also, and this is a niggling point, the grind adjustments are stepped, not stepless. In a perfect world, I like to think that all grinders should be stepless like the Mazzer Mini that I occasionally get to play with. That said, the steps are close enough that I have not found a problem in getting the grind I desire, and the system of a release button on the collar that adjusts the burrs is slick and simple.

If you are in the market for a top end consumer coffee grinder, take a good long look at the doserless Rocky. When a Mazzer Mini would be overkill (and overpriced), but you want something closer to commercial grade than a Solis Maestro, Rocky hits the sweet spot.

If you make 3-5 lattes a week on a $50 espresso machine, this grinder is not for you. But when espresso becomes more serious, and you have a machine to justify it, this is a REAL grinder.
Smooth, powerful, and quiet, the Rocky is built like a tank. At some 18 pounds, it feels like it's bolted to the counter.
The grind size is easily adjusted by depressing a single lever on the front while rotating the hopper. Depress the power switch on the front and a stream of uniform grinds pours out the chute. Release the switch and the grinder stops. The rack below the chute is easily pulled out to grind into a larger container.
After 6 months of use, I've found that the Rocky simply does not have the static problem that many others have. It also does not require frequently cleaning, and doesn't seem to mind if you want to grind enough for one shot or 100.
While not cheap, it's pure quality and an excellent value.
Rancilio Rocky Doserless Espresso Grinder - Stainless Steel

Even if you can't afford this, please do yourself a favor and find a way to buy this. I am so pleased with it. It is quiet and very efficient. It somehow makes the coffee beans smell better, and coffee taste better than other grinders I have tried. Very precise control of the grinds. Well built, strong and quiet. I highly recommend this grinder. Don't pay twice and buy something cheaper, you will regret it!

This is my first burr grinder to go with my first home espresso machine the Rancilio Silvia (I've worked in a few espresso places over the years so am familiar with commercial machines).
the grinder works very well and can create whatever grind you will need from espresso to french press. In terms of grinding performance I'd give it ***** , however overall it has a few design features that are lacking:
1) beans get stuck in the screw holes inside the bean hopper/holder- so that you have to turn the grinder upside down and whack it to get the stuck beans out. I've read you can stick cut up pieces of foam earplugs into the holes- pretty cheesy.
2) the chute the ground coffee goes through is blue plastic. ugly, and I understand it can crack and break over time, stainless steel would seem better here
3) grounds spill out of the portafilter while filling regardless of technique. I think this may just be the way it is because you need to fill the portafilter slightly heaping prior to tamping. the placement of the removable portafilter holder seems a big high, forcing more grounds to spill, I'm finding I often use it without the holder.
So, I'd buy it again, but wish it was designed a bit bigger.
It seems absurdly expensive, but I don't know what to compare it to and it seems to work very well.

...it's worth it! This is a SOLID machine that has a commercial feel. All the experts recommend spending at least as much on your grinder as you do on your espresso maker. Considering most $300 espresso makers are not that great, the Rocky is actually a a money-saving investment. (OK, I know that's not totally logical, but it can help take some of the sting out of paying $500+ for an espresso machine...) Personally, I use a stovetop espresso maker and have found the Rocky produces excellent grinds for it. Most users probably won't need to use even a fraction of the settings on the dial (*really* is there that much of a difference between 18 and 19 when you have 40 grind settings?), however, if you buy lots of different kinds of beans, this can come in handy. The only improvement I might suggest is to make the top of the bean hopper seal more tightly. I think it lets in too much air, so I rarely fill it all the way up. Win by TKO!

Over a period of five years, I perfected my espresso shots using a La Pavoni conical burr grinder and a La Pavoni lever espresso machine. Went all the way around the bases by buying a coffee roaster and perfecting the blend and roast.

Then the bearings on my old La Pavoni burr grinder burned out. I replaced it with an $80 Capresso grinder that got great reviews.

Big mistake. Tried using the Capresso for several months, and knew I wasn't where I needed to be when my barista son was here for a visit earlier this summer. All I had to see was the look on his face when I served him a shot with large, white bubbles instead of thich, rust-red crema. The shot was over-extracted and bitter.

So I got a Rancillio Rocky, and I CELEBRATE it every morning when the shots I spent five years learning to pull are reappearing in my cup.

This thing, as others have noted, is built like a tank. It's very quiet. It took me all of four shots to dial in the perfect grind for an everage day, and it's a snap to go one click or one click down if the weather gets drier or more humid.

You can feel the quality of the grind in the lever on the La Pavoni. Pulling a good shot is more about what you feel in your arm and what you see and hear going into the cup than anything else. This machine makes getting exactly the right texture a snap.

Given its industrial appearance, if your kitchen is more about having great looking appliances on display on your counters than it is about using them, this grinder's not for you. But if your morning revolves around perfect blend, perfect roast, perfect grind, perfect pull, perfect shot - this is the grinder to toss into your workflow.

Very solid and well built. The motor weighs 11-12 pounds out of 18 which is the total weight of the grinder. You really do not need a more expensive one for any machine. I have it with my Andreja Premium. It gives always consistant grind for espresso but I am not sure it is coarse enough for French Press. You get better results with a cheaper burr grinder for French Press. One very important note: Each coffee beans needs different set of grinding. I learned that the hard way to the extent I thought for a while there is some thing wrong with my machine. Thanks to CHRIS COFFEE they advised me to go much finer of my grind for the beans I was using. Normally with Lavazza and Illy beans you may set the grind at 10. I went to 6 and the bar pressure still brewing at 4. I had to go to 1 in order to have the bar pressure at 9-10. I concluded that the coffee beans I am using from Yemen were only good for Turkish coffee and not for espresso. So stick guys with Italian coffee as this will save you a lot of trouble.

This grinder was easy to set up and begin using. It took only a little time to find the perfect grind for the best cup of espresso yet! The grinder is used along side the Rancilio Miss Silvia espresso machine, the pair make for great coffee. The wire that holds the portafilter works better than expected, it is very stable.

I was very hesitant to spend $300+ on a coffee grinder, but I am so glad I bought this one. It is the missing link in my quest for the perfect home espresso. I use it with a Rancilio Silvia espresso machine, and I am able to pull perfect shots every time - 5-7 second 'hang time' and 25-30 seconds for a shot - full, nuanced flavor without bitterness, and beautiful crema. I don't have much to add to the other reviews besides this statement of espresso joy. If you are a Silvia owner wondering whether to complete the set and get a Rocky - do it! You won't regret it.

I was unhappy with my Silvia machine but came to find out that it was due to a lack of a quality grinder. The Rocky was the perfect addition. It grinds to the perfect consistancy, is easy to use, easy to clean and grinds to perfection. I just wish the on/off switch was on the left side rather than the right as it abuts the Silvia and the steam tube is on the right of the machine.