De'Longhi KG79 Professional Burr Grinder

Considering how much 'proper' burr grinders cost, I wasn't expecting perfection, but the positive review here encouraged me to go for this item on trust. I have to say I'm delighted and amazed at how good it is! It's neat, tidy and compact. Doesn't seem to make a mess with all the ground coffee captured neatly in a well sealed container. The adjustments for both the amount and coarseness of grind seem remarkably accurate and consistent from use to use. As for the reviewer that said the grind wasn't fine enough, well I'm amazed because I started out on the finest setting and the results seemed almost too fine, certainly as fine or finer that the Lavazza coffee I used to buy.

Anyway, I think this is and excellent bit of kit and great value for money, so highly recommended! I only held back one star because the small container makes it a bit tricky to transfer the ground coffee to the filter cup.

Oh and one last tip. Any stones in the beans will trash any burr grinder, but as stones are much heavier than beans, they will sink to the bottom of the bean container if given a little shake. So just make sure that you always pour that last few beans into a bowl and have a quick look through, rather than dumping the end of the tin or bag straight into your grinder.

This KG79 model replaced a standard chopper/blade grinder, suffice to say both types of grinder are leagues apart in effectiveness and efficiency. A decent burr grinder at this price is a great leap forward. No longer am I excavating the coffee from beneath the blades, or holding down the grind button for some approximate period to deliver the optimal grind. The affordable Delonghi burr grinder achieves great results without the user doing much work. You push the button and walk away! The beans are delivered from the top (hopper) via gravity to the spinning crushers. The burr method provides good uniformity of grind without spoiling the flavour with heat due to friction. A cup setting determines how much coffee is ground and then its turns off. The user can also just switch it off. The results are found in the bottom compartment and can be stored there or just emptied into your coffee tin if like me you bring your grind to work. This Delonghi grinder looks smart and is unobtrusive on the kitchen counter. It can produce a grind with a fineness more than enough for my delonghi EC330 espresso machine.

It is obviously distinct from the top of the market grinders in terms of build quality etc - its 1/10th of the price! None-the-less, remember that the perfect grinder is that which suits your espresso machine and your pocket. The Delonghi espresso machines are no Gaggia's, however with fresh beans they produce delicious espresso and cost much less. A top-spec espresso machine may indeed require an ultra fine and uniform coffee grind but at what cost and why? If taste and economic satisfaction are paramount than a good budget machine, coupled with this very satisfying Delonghi burr grinder, will deliver on all your espresso needs.

Update: Unfortunately, after 15 months of moderate use (10cups/week) the motor has ceased functioning. It was good while it lasted .... however, a short life span is disappointing.

In the long run it may be worth investing in a quality burr grinder to ensure a stronger build & longevity. Indeed many baristas encourage paying the same if not more for your grinder than the actual espresso machine. My low cost espresso machine is currently outliving my low cost burr grinder. My advice -> Don't Skimp on the Grinder!!

First, shop around for this item. The Amazon price has increased dramatically!

Some reviews say this unit will not grind fine enough to make an espresso with a good crema. Mine was no exception. Rather than be annoyed and go into keyboard warrior mode, I thought about the problem and came up with a simple idea.

If the grind is not fine enough, it is because the burrs are not close enough together on the finest setting. Remedy:-
Remove the top burr as for cleaning.
Unscrew the three little star headed screws that hold the burr to the plastic holder.
From thin plastic (I used the side of a milk carton) make a washer to fit between the plastic holder and the top burr, easily done with nail scissors or craft knife.
Now re-fit the top burr.
Set the machine to "Coarse" and switch on, without coffee.
Slowly turn the grade control towards "Fine" and when you hear metal on metal (burr on burr), back off a millimetre or two.
Mark this position; it is your "Fine" setting now and will produce an excellent espresso.
Don't try to run any finer as you will wear out the burrs, but as long as the burrs are not touching, no harm will be done.