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Permalink Reply by Steve Belt on July 5, 2010 at 10:05pm

I can't compare the two, but I use the Guat for my pour over bar. Static electricity build up is my only complaint. The thing clearly needs a longer metal shoot to eliminate that. Otherwise, it's fast and grinds well.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Sabol on July 6, 2010 at 12:28pm

It really depends on what you're looking for. I've seen both last for years and years. I think the build quality on the machined surfaces on the Mahlkonig are superior. I think you will get a more consistant particle size from the Mahlkonig. The Ditting, if you are talking about the tall big one with the multipound hopper, is a fantastic all around shop grinder. If you need to grind a lot at once it would be the grinder for you. Both are excellent and will last for decades to come. The Mahlkonig is just a little more refined.

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Permalink Reply by Bryan Wray on July 6, 2010 at 10:06pm

We actually have both at the roastery right now and I like the Ditting a lot more.

Static cling is the biggest understatement I've read to date. Be ready to do a lot of pounding on the shoot to break away the clinging grounds. Either that, or be prepared to have .5-1 gram of coffee loss. No kidding.

The Mahl certainly has the coolness factor as far as looks go, but that's about it for me.

I hate the little push button to start up the grinder. It's too small and too hard to push in and have STAY in. Imagine if the toggle switches on your espresso machine pushed back until you forced them into "lock" position. It's not a huge deal at all, but I do find it annoying.

The catch tray on the Mahl is of laughable build. You could snap the plastic in half with 4 fingers and the strength of a toddler. Then again, the Ditting doesn't have one... but I kind of like it. Quick brush swipe and the counter is clean.

I like the adjustment on the Ditting way more as well. Mahlkonig's adjustment knob feels cheap and chinsey... ours actually cracked while adjusting the grind. The knob being directly above the on/off switch was a smart move by Ditting.

Speaking of moving...

The Mahlkonig starts HARD. Makes the lights flicker upon motor fire and the whole damn thing rotates left unless you put it on a non-slide material. It's only about 1/2" per start up, but that's 4 inches in 8 pour-overs. If you find the slow rotation of an espresso grinder from "thwacking" the doser annoying, get ready for a whole new experience.

... then again, I suppose you could bang on the shoot from only the left side as you attempt to break away the clinging grounds and force it back to the right with each vicious blow and it would put the grinder right back in place! lol

The Mahlkonig isn't a bad grinder, but I would take the Ditting any day, and actually, I would take a Bunn G HD over a Mahlkonig Guat.

Long story short, the Mahlkonig is a back up grinder for us at the moment...

... Now start talking R2D2 Mahlkonigs and we've got a whooooole different story.

-bry

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Permalink Reply by Bryan Wray on July 7, 2010 at 12:36pm

Also, it should be noted, the Ditting I am referencing isn't made anymore... it's a KFA901, but is similiar to the newer, snazzier KF804 as far as I can tell.

Our Ditting is shorter than the Mahlkonig and has a smaller footprint, yet weighs in about 20 pounds more...

-bry

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