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Permalink Reply by Mike McGinness on June 8, 2011 at 7:48am

I'd say ok deal. New today could buy for $525.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Sabol on June 8, 2011 at 10:30am

That is not a high volume grinder and will heat up under heavy use.  If you're not going to be using it all the time it would be OK.  $200-$250.  At $300 you can start finding used Super Jolly's.

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Permalink Reply by Troy J Mallett on June 9, 2011 at 12:38am

I just finished rebuilding one, lots of plastic parts.

 

If you are selling it, I am sure that you will find someone to buy it.

If you are buying it, look for a SJ.

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Permalink Reply by Brady on June 9, 2011 at 5:58am

It may be an ok deal, but the real question is, is that the grinder you want on your bar?

 

I've worked on a couple of these for customers, and am not a fan.  I can think of several grinders that are far nicer than this one... The Rossi wouldn't be one of my top 5 choices to put on a bar, and I can really only think of 3 that I'd even consider.

 

My suggestion is to keep looking.

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Permalink Reply by Peter Milne on June 9, 2011 at 7:11am

First, $300 is my limit.  I havent found an SJ near that price, let alone shipping.  Is there a particular reason I wouldnt want it on my bar?

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Permalink Reply by Mike McGinness on June 9, 2011 at 8:41am

Extreme off center grounds throw dosing, stepped adjustment, overall cheap tinny feel in use.

Mazzer deals ain't what they used to be right after Charbucks switched to super-autos but good deals can be found with extreme patience and vigilant constant searching. Have a dozen Majors and SJs combined, paid less than $300 for every one of them including shipping. Best deals currently found desperation going out of business sales. Unfortunately lots of them still happening.

 

While not a grinder, just this week stole a Brasilia Portofino 1gr for catering/events for 10cents on the dollar. Current new price $3750, my all in $372 clean fully functional ready to rock. They actually had a couple "commercial" espresso I could have gotten for less than $200 but none I was interested in. Deals are out there.

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Permalink Reply by Brady on June 10, 2011 at 5:58am

There's a saying kicking around, not sure who it belongs to:

"Grinders make espresso, espresso machines just make the water hot"

 

I see nothing wrong with looking around for a good deal on a decent espresso grinder (like the SJ)... because as Mike has pointed out, there are deals out there. However, as far as quality goes, do not skimp on your grinder.

 

The Rossi might not be a bad choice for a home rig, or paired with an ancient $1500 espresso machine on a "shoestring budget" type espresso bar, where espresso quality is secondary to "get the doors open". But for a more quality-focused cafe, you can and should do better.

 

If you really can't find an appropriate commercial grinder for $300, maybe you should increase your budget a bit and skimp on some other less-critical equipment purchase... like pretty much anything else.

 

I wish I could remember what specifically I disliked so much about that grinder. I know that there was a ton of plastic, including the doser star, iirc. The doser body was a 3-piece design that wasn't well held together. On the model I was fixing, there was also a magnetic interlock switch in the lid, connected to the body of the grinder with a coiled black cord... which had failed and was keeping the grinder from running. I wanna say it was pretty clumpy and very hard to keep clean... in addition to the items that Mike and Mike mentioned.

 

Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Peter Milne on June 10, 2011 at 7:51am

Thats what I have researched about the RR45 too.  For all I know, at this point she can probably steal that Super Automatic, so she might just go with it.  It will work fine for her, til it breaks.  I need to focus more on supplying her quality coffee.  I had her make me an Americano the other day.....awful doesnt come close to describing it.

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Permalink Reply by Troy J Mallett on June 10, 2011 at 1:42pm

I have a RR45 beside a SJ at my shop and the difference is astronomical. All my staff (including myself) fight with getting consistently good shots from the Rossi where as the SJ seems almost effortless in comparison.

Just as Brady mentioned, if cup quality is not a necessary factor...

 

 

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