Good for what it is - a cheap grinder that grinds well

When I bought my http://www1.epinions.com/content_422888115844 I realized that my old Mr. Coffee blade grinder was not going to be up to snuff in producing a consistent grind fine enough for this machine.

While many coffee purist sites say that you should spend at least as much on your grinder as your machine, I balked at grinders that were more than $300. Fortunately the Saeco people insisted that a fairly inexpensive burr-type grinder would be OK for this machine, mainly due to their patented pressurized porta-filter.

I took a look at a few of the recommended lower-cost consumer grinders, such as the KitchenAid (cool, especially with the old fashioned toggle switch), the Breville and the Cuisinart. I found the Krups appealing as it was the smallest of this group of grinders and it was also on sale. Upon close inspection of the Cuisinart and the Breville, they all appeared to have the same burrs. Since the store had a liberal return policy I figured I would take the Krups for a test drive, and return it if it did not produce good results.

The most important thing to look for in a burr-type grinder is the consistency of the grind, and the Krups does not disappoint in this department. I always use the finest setting, and grind has been consistently good, and compares well even with a low end professional grinder.

Like most other low-end burr grinders (I'm sure they are all made in the same Chinese factory) static is a problem, but really only in the winter. Also the tiny little outlet into the hopper clogs very easily with dark roast beans, but I find that giving the grinder a sharp rap on the counter when it is running is enough to clear it.

The machine appears to be durable enough after 7 months of twice daily use. I have had other low-cost burr grinders (a Kenmore and a Delonghi) that managed to have bits break, which rendered the entire grinder good for the scrap heap. I have managed to drop the plastic hopper and the cover several times on a hard ceramic floor and they stayed intact.