Breville BCG450XL Conical Burr Grinder

I purchased this Breville grinder three or so weeks ago to replace a Starbuck's-branded conical burr grinder that died after years of faithful service. I am using it to grind espresso beans for an old Estro Profi espresso machine to make my morning lattes.

I have been very pleased with this Breville grinder. Compared to the one it replaced, it is quieter (although still a bit noisy - it IS a grinder, after all!) and produces a more consistent grind. I have more control over the exact fineness of the grind than I used to have, resulting in a latte in which I can really taste the difference. The espresso I pull with coffee from this grinder is less bitter due, I think, to the fact I can grind the beans at the perfect coarseness (my Starbuck's grinder tended to produce a grind either too coarse or too fine).

As for the "anti-static technology", it definitely helps somewhat (the true test will be this winter), but there is still a slight level of noticeable static when I pull out the reservoir containing the ground coffee. Not enough to make a mess, mind you, but some nonetheless. To me, it is not an issue at all, but something I thought I'd mention for those looking for a completely static-free grinding experience.

The grinder is fairly large as grinders go, I suppose (certainly taller than my old grinder), but the footprint is still small enough that it does not take up too much counter space. And, it is attractive sitting on my kitchen counter, in it's black plastic & brushed metal casing. It is easy to disassemble & reassemble (especially the later - my old Starbuck's grinder had to be set just so for the grinding burrs to drop back into place), and, the coarseness selector is easy to turn with large, readable settings. And, as mentioned before, it provides a nice level of coarseness control - there are many discrete stops to and between each marked setting as you turn the hopper on top of the unit.

You do have to push the "start grinding" button more than once to grind even a half-hopper full of coffee - even with the timer knob turned all the way up. I usually fill the hopper 1/3 of the way full or so and have to push the button twice, but that is not an issue for me as I tend to not grind very much coffee at once.

All in all, I am very happy with this purchase. If I remember, I will post back this winter with an update on te level of static I encounter in the dryer air.

This product does an excellent job at grinding coffee beans, however, like other reviewers have said, the grind holder/hopper is cheaply made and the grinds fly all over the place when the hopper is removed and emptied...sort of like static electricity. As such, I have to empty the hopper over the sink, and even then grinds are everywhere and stick to the top of the hopper. A very messy product. Afterwards, I have to wipe down the counter top and sweep up the floor. I like the fact that you can select the grind...but with the mess afterwards, it simply is not worth the $100+ price.

I purchased this item about a month ago. For the money, you can't beat it. It generates good even grinds, comparable to what you get with the commercial grinders. It's also relatively quiet, and easy to use. Build quality is very good.
The only downsides are the oddly shaped ground coffee container, and the hideous static electricity problem. I'm used to handling the container now, but on certain beans (not all, oddly enough...) the static charge makes it all but impossible to get the ground coffee from the container to the pot without losing some. To be fair, all grinders have some static problems. I'm going to try some different ways of eliminating the static charge, and see where that goes.
Overall, this is the one to buy for the average to above average coffee nut.

Like other reviews, the plus with this unit is the noise factor and lack of static buildup. It's a decent grinder for drip and other coarser grind styles, but I can see how it might not be excellent for espresso machines. The rating would have been higher other than the on/off switch just snapped off 9 months after purchase. A call to customer service rendered a lethargic rep who said they would e-mail a fed-ex return slip for warranty service that I have yet to receive 4 days later, this after a follow up call that was never returned. I hate to have to spend a couple hundred bucks on a reliable grinder, but it may come to that, as every other burr grinder I've had (Bunn, Cuisinart) broke after about a year of service.

5 Star Best Espresso grinder ever. Don't waste your money with the trendy
Kitchen Aid Expensive Pro line Burr Grinders - didn't last 8 months & the grnd was not fine. This Breville is GREAT!!! LjB Espresso Lover