Does it Beat the Starbucks Barista? Maybe...
Written: Apr 15 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Consistent grind, excellent support from importer, dual purpose grinds distribution
Cons: Very loud, not enough variance between grind selections, static is a problem.
The Bottom Line: It has some problems, but also has some serious perks. Compared to the Starbucks Barista grinder, this is probably the better choice.
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| Coffee_Kid's Full Review: Solis 177 Grinder |
Ahhh grinders. The seriously secret trick to achieving first rate espresso and coffee. Most folks don't know this, but I'm letting you in on the secret - a quality grinder will make or break your morning beverage.
There's 3 general price ranges for what are termed "quality grinders": these are grinders that have the minimum capability of helping to build superior espresso shots, the most demanding use you can give them. Grinders not included in these classes include the "weed wacker" varieties (blade grinders), and the cheaper burr grinders like the Braun, Salton and Salton-made grinders by Pavoni, Capresso, and others. Nope, these don't make the 3 general price ranges I'm talking about: the $75-$125 range, the $150-$250 range, and the $250+ range. The Solis Mulino (nee 177) fits on the border between low and mid.
The Mulino is fairly ugly grinder - you won't see it sitting in the Metropolitan Museum of Art anytime soon. But I am a person who places function before aesthetics (thought I like both in products I buy, if I can help it), so the aesthetics of the grinder, while a negative, don't impact much on my opinions of the machine. The shape is tall and narrow, yet wide front to back. The back of the unit features a notch to allow for wall hanging of the grinder, though I personally haven't tried this yet. The body is a kind of brownish metalic color, hard to describe, and the selection wheel and timer knob are a beige color. The grind catcher and bean hopper are smoke plastic. The lid fits nice and tight.
The burr group in the Mulino is exactly the same burr group in the Solis 166 / Starbucks Barista, with a different gearing system. The motor is also different, and turns at higher RPMs than the 166, yet it features a more workable stepdown gearing system to allow for consistent grinding at all times.
The Mulino also suffers from the same problem as the 166 - far too few grind selections. The difference between the two models is significant though - you can easily adjust the grind selection up or down in the Mulino by removing the top bean hopper; on the 166, it requires difficult disassembly of the machine and the voiding of your warranty.
The Mulino is noisier than the 166. Blame it on the different motor inside. The other grinder I have in my kitchen is a Rancilio Rocky, and I suppose I am spoiled by it: run the grinder without any beans in it, and you can barely hear the motor - I'm not kidding - it sounds like a very low volume CPU fan when there's no beans grinding. By comparison, the 177/Mulino sounds like a high pitched, friction-filled whine that can wake up the house. Blame this on the price range it is in - at $125, most of the cost of the grinder has gone into the burr group and overall design; at $200, the Rocky basically "borrowed" many of its internal parts from a much more expensive commercial grinder from Rancilio, the MD40.
The Mulino does exhibit static problems at times. I usually solve this by clicking an empty bbq lighter (the piezo type) inside the bottom grind catcher container.
On the plus side, the Mulino can grind almost as even as the Rancilio Rocky - very few fines (dust, microparticles) are present at any grind setting. The finest grind it is capable of is more than capable of choking my $1200 espresso machine - this means that it can grind fine enough to plug up a machine that is designed to push water at 135PSI through very finely ground coffee.
The Mulino also does an admirable job grinding for the job I've given it - grinding for vacuum brewed coffee and filter drip coffee. I do have to pop the top chamber and adjust the grinder in order to get a true "french press" coffee grind, which is a bit of a hassle. If it only had 2 or 3 more clicks available, it be nearly perfect for any kind of non-espresso coffee.
The design of the grinder allows you to grind into the included grinds catcher container, or to grind directly into a portafilter or the filter from an auto drip coffee maker. I believe this is the only grinder anywhere near this price range that allows this kind of versatility. As a single grinder in a household, it does tackle multiple capabilities. Many people appreciate the ability to just stick their espresso machine portafilter under the exit chute, and grind away until it is full.
For what this grinder offers, and the price it is at, you're getting a capable machine that should suit most people, and have some "legs" for future expansion of any coffee afficionado's setup. There are problems with the grinder, but they are for the most part bearable.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Coffee_Kid
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Location: Vancouver, BC
Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
Hey, I may be the CoffeeKid, but I have other interests as well... :-)
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