About Ben The Coffee Geek
Gaggia 8002 MDF Burr Grinder Review
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I have principles that prevent me from drinking instant coffee, and as a result, I usually end up getting coffee from Starbucks because it’s the only coffee shop near my workplace. It’s not the best option though, and on top of the expense, it’s really not a consistent blend. There are some cases where I get a latte, and find that the cup is almost entirely milk, with barely any taste of espresso/coffee.
What to Look for When Buying a Coffee Grinder
If you want the freshest coffee flavor, you should purchase whole beans and grind them at home as needed. In fact, most experts agree that coffee should not be ground until you are going to brew it. When buying a coffee grinder though, Paul told me that there were a few important things to keep in mind, and after 5 years of experience, I trust what he says.
If you just buy the first coffee grinder you see based on price alone, then you are destined for trouble, particularly if you are going to be using the grinder on a regular basis (daily, for me). So I recommend sticking to a good grinder, because it’s a long-term investment. The Gaggia MDF Coffee Grinder is a commercial-grade burr grinder that’s equal to those found in Europe’s espresso bars and restaurants, so it’s a very good choice given its price.
Burr Grinders versus Blade Grinders
There are only 2 major types of coffee grinders — blade and burr grinders. Blade grinders are inexpensive and use a motorised spinning blade. These coffee grinders work well for automatic-drip coffee makers, because you don’t need a very fine or consistent grind.
On the other hand, burr coffee grinders are more expensive than blade grinders. Burr grinders are also larger, and heavier and uses grooved metal disks, where one disk rotates while the other disk remains stationary. If you own an espresso machine, you definitely need a burr grinder, because blade grinders simply are not able to give you a fine enough grind. In fact, even if you use automatic-drip coffee machines, you’ll find that burr-ground beans have a better mouth feel.
Durable Construction and Build Quality
The Gaggia 8002 MDF Burr Grinder has a durable housing that is made of impact-resistant plastic. This isn’t to protect it from drops, but rather, helps to reduce noise and increase durability.
34 Grind Settings
The Gaggia MDF grinder provides you with a full range of settings that allow you to produce grinds fine enough for any espresso machine, and coarser grinds for drip coffee. The front of the grinder shows you what setting you’re on, and by turning the bean hopper you can switch between grind settings. The lower the number the finer the grind.
Heavy Duty Motor
The torque needed for high volume home use is handled through a 120-watt motor on the Gaggia MDF grinder, and uses a gear reduction system which allows for quiet operation.
Top Quality Grinding Burrs
Again, durability is something that the Gaggia MDF excels in, and this is found in the commercial-grade grinding burrs that will last for years. There are cheaper burr grinders in the market, but they don’t use tempered steel burr disks like the Gaggia MDF.
Large Capacity Bean Hopper
To save you from always have to refill the bean hopper, the Gaggia 8002 MDF Burr Grinder has a bean hopper that can hold up to 10 ounces of coffee beans. This bean hopper is made of smoked plastic and has a tight-fitting lid, so that your coffee beans will be kept fresh.
Dosing Grinder
If you want to pull several espresso shots daily, then the Gaggia 8002 MDF burr grinder with doser is great, because your ground coffee is stored in a receptacle. This receptable on the Gaggia MDF is also made of smoked plastic. It can hold up to 8 ounces of ground coffee, and features a handy lever that will dispense 7 grams of coffee (this is one shot, pull more for more shots) directly into the filter holder.
How Much Should You Expect to Pay?
The Gaggia 8002 MDF burr grinder with doser is available on many websites for over $300, but you really shouldn’t be paying any more than $300 for this coffee grinder. The cheapest we have seen it is on Amazon who consistently sell this coffee grinder for under $300.
Does it include a Warranty?
Yes, the Gaggia 8002 MDF burr grinder with doser includes a 1 year warranty.
What Current Owners Are Saying About This Gaggia Coffee Grinder
This coffee grinder has received rave reviews from most consumers on the net with an average of 4 out of 5 stars.
When I first used my Gaggia MDF burr grinder, I was absolutely shocked because the espresso that I made with the ground coffee had twice the crema I had ever gotten before, and the flavor and taste of the espresso was out of this world. It was so smooth and sweet, and it’s almost as if I had used a completely different espresso bean. Now I’m embarrassed that I used to brag to my friends that I could make an espresso as good as any Starbucks. I was wrong then, because I couldn’t…not without this great grinder. The only negative I’ve found about this grinder so far, is that it’s rather loud — but what grinder won’t be, when its churning out such a fine grind?? Remember to also keep a paper napkin under it so that you can catch any loose grounds.
- Lance M. (Review paraphrased for size. Read the original review here)
Here are some of the other comments to date:
- “The MDF is probably the best bargain going for being a true home barista”
- “Consistently good grind”
- “Great size, good quality, nice price”
- “Someone Slap Me For Waiting So Long..!!!”
- “Perfect Grinder”
Where Can You Read More Reviews for the Gaggia 8002 MDF Burr Grinder with Doser?
You want to read reviews on this coffee grinder from people who actually use the product, and the best place to do this is Amazon. Click here to read more reviews.
Any complaints?
I found very few complaints for this coffee grinder on consumer sites around the Internet. One consumer did express concern that it can be a loud grinder, but every bean grinder will be noisy, especially if you want a fine grind. A quieter model can be had, but costs $100-$200 more than the Gaggia MDF, which isn’t very worthwhile.
Where Can You Buy the Gaggia 8002 MDF Burr Grinder with Doser?
You can buy this Gaggia burr grinder from Amazon. At the moment they include free shipping and from what I can tell when comparing prices with other online merchants, Amazon does currently have the best deal, especially with the free shipping option. Click here to view on Amazon.
