First things first, when looking for a coffee grinder the first consideration you will encounter would be the burr vs blade grinder conundrum.
In my review of the Krups coffee grinder I explained the difference between a blade and a burr grinder, let's just go over the most important concept we must understand. Blade grinders usually have two rotating blades that essentially chops your beans to smithereens, they tend to produce a very inconsistent grind. The blades will do some chopping on some beans and potentially less on others, leaving you with some fine grounds and others well, not so fine. Burr grinders on the other hand work with two gears, one stationary and the other revolving, they both have teeth like (those found on a gear) which trap the beans between them, grinding them to a fine powder. Only the fine powder can escape to the bottom compartment where you will collect them, leaving you with evenly sized granules.
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De Longhi KG79 Coffee Grinder Review
The De Longhi KG79 is a burr grinder therefore deserving a review. Although the people over at the De Longhi marketing department have cleverly labelled this grinder as a ‘professional grinder' I do not agree with them. The reason I say this is that it is very important to understand that this is not a commercial grinder. Commercial grinders are specifically built for grinding enough beans to sustain a busy restaurant, we are talking hundreds of cups a day. No household grinder will be able to keep up with those numbers however, this is a great machine to have in your home. That being said, all in all this grinder is perfect for the average home user.
What I look for in a good coffee grinder is value for money, adjustable grind size & portion control delivering consistent results, good quality steel burrs and because I like pretty things, it should not be an eyesore on my kitchen counter.
Although this is a burr coffee grinder the coarseness of the grind is not very consistent due to the teeth on the burrs being rather dull however I must mention that this will be a problem with most grinders in this price class. If you are looking for a perfectly consistent grind, I would suggest looking for a professional grinder just keep in mind that they will have a much larger price tag.
Let's have a look at the pros and cons of this machine.
De'Longhi Coffee Grinder
The De'Longhi Coffee grinder is a budget appliance. It, however, packs a ton of excellent features, making it very attractive to consumers. A transparent bean container with a lid on the top allows seeing the number of beans available at a particular time.
The bean container holds 120 grams. The appliance's black colour makes it blend nicely with the coffee beans, coffee drinks, and other kitchen appliances.
- Affordable
- Burr Grinder
- Value for money
- Built in powercord storage
- Adjustable grind size
- Sleek and compact design
- Consistent adjustable portion size
- Loud grind
- Not very fast
- Minimum of 2 cups
- Coarseness not very consistent
De Longhi KG79 Coffee Grinder – Features & Benefits
This machine like many of its competitors come with a bean hopper (top compartment) where the beans go, and a grounds compartment (bottom compartment) to catch the ground beans. Both these compartments are fitted with a safety lock to prevent the motor from engaging if the containers aren't secured, this will not only prevent you or your children lose a finger, but it will also ensure that the machine won't spew out ground coffee all over your kitchen counter.
The grind adjustment works quite well however when it comes to very fine grinding this machine will not satisfy the strong espresso lover as it should, but hey, this comes with the price tag. For any other brew this machine will work just fine.
Another feature that is present on most of the machines in this class is the volume selector, unfortunately there is no switch to reduce the noise this machine makes; however, I am referring to the volume of grounds you want to grind at the press of the start button. Although I can't remember the last time, I had to make 12 cups at a time, I guess this is a cool feature to have if you are regularly entertaining your friends, my only issue with this function is the minimum amount you can set the machine to grind is 2 – WHY!? I don't understand why they wouldn't set the minimum amount it can grind to enough for 1 cup, not that I have ever just had one cup of coffee in the morning. I believe it's just my misguided logic screwing with me.
Best Used For?
It goes without saying that this machine is best used for grinding coffee although it is worth noting that it would make a brilliant spice grinder as well. I would not suggest you use your coffee grinder as your spice grinder, rather have a separate machine for each job. Just as accumulated spices might have a negative impact on the flavour and aroma of your morning brew, the built-up coffee could have an impact on the food you are making. You could follow a thorough cleaning before and after each different use, but let's be honest, who in their right mind will do that? A better approach to this would be to have two different machines, one for coffee, and one for spices.
Specifications
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Coffee ground container (g)
150
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Max. number of ground cups
12
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Bean hopper capacity (g)
120
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Dimensions (inches)
6.3 x 5.1 x 10.2
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Weight (net with accessories) (kg)
1.5
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Input power (W)
170
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Rated voltage/Frequency
120~60
Reasons To Buy
If you are still grinding your coffee with a blade grinder or worse, still buying pre-ground coffee you must buy this machine immediately. The joy of submerging yourself into the coffee making process and the sheer improvement of aroma and quality that comes with grinding your own coffee will make this buy one you won't regret.
I absolutely love the modern design of this machine; the sleek edges and matt black colour will look amazing in any modern kitchen. If you have limited space on your kitchen counter, this machine has a built-in cord compartment that will help you minimize the clutter in your cupboard.
This machine is perfect for the home user who, like me, enjoys a properly brewed cup of coffee. Made by De Longhi, a well-known brand who delivers quality appliances this machine also comes with a full manufacturer’s warranty.
If you are a restaurant owner or manager looking to buy a new grinder for your bar, this is definitely not the one for you, this machine is made for personal home use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Functionalities Does This Machine Have?
Apart from smaller design features and built-in power cord management this machine does not come with a lot of bells and whistles. The two main features are the cup selector which enables you to select the number of grounds to make (up to 12), and the coarseness selector which enables you to adjust the coarseness of each grind. I don't believe there should be much more to a coffee grinder than this, after all, you are only looking to grind coffee beans, not make toast.
What Brewing Methods Will This Machine Be Suitable For?
Filter coffee is one of the methods in which very coarse grounds are required, with this machines’ 17 settings you can make anything from coarse grounds to fairly fine for a decent espresso. However, if you prefer to only drink high quality and strong espressos, I suggest looking for a grinder that will produce a more consistent grind in the very fine end of the spectrum.
Is This Machine Able To Grind Large Quantities?
Although the De Longhi company has cleverly decided to market this product as a ‘professional coffee grinder', this machine is definitely not suited to handle restaurant demands. This machine will last a good few years if properly cared for in a home environment and probably in a restaurant where coffee isn't a popular item.
Which Parts Of This Machine Is Dishwasher Safe?
According to the manufacturer's guide only the ground coffee container, its lid and the coffee bean hopper lid can be washed in the top rack of a dishwasher. For the rest of the machine a damp cloth is recommended to wipe the machine clean, the manufacturer has also included a handy little brush to get to those pesky grooves and tiny crevices.
How To Clean A DeLonghi KG79?
Before cleaning any appliance, always remember to unplug it from the power source. Avoid using any strong detergents or abrasive scourers when cleaning, detergents can have a dire effect on your coffee’s aromas.
First remove the grounds container, its lid and the bean hopper lid and wash them in warm soapy water.
Other Coffee Grinders We Have Reviewed:
Remove the upper burr by first setting the coarseness selector to the fine position then firmly grasping the top of the burr, turn clockwise and pull. Gently clean the inside of the coffee dispenser with a damp cloth ensuring to remove all built up pieces of coffee (note, you can use the provided brush to remove particles out of small crevices).
After ensuring the inside of the machine is thoroughly cleaned replace the top burr by setting the coarseness selector to the coarse position, insert the burr and turn it counter clockwise. Clean the body of the machine with a damp towel and voila!
De'Longhi Coffee Grinder Review: Summing Up
There you have it. The De'longhi KG79 burr grinder is a great product for personal home use (it does a great job!) but you might consider paying a bit more for a truly professional model suitable for commercial kitchens!
