Grinder Throwdown: Virtuoso vs. Smartgrinder vs. Rocky

Looking for an entry-level espresso-grade grinder and not sure where to start? Well, we like a grudge match around here, so you may have seen the previous stand-offs between the Breville Smart Grinder vs the Rancilio Rocky and the Baratza Virtuoso vs Breville Smart Grinder. Those may have left you wondering: How do all three stack up against each other? Being the mind readers that we are at SCG, Kat and I used a Breville BES900XL and Velton’s Bonsai Blend to put these grinders through the paces.

Let’s compare them side-by-side:

	Baratza Virtuoso	Breville Smart Grinder	Rancilio Rocky
Burr Type	Conical steel	Conical steel	Flat steel
Burr Size	40mm	40mm	55mm
Case Material	Plastic	Brushed stainless steel	Stainless steel
Height	13 inches	14 inches	14 inches
Hopper Capacity	8 oz.	1 lb and hopper is removable!	8 oz.
Weight	16 lbs	5.6 lbs	18 lbs
Programmability	None	LCD screen lets you set grind (coarse to fine) volume (in cups and shots depending on fineness of grind) and dosage (weak to strong)	None
Timer or on/off switch	Timer and manual	Timer and manual setting	Manual only
Time to grind double shot	12 sec	22 sec	20-30 sec
Dosing	Only with timer, not by weight/volume	Automatically adjusts with grind; from coarser (dose in cups) to fine (dose in shots)	Doser avail for +$10, otherwise chute only
Grind consistency (1-5 scale, 5=most consistent)	40 individual step settingsFinest setting: 3 Coarsest setting: 1	25 settingsFinest setting: 4 Coarsest setting: 2	55 settingsFinest setting: 5, like talc Coarsest setting: 3
Shot performance (scale of 1-5, 5=strongest)	3: Overall, a solid shot, with the depth you’d expect from a fresh grind and proper dial-in.	4: A solid shot with great flavor and slightly more complex notes using the 2nd finest setting.	5: Shot has a great mouth feel, and you can taste more complexity and richness to the shot.
Notes	No frills, no fuss, easy to use, it’s a strong performer for espresso and other coffee applications. No electric panel makes trouble shooting a breeze as your grinder ages.	The lightest of the pack, this grinder is extremely versatile and a great value. It’s all about the features and accessories: portafilter holders, ground coffee canister, removable hopper to switch out beans.	Commercial quality for home use and it shows. Largest footprint of all grinders, a big commitment to your counter top, but with definite benefits in shot quality.

The Rocky is a literal heavyweight coming in at 18 pounds and a hundred dollar heftier price tag, but there’s no doubt that the commercial quality burrs make a difference when it comes to tasting the complexity of your shot. I love the Virtuoso’s ease of use and inherent versatility, so it’s often my go-to for testing espresso, pour overs and french press. But like an ostrich, I am drawn to shiny objects and I wish it had more stainless in the casing. The Smart Grinder fulfills this need, and weighing in under six pounds means it doesn’t need to be a permanent fixture on your countertop – but it could be because it’s great for households with multiple coffee drinkers with different bean preferences. What would you choose?