Some lessons are worth learning by ourselves. That’s how I was forced to make a choice between two superpower coffee grinders – Rancilio Rocky vs Sette 270. It was one of the hardest decisions, but I cracked.

Before I tell you how I arrived at the conclusion, I must also remind you that there is a lot of misinformation out there about coffee makers. Tread carefully!

For many coffee drinkers, the method and art of the drink itself become more vital than, receiving a caffeine dose. Precision and attention are required when making exquisite espressos, French presses, and other techniques.

You may eventually discover that you need to upgrade from your tiny grinder to a larger, more powerful grinder. This is a necessary improvement for those who wish to prepare a variety of espressos since some demand the finest grind available.

Starting with Sette 270 and the Rancilio Rocky heavy-duty grinder is a good decision if you’re seeking to take the next step in coffee brewing. The Sette 270 and the Rancilio Rocky are two of the most popular coffee grinders today. The two have a lot in common and of course striking differences.

Let’s start with what the two share:

Rancilio Rocky Vs Baratza Sette 270 Similarities

Here are a few similarities:

Cost

Rancilio Rocky and Baratza Sette 270 original or Baratza Sette 270 refurbished are two of the most preferred choices for home espresso brewers. As such, they cost a decent amount of money, which is synonymous with their superior quality.

On average, it will cost you upward of $390 to get the Sette 270 Conical Burr Coffee Grinder or $400 to have your hands on the Rancilio Rocky Coffee Grinder.

Function

The two are powerful coffee grinders. In fact, they have almost similar features and function in almost the same way.

The Sette 270 for instance, can grind beans into a portafilter, but the Rocky Rancilio can grind into either a container or a portafilter. The Rocky features a huge fresh bean jar that may be used for storage from day to day, while the Sette has additional grind settings.

Rancilio Rocky Vs Baratza Sette 270 Differences

We’ve seen two major similarities between the two. Now, here are their key differences.

Burr Material

Sette series use steel 40 mm conical burrs. You can get a Sette coffee grinder that has doser or doserless variant. Rancilio Rocky, on the other hand, uses 50 mm steel burrs.

Speed

In terms of speed and performance, Sette Series run on a strong DC motor, while the Rancilio Rocky grinder comes with a direct drive to further optimize the process.

Sound

The winning aspect here is sound, and the Rocky features a solid, hefty metal shell that allows for quieter operation. It is possible to grind coffee with the Rancilio Rocky anytime you want even if it is next to a sleeping toddler’s eardrums.

Grind Settings

With 30 steps and a seemingly unlimited number of steps in between with micro-adjustments, the Sette 270 and 270W dominate, but the Rocky has 40 settings of its own and is capable of more as it approaches the zero point.

In this way, Rocky is fairly straightforward. To fine-tune your grind, just adjust the ring around the hopper. Hats off to the Sette series, since the 270 and 270W have a touch screen and Bluetooth technology is becoming more commonly accessible, allowing users to configure and start a grind from anywhere on their Smartphone.

After those few pointers, now let’s look at each of the two grinders individually.

Rancilio Rocky Coffee Grinder Review

The Rocky is a unique coffee grinder with 40 settings that are etched into the dial, but the ultra-fine threading of the burrs allows for an additional 10 settings, allowing you to go from French press to espresso particles.

Rancilio Rocky grinder’s settings are ideal for you if you are looking for a broad range of grind possibilities, while higher-end grinders tend to concentrate on either coarse or fine grinding. The grinding settings of the Rancilio Rocky have been fine-tuned allowing amateur baristas to dial-in grinds for a range of brew styles.

To change the grind setting on Rocky’s hopper, spin it while holding down a locking mechanism that maintains the grind setting in place. At the zero grind point, the Rocky features a built-in screw.

Special Features

The ‘zero point,’ while it may seem little, is what keeps the burrs from grinding against one other when the grind setting is pushed to the lowest particle size. This is a crucial element because it guarantees that the burrs do not collide and that their sharpness is maintained. It’ll also assist keep the grinder from being clogged with grinds.

The Rocky SS is a manual dosing grinder, which means it only grinds when the button in the bottom left corner is manually pressed. You may need to do a little more legwork with a manual dosing grinder by weighing out your beans before grinding to ensure that you get the right quantity for your brewing technique.

This variant similarly comes with a portafilter holder, but it also contains a grounds collector with a lever for dispensing coffee after the grind is finished.

The doserless Rancilio Rocky SD comes with a chute and a replaceable portafilter container. This is a useful addition since you can simply grind it and pour it into a container or into your French press.

On the surface, this machine seems to be smaller and less heavy-duty, yet it weighs in at a staggering 15 pounds. For perspective, the Sette grinder weighs about seven pounds.

The Rancilio Rocky SD boasts a 166-watt motor that is both strong and quiet. It makes use of 50mm plate grinding burrs, which are common in entry-level and larger-sized grinders.

The machine does not have a receptacle for the ground beans; instead, the beans are dispensed directly into a portafilter, which is kept in place by a detachable metal fork. This is useful for those who want to shorten the time it takes to make espresso.

With the Rocky, you can choose from 40 different grind settings. You can grind an exceptionally fine or coarse batch of coffee grounds in a matter of seconds.

To vary the grind level, spin the bean hopper quickly while holding down a locking mechanism. At a time, the hopper can accommodate half a pound of beans. In one hour, the machine can grind over eight pounds of beans.

What we Like

• Durable
• Simple operation.
• Bean hopper with a tint.
• For espresso or Turkish coffee, this is a great option.

What we DON’T Like

• For coarse grinds, this isn’t the best option.

Baratza Sette 270 Review

Baratza knows how to manufacture a grinder; we’ve previously tested their Sette and Forté models. Let’s talk about Sette’s product range, which is rather comparable to Rocky’s in terms of pricing.

With its distinctive innovations, the Sette series has sparked a revolution. The Sette 30, which began as a fluke of a grinder, grew into the 30AP via intensive user testing, and comments from experienced coffee grinders all around the world, and Baratza listened intently.

The Baratza Sette series is designed to meet the grinding issues that the ordinary user faced, and each model is equipped with 40mm conical steel burrs that provide consistent grinds. However, the ingenuity does not stop with the conical burrs. Etzinger Burrs’ mechanism goes ahead to give the grinder a conical shape.

Special Features

The Etzinger Mechanism is what it’s called, and it’s already shown to be worth its weight in gold. Because the creator, Christian Etzinger, is an aviation engineer, it’s like tossing some ripe coffee beans into a jet engine (believe us, they won’t let you do that at the airport).

Because of this mechanism’s jet-like qualities, the beans are dragged through the grinding process rather than being fed by gravity. This is a level of consistency that you won’t find anywhere else.

Allowing the beans to be drawn into the mechanism, and thereby feeding the grinder, removes static and poor particle distribution, allowing for weight-based dosage that is both precise and responsive.

As a result, the Sette 270W, at the top of this series, can provide the real-time grind-by-weight capability, which is also a game-changer in the coffee-grinding industry.

Depending on the roast and grind setting, the Sette 30 grinds 3.5 to 5.5 grams per second. The burrs are long-lasting and will keep their sharpness for a long time. This means you won’t have to spend additional money on the grinder every few years to replace the blades.

The Sette series burr assembly’s ingenious design allows you, the user, to replace the cone burr in less than a minute. There are no tools needed, and unlike most other grinders on the market, there is no need to readjust.

Because of their endurance, you won’t have to worry about removing the burr set to replace them, but they are still readily detachable for cleaning. The engine is fast and high-powered, likely offering just as much footwork as the Rocky, but it’s particularly handy for low-ground retention, making cleaning less of a concern.

The Baratza Sette 270 Additional Features

Baratza Sette 270 Conical Burr Coffee Grinder has 270 various grind settings, letting you fine-tune your grind to perfection. With this product, you can achieve a very exact grind, ranging from coarse grinds for French press to extra-fine grinds for a ristretto.

The machine can grind beans at a rate of five grams per second and is designed to prevent any powder from being retained.

Sette 270’s outer burr of the grinder is driven for a grind while the inner burr remains stationary. This ensures a steady and quick grind every time. A jar for fresh beans is included with the grinder, but you may alternatively remove it and grind it straight into a portafilter.

The control panel contains an LCD display that makes it simple to operate the many functions. It also has the ability to store prior grind settings, making consistency even simpler. You can have consistency every day if you explore and find out the ideal time and grind setting.

You may utilize the stored grind settings to go back and check what you liked in the past if you forgot.

What we Like

• SCA Award Recipient in 2016.
• Programmable 3 dosage parameters.

What we DON’T Like

• It’s loud.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is Rancilio Rocky a good grinder?

A: Overall, the Rocky is a great espresso grinder with excellent grind consistency. In addition, the majority of people will be able to fine-tune extractions for excellent espresso.

Q: How long do Rancilio Rocky Burrs last?

A: It’s great, but it won’t last forever. Replacement burrs, on the other hand, are rather easy to come by. Some users say they use it every day and just replace it once every 10 years.

Q: Where are Baratza coffee grinders made?

A: They’re made in Taiwan using precision burrs imported from Europe and supplied via a growing global network.

Q: Is Rancilio Rocky good for espresso?

A: Overall, the Rocky is a fantastic espresso grinder with outstanding grind uniformity.

Q: How do you use a Rancilio Rocky grinder?

A: Watch this video:

Q: Is the Baratza Sette 270 worth it?

A: The Baratza Sette 270 is a delight to use, with practically minimal static and a clean operation. This machine offers a fairly consistent grind with superior adjustability and is a great grinder for manual brewing and espresso. Macro and micro-adjustments allow you to get specific dialing in your grind.

Q: How do you adjust a 270wi Sette?

A: Check out this video:

Q: Can Baratza Sette 270 do drip coffee?

A: It is nice to have 3 settings as you could use one for espresso, one for V60 or Aeropress, and the last for a larger drip coffee maker. The buttons work great, but don’t have a very nice feeling.

Q: How do you clean a Baratza Sette 270?

A:

Rancilio Rocky vs Baratza Sette 270 Verdict

As mentioned from the beginning, the question of Rancilio Rocky vs Sette 270 is not a simple one. Both are premium coffee grinders made by notable manufacturers who know what their clients need.

The two have unique features that set them apart from other coffee grinders. However, you need to look at your needs before choosing either. It is my sincere hope that this comparison post has been of help in deciding which of them will be a good choice for your family.