The Baratza Maestro Conical Burr Grinder is one of the most eye pleasing grinders on the market, but the beauty isn't skin deep. Inside is the heart of a great grinder that can grind coffee beans for any coffee brewer, whether it is an espresso machine, drip coffee maker, or French press coffee maker. The Maestro is designed and assembled in the USA with lots of innovative features built in including a list of unique features requested by some of America's most respected coffee experts.

Some of the most requested features include: smooth, quiet operation, (from enhanced motor noise isolation); conical (coned shaped) Swiss made cutting burrs that give a fine grind critical for perfect espresso extraction and more than a 50% greater grinding adjustment compared to other grinders in its class. You can adjust the grind range from a fine setting for a Turkish grind and espresso, up to a nice, even, coarser grind for a French press. The special gear reduction for the motor offers slow rotation of the cuttings burrs which helps with the retention of the aroma and flavor of the freshly ground beans. It features a powerful 160-watt electric motor that won’t bog down when grinding at fine settings.

• Swiss Made Grinding Wheels:  The Baratza Maestro was designed in the USA by the Baratza importers and it is built in the USA. However, the quality components that make up the heart of the Maestro are from Switzerland. At the center of the grinder is the hardened cone shaped grinding wheel referred to as a conical burr. Conical burr grinders are exceptional at producing consistent grinds from very fine to very coarse and they are very tough and long lasting. Thanks to the slow speed at which the conical burr turns, the noise level is considerably less than conventional flat burr grinders and they are less messy.

• Grind Coffee For Any Brewing Method:  There are many coffee grinders on the market. However, few have the ability to grind fine enough for a professional espresso machine and coarse enough for a French press coffee maker. The Baratza Maestro’s wide adjustable grind range makes it an exceptional, all-purpose grinder. Choose among 18 grind settings by turning the bean hopper to the desired level. Easy to read markings at the base of the bean hopper indicate the proper setting for the coffee brewer you are using.

• The Baratza Maestro Caters to Espresso Machines:  If you have an espresso machine, you will enjoy the convenience of being able to grind directly in to the filter basket for your machine. After you remove the large coffee grounds catcher, you can insert your portafilter directly under the dispensing chute to collect the coffee as it is being ground. You also can manually (versus using the timer knob) activate the grinder with your thumb while holding the portafilter for one hand operation.

• Automatic & Manual Operation:  Rare on any coffee grinder priced under $300, the Baratza Maestro has a timer switch that allows you to set the grinder to automatically control the grind duration so you don't have to monitor the grinder yourself. On the front of the grinder there is a button that you can manually control the on/off function. When pressed, the grinder will start, then immediately turn off when the button is released. This is nice if you wish to grind a small amount of coffee for espresso.

• Easy to Clean:  One important and often overlooked task required of owning a good coffee grinder is routine cleaning. To clean the Baratza Maestro, just remove the coffee bean hopper to expose the grinding chamber which takes about 5 seconds. At this point the outer cutting wheel simply lifts out. You can perform a thorough cleaning to remove built up coffee grounds around the main cutting wheel and then reassemble the grinder in about 8 seconds. No other coffee grinder on the market makes it so easy to clean.

• Large Coffee Bean Hopper:  With the ability to store up to ½ pound of coffee beans in the hopper, there is no need to constantly refill the grinder. It will hold enough beans to brew several full pots of coffee or 20 shots of espresso. It is made of frosted shatter resistant plastic.

• Perfect Coffee Grounds Catcher:  The coffee grounds catcher was perfectly designed so that it forms an almost airtight seal. This prevents coffee dust from escaping while you are grinding coffee beans at a fine setting.

• Anti Static Design:  The coffee chute is equipped with a flapper valve that slows the rate at which the coffee grounds are dispensed. Combined with the slow rotation of the burrs there is considerably less static produced. Low static helps reduce coffee shavings from becoming airborne and making a mess on your counter.

• Service & Support:  All Baratza products are offered with an unlimited toll free technical support service. If you have any questions or need help, just call us at the number provided in your help guide. We offer a limited one-year parts and labor warranty for home or office use.