Purchased for following reasons:1. Subjectively, it is a piece of art, the thick pieces of brushed aluminum, chrome sides, squared body with conical hopper and chute, slight Art Deco feel, the Faustino would be equally comfortable in a kitchen or museum2. Size - needed a grinder to fit pleasantly under the cabinets with ample space around it (not like it was squeezed underneath), also liked the overall smaller footprint as counter space is at a premium, the other similarly styled grinders (ECM V-Titan, Mazzer Mini Type B, etc.) would just barely fit under the cabinets and/or feel “too big” in the kitchen3. Really liked the look, size and easy use of the large stepless adjustment knob4. It seemed to be one of the more quiet grinders (at least from all the videos ... MorePurchased for following reasons:1. Subjectively, it is a piece of art, the thick pieces of brushed aluminum, chrome sides, squared body with conical hopper and chute, slight Art Deco feel, the Faustino would be equally comfortable in a kitchen or museum2. Size - needed a grinder to fit pleasantly under the cabinets with ample space around it (not like it was squeezed underneath), also liked the overall smaller footprint as counter space is at a premium, the other similarly styled grinders (ECM V-Titan, Mazzer Mini Type B, etc.) would just barely fit under the cabinets and/or feel “too big” in the kitchen3. Really liked the look, size and easy use of the large stepless adjustment knob4. It seemed to be one of the more quiet grinders (at least from all the videos I researched)5. Wanted a machine grade grinder to pair with an ECM Synchonika6. Price - when taking into account all of the above, the Faustino happened to be one of the less expensive options7. The color, font, layout and simple use of the touchscreen seemed appealingResults:1. Pulling it out of the box, the weight and sturdy construction give it the feel of a well built machine2. It is fairly quiet, no real way to convey this attribute other then to say I have never been bothered/irritated by its sound when in use3. The portafilter holder is not hands free for my ECM portafilter, which I originally thought was going to bother me somewhat (I called WLL before purchasing and was informed it was not hands free with my ECM), but I discovered I only have to hold it for 11 seconds, and I prefer to make small movements to more evenly distribute the grinds while grinding, so in reality would probably never use it hands free even if it was an option (I had also decided that if it did bother me, which is not the case, I would go to the local machine shop and have them custom CNC machine a hands free holder for a couple hundred bucks, sort of liked the idea of customizing the grinder)4. Grinds do get all over, the conical chute does do a good job of putting the grinds in the center of the portafilter, but as it fills/overflows (16g in double portafilter), the grinds start to bounce a little off the mound being created and spray on the counter, tried stopping half way through the grind and redistributing which helped somewhat but not much, the fix was getting an Orphan Espresso dosing ring/funnel, absolute game changer, easily fits under the chute when on the portafilter and almost zero mess5. Touchscreen does take a few grinds to get used to (quick taps to stop/restart in middle of grind, longer taps/touches to reset), but it is very straightforward and is mostly “set it and forget it”once dialed in6. It is consistent, for the current beans it is set up with grind setting at 3.5, time of 11.6secs, resulting in 16g grinds and 30ish g espresso at 25 secs), my scale only reads out in whole grams (not fractions of grams), but it consistently reads16g with each grind7. There were a couple times in the early use where the beans did not feed properly from the hopper, resulting in under dosing, this issue seems to have resolved and possibly was a function of the bean type vs break in period vs ? Seems to no longer be an issue.Overall, very happy with the purchase, would purchase again.

Prior to owning the Rocket Faustino grinder I just purchased in December 2020, I owned a Gaggia MDF grinder (from WLL). I also borrowed a neighbor's Rocky grinder for comparison. Using a decibel meter app on my iPhone and placing each grinder in the same exact location next to my Rocket, I recorded each grinder grinding the same beans. The Rocky and the Faustino ground directly into my portafilter and the MDF ground into the dosser. My goal was a quieter grinder but superb espresso grinder. The online comparison on SCG said the Rocky was quieter than several other grinders. In my experience, the decibel app showed the following measurements at 12" away from the ground (phone in my hand not on the counter top):Gaggia MDF 100 dbRocky 95 dbRocket Faustino 74 dbThe ... MorePrior to owning the Rocket Faustino grinder I just purchased in December 2020, I owned a Gaggia MDF grinder (from WLL). I also borrowed a neighbor's Rocky grinder for comparison. Using a decibel meter app on my iPhone and placing each grinder in the same exact location next to my Rocket, I recorded each grinder grinding the same beans. The Rocky and the Faustino ground directly into my portafilter and the MDF ground into the dosser. My goal was a quieter grinder but superb espresso grinder. The online comparison on SCG said the Rocky was quieter than several other grinders. In my experience, the decibel app showed the following measurements at 12" away from the ground (phone in my hand not on the counter top):Gaggia MDF 100 dbRocky 95 dbRocket Faustino 74 dbThe noise difference between the MDF and Rocky was perceivable given the 5 db different, however it didn't feel significant. They both sounded like you could wake up the household. From a SPF (sound pressure level) 5 db is significant. However humans are not SPF meters.To say that the Faustino was quieter is a gross understatement. It was MUCH quieter!If noise while grinding for fresh espresso is a concern, the Faustino will not disappoint...nor will the quality of the machine and the basic features.

The Faustino is a huuuuge upgrade from my previous grinder, the Rancilio Rocky.The Rocky is one of those grinders that you buy because it seems paying more than $350 for a grinder is insane. The Rocky does a credible job but has a fatal flaw: the exit chute is horizontal and this forces the grounds to be clumped together upon exit which results in uneven tamping.Contrariwise, the Faustino’s grounds fall gently into the portafilter like delicate snow.Upon first seeing this, my wife and I started referring to the Rocky as Squaw Valley (known for their “Sierra Cement”), and the Faustino as Alta (i.e. the holy grail of powder).The difference between the two is amazing to taste. While this is a big step up pricewise, if you amortize it over the period of ownership, ... MoreThe Faustino is a huuuuge upgrade from my previous grinder, the Rancilio Rocky.The Rocky is one of those grinders that you buy because it seems paying more than $350 for a grinder is insane. The Rocky does a credible job but has a fatal flaw: the exit chute is horizontal and this forces the grounds to be clumped together upon exit which results in uneven tamping.Contrariwise, the Faustino’s grounds fall gently into the portafilter like delicate snow.Upon first seeing this, my wife and I started referring to the Rocky as Squaw Valley (known for their “Sierra Cement”), and the Faustino as Alta (i.e. the holy grail of powder).The difference between the two is amazing to taste. While this is a big step up pricewise, if you amortize it over the period of ownership, yadda yadda . . .Many people glamorize the grinder saying it’s as important as the machine itself. I believe it.Further, the Faustino is stepless which can account for small variations in beans and roasting, etc. Also, the Faustino is short enough to fit under a kitchen cabinet - which is nice for those with space constraints.Wonderful.