Let’s be honest: Rocket Espresso succeeds at pretty much everything it sets out to do. So, I’m writing this Rocket grinder review to see if the Faustino 3.1 espresso grinder can live up to the brand’s sky-high expectations.
Let’s be honest: Rocket Espresso succeeds at pretty much everything it sets out to do. So, I’m writing this Rocket grinder review to see if the Faustino 3.1 espresso grinder can live up to the brand’s sky-high expectations.
I mean, the Rocket Appartamento espresso machine blows me away every time I use it – can the Rocket Faustino 3.1 do the same? Without further ado, let’s find out!
Superb espresso grinder
Rocket Faustino 3.1 Espresso Grinder
Ideal for home espresso nerds
High-quality build
Sleek design
Stepless grind adjustment
50mm flat burrs
Rather expensive
Overview: Rocket Grinder Review
If you’re as enthusiastic about home espresso machines as I am, Rocket likely doesn’t need much introduction. The Milan-based company makes some of the best prosumer machines out there, so when I saw that Rocket released the Rocket Faustino 3.1 espresso grinder I was pretty much beside myself.
This machine is an upgrade to older Rocket Faustino grinder models, hence the name Faustino 3.1. And actually, Rocket itself doesn’t manufacture the grinder; the folks over at Rocket are espresso machine specialists, after all. Rather, the Venice-based company Macap produces the Faustino 3.1 on behalf of Rocket.
With that said, like other Rocket Espresso products, the Rocket grinder is still built by hand in Italy. It’s got a durable build with a metal frame, powerful motor and stainless steel flat burrs. Seriously, this thing is made to last.
With a $850.00 price tag, the Faustino 3.1 is pretty expensive for a home espresso grinder. And though it’s definitely powerful and well-made, I wouldn’t recommend testing its limits in anything busier than a low-volume commercial setting.
Still, the Rocket grinder has all the convenient features you’d expect from a high-end home burr grinder. These include programmable dosing, stepless grind adjustment and a portafilter cradle. Add its seamless user interface into the mix and you’ve got an espresso grinder that’s practically perfect.
I’ll dig into all of these features throughout the rest of my Rocket grinder review. For now, let me just add that the Faustino 3.1 is a gorgeous commercial-style machine. I, for one, would be more than happy to make room for it on my kitchen counter.
Of course, the promise of a three year warranty certainly helps sweeten the deal too.
Rocket Faustino Grinder Features
Now that we’ve gone over the basics of this Rocket grinder review, let’s get into the details.
Size and Design
Just from the design of the Faustino 3.1 grinder, it’s clear that it’s meant to complement the Rocket Espresso Appartamento line. The copper and white colorways even have the laser cut circles that make the Rocket Appartamento espresso machines pop.
For the record, the black and chrome colorways are almost as cool – just without the circles. To recap, you’ve got four color options here: Black, Chrome, Appartamento Copper and Appartamento White.
Appartamento roots aside, the Faustino grinder looks like a cross between a Eureka grinder and two commercial burr grinder manufacturers: Mahlkonig and Mazzer.
In other words, it’s got the body of a Eureka, the hopper style of a Mahlkonig and the dosing funnel of a Mazzer. Am I letting my nerdiness show too much?
Anyway, I’ll get back to the Eureka comparisons later on in this Rocket grinder review. Let’s focus on the Faustino 3.1 itself.
Clearly, this machine is gorgeous. It’s got sleek lines, a slim profile and dramatic round features in the dosing funnel and bean hopper. What’s more, it’s compact enough to fit on crowded kitchen counters and slide under overhanging cabinets.
The only real complaint I have about the grinder’s design is that it seems quite loud, even despite the sound-insulated case. That said, loud operation is a common complaint about grinders featuring flat burrs, so I can’t say that I’m surprised.
User Interface
Perhaps the biggest appeal of the Faustino 3.1 espresso grinder is its seamless user interface. As it happens, the large digital display is front-and-center with a sloped face that’s easy to see. Plus, it has five touch-sensitive buttons for programming and dosing espresso grounds.
What’s more, intuitive symbols make it easy to figure out the functions of each button.
Despite the high-tech display, the Faustino 3.1 has a power switch on the side that’s comfortingly simple.
Finally, I’ll say that some users have a hard time dialing in their grind upon initial use. On first glance, the large textured grind adjustment knob towards the back of the machine seems easy to use. However, new buyers often find that they must fiddle with the set screw to get the burrs into the espresso range. I’ll talk more about dialing in later on in my Rocket grinder review.
Programmable Dosing
As I mentioned, the user interface makes it very easy to program your espresso doses. Simply press and hold the “R” touch button to enter programming mode, then you can program three different dose settings.
Since the Rocket grinder doesn’t have a built-in scale, the dosing mechanism works via a timer. In fact, you can adjust the dosing time by increments of 1/10 of a second. Being able to program three doses is great for home baristas who like to switch between large doses of single origin espresso, Italian-style ristretto doses and different shot sizes.
Beyond the three programmable doses, there’s also a convenient continuous run setting.
Stainless Steel Flat Burrs
Listen up, you espresso grinder nerds, here’s what you’ve been waiting for: the Faustino 3.1 has 50-millimeter stainless steel flat burrs.
You really can’t get better than that in the home market. And from what I can tell, the burr set does a great job at producing uniform and fluffy espresso grounds.
What’s more, Rocket makes it easy to perform your own maintenance on the burrs. When it comes time to clean or even replace them, you’ll be able to do it yourself with just a few simple hand tools.
Stepless Grind Adjustment
Since I don’t care too much for the conical vs flat burr debate, my inner espresso nerd didn’t come out until I learned that the Faustino 3.1 features single revolution stepless grind adjustment.
This is probably a good time to mention that the Faustino 3.1 is firmly not an all-rounder grinder. If that’s what you’re looking for, I’ve got some good options on my guide to single dose grinders.
That said, the Rocket Faustino 3.1 grinder excels as an espresso grinder. In particular, the Rocket grinder’s stepless grind adjustment really showcases that specialization.
In other words, stepless grinders enable you to make the precise micro-adjustments necessary for dialing in espresso.
On the other hand, a stepped grinder has a set number of clicks or grind sizes. Often, these clicks are further apart, which give most stepped grinders access to a wider range of grind sizes for various brewing methods.
Meanwhile, the Faustino 3.1’s grind adjustment dial shows the 0-9 markers as a guide to navigate the stepless grind adjustments. Still, even the 9 setting isn’t going to be coarse enough to produce anything beyond an AeroPress grind size.
This may seem limiting, but again, the Rocket Faustino 3.1 is not intended to be anything other than an espresso grinder. Even better, within the espresso range you’re getting an almost infinite amount of grind adjustability.
Before I continue on with the rest of my Rocket grinder review, I should warn you that the burrs often need to be adjusted and aligned right out of the box. Fortunately, this is easy enough to do by simply adjusting the set screw.
Bean Hopper
As I mentioned earlier in this Rocket grinder review, the Faustino 3.1’s bean hopper takes a page from commercial espresso grinders. It’s got a huge 16-ounce (453-gram) capacity and a style that mimics that of Mahlkonig grinders.
Honestly, I’d say the large bean hopper is mostly for show. I mean, most home baristas aren’t going through espresso beans quickly enough to warrant leaving large quantities of coffee in the hopper.
After all, the bean hopper isn’t airtight or resistant to UV rays. Consequently, a storage canister is a better place for long-term storage of coffee beans. Storage canisters are air-tight or even vacuum-sealed, prolonging the shelf life of coffee and preventing stale flavors.
Portafilter Cradle
The portafilter cradle on the Faustino 3.1 grinder is a nice touch. For starters, it visually solidifies the Rocket grinder as an espresso grinder. Functionally, it makes espresso prep so much easier.
Even better, the portafilter cradle is sturdy and hands-free. Sure, it may not be the most stable portafilter cradle in the world, but it’d be good enough for most people. What’s more, the portafilter cradle has an adjustable fork. That said, it’s not clear how useful the adjusting mechanism is.
And that brings me to one of the few complaints I have about the Rocket Faustino 3.1. The dosing funnel is too close to the portafilter cradle to grind large espresso doses in one go. Actually, even small doses mound up in the portafilter basket, so much so that they touch the funnel and end up spilling onto the counter.
How to Use the Rocket Faustino Grinder
There isn’t anything too high-tech about the Rocket Faustino 3.1, so learning how to use it will take mere minutes. That said, you will likely need to adjust the burrs upon unboxing the Faustino 3.1 in order to get the burr distance into an appropriate espresso range. I’ll let the user manual and the pros over at Seattle Coffee Gear explain that process for you.
What’s more, it’s good practice to season the burrs with half a pound or so of cheap or old coffee before grinding a dose of espresso grinds for brewing. If you decide to skip this step, just know that you’ll have better-tasting and more consistent shots as your grinder breaks in.
Additionally, another important start-up step includes programming an espresso dose into each button. As I mentioned earlier in my Rocket grinder review, the dosing mechanism is based on a timer. So, you’ll need to learn how the grinding time correlates to the dose. It’s a good idea to use a coffee scale for this process.
For example, you can tare a portafilter on the scale, then use the continuous grind button to dose coffee grounds into the portafilter for three seconds. Place the portafilter back on the scale to weigh the grounds. Then, the next time you grind coffee for espresso, tweak the grinding time to get closer to your preferred dose.
Once you’ve figured out the correct dosing time, you can program that time into one of the dose buttons.
Beyond the initial start-up, using the Rocket grinder is very easy. Simply load some coffee beans into the hopper, then press one of the dosing buttons to grind into your portafilter.
Rocket Grinder Cleaning
In order to keep your grinder running in tip-top shape for years to come, you’ll need to regularly clean the burrs and grinds chute. Fortunately, Rocket changed the design of the Faustino 3.1 to make it easier to clean the burrs.
In fact, only three Allen screws keep the top burr set in place. All you need is an Allen key, and you’ll be able to easily remove the hopper and top burr for cleaning.
You’ll also want a microfiber cloth, a small brush and a vacuum. These tools will help you clear away any coffee residue from the burrs, ensuring that they’ll perform consistently and efficiently.
Rocket Grinder Technical Specifications
| Rocket Faustino 3.1 | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Rocket Espresso |
| Name | Faustino 3.1 |
| Type | Electric coffee grinder |
| Grinder | 50mm stainless steel flat burrs |
| Grind levels | Stepless |
| Power | 310 watt |
| Voltage | 120 volt |
| Weight | 15.4 lb / 7.0 kg |
| Dimensions | 15.2 x 6.4 x 9.4 in / 38.5 x 16.2 x 24.0 cm |
| Suitable for | Espresso, AeroPress, Turkish, moka pot |
| Accessories | User manual, portafilter holder |
| Current price on Amazon | $850.00 |
Rocket Faustino 3.1 vs Eureka Mignon Silenzio
The Eureka Mignon Silenzio is another great option for a designated espresso grinder. Perhaps most importantly, at only $N/A it’s about half the price of the Faustino 3.1. So, let’s take a look at this strong competitor.
For starters, it’s got a durable build, 50-millimeter stainless steel flat burrs and a stepless grind adjustment that rivals that of the Rocket grinder. Meanwhile, it has close to zero retention when you use it as a single dose coffee grinder.
In fact, I’d recommend using it as a single doser because the analog timer function really doesn’t work all that well. When you compare it to the digital timer of the Rocket grinder, the Silenzio’s timer function is pretty wimpy. Notably, it also doesn’t have any programmable dosing mechanisms.
But again, the Eureka Mignon Silenzio is significantly more affordable than the Rocket Faustino 3.1. Consequently, if you don’t plan to use the advanced features that the Rocket grinder offers, you’re better off saving some cash and buying the Mignon Silenzio.
See Also: Eureka Mignon Silenzio Review
Rocket Faustino 3.1 vs Eureka Mignon Silenzio Comparison Chart
| Rocket Faustino 3.1 | Eureka Mignon Silenzio | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Rocket Espresso | Eureka |
| Name | Faustino 3.1 | Mignon Silenzio |
| Type | Electric coffee grinder | Electric coffee grinder |
| Grinder | 50mm stainless steel flat burrs | 50mm stainless steel flat burrs |
| Grind levels | Stepless | Stepless |
| Power | 310 watt | 210 watt |
| Voltage | 120 volt | 110 volt |
| Weight | 15.4 lb / 7.0 kg | 12.3 lb / 5.6 kg |
| Dimensions | 15.2 x 6.4 x 9.4 in / 38.5 x 16.2 x 24.0 cm | 13.8 x 5.0 x 5.6 in / 35.0 x 12.7 x 14.2 cm |
| Suitable for | Espresso, AeroPress, Turkish, moka pot | Turkish, espresso, moka pot, AeroPress, pour over, drip machines |
| Accessories | User manual, portafilter holder | User manual, portafilter holder |
| Current price on Amazon | $850.00 | $N/A |
Verdict: Rocket Grinder Review
Superb espresso grinder
Rocket Faustino 3.1 Espresso Grinder
Ideal for home espresso nerds
High-quality build
Sleek design
Stepless grind adjustment
50mm flat burrs
Rather expensive
There you have it, my Rocket grinder review. I will say that the Faustino 3.1 doesn’t blow me away quite as much as Rocket espresso machines do, but that was going to be a difficult task anyway. I mean, the Appartamento TCA impresses me so much, it’s hard to imagine a lowly espresso grinder filling me with as much adoration.
However, in the interest of a stylish home coffee bar, buying the Rocket grinder to go with your Rocket espresso machine is almost a no-brainer. Plus, no doubt it’ll serve you well for years and years.
That said, if your budget is top-of-mind you can definitely find a solid espresso grinder with fewer frills. In particular, a manual coffee grinder could be a great choice for the budget-minded. But if convenient programmable dosing in a sturdy and stylish package is your biggest priority, you know what to do!
What do you think of the Rocket Faustino 3.1 grinder? Does a different espresso grinder have your heart? Let’s nerd out in the comments section below!
