Smeg ‎CGF01 Electric Grinder - Review 🏆

The Smeg CGF01 is an attractive retro-style electric coffee grinder that aims to add flair to your morning coffee routine. Part of Smeg's iconic 1950s home appliance collection, this coffee grinder comes in a variety of fun pastel colors to brighten up your kitchen counter.

Despite its retro appearance, the Smeg CGF01 has a powerful 150W motor and offers precise grind settings to help you achieve the perfect grind for espresso, drip or French press coffee. The generous hopper holds enough beans to make up to 12 cups of coffee. An integrated pulse function gives you maximum control over the grind texture and consistency.

Overall, the Smeg CGF01 combines classic Italian style with modern grinding technology. If you're looking to upgrade from a basic blade grinder to get better flavor from your coffee beans, the Smeg offers an attractive and capable option to consider. This review will take a closer look at the key features, performance and ease of use of this retro-chic coffee grinder.

Design and Appearance

The Smeg CGF01 has a standout retro 1950s look that will add a pop of color and vintage flair to any kitchen. This electric coffee grinder comes in a variety of fun pastel colors like pink, blue, green, cream and red. The curvy body has a glossy finish, with sleek chrome accents on the lid, base and control knob.

Weighing in at 1.8kg, the Smeg is compact enough to leave out on the counter without taking up too much space. But the retro styling means it also works nicely as a display piece. The retro look is reminiscent of Smeg's iconic fridge line, so it pairs perfectly with other Smeg appliances.

In addition to the Smeg, another excellent option is the Moongiantgo ‎MG-QY-16, which offers a modern design with advanced features. This grinder provides consistent grind sizes, making it ideal for various brewing methods. Its user-friendly interface and durable build make it a great addition to any coffee lover's arsenal. With its sleek appearance and efficiency, the Moongiantgo grinder complements contemporary kitchens perfectly, ensuring a stylish and functional coffee experience.

Grind Settings

One of the standout features of the Smeg CGF01 coffee grinder is its stepless grind adjustment, which allows you to fine-tune the grind to suit your preferred brew method. The grinder has 17 settings to choose from, ranging from fine espresso grinds to coarse grinds for French press.

The stepless mechanism makes it easy to dial in the perfect grind size. You simply turn the hopper to adjust the internal burrs, allowing for precise calibration. The markings on the hopper clearly indicate the grind setting, but you can set it to any point in between as well.

This stepless functionality sets it apart from grinders with preset notches, giving you complete control over the consistency of the grounds. You'll be able to extract the optimal flavor from your beans, whether you're brewing espresso, pour over, cold brew, or another coffee drink. The wide range of grind sizes supported is perfect for a household with varied brewing preferences.

In addition to its grind settings, the ‎Smeg ‎CGF01RDEU has a striking retro design that complements any kitchen decor. Its durable construction and high-quality materials ensure longevity, while the powerful motor ensures uniform grinding for exceptional results. With a capacity to handle various amounts of coffee beans, this grinder is perfect for both daily use and entertaining guests. Experience the perfect grind and elevate your coffee experience with the stylish and efficient ‎Smeg ‎CGF01RDEU. Learn more about it ‎Smeg ‎CGF01RDEU.

Hopper Capacity

One of the key features of the Smeg CGF01 coffee grinder is its generous 250g hopper capacity. This allows you to grind a substantial amount of beans in one go before needing to refill.

With a hopper of this size, you can grind enough coffee to make around 40-50 espresso shots or 10-12 cups of drip coffee. This makes the Smeg CGF01 well-suited for grinding coffee for a larger household or if you frequently make coffee for guests.

The large hopper is also convenient if you want to grind beans in bulk and store the ground coffee to use later on. You won't have to grind small batches and refill the hopper repeatedly.

Overall, the spacious 250g hopper adds to the versatility and convenience of using the Smeg CGF01 coffee grinder on a regular basis. You'll spend less time refilling and can grind more beans in one session for your various coffee brewing needs.

Grinding Performance

The Smeg CGF01 coffee grinder features high quality conical burrs that deliver consistent grinding performance for the perfect coffee brew. Conical burrs are preferred by many coffee enthusiasts because their cone shape creates a uniform grind size compared to flat burrs. The burrs in this grinder have stainless steel blades that efficiently pulverize the coffee beans without producing too much heat or static.

The conical burrs can grind beans across a wide range of sizes, from a fine espresso powder to a coarse grind for French press. You can adjust the grind setting by turning the knob on the front of the grinder. With each click of the knob, you'll get a slightly different grind size. The grind consistency allows you to dial in the ideal texture for your brew method. Whether you're making espresso, drip coffee, or cold brew, the Smeg delivers a uniform particle distribution for optimized flavor extraction.

The burrs are durable and sharp, built to last through years of daily grinding without wearing down. Their robust construction maintains grinding accuracy over time. Overall, the excellent burr engineering of the Smeg CGF01 results in a grind consistency that brings out the subtle notes and aromas of your favorite coffee beans.

Ease of Use

The Smeg CGF01 coffee grinder has a very simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to use. It features a single pulse button on the top which allows you to precisely control the grind time. Just press and hold the button to grind the beans to your desired consistency.

The pulse function gives you maximum control over the grind size, allowing you to achieve anything from a fine espresso grind to a coarse grind for French press. You don't have to guess at preset grind settings. The pulse button allows you to grind the exact amount you need, preventing waste.

Overall, the simplicity of a single button makes the Smeg incredibly easy to use right out of the box. Within a few test runs, you'll have the timing down to get the perfect grind you need. The lack of complex controls or programming means anyone can use this grinder with minimal learning curve. Just load the beans, press pulse, and you'll have fresh grounds ready for brewing.

Noise Level

One of the standout features of the Smeg CGF01 coffee grinder is its quiet operation compared to other models. Many electric coffee grinders generate irritating high-pitched grinding noises that are disruptive, especially early in the morning. However, the Smeg CGF01 has been engineered for quieter grinding.

The powerful 150-watt motor and grinding mechanism produce less noise and vibration versus typical blade grinders. Owners report the Smeg CGF01 operates at around 60-65 decibels, which is quieter than a standard conversation. This allows you to grind beans without disturbing others in your household. The quiet performance sets it apart from other comparably-priced coffee grinders.

The combination of a lower noise coffee grinder with its stylish retro design makes the Smeg CGF01 an excellent choice for kitchens or other social spaces where you want to minimize grinder noise. It allows you to freshly grind coffee beans to maximize flavor without the annoying racket of many blade grinders. Overall, the quieter noise output gives the Smeg an advantage over competitors when grinding your morning coffee.

Safety Features

The Smeg CGF01 coffee grinder has some useful safety features to prevent accidents and injuries. One of the most important is the safety lock, which prevents the grinder from being turned on accidentally. To operate the grinder, you need to press and hold down the safety lock button while simultaneously pressing the start button. Once you release the safety lock button, the grinder will immediately turn off, even if you are still holding down the start button. This is an excellent safety mechanism, especially for households with children, to avoid them being able to turn on the grinder unintentionally. It helps give parents peace of mind that the grinder won't start grinding unless the safety lock is intentionally disengaged.

The hopper also has a secure lid that clicks firmly into place. This lid needs to be locked properly for the grinder to operate. Having the hopper lid open will automatically trigger the safety lock and prevent the grinder from running. So there is no risk of the grinder starting up with the hopper open and fingers potentially getting caught. Overall, the well-designed safety features of the Smeg CGF01 give assurance that accidents and injuries will be avoided with proper use. The safety lock and hopper lid work hand in hand to only allow grinding when intended by the user.

Cleanup

The Smeg CGF01 coffee grinder makes cleanup easy thanks to its removable parts. The bean hopper detaches from the grinder housing, allowing you to dump out any leftover coffee beans and wipe the hopper clean.

The grinder burrs are also designed to be removed for cleaning. Simply twist off the hopper, then unscrew the upper burr to access the grinder chamber and lower burr. The burrs can be rinsed under water to remove any stuck-on grounds. Take care when handling the sharp stainless steel burrs.

For the collection tray, Smeg designed it to slide out from under the grinder for fast, no-fuss emptying. The tray has a generous capacity to hold plenty of grounds. Its smooth plastic construction can be wiped clean as needed.

Overall, the ability to disassemble the Smeg grinder and remove key parts makes it very simple to keep this appliance in tip-top shape. Regular cleaning will help maintain grinding performance and extend the working life of the burrs.

Price and Warranty

The Smeg CGF01 coffee grinder has a mid-range price point, typically selling for around £120-150. This positions it as an attractive option for home coffee enthusiasts looking for good performance without an exorbitant price tag.

The grinder comes with a 2 year warranty from Smeg. This provides peace of mind that the product will be free from defects and operational issues during the initial years of ownership. If any problems do arise, Smeg pledges to repair or replace the unit within the warranty period.

A 2 year warranty is fairly standard for mid-range coffee grinders. While some budget models may only offer a 1 year warranty, premium grinders often have warranties of 5 years or longer. So the Smeg hits a nice sweet spot of providing reassuring coverage for several years within its attainable price bracket.

Overall, the Smeg CGF01 gives you a lot of value for the money. The mid-range pricing hits a sweet spot for home use, and the 2 year warranty provides confidence in investing in this grinder. Within its price point, it delivers performance and durability that help justify the expenditure over cheaper models.