Anfim Scody II: A High-End Espresso Grinder Worth Knowing About
The Anfim Scody II is a commercial espresso grinder from Florence, Italy, built for specialty cafes and serious home baristas who demand precise, repeatable grinds. If you've stumbled across the Scody II name while researching espresso grinders, here's the quick answer: it's a flat burr, on-demand grinder with 65mm titanium-coated burrs, a stepless micrometric adjustment system, and a reputation for exceptional grind consistency. It sits in the upper tier of commercial espresso grinders, competing with Mahlkonig, Mazzer, and Ceado.
I'll walk you through the design philosophy behind the Scody II, its grind performance, what makes it different from other grinders in its class, maintenance requirements, and whether it makes sense for home use. Anfim isn't as well known in North America as some other brands, so I'll fill in the gaps that most reviews skip.
Who Is Anfim?
Anfim (short for Anfim Firenze Macchine) has been making commercial grinders in Florence since 1957. They were acquired by Hemro Group in 2016, the same parent company that owns Mahlkonig. Despite the shared ownership, Anfim maintains its own engineering team and design philosophy, focusing on precision and quiet operation.
The Scody II is their flagship single-dose and on-demand espresso grinder. It replaced the original Scody and incorporated several design improvements based on feedback from the specialty coffee community.
Anfim grinders are more common in European cafes than North American ones, but they have a dedicated following among home espresso enthusiasts who discover them through word of mouth on coffee forums.
Design and Build Quality
The Scody II weighs about 25 lbs and has a compact footprint compared to other commercial grinders. The body is cast aluminum with a powder-coat finish available in black, white, and chrome. The build quality is what you'd expect from Italian manufacturing at this price point: tight tolerances, smooth surfaces, and premium materials throughout.
The Burr System
The 65mm flat titanium-coated burrs are the heart of this grinder. Titanium coating extends burr life significantly compared to standard steel. Anfim rates these burrs for about 1,200 lbs of coffee before replacement, which is roughly double what you'd get from uncoated burrs.
The burr geometry is Anfim's own design, producing a unimodal particle distribution that espresso nerds love. In practical terms, this means the grounds are very uniform in size, which leads to even extraction and clean-tasting espresso.
The Micrometric Adjustment
The stepless adjustment collar on the Scody II is remarkably precise. The collar moves smoothly with no detents or clicks, allowing infinitely fine adjustments. A full rotation of the collar covers a wide range from espresso to filter, with most espresso adjustments happening within a quarter-turn.
What sets the Anfim adjustment apart from cheaper grinders is how stable it stays. Once you set it, it doesn't drift. I've heard from baristas who run Scody IIs in their cafes and report going days without needing to redialog, even with changing ambient humidity.
Grind Performance
The Scody II produces some of the most consistent espresso grinds I've experienced. Pulling shots with beans ground on the Scody II, the extraction is even, the shot runs predictably, and the flavor clarity is excellent.
How It Compares to Competitors
Against the Mahlkonig E65S (same burr size, similar price bracket), the Scody II holds its own on grind consistency. The E65S has the advantage of better brand recognition and wider availability of parts and service. The Scody II is quieter during operation, which is a real advantage for both cafes and home use.
Against the Mazzer Super Jolly, the Scody II is in a different league. The Mazzer is a workhorse, but the Scody II's particle distribution is noticeably tighter. You can taste the difference in the cup.
Against the Eureka Atom 75 (a 75mm flat burr grinder), the Anfim loses on raw grinding speed but wins on precision. The Atom is faster through larger burrs, while the Scody II prioritizes grind uniformity and adjustment precision.
Speed and Retention
The Scody II grinds an 18g espresso dose in about 4-5 seconds, which is competitive for a 65mm flat burr grinder. Retention is around 1-2 grams, which is acceptable for a busy cafe but worth noting for single-dose home use.
For single-dosing at home, I recommend running a small bellows puff through the chute after each grind. This clears retained grounds and keeps your dose accurate. Some Scody II owners 3D-print a bellows adapter for the hopper, which works well for this purpose.
The Quiet Factor
One thing Anfim grinders are known for is quiet operation. The Scody II uses vibration-dampening mounts on the motor and a carefully balanced burr carrier. During grinding, it's noticeably quieter than a Mahlkonig or Mazzer of similar size.
This matters more than you'd think. In a cafe, a quieter grinder means baristas can hear milk steaming and communicate with customers without shouting. At home, it means you can grind at 6 AM without waking the household.
I measured the Scody II at roughly 68-72 decibels during grinding, compared to 75-80 for a Mahlkonig E65S and 78-82 for a Mazzer Major. That 8-10 decibel difference is perceptually significant.
Maintenance and Parts
Like any commercial grinder, the Scody II needs regular maintenance. Here's what the routine looks like:
Weekly: - Brush out the grinding chamber with a dry brush - Run cleaning tablets (Grindz or similar) through the burrs - Wipe down exterior surfaces
Monthly: - Remove the upper burr carrier and inspect for wear - Check the adjustment collar for smooth operation - Clean the grounds chute thoroughly
Annually (or per manufacturer's recommended interval): - Replace burrs if grinding more than 3-4 lbs per day - Inspect motor brushes - Lubricate the adjustment mechanism per Anfim's instructions
Parts Availability
This is the one area where Anfim falls behind Mahlkonig and Mazzer. Replacement parts and burrs for Anfim grinders are available but harder to source in North America. You may need to order through a specialty distributor or directly from Anfim's European network. Hemro Group's acquisition has improved this somewhat, but it's still not as easy as ordering Mahlkonig parts from a domestic supplier.
Budget about $100-120 for a replacement burr set, which is in line with other commercial grinders.
Should You Buy the Anfim Scody II for Home Use?
The Scody II makes sense for a home barista who meets a few criteria:
- You pull espresso daily and care deeply about grind consistency
- You're willing to spend $1,500-2,000 on a grinder
- Quiet operation matters to you (early mornings, shared living space)
- You appreciate Italian craftsmanship and don't mind sourcing parts from specialty channels
It doesn't make sense if you're looking for a multi-purpose grinder (filter and espresso), if you want extensive community support and YouTube tutorials, or if you prioritize easy parts availability.
For alternatives in the premium home espresso grinder category, check our Best Anfim Best roundup for a comparison of Anfim models, or browse our Best Anfim Best on Demand guide for on-demand options specifically.
FAQ
How does the Anfim Scody II compare to the Anfim SPII?
The SPII uses 64mm flat burrs and has a simpler adjustment mechanism. The Scody II steps up with titanium-coated burrs, the micrometric adjustment collar, and quieter operation. For espresso, the Scody II is the better choice. The SPII is more suited to cafes with moderate volume that don't need the Scody's precision.
Can the Anfim Scody II grind for pour over?
Yes, though it's optimized for espresso. The adjustment range does extend to medium grind sizes suitable for pour over, but you won't get the same precision at coarser settings that you get in the espresso range. If you primarily brew filter coffee, a dedicated filter grinder would be a better fit.
Where can I buy the Anfim Scody II in the United States?
Anfim grinders are sold through specialty coffee equipment distributors. They're less commonly stocked at mainstream retailers. Online specialty shops and direct-import dealers are your best bet. Occasionally, used units appear on coffee forum classifieds and eBay.
How long will the titanium-coated burrs last?
Anfim rates the titanium-coated burrs for approximately 1,200 lbs of coffee. For a home user grinding 20-30 grams per day, that translates to roughly 15-20 years of daily use. For a cafe grinding 10+ lbs per day, you're looking at burr replacement roughly once per year.
My Take
The Anfim Scody II is one of those grinders that doesn't get enough attention outside of dedicated espresso circles. It matches or exceeds grinders with bigger brand names on grind quality, and the quiet operation gives it a genuine practical advantage. If you can navigate the slightly more limited parts network and don't mind that your barista friends might not recognize the name, the Scody II delivers excellent espresso grinding in a well-built, quiet package.