DeLonghi KG79: An Honest Review of This Mid-Range Home Burr Grinder

The DeLonghi KG79 is a conical burr grinder positioned in the middle of DeLonghi's home lineup. If you're considering it, the direct answer is: it's a capable everyday grinder for drip coffee and moka pot with enough range to cover most home brewing methods. It's not a precision espresso grinder, but it doesn't pretend to be. For the price and form factor, it offers a solid step up from blade grinding without asking you to spend Baratza money.

I'll cover the specs in plain terms, the grind settings and what they're actually suited for, how it compares to the competition, and what using it daily is realistically like.

What the KG79 Is

The DeLonghi KG79 uses conical burrs, has 17 grind settings, and a 100g bean hopper with a separate 100g grounds container. The motor runs at a speed typical for home burr grinders in this class.

Seventeen settings gives you finer granularity than DeLonghi's simpler models like the KG40 (with fewer steps), and more range than the dedicated Dedica KG521. The steps go from relatively fine, suited for espresso and moka pot at the lower end, to coarse settings appropriate for French press and percolator at the higher end.

The grinder is mid-sized, not as compact as the Dedica series but not a large unit either. It's designed to sit on a counter without dominating the space. The body is polished chrome and matte black on most variants, which matches the aesthetic of a lot of mid-range kitchen appliance setups.

Motor and Speed

The KG79 runs at a moderate RPM typical for home conical burr grinders in this price tier. It's not a slow-speed specialty grinder and doesn't claim to be. The grinding speed is audible but not dramatically louder than a standard kitchen appliance.

The motor is rated for normal household use: 1-2 grinds per session, not continuous commercial-style operation. If you regularly grind multiple large batches in sequence, let it rest between sessions to avoid motor heat buildup.

Grind Settings Breakdown

The 17-step adjustment ring covers a meaningful range. Here's how to think about the settings in practical terms.

Settings 1-4: Fine (Espresso and Moka Pot)

The finest settings on the KG79 produce grounds appropriate for moka pot and entry-level home espresso. The grind consistency at very fine settings isn't as tight as purpose-built espresso grinders, and if you're using a non-pressurized portafilter basket on a home semi-automatic machine, you may find it harder to dial in a consistent shot.

For pressurized portafilter baskets (which most entry-level home espresso machines use), settings 2-4 typically produce good results. For moka pot, settings 3-5 work well across most bean types.

Settings 5-10: Medium (Drip and Filter)

This is the sweet spot for the KG79. Settings 5-10 cover the range from slightly-fine drip (for shorter contact time makers) to medium-coarse drip (for standard auto-drip machines). Pour-over methods like drip cone filters also work well in this range.

Most automatic drip coffee makers operate best at settings 7-9 on the KG79, though the ideal setting shifts based on roast level and bean density.

Settings 11-17: Coarse (French Press and Cold Brew)

The coarsest settings handle French press and similar immersion brewing methods. Setting 14-17 produces ground coffee that looks like coarse sea salt, which is the appropriate texture for French press. Cold brew coarse grind lands at the high end of this range.

The coarser settings work, though the KG79's sweet spot is in the medium-to-fine range. At the very coarsest settings, some users notice the particle distribution is less consistent than at medium settings.

Day-to-Day Use

The KG79 is a practical machine to live with. Grinding 20-30g of coffee for a drip session takes about 20-25 seconds at medium settings. It's not fast, but it's not frustratingly slow either for one or two daily brewing sessions.

The grounds container holds 100g, which is roughly 6-8 drip coffee doses. You don't need to empty it after every grind, though grinding fresh and emptying the container for each session gives you the freshest possible output. Leaving grounds in the container for hours before brewing works, but ground coffee loses aromatic volatiles faster than whole beans, so same-session grinding is preferable.

The adjustment ring at the top of the hopper is easy to operate and provides positive click-stops at each of the 17 settings. Changing settings mid-session is quick. The tactile feedback of each click makes it easy to count settings without looking.

Static and Grind Retention

Some users report static causing fine grounds to cling to the inside of the grounds container. This is a common issue with burr grinders in this price range and isn't specific to DeLonghi. A small amount of static is normal. If it bothers you, try the "Ross Droplet Technique": add one or two drops of water to your beans in the hopper before grinding. The small amount of moisture dramatically reduces static without affecting the grind or the final cup noticeably.

The KG79 retains roughly 1-2 grams between grinding sessions, which is standard for home burr grinders. Purging a few grams before collecting your actual dose clears stale grounds from the channel.

How the KG79 Compares to Similar Grinders

KG79 vs. Baratza Encore

The Baratza Encore is the standard comparison for home burr grinders in this price range. The Encore uses 40mm conical burrs and has 40 grind settings, providing finer step adjustments than the KG79's 17 settings. Grind consistency from the Encore is slightly better, particularly at fine settings. Baratza also has an excellent repair and replacement parts program. The Encore is a better long-term investment if you're serious about coffee quality and want a grinder you can service for years. The KG79 competes on price and form factor.

KG79 vs. DeLonghi KG521 Dedica

The KG521 is more specialized, with direct portafilter dosing tailored for the Dedica espresso machine ecosystem. If you own a Dedica espresso machine and your primary use is espresso, the KG521 makes more sense. If you're splitting grinding duties between espresso, drip, and French press without a Dedica machine, the KG79's wider range is the better fit.

KG79 vs. OXO Brew Conical Burr

The OXO Brew uses 48mm conical burrs and has a one-button smart dosing system. At medium-coarse settings for drip coffee, the OXO Brew's larger burrs produce slightly more consistent grounds. The OXO is also physically larger. The KG79 wins on footprint and price; the OXO Brew wins on grind consistency at filter settings.

If you want to see where grinders at the KG79's price point sit relative to the broader market, our best coffee grinder guide covers options across the full range from budget to premium. The top coffee grinder roundup narrows that down to the specific models that consistently perform well for home use.

Cleaning the KG79

DeLonghi provides a cleaning brush with the KG79. Use it.

Every 2 weeks with regular use, brush out the grinding channel and the area around the upper burr using the provided brush. Accumulated coffee oil causes off-flavors over time, especially noticeable if you switch between very different roast levels.

Monthly, remove the upper burr for deeper cleaning. The upper burr carrier on the KG79 unscrews counterclockwise after lifting out the adjustment ring mechanism. Brush both burr surfaces clean and wipe down the grinding chamber walls before reassembling.

The hopper and grounds container are hand-washable. Dry them fully before reinstalling, particularly the grounds container, because wet surfaces cause ground coffee to clump and pack.

FAQ

What grind setting should I use on the KG79 for drip coffee?

Settings 7-9 are a good starting point for most standard auto-drip coffee makers. If the coffee tastes bitter, go coarser by 1-2 settings. If it tastes weak or sour, go finer by 1-2 settings. Bean roast level also affects the ideal setting: dark roasts often extract better at coarser settings than light roasts of the same dose.

Can the DeLonghi KG79 grind for espresso?

The KG79 produces grounds in the espresso range at settings 1-4, but it's not purpose-built for espresso precision. For home espresso machines with pressurized portafilter baskets, the grind quality is adequate. For machines with non-pressurized baskets where precise particle consistency matters more, a dedicated espresso grinder will give you better results.

Is the DeLonghi KG79 easy to clean?

Yes. The hopper and grounds container remove easily for washing. The burrs are accessible for brushing once you remove the top of the grinder body. Monthly deep cleaning takes about 10-15 minutes. The cleaning brush that comes with the unit is adequate for regular maintenance.

How long does the DeLonghi KG79 last?

With regular use and basic maintenance, the KG79 should last 5-8 years for typical home use volumes. The burrs are rated for several hundred kilograms of coffee before they show meaningful wear. Keeping the grinding channel clean and not overloading the motor extends the life of the machine.

The Bottom Line

The DeLonghi KG79 is a mid-range home burr grinder that delivers on its main promise: fresh, consistent-enough grinding for everyday drip coffee, moka pot, and French press. The 17-setting range covers the full spectrum of home brewing methods. It's not a specialist grinder for competition-level espresso, and the Baratza Encore edges it out on grind consistency for serious coffee use.

If you're a daily drip and moka pot drinker who wants a genuine step up from blade grinding without paying premium prices, the KG79 is worth the money. Start at setting 7-8 for drip, clean the burrs monthly, and it'll serve you reliably.