KG7070: A Full Breakdown of the DeLonghi KG7070 Burr Coffee Grinder
The DeLonghi KG7070 (also sold as the KG79 in some markets) is one of those under-the-radar burr grinders that quietly does a solid job for drip and French press without making a fuss about it. I picked one up at a thrift store for $8, and it ended up being my go-to grinder for about four months while my Baratza was being serviced. That gave me plenty of time to form an opinion.
Here is what I think: the KG7070 is a decent budget burr grinder that punches above its price for basic brewing but has clear limits once you move toward precision methods like pour-over or espresso. Let me break down exactly why.
Design and Build
The KG7070 has a straightforward design. Black plastic body, a clear bean hopper on top that holds about 4 ounces of beans, and a removable ground coffee container at the front. The footprint is compact, roughly the size of a small toaster.
The grinding dial sits between the hopper and the body. It has 16 positions, ranging from fine to coarse. You turn the hopper itself to change settings, which feels a bit odd at first but works fine once you get used to it.
Build quality is decent for a $50 to $60 grinder. The plastic does not feel flimsy, and the hopper clicks securely into each grind setting. The ground container, however, is my least favorite part. It is a small plastic drawer that slides out from the front. Grounds pile up unevenly inside, and it creates a lot of static, so coffee sticks to the walls and lid.
Weight and Stability
At about 4 pounds, the KG7070 is light. During grinding, it can vibrate slightly on smooth countertops. I put a thin rubber shelf liner under mine, and that fixed the movement completely.
Grind Performance
The KG7070 uses conical steel burrs. These are smaller than what you find in higher-end grinders like the Baratza Encore (which uses 40mm conical burrs). The KG7070's burrs are around 35mm, which means slightly less consistency and slower throughput.
Coarse Settings (French Press, Cold Brew)
This is where the KG7070 does its best work. At settings 12 through 16, the grind is coarse and reasonably uniform. French press results were good. Not as clean as what I get from my Baratza, but close enough that most people would not notice the difference in a blind taste test.
Cold brew at the coarsest setting was fine. The grounds were chunky and appropriate for a 12 to 24 hour steep.
Medium Settings (Drip, AeroPress)
Settings 6 through 10 cover the drip range. Here the KG7070 is serviceable. My flat-bottom Melitta brewer produced a balanced, clean cup at setting 8. The grind was not perfectly uniform, but the brew tasted better than any pre-ground coffee.
AeroPress at setting 7 worked well with a 2-minute brew time. The slight inconsistency in particle size actually adds a bit of body to AeroPress brews, which I did not mind.
Fine Settings (Pour-Over, Espresso)
Settings 1 through 5 are where the KG7070 shows its limitations. For a V60 pour-over, setting 5 was close to what I wanted, but the drawdown time varied batch to batch, suggesting uneven particle sizes. Some cups were great; others were over-extracted.
Espresso is out of the question. The finest setting is not fine enough, and the 16-step adjustment does not give you the precision you need to dial in a shot. If espresso is your goal, look elsewhere.
For a list of grinders that actually handle espresso well, check out our Best Coffee Grinder guide.
Noise Level
DeLonghi markets the KG7070 as a quiet grinder, and compared to some blade grinders, it is. But it is not silent. I measured it at roughly 70 decibels during operation, about the same as a normal conversation at close range. It grinds for about 20 to 30 seconds per batch (enough for 8 cups of drip), so the noise is brief.
The motor does have a slightly higher-pitched whine compared to the deeper hum of a Baratza or Breville. Not a dealbreaker, but worth mentioning if you are grinding early in the morning while others are sleeping.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Cleaning the KG7070 is relatively straightforward but has a few annoyances.
The ground container needs to be wiped out after every use because of static buildup. I started spraying the inside with a very light mist of water before grinding, and that helped significantly.
The upper burr is removable for cleaning. Twist the hopper off, then pull out the upper burr assembly. A dry brush gets the retained grounds out easily. I did this once a week and kept the grinder performing consistently.
The lower burr is not easily accessible without more disassembly, but I only deep-cleaned it once a month. Retained coffee in the lower burr area was minimal, about 0.5 grams.
Grindz or Rice?
Some people run rice through their grinder to clean it. I would not recommend this for the KG7070. The motor is not powerful enough to handle hard rice grains without strain. If you want to do a purge clean, use Grindz cleaning tablets, which are softer and purpose-built for coffee grinders.
KG7070 vs. Other Budget Burr Grinders
KG7070 ($55) vs. Baratza Encore ($170): The Encore wins in every performance category. Better grind consistency, 40 settings instead of 16, more powerful motor, and Baratza's legendary repair support. The KG7070's only advantage is price.
KG7070 ($55) vs. Capresso Infinity ($80): The Capresso is quieter, has more grind settings, and slightly better consistency at fine settings. It costs about $25 more but delivers a noticeable improvement.
KG7070 ($55) vs. Bodum Bistro ($50): Very similar performance. The Bodum has a timer and a slightly more modern design. The KG7070 has marginally better grind consistency in my testing. Call it a toss-up.
KG7070 ($55) vs. Hario Skerton ($35, manual): The Hario is cheaper and produces better grind consistency at coarse settings. However, grinding by hand takes time and effort. If you want electric convenience, the KG7070 wins. If you prioritize grind quality on a tight budget, the Hario is the smarter buy.
Our Top Coffee Grinder roundup ranks all of these and more if you want a comprehensive comparison.
Who Should Buy the KG7070?
The DeLonghi KG7070 is a good fit if:
- You mainly brew drip coffee or French press.
- You want a burr grinder under $60.
- You prefer electric over manual.
- You do not need espresso-fine grinding.
- Counter space is limited and you want something compact.
It is not the right grinder if you are into pour-over precision, espresso, or if you plan to switch between multiple brew methods frequently. The 16-step adjustment is too coarse for that level of flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the KG7070 the same as the DeLonghi KG79?
Functionally, yes. The KG79 and KG7070 are the same grinder sold under different model numbers in different markets. The KG79 label is more common in Europe, while the KG7070 is the North American designation. Same burrs, same motor, same performance.
Can I grind for Moka pot with the KG7070?
Yes, settings 3 to 5 work reasonably well for a Moka pot. The grind should be finer than drip but not as fine as espresso. Moka pot is more forgiving than espresso, so the KG7070's grind consistency at those settings is acceptable.
Does the KG7070 have a timer?
No. It has a quantity selector dial (2 to 12 cups) that controls how long the motor runs. This is less precise than a proper timer but works well enough for daily use. I found the "8 cup" setting gave me about 30 grams of ground coffee.
How often should I replace the burrs?
With home use (one to two grinds per day), the burrs should last 3 to 5 years. If you notice the grind becoming dustier or the motor working harder, it is time for a replacement. DeLonghi sells replacement burr sets, though they can be hard to find depending on your region.
My Verdict
The DeLonghi KG7070 is a solid entry-level burr grinder that does exactly what it promises for the price. It makes drip and French press coffee noticeably better than pre-ground beans. It will not impress the espresso crowd or satisfy pour-over perfectionists, but for everyday brewing on a budget, it gets the job done reliably. If you find one under $50, it is a fair deal.