Molino Coffee Grinder: A Closer Look at DeLonghi's Entry-Level Burr Grinder

The DeLonghi Molino is one of the most affordable conical burr grinders on the market, sitting at about $60 to $80 depending on where you buy it. I picked one up to see if it could hold its own against the Baratza Encore, which costs more than twice as much. The short answer is that the Molino is a surprisingly capable grinder for the price, but it has clear limitations that matter if you're particular about your coffee.

I'll cover the build quality, grind performance across different brew methods, how it compares to the obvious competitors, and whether it's the right buy for someone just getting into fresh-ground coffee. If you're looking for a budget burr grinder that does the basics well, the Molino deserves a look.

Build and Design

The Molino has a plastic body with a matte black finish. It doesn't feel cheap, but it also doesn't feel premium. At about 5.5 pounds, it's lighter than the Baratza Encore (8 pounds) and takes up a modest amount of counter space. The footprint is roughly 5 inches wide by 8 inches deep, making it one of the more compact electric burr grinders available.

The Hopper and Grounds Container

The bean hopper holds about 350 grams (around 12 ounces), which is more than enough for most home users. There's a locking mechanism that lets you remove the hopper without beans falling out. The grounds container is a plastic bin that sits at the front of the grinder and catches coffee as it drops from the chute. It holds enough for about 12 cups of drip coffee.

One thing I noticed right away: the grounds container generates static. Coffee grounds cling to the walls and lid of the container, making transfer to a filter or portafilter messier than it needs to be. This is common with plastic containers but worth mentioning. A quick spray of water on your beans before grinding (the RDT technique) helps a lot.

Grind Settings

The Molino offers 18 grind settings, adjusted by rotating the hopper. That's fewer than the Baratza Encore's 40 settings or the Breville Dose Control Pro's 60. For most brew methods, 18 settings is workable. But if you're trying to fine-tune for pour-over or dial in a moka pot, you might find yourself wishing for something between two adjacent settings.

Grind Quality by Brew Method

I tested the Molino with four common brew methods over a two-week period, using the same Colombian medium roast across all tests.

Drip Coffee

This is the Molino's sweet spot. At settings 8 to 12, it produces a medium grind that works well with standard drip machines and flat-bottom filters. My Mr. Coffee and Bonavista both brewed clean, balanced cups with good sweetness. The particle distribution at these settings is consistent enough that you won't taste any noticeable defects. For someone upgrading from pre-ground coffee, the difference is dramatic.

Pour-Over

At settings 5 to 8, the Molino produces a medium-fine grind for V60 and Chemex. Results were decent but not as clean as what I get from grinders with tighter particle uniformity. Drawdown times on my V60 varied a bit more than I'd like, ranging from 2:45 to 3:20 for the same dose and pour pattern. This tells me the particle size distribution has more variation than a Baratza Encore or Fellow Ode would produce. Still, the cups tasted good. Just not as consistent shot to shot.

French Press

At the coarsest settings (15 to 18), the Molino produces a grind that's passable for French press. There are fines mixed in, which means some sediment in the cup and a slightly muddier body than you'd get from a grinder with better coarse-end performance. If French press is your primary method, the Molino works but doesn't excel.

Espresso

The Molino's finest settings (1 to 3) can reach something approaching espresso fineness, but I wouldn't recommend it for this purpose. The stepped adjustment is too coarse to dial in properly, and the particle distribution at fine settings isn't tight enough for balanced extraction. You'll get inconsistent shots and a lot of frustration. If espresso is your goal, save up for something like the Breville Smart Grinder Pro or Eureka Mignon Silenzio.

For more options across all brew methods, our best coffee grinder guide covers picks at every price range.

Noise and Speed

The Molino is a loud grinder. I measured it at about 75 to 80 decibels during operation, which is louder than the Baratza Encore (70 to 75 dB) and significantly louder than any Eureka Mignon model (55 to 60 dB). If you grind early in the morning, your household will hear it.

Grind speed is moderate at about 1 to 1.5 grams per second for medium settings. A 25-gram dose for pour-over takes about 18 to 22 seconds. It's not painfully slow, but it's not fast either.

Maintenance

Daily

Wipe out the grounds container and give the chute a brush. The Molino retains about 2 to 3 grams between the burrs and chute, which is higher than average. Old grounds mixing into fresh doses will make your coffee taste stale if you don't manage this.

Monthly

Remove the upper burr by turning the hopper ring and lifting it out. Brush all the accumulated fines and oils from both burr surfaces. This takes about 5 minutes and doesn't require tools. Running Grindz tablets through the grinder quarterly is also a good idea.

Burr Replacement

DeLonghi doesn't make it easy to find replacement burrs for the Molino. Unlike Baratza, which sells every part on their website, DeLonghi requires you to go through their parts department or a third-party supplier. Replacement burrs cost about $15 to $20, but availability can be spotty. The conical steel burrs should last 3 to 5 years with normal home use.

How It Compares

Molino vs. Baratza Encore ($170)

The Encore costs about $90 more and is better in almost every measurable way. More grind settings (40 vs. 18), better particle uniformity, quieter operation, and much better parts support. The Encore also has a larger community of users, meaning troubleshooting help is easy to find online. The Molino wins only on price. If you can afford the Encore, get the Encore.

Molino vs. Capresso Infinity ($60 to $80)

The Capresso Infinity is the Molino's most direct competitor. They're in the same price range with similar specs. The Infinity has more grind settings (16 numbered with fine, medium, coarse ranges within each) and runs slightly quieter. Grind quality is comparable between the two. I'd call this a toss-up, with the Infinity having a slight edge in noise and setting granularity.

Molino vs. Oxo Brew ($100)

The Oxo Brew conical burr grinder costs about $20 more and offers a few nice quality-of-life features like an integrated scale and a UV-blocking hopper. Grind quality is similar to the Molino, maybe marginally better at coarser settings. If you can stretch to $100, the Oxo is a solid step up.

For detailed comparisons at this price tier and above, see our top coffee grinder list.

FAQ

Is the DeLonghi Molino good for beginners?

Yes. It's one of the least expensive conical burr grinders available, and it produces noticeably better coffee than a blade grinder or pre-ground. The 18 grind settings are simple to work with. For someone who just wants to grind fresh beans for their drip machine, the Molino is a solid starting point.

Can the Molino grind for espresso?

Technically it can reach a fine grind, but the 18 stepped settings don't provide enough precision for proper espresso dialing. It might work with a pressurized portafilter basket, but for standard espresso, you'll want a grinder with more fine-adjustment capability.

How often do the Molino's burrs need replacing?

The conical steel burrs should last 3 to 5 years with daily home use (grinding 20 to 40 grams per day). You'll notice the grind becoming less consistent and the grinder struggling with harder beans when the burrs are dulling.

Does the Molino have a timer?

Yes. The Molino has a dial timer that lets you set grind time. Turn the dial to your desired duration and the grinder runs for that long. It's not as precise as an electronic timer (like on the Eureka Specialita), but it works for repeatable doses once you find your sweet spot.

My Take on the Molino

The DeLonghi Molino is a fine entry point into burr grinding. It's affordable, compact, and produces coffee that's meaningfully better than pre-ground. But it has clear ceilings. The 18 grind settings limit your ability to fine-tune, the plastic construction feels budget, the static is annoying, and finding replacement parts takes effort. If you're on a tight budget and just want to start grinding fresh, the Molino works. If you can spend $90 more, the Baratza Encore is a better long-term investment in every way.