Breville Dose Control Pro

What it does well

The burrs are the strong point. CoffeeGeek lists sharing the Smart Grinder Pro's burr set as a pro. It rated overall grind quality good, and espresso output good to excellent once the burrs had seasoned.

Pour-over is also a strength. CoffeeGeek rated its pour-over output strong, and measured about 5% fewer boulders than the older Baratza Encore and Virtuoso.

Static is low, by CoffeeGeek's account. It also has more adjustment than the collar suggests. CoffeeGeek explains that the upper burr can be reset, giving about 600 possible settings in all.

Where it falls short

The timer is the biggest complaint. It adjusts in whole seconds, which CoffeeGeek calls the worst thing on the grinder "by far." CoffeeGeek notes you give up the 0.1-second timer some rivals offer.

Retention is high. CoffeeGeek says it "retains a lot of ground coffee between grinding sessions," about 2 g in recent tests and up to 3 g earlier. It suggests bellows if you want to single dose.

Grind quality has gaps. CoffeeGeek found clumpy, side-loading output in the espresso range, and press-pot grounds "on the slightly fine side" with a lot of fines. It measured about 5% more fines than the older Encore and Virtuoso, and it cannot grind for Turkish coffee.

Durability is a question in owner reviews. Several reviewers on Breville's own page report the impeller wearing out after a year or two, which stops the grinder pushing out grounds.

Who should buy it, and who shouldn't

Consider one used if you are starting out with espresso or pour-over and the price is low. CoffeeGeek wrote that it suits buyers with a firm ceiling around the cheapest burr grinders.

Skip it if you mainly brew French press, since CoffeeGeek found the coarse grind fines-heavy. Skip it too if you can stretch to a current model, which is what CoffeeGeek recommends.

How it compares

CoffeeGeek calls the Breville Smart Grinder Pro "a better grinder than the Dose Control Pro," with a better timer and motor. The two share a burr set.

The Baratza Encore ESP is, in CoffeeGeek's words, "also a better grinder mechanically and when output is judged." CoffeeGeek also praises Baratza's after-sales support, though the ESP has no timer.

Both are still sold new. The grinder finder lists other current electric grinders at the entry level.

Owning it

Taking out the upper burr is simple. CoffeeGeek says you lift the metal bar and give it a twist. When refitting, it warns that stray grounds make the burr group hard to lock, so clean it well first.

For routine care, see how to clean a burr grinder. CoffeeGeek notes that Breville sells parts at good prices. Before buying a used one, check that the impeller and burrs are still available.

Longevity can be good with care. CoffeeGeek's reviewer has owned three units over about ten years, and says the original handled well over 750 lb of coffee.

Any warranty has likely expired on a used unit. Use the settings chart on this page as your starting point, and our dial-in guide to tune espresso from there.