The Sette 270 and the Breville Smart Grinder Pro are two of the most popular coffee grinders for home brewers, but they target very different users. The Sette 270 by Baratza (often found through specialty partners like Fellow) is a high-speed, precision grinder designed for espresso enthusiasts, featuring near-zero grind retention at a higher price point. In contrast, the Breville Smart Grinder Pro is an affordable, versatile workhorse built to handle everything from espresso to French press with user-friendly controls.
Here's everything you need to know about these two grinders to choose the right one for your coffee routine.
Sette 270
The Sette 270 is a specialized tool for the serious home barista who dedicates their energy to dialing in the perfect shot of espresso. Its unique design, where the outer conical burr spins instead of the inner one, allows grounds to fall straight down into the portafilter or grounds bin. This results in incredibly fast grinding and industry-leading low grind retention, ensuring maximum freshness in every shot.
- What it is: A professional-grade conical burr grinder optimized for espresso fine grinds.
- Key features: Straight-through grinding path, 40mm steel conical burrs, 30 macro and stepless micro-adjustment settings for precise control, extremely fast grind speed (3.5g-5.5g/sec), programmable dosing by time.
- Price: Around $400
- Style: Sleek and minimalist with a compact, vertical footprint that saves counter space.
- Materials/Construction: Durable all-metal construction with high-quality steel conical burrs. Some core components are heavy-duty plastic to reduce cost and noise.
- Pros: Virtually zero grind retention means no stale grounds. Very fast grinding saves time during your morning routine. Immense precision and control for dialing in espresso. Compact design fits easily in most kitchens.
- Cons: Louder than many competitors. While it can grind for other methods, it's heavily optimized for espresso and less ideal for coarse grinds. The higher price is a significant investment.
The Sette 270 is ideal for the espresso hobbyist who prioritizes freshness, speed, and has the budget for a grinder that can match the performance of a high-end espresso machine.
Shop this product: baratza.com/product/sette-270/
Breville Smart Grinder Pro
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is the go-to choice for home brewers who want a reliable and versatile grinder without a steep learning curve or high price tag. It's designed to be an all-in-one solution, capable of grinding fine enough for espresso and coarse enough for cold brew. Its intuitive LCD screen and "Dosing IQ" technology make it incredibly easy to get consistent results for any brewing method you choose.
- What it is: A versatile and user-friendly conical burr grinder for a wide range of brewing styles.
- Key features: 60 precise grind settings with an adjustable upper burr for further customization, digital timer for consistent dosing, large 18oz bean hopper, clear LCD display, comes with cradles for both 54mm and 58mm portafilters.
- Price: Around $200
- Style: Classic modern appliance aesthetic with a brushed stainless steel finish that matches other kitchen gear.
- Materials/Construction: A mix of a sturdy plastic and stainless steel body with hardened steel conical burrs.
- Pros: Excellent value for the price. Highly versatile with 60+ settings for all brew methods. Large hopper capacity reduces refills. Very easy to use, even for complete beginners.
- Cons: Higher grind retention means some grounds stay inside between uses. Not as precise as the Sette 270 for dialing in espresso. Plastic internal impeller can wear down over time.
This grinder is perfect for the home coffee enthusiast who enjoys exploring different brew methods and wants a major step up from a blade grinder without breaking the bank.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/coffee-grinders/bcg820/
Sette 270 vs. Breville Smart Grinder Pro Comparison
Grind Quality & Consistency
Both grinders use conical burrs to produce a consistent grind, which is crucial for a good extraction. The Sette 270 is the clear winner for espresso. Its combination of 30 macro settings and a stepless micro-adjustment ring provides virtually limitless control, allowing you to fine-tune your shot with incredible precision. This is essential for serious espresso lovers who want to get the most out of their beans.
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro offers 60 stepped settings, which is more than enough for excellent results across a wide range of brewing methods like pour-over, drip, and French press. It produces a consistent grind that is a massive improvement over any entry-level grinder. While it can produce a grind fine enough for espresso, it lacks the Sette’s micro-adjustments, making it harder to dial in that perfect shot.
Speed & Retention
One of the biggest functional differences is how the machines handle coffee grounds. The Sette 270 is built for minimal retention. Its straight-through design means that almost all the coffee you put in comes out, typically leaving less than a tenth of a gram behind. This is huge for preserving freshness, especially if you switch between different coffee beans. It's also exceptionally fast, capable of grinding an 18-gram dose for espresso in under 5 seconds.
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro has higher retention, often holding 1-2 grams of coffee grounds in its chute and burr chamber after grinding. This isn't a major issue if you use the same beans every day, but it means you'll have some stale grounds mixed into your first brew of the day. It’s also significantly slower than the Sette, taking around 10-12 seconds for an equivalent espresso dose.
Materials & Construction
The Sette 270 feels like a more premium, specialized piece of equipment, with a sturdy metal frame and high-quality internal components built for performance. It's designed to be a workhorse specifically for espresso. The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is well-built with a classic stainless steel façade but uses more plastic in its construction. It feels like a reliable kitchen appliance designed for everyday home use rather than a professional tool.
Price & Value
At around $400, the Sette 270 is a serious investment. You're paying for specialized espresso performance, speed, and its innovative low-retention technology. For the dedicated espresso maker, the value is in the results and workflow efficiency.
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro, priced at around $200, offers tremendous value. It's arguably the best all-around entry-to-mid-level grinder on the market, giving you good performance across all brew types for half the price of the Sette. For anyone who isn't solely focused on espresso, the Breville provides more versatility and functionality for your money.
Who Each One Works Best For
Choosing between them comes down to your primary brewing method and your budget. If you are an espresso enthusiast who spends time dialing in shots, tasting for nuance, and wants equipment that won't hold you back, the Sette 270 is the right choice. Its speed, low retention, and precision make it a perfect companion for a high-quality espresso machine.
If you enjoy a variety of coffee types - from a French press on the weekend to a pour-over in the afternoon and the occasional espresso - the Breville Smart Grinder Pro is the more practical and economical option. It's a fantastic, do-it-all grinder that empowers beginners and seasoned brewers alike to make great coffee at home without a hefty investment.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both are excellent grinders, but they are built for fundamentally different coffee drinkers.
Choose the Sette 270 if:
- Espresso is your primary or only brewing method.
- You want professional-level precision to perfectly "dial in" your shots.
- Low grind retention is a top priority for you to ensure maximum freshness.
- Sheer speed is important for your morning workflow.
Choose the Breville Smart Grinder Pro if:
- You need a versatile grinder for many brew methods, like drip, French press, and pour-over.
- You want fantastic performance and consistency for a budget-friendly price.
- Ease of use and an intuitive interface are more important than microscopic precision.
- You are just getting started with home brewing and want a reliable grinder that can do it all.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Sette 270 and Smart Grinder Pro?
The main difference is specialization. The Sette 270 is an espresso-focused grinder with exceptionally low grind retention and high speed, priced accordingly. The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is an affordable, all-purpose grinder designed for versatility and ease of use across all brew methods.
Which grinder is better for espresso?
The Sette 270 is significantly better for espresso. Its stepless micro-adjustment system offers far more control to fine-tune the grind size, which is critical for making great espresso. While the Breville can grind for espresso, it lacks this level of precision.
Is the Breville Smart Grinder Pro a good beginner grinder?
Yes, it's one of the best high-value grinders for beginners. It's very easy to operate, provides consistent results, and is versatile enough to let you experiment with every coffee brewing method without needing to upgrade immediately.
Why is low coffee grind retention important?
Low grind retention means very little ground coffee is left inside the grinder after use. This ensures that every time you grind, you're using fresh coffee. It also prevents cross-contamination of flavors when you switch between different types of beans.
Is the Sette 270 worth the extra cost?
For dedicated espresso makers, yes. The precision, speed, and negligible grind retention lead to better, more consistent shots and a more efficient workflow. If you primarily brew drip or pour-over coffee, the extra cost is not justified, and the Breville is a much better value.
How loud are these grinders?
The Sette 270 is known for being quite loud and high-pitched due to its powerful motor and gearbox design. The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is not quiet, but its noise is generally considered more moderate and less piercing than the Sette's.
Can I use the Sette 270 for French press or drip coffee?
Yes, the Sette 270 can be adjusted for coarser settings suitable for French press or drip. However, its adjustment system is designed for nuanced changes in the espresso range, making it less ideal and somewhat overkill for coarser methods where small adjustments matter less.
What's easier to clean and maintain?
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is generally easier for routine cleaning, as the top burr removes with a simple twist for quick access. The Sette 270's design means less coffee gets trapped inside (requiring less frequent deep cleaning), but accessing the burrs for a full clean is a slightly more involved process.
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