Rancilio Rocky Coffee Grinder

Grind Setting Orientation

The Rocky's grind collar adjusts by pushing down the release lever and rotating the hopper. Finer settings are toward 0; coarser settings approach 55. The scale is stepped — each click is one setting. As a starting point: espresso 1–10, pour over 10–20, drip brewer 25–35, French press 40 and above.

First Use — Seasoning the Burrs

Run 1–2 small doses through the grinder before your first real session to season the burrs and clear any manufacturing residue.

Grinding

Fill the hopper with fresh beans. Place your portafilter or catch container under the doserless chute. Press and hold the on/off switch. The Rocky grinds on demand — release the switch to stop. Dose directly into your portafilter or a container for weighing.

Adjusting Grind Size

To adjust, push down the release lever and rotate the hopper while the grinder is running. Never force the collar when the grinder is off — move in small increments and observe the output before making large changes.

Dialing In for Espresso

Start around setting 8–10 and adjust finer until shots run 25–30 seconds for a 1:2 ratio double shot. Move in single increments — the Rocky's fine-threaded burrs respond to small adjustments.

Grind Setting Guide

Rocky's 55 settings cover a wide range: settings 1–10 for espresso, 10–20 for pour over and Aeropress, 25–35 for drip/auto brewers, and 40+ for French press. Use this as a starting reference and adjust to taste.

Managing Retention

The doserless Rocky has minimal retention. A light tap on the grounds chute after grinding helps release any stray grounds. For single-dose use, pre-load your weighed dose in the hopper rather than leaving beans sitting in the burr chamber.

Regular Burr Cleaning

Brush out the burr chamber weekly using the included cleaning brush. For deeper cleaning, use a grinder-specific cleaning product such as Grindz or Urnex Grindz — run a small dose through as you would beans.

Hopper Cleaning

Remove the hopper by pushing the release lever and lifting it off. Wash with warm soapy water and dry thoroughly before replacing. Do not put the burr housing in water.

Burr Inspection

Check burr sharpness periodically. Dull burrs produce inconsistent grounds and require more time to dial in. Replace when the grinder requires significantly finer settings than before to achieve the same shot time.

Grinder Jams

Turn off the grinder immediately. Remove beans from the hopper. Use the grind setting lever to slightly open (coarsen) the setting, then carefully remove any obstructing material. Never force the burrs. A thermal overload shutoff will trigger if the motor overheats — wait 15 minutes before restarting.

Inconsistent Grind Output

If grounds vary significantly in coarseness, check that the hopper is seated properly and the collar is fully locked at the desired setting. Also inspect burrs for worn or chipped edges. Some variance is expected.

Shot Times Changed After Not Using Grinder

Environmental changes in temperature and humidity affect grind behavior. Expect to re-dial after the grinder sits unused for extended periods. Start from your last known setting and fine-tune.