Are you trying to decide whether the Mazzer Major or Mazzer Mini grinder would be better for you? Both are quality grinders with a lot in common, as well as a lot that’s different between them.
In this guide, we’ll put the Mazzer Major vs Mini in a detailed head-to-head comparison. By the end of the guide, we’ll have addressed the following topics:
- Features that are shared by both the Major and Mini.
- Which features are unique to either grinder in this comparison.
- Information regarding their prices.
- How to decide which one is right for you.
Let’s jump right in.
Quick Summary
The Mazzer Major’s speedy grinding ability is nothing to scoff at. Its large 2.7-pound hopper and spacious flat burrs are ideal for whipping through espresso orders. That’s why we’d recommend it for coffee shops or businesses that need to grind espresso quickly.
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Are your counters and tables absolutely crammed? If you’re worried you couldn’t possibly have room for a decent espresso grinder, the Mazzer Mini could be a perfect match for you. Its uniquely compact size makes it ideal for anyone who’s short on space.
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Similarities
Burr Type
If you’re unfamiliar with the construction of espresso grinders, burrs are serrated discs in high-end grinders that pulverize the coffee beans. They tend to be divided into two categories, conical and flat, based on their shape.
The Mazzers in this comparison both have flat burrs inside them. Flat burrs’ main benefit is precise uniformity and accuracy; coffee particles produced by them are all the same size, accentuating sweeter flavors in your coffee blends.
Stepless Grind Adjustment
Those who have brewed different types of coffee before know that each one needs a particular level of fineness. As an illustration, French press coffee needs to be coarsely ground so the pieces are larger and cannot get through the press’s filters.
Espresso, on the other hand, needs a fine grind. To ensure you’re grinding the beans appropriately, you need control over the fineness, and these Mazzer grinders will put that control in your hands.
Both grinders have a stepless grind adjustment system. This means that, instead of choosing from a handful of pre-set options, you’ll be able to rotate a collar to make tweaks to the texture. It gives you more levels to choose from.
Read Also: Mazzer Major vs Super Jolly
Color Options
One other aspect these grinders have in common is that each one is available in two different colors: black or silver. While the color doesn’t have any impact on your usage of the grinder, it can still matter.
Think about how you feel when you’re a customer walking into a business for the first time. You look around and take in the sights, making note of how clean and nice the establishment looks.
Your customers and guests do the same thing. This is precisely why the appearance of your equipment matters, and why you may prefer one color over another. You might want a grinder that ties in with your existing decorations to make an even better first impression on new customers.
Low Blade Speed
The Mazzer Major and Mini both boast a low blade speed of 1600 RPM. At first, you might assume that low blade speed is a bad thing. Shouldn’t the burrs turn faster to grind more coffee in a shorter amount of time?
The problem with high RPM is that the burrs will turn faster and create more friction. As a result of the increased friction, they generate more heat. More heat applied to delicate coffee beans leads to them being burnt.
You can probably imagine the result of burnt coffee beans: an unpleasant singed taste in the beverage. The low RPM of these Mazzers helps protect your coffee from that result.
Read Also: 5 Best Commercial Espresso Grinders
Differences
Dimensions
Given the difference in names between these grinders, you would most likely guess that their overall sizes are different. After all, one of them is called the Mazzer Mini while the other is just called the Mazzer Major.
True to its name, the Mazzer Mini is indeed the smaller of the two. To give you an exact picture, it measures at 6.5 inches wide, 13.25 inches deep, and 16.5 inches tall. It’s one of the most compact grinders you can find, making it perfect for those who are low on room.
Let’s put it into perspective. The Mazzer Major is 8 inches wide, 12.25 inches deep, and 24.5 inches tall. It’s significantly taller than the Mini and will therefore have a harder time fitting beneath cabinets on a counter.
Hopper Capacity
The reason why the Mazzer Major is so much taller than the Mini is its increased hopper capacity. It can hold up to 2.7 pounds of beans, while the Mini can hold up to 0.9 pounds of beans.
This can make a huge difference in your daily use of the grinder. A larger hopper can obviously hold more beans, resulting in fewer stops to refill the hopper throughout the course of a day of grinding.
As a result, the Mazzer Mini would require you to stop and add beans far more frequently than the Major would. That’s important when you’ve got a line of customers – every second counts and stopping a lot to refill your grinder will increase your customers’ wait time.
Burr Size
The size of the grinding discs within the Mazzers is another aspect in which they differ from each other. If you guessed that the Mini’s burrs were smaller, you’d be right.
The Mazzer Mini’s burrs are 58 millimeters. On the other hand, the Major’s burrs are 83 millimeters.
You may be wondering why it matters. Burr size is actually incredibly important to grinders; larger burrs allow the grinder to crush coffee beans more quickly. Best of all, large burrs accomplish this without having to turn as much as smaller ones, which means less friction and increased protection from burning.
In short, the Mazzer Major is much faster than the Mini and it has a greater degree of protection from scorched coffee beans.
Output
As we discussed in the section above, the Mazzer Major has significantly larger burrs than the Mini. A direct result of this size difference is the Major’s increased output.
On the Major, you’ll be able to grind 2.3 grams of espresso per second. That means you’ll have a shot of espresso ready to brew in a little over three seconds.
If you’re using the Mazzer Mini, that same shot of espresso would take almost 50% longer to grind.
Read Also: Best Espresso Grinders Under $1,500
Pricing Considerations
The price of an appliance is usually one your first considerations, so let’s look at the prices for these Mazzer grinders. Majesty Coffee works to provide our customers with the most competitive prices online.
As a result, we’re able to offer you our Mazzer Major for $1,195 and our Mazzer Mini for $695.
Which Grinder is Right for You?
Now for the big question: which grinder is right for you? To answer that question, you’ll need to focus on the differences between them and how they impact you.
If you’re looking for a grinder that helps you quickly prepare espresso-based drinks, the Mazzer Major is the better fit for you here. It has a faster output, thanks to its increased burr size.
Don’t have time to stop to refill the hopper often? Then the Mazzer Major is the pick for you again, since it has a larger 2.7-pound hopper than the Mini’s 0.9-pound hopper.
You should also consider the space you have available. If your countertops are packed and you simply don’t have room for much more, the Mazzer Mini will be the best fit for you.
Here is our suggestion:
Get the Mazzer Major if you’re a coffee shop or business in need of an affordable espresso machine that can keep up with lines of drink orders.
The Mazzer Mini, however, is the best choice for home users and people who otherwise don’t have a lot of room for a tall espresso espresso grinder.
If you have any questions about these Mazzers or choosing the best espresso grinder in general, feel free to reach out to us at 888-978-5224.
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Tony Barlow, with over a decade of experience in the coffee industry, is the go-to technical sales expert at Majesty Coffee. He's passionate about helping businesses find the right espresso equipment for their needs.
