Nuova Simonelli MCF Grinder Review: Is it the Right Grinder for You?

You’ve been searching everywhere for a high-quality coffee and espresso grinder to use either at home or in your business. The tricky part is you’re on a budget, and a grinder that costs over a thousand dollars is beyond the amount you’re able to spend.

Does that sound familiar? If it does, then the Nuova Simonelli MCF grinder may be exactly what you’re looking for. But is this grinder really right for you?

In this Nuova Simonelli MCF grinder review, we’ll help you determine the answer to that question. Here is what we’ll teach you about the grinder:

• The MCF’s most important features – and why they’re important.
• Possible alternative grinders to the MCF in case you’d prefer something different.
• Nuova Simonelli’s history as a manufacturer.
• What the MCF is best for.
• Information regarding the prices of all grinders mentioned in this guide.

Let’s start by looking at those key features…

Quick Summary 

Nuova Simonelli MCF Doser Grinder 

Unless you’re totally new to the world of coffee and espresso gear, then you’ve probably heard the name Nuova Simonelli before. This luxury manufacturer is perhaps best-known for their top-of-the-line machines, but you may be pleased to learn that they’ve also produced budget models like the MCF. The MCF isn’t just wallet-friendly – it’s also perfect for small counters due to its amazingly compact design.

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Key Features and What They Mean 

Doser Grinding 

Look at the MCF from the front, and you’ll see it has a container with a lever attached to it. This is called the dosing hopper and is integral to the use of the MCF.

Instead of dropping fresh coffee grounds directly into your portafilter, the MCF will drop the grounds into the dosing hopper. Then, as you need the grounds, you can disburse them from the doser hopper into your portafilter.

The main advantage of a doser grinder is that it gives you a stash of pre-ground coffee to use in advance. This design works particularly well in environments that go through coffee quickly.

There is, however, a drawback: if you don’t use the grounds fast, they’ll grow stale. That can lead to an increased amount of waste as you dispose of them or reduction in quality if you choose to use them, anyway.

Read Also: Nuova Simonelli MDXS Grinder Review

Stepless Grind Adjustment 

There are numerous types of coffee profiles out there, and they all need their own unique grind setting. To ensure you’re able to make the widest range of coffees, you need a grinder that gives you as much control as possible over the texture of the grind.

Stepless grind adjustment makes that possible. Baristas are able to dial in the grind to any setting ranging from fine to coarse, so you can make adjustments as precise as you need.

Stainless Steel Burrs 

The flavor of your espresso and coffee starts in the grinder. A low-quality grinder will produce a poor-tasting coffee, regardless of the barista’s skill in brewing it.

That’s why burrs are important to discuss whenever you talk about grinders. Within the Nuova Simonelli MCF, you’d find 50mm flat burrs.

Flat burrs specialize in uniformity. The grounds they produce will all be the same size, leading to a well-balanced extraction every time.

Related Article: Best Espresso Grinders Under $1,000

Portafilter Holder 

Although much of your productivity will come from your knowledge, having equipment that supports your speed will be a huge part of the equation. In other words, you need something that provides you the tools you need to be more productive.

The MCF can hold your portafilter beneath the chute for you while you’re using it. Because of this, you’re not required to stand in place and hold your portafilter every time you operate the grinder.

Because your hands will be available, you’ll be able to multitask. This will increase your output considerably.

Die-Cast Aluminum Body 

You want an appliance you can trust, especially when it comes to producing something as famously finicky as espresso. It would be disappointing, to say the least, if your espresso grinder were to break shortly after you purchased it.

Don’t worry about that happening with the Nuova Simoneli MCF. Its body is made from die-cast aluminum, granting it a sturdiness you don’t find in just any espresso or coffee grinder.

Compact Design 

Coffee and espresso grinders can get surprisingly large. Because of this, some of them will take up a significant amount of room on your counters, shelves, or tables, requiring you to plan your workspace out carefully.

This isn’t true for the MCF, which is one of the most compact espresso grinders you’ll find. Measuring at only 4 inches wide, 8 inches deep, and 13 inches tall, it’s small enough that you won’t need to completely reconfigure your space to accommodate it.

Further Reading: Best Espresso Grinders Under $1,500

Comparable Alternatives 

Mazzer Mini Doser Coffee Grinder 

If what you want is an affordable espresso grinder with a small footprint, the Mazzer Mini is a solid option. It’s designed to take up as little space as possible in your kitchen, so it’s a great fit for home baristas.

Despite its diminutive size, it still packs a real punch, too. It has a precise stepless grind adjustment system that will give you complete control over the grind and decently sized 58mm flat burrs.

These are some other qualities it has:

• A low blade speed to protect your coffee beans from overheating in the grinder.
• An attached doser container that allows you to grind coffee in advance.
• Multiple color options so you can pick the one that looks best in your home or business.

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Nuova Simonelli MDXS Grinder 

The MDXS doser grinder is what we’d recommend if you want something that’s a step up from the MCF. Like the MCF, it has a doser and flat burrs, but it makes some upgrades to the design.

For one thing, its burrs have been increased in size to 65mm. This large size increase makes it possible for the machine to grind even faster, reducing your wait time when you add to the doser hopper.

Furthermore, it has a large-capacity bean hopper on top that can hold up to 2.6 pounds. That means you won’t need to refill it nearly as often.

Here are some other noteworthy features of the MDXS:

• Die-cast aluminum body for increased durability.
• A portafilter holder so you can grind hands-free.
• Stepless grind adjustment for the utmost precision in grind adjustment.
• Sound-dampening tech to keep the grinder quiet.

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About the Brand

Nuova Simonelli is a brand that has earned the trust and loyalty of baristas in coffee shops around the world. Since their creation in 1936, they have worked ceaselessly to innovate the industry, producing both espresso machines and grinders that users love operating.

Their designs are so solid that some of their machines have been used in barista championships. If the world’s best professional baristas can rely on Nuova Simonelli, you can, too.

Ideal Grinder Applications 

As a miniature-sized grinder, the Nuova Simonelly MCF doesn’t quite have the grinding speed to make it suitable for large businesses. We’d recommend it more for smaller ones, such as small specialty coffee shops, restaurants, and even offices with a modest number of employees.

This machine is also great for home users who really want to step up their espresso game and produce café-quality drinks in their own kitchens.

Pricing Information 

Majesty Coffee works to bring our customers the best prices online by carefully balancing the equipment features and average budgets in our cost considerations. That applies to all grinders mentioned in this guide.

We offer our Nuova Simonelli MCF for $607.50, the Nuova Simonelli MDXS for $1,012.50, and the Mazzer Mini for $695.