After several weeks with the Mazzer Philos, I’m very impressed. It feels solid, well made, and built to last. I especially like how simple it is: no complicated electronics or unnecessary features. It’s basically just on and off, which gives it a reassuring feeling of simplicity and durability.
The packaging is excellent, with the grinder and accessories very well protected. Everything is nicely presented right from the start.
The Philos is easy to dial in, and small adjustments make a real difference. I often need only one or two clicks to get the espresso where I want it. Retention is also excellent: around 0.1 g after three consecutive 15 g doses.
I’m not an expert at describing subtle flavor differences, but I can say that the coffee tastes excellent to me. What I really look for is a clean, consistent extraction with a beautiful syrupy flow, and the Philos delivers that very well.
The grinding sound is pleasant and not harsh, and a 15 g dose takes about 12 seconds to grind, which feels very reasonable for a single-dose grinder.
The workflow is simple and clean. I dose into the dosing cup, with the magnetic support holding it securely in place under the chute. I then place my own funnel on the portafilter, turn the dosing cup upside down into the funnel, and transfer the coffee. It’s quick, clean and easy to repeat.
I also like the small cleaning tool stored inside the grinder. It’s a simple detail, but very useful.
Mazzer’s optional dosing cup that attaches directly to the portafilter is a clever idea, but at around $150, I find it too expensive.
Cleaning is one of my favorite features. The grinder comes apart easily without tools, and you can clean it without losing your grind setting. That makes regular maintenance much easier.
My only real complaints are the plastic base and the plastic grind chute clicker. They work fine, but feel a little out of place on an otherwise very well-made grinder.
Overall, the Philos is a pleasure to use. It’s consistent, easy to adjust, has very low retention, a simple workflow, and is exceptionally easy to maintain.
Pros: Build quality, simplicity, consistency, low retention, easy dial-in, syrupy extractions, pleasant grinding sound, 12-second grind time for 15 g, workflow, magnetic dosing cup support, packaging and tool-free cleaning.
Cons: Plastic base and clicker; expensive optional dosing cup.
A fantastic single-dose grinder that is simple, reliable, built to last, and very satisfying to use.