Rancilio Rocky vs. Sette 270: Which One is Better?

You probably have a coffee grinder at home if you love freshly ground coffee. We’ve always had a manual grinder, which unfortunately seems to be on its last legs, having served us for many years. A friend suggested we replace it with an electric one, which is more convenient, especially when we need to make different grind sizes. After some research, I ended up with two contenders: the Rancilio Rocky and the Baratza Sette 270.

In this post, I’ll share my findings to help you learn how these two compare so that you can know which one best suits your needs. Read on!

What are the differences between Rancilio Rocky and Sette 270? 

Features	Rancilio Rocky-SD	Sette 270
Flat burrs	50mm Flat Steel. Has wider burrs	40mm Steel Conical Burrs. Has narrower burrs.
Hooper	Has a tinted hooper with a capacity of 300 grams Tinted to preserve bean freshness.	Has a conical hooper with a capacity of 400 grams. Larger hooper.
Operation motor	Powerful direct drive motor. Quiet operation motor.	Operation motor attached to the outer burr. Noisy motor
Grind settings	55	270
Dosing chamber	Has no doser. Grinds straight into the portafilter.	Has time-based dosing and can store up to three doses Allow you to select single or double shots
Body	Die-cast housing. Mostly stainless-steel finish.	Sleek modern design shaped like a 7. Mostly plastic finish.
Capacity	The SD version has no doser and, therefore, no ground coffee holding capacity.	Ground bean capacity of 160 grams. Has more capacity
Power	166 watts Has a less powerful motor.	290 watts The Sette 270 is more powerful.
Voltage	Uses 120V AC power.	Uses a 120 V AC power outlet The two grinders use similar outlets.
Weight	15.4 pounds Heavier and sturdier.	7.05 pounds
Dimensions	9.8 x 4.7 x 13.8 inches. Is shorter and occupies less space compared to the Sette 270	9.45 x5.12 x 14.96 inches
Cost	About $420	About $400 Cheaper by a small margin.
Durability	Die-cast and finished in stainless steel. Very durable	Composed mainly of plastic. Less durable.
Warranty	One year from the purchase date. The warranty also covers parts.	One year from the purchase date. The warranty covers parts and workmanship.

Rancilio Rocky vs. Sette 270-How They Compare

Flat burrs

Burrs are the moving parts that crush the beans, turning them into a grind. Whereas the Rocky uses 50 mm flat burrs, the Sette 270 has 40 mm conical burrs.

The Rocky burrs win for being larger compared to the Sette’s.

Hooper

The Rancilio Rocky has a blue hooper with a capacity of 300 grams. The blue tint helps keep out UV light. The Sette 270, on the other hand, has a conical 400-gram capacity hooper.

The Rocky hooper wins for doing double duty. It holds the beans and preserves their freshness. 

Operation motor

The Sette 270 has a powerful 290-watt motor that is attached to the outer burr while the inner burr remains static. Factors such as motor location and grinder build material make it a relatively noisy grinder. The Rocky motor, on the other hand, has a 166-watt direct drive motor inside a heavier grinder. 

Although the Rocky has a less noisy operation, the Sette 270 wins for having the more powerful motor. 

Grind settings

The more settings, the more versatile the grinder is deemed to be. The Sette 270 has a whopping 270 settings compared to Rocky’s combined 55 settings.

This makes the Sette 270 the clear winner regarding grinding settings and versatility. 

Dosing chamber

A coffee grinder dosing chamber stores ground coffee separate from the coffee beans. The Sette 270 has a chamber that allows you to select single or double shots. The Rancilio Rocky SD does not have a doser, so it grinds 7-gram single shots directly onto the portafilter.

The Sette 270, therefore, wins for having a chamber that allows you to make different kinds of espresso in a short time.

Body

The Rancilio Rocky has a die-cast body with a sleek stainless steel finish. Although some parts of the Sette 270 are made of steel, most of the body is plastic.

The Rocky wins for having a sturdier body. 

Capacity

The Sette 270 has a ground coffee holding capacity of 160 grams. However, the Rocky, having no dosing chamber, has no ground coffee holding provision in the grinder itself.

The Settee 270 wins for letting you contain ground coffee in the machine  

Power

The Sette 270 consumes 290 watts, putting it in the higher standard grinder consumption range. The Rocky, which has a 166-watt motor, is also above the low-level range, which means both machines produce good grinds. 

The Sette 270, however, wins for being more powerful. 

Voltage 

The two coffee grinders are configured to use 120v outlets, while those set for international markets work with 240v.

It is a draw for voltage. Both grinders can use standard power outlets in whatever region they are destined for. 

Weight

The weight of a kitchen appliance often speaks to its build quality. The Rocky weighs more than 15 pounds, whereas the Sette 270 weighs less than half that much.

This makes Rocky the winner in the weight category. 

Dimensions 

With a base that is about 48.4 square inches and a height of almost 15 inches, the Sette 270 is taller and occupies more space compared to the Rocky, with a footprint of 46.1 inches and a height of about 14 inches.

Looking at dimensions alone, the Rocky wins by a small margin for occupying less counter space. 

Cost

Both coffee grinders are priced between $400 and $450, with the Rocky being the more expensive but more durable of the two. The Sette 270, on the other hand, comes jam-packed with features that are hard to come by at that price.

Because of the preceding factors and the small price variation, we find it a draw in the cost category. 

Durability

Although the Sette 270 has some steel parts and is made of suitable quality plastics, it is hard to beat Rocky’s solid steel and stainless-steel build and finish.

The Rocky grinder is the winner when it comes to durability. 

Warranty

Both coffee grinders have a short manufacturer’s warranty of 1 year after purchase, which covers defects in materials and workmanship.

Since both have similar 1-year warranties, it is a draw for the two grinders in this category.

Rancilio Rocky Vs. Sette 270: A Comparison Review 

Rancilio Rocky-Overview

The Rancilio Rocky is available in two variations.; The SD model with no dosing chamber, and the SS model with a doser. The SD model is what we recommend for regular home use and is the subject of our review.

The Rancilio Rocky has a high level of durability. It may not be as adaptable as the Sette 270 in fine aggregate configurations, but its die-cast structure will last you for years. The dial on this grinder has 40 settings, with the ultra-fine configuration of the burrs allowing for extra settings, which lets you go from espresso to French press particles.

The Rancilio Rocky SD doserless system includes a chute and a dispensable portafilter container. We find this a convenient addition because you can grind your coffee and pour it into a jar.

What I liked:

• Superior build quality.
• Tint bean hopper to keep beans fresh.
• Simple operation
• Easy to clean and maintain  

What I didn’t like:

• Has limited features.
• Has stepped instead of stepless grind settings  

Customers reviews (what are people saying)

-The Rocky grinds with impressive consistency, works like a packhorse and is as tough as nails-Jen.

-I can operate this machine with ease. I love it-Dylan.

-Definitely worth every penny-User2567

Sette 270 – Overview

We were impressed by the Sette 270 coffee grinder’s plethora of features, especially for the price. It has a modern design and a small, compact footprint, making it suitable for most kitchens. This Sette’s burrs utilize the clever Etzinger mechanism with jet-like capabilities that ensure the beans are pulled through the grinding process instead of being fed by gravity, guaranteeing grind consistency like no other grinder.

This coffee grinder has 270 different grind settings, which allows us to fine-tune our grind quality to perfection. We also like that the engine is fast and powerful, although quite loud, and impressively offers the same footwork as the Rocky. This power contributes greatly to the grinder’s almost zero grind retention, making cleaning less of an issue.

It also has an integrated convertible holder that allows you to grind straight into your portafilter or the grounds bin. We find the control panel LCD particularly helpful in using the grinder’s numerous functions.

What I liked:

• Excellent fine-grind quality.
• Fast grinding
• Very low to zero retention.
• Exact time-based dosing 

What I didn’t like:

• Annoyingly loud grinder
• Made of a lot of plastic. 

Customers reviews (what are people saying)

-The Sette 270, although quite noisy, is super-fast-Zac

-This machine’s grind quality, consistency, adjustability, speed, and retention are everything I have been looking for Mine

Final Verdict: So, Which is Better? – Rancilio Rocky Vs. Sette 270

The Sette 270 is the clear winner of the two grinders. It has a lot going for it: we love the excellent grind consistency, fast grind times, countless grind settings, and low retention. We find it to be a superb espresso grinder, which can also grind for AeroPress, Drip Coffee, and Chemex coffee makers. In comparison, the Rock appears to be a bare-bones grinder. It will grind exceptionally well but won’t weigh your coffee or time your dose. You’ll need to do all that manually.

FAQ SECTION

Which grinder produces more noise while grinding between Rancilio Rocky and Sette 270?

The Sette 270 produces more noise compared to the Rancilio Rocky.

Is Rancilio Rocky better for espresso than Sette 270?

The Sette 270, with its fine-tuning, makes for a better espresso grinder than the Rancilio Rocky.

Which grinder is easier to clean between Rancilio Rocky and Sette 270?

The Sette 270 is the easiest grinder to clean. No tools are needed.

Is Rancilio Rocky more affordable than Sette 270?

No, the Sette 270, at about $400, is slightly more affordable than the Rancilio Rocky, which costs over $420.

Which is easier to get between Rancilio Rocky and Sette 270?

Both coffee grinders are easy to get. They are currently available on Amazon.