Bodum has spent a lot of time on research and cooperated with some of the world's most knowledgeable coffee specialist to create the Antigua. Using a very sharp hand forged blade, such as you find in professional grinders at your coffee supplier, the coffee is cut rather than crushed. Now don’t confuse this mechanism with the blades in a mill grinder. The Bodum Antigua actually features a quality conical burr grinding system. Conical burrs are popular for their low gearing so as not to overheat the beans. Bodum has done an amazing job offering a conical burr grinder at this price. The Antigua also boasts a huge 1 lb hopper for coffee beans with a tight fitting lid to preserve freshness.

The grinder can be adjusted from a coarse French press setting to a fine Italian espresso setting. Bodum's Antigua takes all kinds of roasts, from the very dark oily espressos to the lighter and dryer roasts of filter coffee. The Antigua is also provided with a timer-switch allowing you to grind any amount of coffee up to 8 cups at a time.

How does the Antigua stack up? We heartily recommend it as a bargain at the price. The Antigua provides excellent grind consistency from its conical burrs plus great styling, large hopper size and nice touches like a cleaning brush that hangs neatly on the side of the grinder. The Antigua makes a great companion to the Bodum Santos Electric Vacuum Coffee Maker. While the range of fineness settings will be adequate for most users, those needing the finest espresso grind for non-pressurized filter machines (such as La Pavoni levers and higher end pump driven machines) may want to consider the Solis Maestro. The Solis can grind even finer than the Antigua. Measuring 8 by 10.5 in, 20 by 27 cm