Mazzer Major: Top Commercial Grinder For Major Espresso Fans

Mazzer is one of the most renowned names in commercial coffee grinding. The Italian brand blends tradition and innovation to deliver world-leading grinders. 

The Mazzer Major has been an icon of coffee shops worldwide for years, and the release of the upgraded Major V and Major VP in the last few years has only increased its reputation. This review digs into all aspects of the Mazzer Major line, including performance, ergonomics, technology, and aesthetics.

Summary: The Mazzer Major V

• Commercial coffee grinder for medium to large cafes
  
• 83 mm steel flat burrs
  
• Available in an on-demand or doser version

The Major V is my first professional grinder, and I’m very happy with it. It’s a fast and consistent grinder.

– Major V Owner

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The Full Mazzer Major Grinder Review

The Major is Mazzer’s largest and most popular grinder with flat burrs, a stalwart of mid-sized cafes everywhere. There are four coffee grinders in the Major line, listed here from lowest to highest price.

• Mazzer Major
• Mazzer Major V
• Mazzer Major V Electronic
• Mazzer Major V Pro (aka VP)

Major V was released in 2019 as a substantially upgraded version of the Major and has quickly become the best-selling model (1). As such, it will be the focus of this review, but I’ll clarify differences between models where important.

How We Rated It

• Design
• Durability
• Ease of Use
• Grinding Capability
• Value for Money

4.4

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Design – 4/5

Mazzer grinders are thoughtfully designed, blending smooth curves with practical features like the doser funnel. The Major series showcases this aesthetic well. Though these grinders are large, up to 26 inches tall and 50 pounds, they feel friendly rather than imposing.

The basic Mazzer Major has a 4-pound bean hopper. The others have smaller 3.5-pound hoppers that have been redesigned with an asymmetry that is aesthetically pleasing and funnels coffee beans more effectively into the grinding chamber.

The Mazzer grMajor V is available in six colors: matte black, matte white, matte grey, polished aluminum, silver, and red. The Major only comes in silver. The Major VP comes in every color but red, but it sports red accents that give it sports car vibes.

MAJOR V FLAT BURR

MAJOR V ELECTRONIC

Durability – 5/5

Mazzer’s Major grinders are commercial grade, made to grind dozens of pounds of coffee per day. They are heavy-duty pieces of equipment that should last a decade or more with proper treatment.

These materials are long-lasting, eco-friendly, and easily recyclable. The parts are precision machined, and even accessories like the grounds catch tray are metal.

The obvious exception is the plastic hopper, an industry-standard decision. It doesn’t receive much wear and tear, and a transparent hopper makes sense for monitoring bean levels. It’s easy to buy a replacement if you manage to crack it.

Ease of Use – 4/5

The details depend on the model, but all of these coffee grinders are easy to use.

The basic Major uses a simple timer for dosing. You can also get it with a doser, with adjustable doses from 5.5 to 8 g. The electronic Mazzer Major E was discontinued with the release of the Major V Electronic espresso grinder, but a few are around online with sale pricing.

The automatic Major V also uses a doser, and a new dosing lever offers better barista ergonomics. 

The dose consistency is really impressive, and the Memorty Track System lets you index grind settings. All three allow you to dose directly into a portafilter, and the VP offers an adjustable portafilter holder and hands-free grinding with a portafilter-activated grind button.

The VP and V electronic have a few extra user-friendly features, including a time-based burr wear alert, daily stats, a programmable pause, and internet connectivity.

How to Adjust Grind Setting Mazzer Major E

Grind adjustment is the same for any Major. The grind adjustment ring is at the base of the hopper. Turn it counterclockwise for a coarser grind and clockwise for a finer grind. Always purge the coffee left in the grinder after making an adjustment. Note that the grind adjustment collar is quite stiff, so plan on using two hands.

Grinding Capability – 5/5

Major has stepless grind adjustment and huge 83mm flat burrs. Bigger burrs pay dividends in commercial environments. They grind faster, which improves efficiency in a busy coffee shop and results in less heat generation (2).

The basic Major is suitable for a medium-sized coffee shop and grinds for filter or espresso. The V and VP models are espresso-focused and designed for medium-to-large cafes. They feature high-carbon steel burrs, which have a longer lifespan and produce more uniform grounds. They have two internal fans, ensuring things stay cool when the morning cafe rush heats up. 

The Major has impressively low retention for a flat burr grinder. Grind retention leads to stale coffee, poor dose accuracy, and coffee waste. The VP also has Grind Flow Control (GFC) to reduce static and avoid ground coffee clumping.

Major VP Motor

The Major and Major V models have a 650-Watt motor that grinds at 1400 rpm at 50 Hz or 1600 rpm at 60 Hz. The Major VP boasts a serious upgrade, making it the fastest grinder of the line-up. It has a high-torque asynchronous motor that achieves higher grinding speeds with lower RPM (900 rpm at 50 Hz). This seeming paradox stems from patented Mazzer high-tech electronics, and it means less heat generation when grinding high volumes, lower noise, and a longer lifespan.

Value for Money – 4/5

Mazzer grinders aren’t cheap, but you get what you pay for. Mazzer is one of the oldest and most esteemed burr manufacturers in the game. And remember these are commercial-grade grinders, designed to last decades sitting next to $10,000+ espresso machines.

The base Major is the cheapest of the bunch, running around $1200. The Major V adds about $1000 to that, and plan on $500 more for the Major VP. Given the durability of the materials, the quality of the burr set and grind, and the reliability of the Mazzer brand, these are very reasonable prices for coffee shop grinders.

Mazzer Super Jolly vs Major Grinder

There is an obvious comparison to be made between the Super Jolly V Pro and the Major V, both flat burr espresso grinders with nearly identical features. The Super Jolly is less expensive due to having a smaller 64-mm burr set, which yields a slower grind output suitable for smaller coffee shops.

Mazzer Kony vs Major Grinder

The Mazzer Kony S is another commercial espresso grinder at a similar price point to the Major VP. The critical difference is that it is a conical burr grinder with 63 mm burrs.

Do Not Buy If…

• You want a home grinder: Consider the Mazzer Mini, which was initially designed for small coffee shops. It boasts excellent Mazzer engineering in a smaller, more affordable package. Or select the Niche Zero, which houses the same conical burrs as the Mazzer Kony at a much more approachable price.
• You prefer conical burrs: Many espresso lovers prefer the heavier-bodied brews that result from conical burrs. Mazzer Kony and Mazzer Robur both have conical burrs, with the Robur’s 71-mm burrs geared towards higher-volume shops.
• You make filter coffee: Mahlkonig makes some of the best commercial filter coffee grinders on the market. I guarantee you can’t go wrong with the iconic EK43, though it doesn’t come cheap.

The Verdict

The original Mazzer Major remains an excellent choice for mid-sized cafes, especially as it is suitable for coffee and espresso. For espresso-specific grinding, the new-and-improved Major V and Major VP turn things up a notch with advanced technology and barista-friendly features. Though not cheap, both are fantastic options for a medium-to-large cafe.

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