When the world is already moving to the 01, I am somewhat behind the curve but I just found a fairly new used P100 with ssp HU burrs in what looks like as new condition selling at a decent price, and though it was more than I ever thought I would pay for a grinder, I bit the bullet and bought it. It does have the ssp hu burrs which were the ones I wanted particularly to try as I wanted more clarity and flavour separation torn light roasts than what I am getting from my ssp 64mm equipped df64 so in the end curiosity won over budget concerns…
I have just had my first latte made from what it ground. It isn’t a fair test to make a milk coffee from its grinds but i think i can already tell more flavour nuances than from my ssp lab sweet cast 64mm equipped df64. I am looking forward to exploring what it can do.
In terms of its fit and finish, it is shockingly heavy for its size and look like it was carved out of a billet of aluminium. Even the blind filter cup is massive. As a result it screams quality everywhere you see on it. I am not sure I understand lance hedrick’s criticisms of it as o have not noticed the issues he found with the one he tested on mine so far. Even the dial indicator ring seems solidly stuck in place!
The workflow is so easy and fast compared to the df64 - no rdt, turn on auto button, just drop in beans, it auto purges, then use the neat clicker a couple of times. As I tend to shake the dosing cup eith the grinds without bothering with wdt nowadays, it is ideal for my methods that the p100 comes with that aforementioned massive blind filter cup. Although it’s 58mm, I use a small funnel with my 54mm portafilter anyway so no issues.
The motor is very quiet and the grinding seems much less loud vs the df64 with the ssp. I have always hated using bellows on grinders and I am glad the p100 doesn’t require it. When I tested it with the seller, the grinder produced grinds that weighed exactly the same as the beans I fed into it. I will weigh my shots in upcoming uses of this grinder to see how the retention in actual use is but i am confident it should be minimal.
Personally I think the p100 looks better design wise than the 01. In fact among its 98mm btethren, i would say i prefer its looks to all of its competitors in that range except perhaps the titus nautilus though the look of the latter is spoiled by its massive power brick. The p100 is a very impressive looking grinder but despite its heft and size, it tends to somehow look unobtrusive- perhaps due to its silvery matte colour that somehow does not draw the eye as much.
Let’s just say I am pleased as punch with this grinder so far!
