The Mazzer Philos impresses as a heavy, versatile single-dosing grinder for filter and espresso, featuring interchangeable burrs and precise grinding performance, despite some inconsistencies.
We subjected the grinder to a six-month intensive test, performed lab tests, measured particle distributions, and evaluated it under real-world conditions at the Swiss Coffee Festival. In this article and video, we summarize our findings. Of course, we also share our workarounds for the consistency issues that we, too, discovered with the Mazzer Philos.
Buying the Mazzer Philos
The following specialist retailers distribute the Mazzer Philos, and we can recommend purchasing from these companies. All of them offer the option to calibrate the machine's offset.
Germany: [Partner links] Stoll Espresso
Switzerland: [Partner links] deon
We look for specialist partners who we know provide good work and good service, and we are in close contact with the mentioned retailers. These links are so-called affiliate links. If you order via one of these links, you won't pay a cent more, but we receive a small commission that we invest directly in new test equipment.
We continue to search for competent partners in the DACH region for you.
A material statement
On one hand, the Philos shines with its high-quality material selection and manufacturing. The inner piston is milled entirely from stainless steel, and the outer casing consists mainly of anodized aluminum. Combined with the 400-watt motor, the Philos weighs an impressive 12.5 kilograms. On the other hand, some plastic parts stand out negatively and detract from the overall high-quality appearance. These include the on/off switch, the bean hopper lid, and the "clack" mechanism for removing coffee grounds from the coffee chute. These parts feel low-quality, and visible manufacturing edges and imprints can be seen on the plastic components.
While this diminishes the overall positive impression, it does not seriously affect the grinder's total quality. The Philos is available in silver and black versions.
In our region, the Philos runs at 50 watts and 1600 rpm. Mazzer itself offers two 64 mm burrs suitable for the Philos: the I189D are specifically recommended for espresso, while the I200D serve as an all-round solution for espresso and filter coffee, according to the manufacturer. We can confirm these statements, and we go into more detail in the video and later in the article.
The burrs are positioned vertically in the grinder and fixed with three screws each. Changing the burrs is possible without tools. However, the two wing nuts are initially tightened so firmly that opening them carries a risk of injury.
Our test grinder was delivered with good alignment. The entire inner part, which can be pulled out towards the front, is guided very precisely into the grinder and shows no play. This part carries the front burr. Especially striking is a large pre-breaker, which according to Mazzer, functions less as a pre-breaker and more as a "guide" for the coffee beans into the burrs.
As a specialist retailer for the distribution of the Mazzer Philos, we recommend Stoll Espresso*.
Usability and retention
Mazzer has placed the grind adjustment on the back of the Philos. This makes access difficult for wheelchair users and also for users if the grinder is positioned further back on a countertop or under a hanging kitchen cabinet.
There are understandable reasons for this placement, yet it affects usability. An advantage of the design, however, is that the grind setting remains fixed even when the grinder is opened and cleaned from the inside. By the way, the originally stepped grinder can be converted into a stepless version by removing a gear ring located under the cover of the grind adjustment. The steps of the Philos are relatively fine: per step, the burrs move by 0.6 micrometers, which translates to a change in extraction time of just under two seconds for espresso.
The grinder impresses with minimal static issues and is thus a positive exception among single-dosing grinders. The bean hopper effectively reduces so-called popcorning. Furthermore, the grinder has a sliding mechanism that allows the hopper to be closed. This makes the unsightly plastic lid unnecessary.
We measure a temporary retention of 0.1 grams and a permanent retention of 0.5 grams. In practice, the permanent retention can clear out in favor of the temporary retention, which creates some play. In the front part of the grinder, there is a hidden cleaning port that serves to empty the grounds chute. However, this was rarely used in our test, as digging out coffee powder after using the "clack" dosing finisher was too cumbersome and could not be seamlessly integrated into the workflow. We could live well with a temporary retention of 0.1 grams, provided the effective output quantity was correct.
The Mazzer Philos is easy to open and easy to clean.
Consistency issues
Even though we could consistently measure very stable shots and grinds with the Philos, consistency issues occurred regularly. We see one reason for this in the release of permanent retention. It happened frequently that the grinder ejected 18.5 grams instead of the input 18 grams. We only noticed this because we had gotten into the habit of always checking the dosage after grinding. This deviation occurred even though our workflow remained unchanged. In these cases, a larger part of the permanent retention loosened from the grinder and increased the coffee quantity. During the next grinding process, the retention filled up again, so only 17.5 grams were output—meaning 0.5 grams were missing. The result was irregular espresso shots until we started strictly checking the output quantity and either grinding more coffee or reducing the weight.
In our view, however, this is only one factor explaining the occasional consistency issues with the Philos. The second lies in the geometry of the dosing cup. While the grinder itself has minimal static issues, these appear significantly in the dosing cup. Coffee partially sticks to the edges as well as the bottom corners of the cup.
The main problem with the dosing cup, however, lies elsewhere: despite WDT (Weiss Distribution Technique) and careful puck preparation, the cup consistently led to massive channeling for us. The reason for this is that the cup sinks completely into the portafilter instead of sitting slightly on the edge of the portafilter thanks to side wings, like many other dosing cups. This creates craters down to the bottom of the portafilter, and even with the greatest care, we regularly noticed channeling at the edges.
Although the dosing cup fits perfectly into the grinder due to its magnetic mechanism and size, we stopped using it anyway. Instead, we transferred the coffee to another dosing cup before putting it into the portafilter. You can also find a dosing cup alternative in our shop.
Speed and temperature
The Mazzer Philos grinds 18 grams of coffee in 15.2 seconds. It takes a little longer until all beans are fully ground and the last bit of coffee is knocked out. Nevertheless, with a maximum grinding speed of 22.4 grams in 10 seconds, the grinder shows a remarkably high speed for a single-dosing grinder. The coffee grounds barely heat up – we measure an average temperature of 31.86 °C.
Our test model is noticeably loud when switched on but not yet grinding. Compared to the grinder of our esteemed YouTube colleague Lance Hedrick, this difference is particularly noticeable. Our Philos sounds more like the grinder used by our also very esteemed YouTube colleague Aramse.
However, as soon as beans are added to the grinder, it is relatively quiet compared to other models. We measure a volume of 78.1 decibels. We rate a volume below 80 decibels as very quiet and therefore pleasant for daily use.
Espresso and filter performance and particle distribution
We enjoyed numerous excellent espressos ground with the Mazzer Philos. Both burr variants delivered good results.
Burr comparison
I189D: The I189D espresso burrs impressed us with dense, full-bodied, yet balanced espressos. The acidity was reduced, and the pleasant bitterness blended harmoniously into the flavor profile. Especially with medium and darker roasts, the burrs brought the roast's aromas well into the cup. However, for more complex or lighter roasted coffees, clarity was somewhat lacking.
With the I189D burr, we really liked our Apas-Espresso. It is a medium roast, chocolaty, and well-balanced.
I200D: These burrs emphasized the individual character of the coffees more clearly and delivered clearer results. Sometimes, this came at the expense of body. With optimal preparation, the extracted coffees were more elegant and complex. However, balancing the flavors was harder to achieve than with the I189D burrs and often fit less well with medium and darker roasts.
Filter coffee
For filter coffee preparation, we always reach for the I200D burrs. Some of the best filter coffees of the last year were prepared by us with the Mazzer Philos and these burrs. The grinder impressively brought out the clarity and complexity of the aromas. Both complex specialty coffees and accessible classics like our "Amigo" were excellently extracted. The Mazzer Philos has proven to be an excellent filter coffee grinder and will certainly be used frequently in this capacity.
Particle distribution
Our particle distribution measurements confirm the quality of the burrs. While the I189D burrs delivered a good but not particularly narrow main peak of 206 micrometers, the I200D burrs reached a significantly narrower and higher main peak of 188 micrometers. Interestingly, the fine peaks of the two burrs barely differed. The main peak of the I189D shifts slightly to the left, as the higher uniformity of the ground coffee allows for a finer grind setting.
The reproducibility of the grinding results also impressed us, even after switching recipes between different coffee drinks. This was evident in both our extraction trials and the particle distribution measurements. The main peak width differed between the two burrs by only 3 or 4 micrometers after we switched from espresso to ristretto, then to lungo, and back to espresso.
Challenges
The biggest challenge lies in the grind adjustment, which is located on the back of the grinder and is difficult to see. Nevertheless, the grinder—especially when using the stepped adjustment—remains very consistent in the repeatability of noted recipes.
Conclusion on the Mazzer Philos
A final conclusion on the Mazzer Philos requires a comparison with other grinders as well as a classification of the price. The Mazzer Philos currently costs around 1,099 euros. This price is remarkable given the high-quality materials and is only possible because Mazzer, as an established grinder manufacturer, relied on higher production numbers from the start. For these 1,100 euros, you not only get a powerful grinder but also likely a grinder for eternity. Our three old Mazzer grinders have been in use for over 15 years and will likely last for many more years.
Admittedly, there are a few components on the Mazzer Philos that could be higher quality. These include the plastic grind output finisher, the lid, and the drip tray for the dosing cup that scratches quickly. However, these parts can be replaced if necessary.
At its core, however, the Mazzer Philos is excellent. It grinds excellent coffee with both burrs offered by Mazzer. The I189D burrs should be the ideal choice for many, especially for lovers of medium roasts. The I200D burrs, on the other hand, deliver excellent results, especially for filter coffee and more complex coffees. We were particularly impressed by the clarity that the grinder enables in filter coffee.
The consistency issues of the Philos are unfortunate but can be well resolved through the workarounds we suggested. Replacing the dosing cup and weighing the coffee quantity after grinding ensure a consistent workflow without outliers.
The Mazzer Philos is a powerful and high-quality single-dosing grinder that does not have to hide behind more expensive models on the international market in terms of quality. Many of these models are significantly more expensive due to import and tax costs. Given its availability, repair-friendliness, and durability, we would recommend the Philos at any time from a proven dealer in the DACH region.
Recommended specialist retailers for Mazzer and the Philos
*We look for specialist partners who we know provide good work and good service. We are in close contact with the retailers. These are affiliate links. If you order via this link, it costs you nothing more, but we get a small commission that we put into new test equipment.
Your experiences with the Mazzer Philos
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