I have had two Gaggia MDF grinders that despite handling this machine totally with kid gloves, the flywheel broke on the first, and now the spring to the flywheel broke today on the second machine. Both machines had these parts break only after about 12-13 months of using this machine. Very disturbing since I am not mechanically minded to replace the flywheel assembly myself and Wisconsin has just about null repair people for espresso machine/grinder related problems.
My husband is willing to try replacing this part, but don't know how complex this is--as he admittedly is not mechanical either.
Is there a good, not more than $400 grinder that would work well with the Gaggia Classic espresso machine? I am not impressed at all with the MDF repair/problems track record so far. I can still pull the lever on the MDF & it turns. Therefore, I'm pretty positive it is just the spring that broke. When the entire flywheel broke on the first machine, when I pulled the lever, it did not turn anything. I'm wondering if a doserless grinder would be less apt to breaking??
Someone please help!!!!!!!!! I heard a LeLit PL53/54 is decent, and also a Cunill Tranquilo? I just need to have a user friendly machine that works well with the Gaggia Classic. Thank you soooo much in advance!

Chris coffee has a buyers remorse baratza vario for 375 and baratza has a refurb vario for 360.

MDF doser mechanism repair kits are cheap and abundant
http://cgi.ebay.it/Kit-riparazione-maci...5d2625f74b

This is a great opportunity to step up to one of the better grinder that have become available in this price range in the last few years. Either of the deals on Varios from Chris' coffee looks good, you should see a big improvement in usability and taste stepping up from and MDF to a Vario. And the PL53 would also be an improvement over the MDF for a little less money, not quite the same value for money as refurb, but still a good deal.

Recommend the Vario.

May sound like a really dumb question, but how do you know you are not going to get a "lemon" when you get a refurbished machine? Maybe I'm getting a little paranoid, but even with my Gaggia Classic--have had to have the whole steam valve assembly replaced about a year ago, and it is starting to drip more regularily when the brew cycle is going (not otherise too much). So between that and my 2 flywheel issues in 2 years on 2 different MDFs, I'm getting a tad paranoid to say the least...
Can anyone tell me why they feel the Vario would be better than the MDF? Is it doser or doserless? Also, is it more difficult to use?
Also, does anyone have directions to replacing the flywheel in an MDF?
I will look on Chris's Coffee site at the Vario though. Thanks for any responses!!

Emailed Chris's Coffee & they recommend either the Varisio or Rocky doserless. What do you all think of the Rocky doserless?

chanty 77 wrote:May sound like a really dumb question, but how do you know you are not going to get a "lemon" when you get a refurbished machine?

If you get it from Baratza you know it because of the quality of their operation and follow through. The Vario is a substantially better espresso grinder than the Rocky. You will find numerous reviews onsite substantiating this.

I agree with hperry. Both baratza and Chris coffee offer exceptional service and while your budget allows it would be a nice upgrade. Vario is doserless and very easy to use.

Okay, just curious because Chris's coffee responded back to me & said they would recommend either the vario or the rocky doserless & said the rocky was a sturdier machine & is doserless. So, can I assume then that the Vario is doserless also? Plus, please don't get annoyed with me--I just want to make the right decision this time around in buying a grinder. Some of the reviews I have read about Vario is that it has a lot of repair issues which scares me because of the lack of repair facilities in Wisconsin along with me & my husband not being mechanical.