Just received my grinder today! Pretty excited to say the least!! Bought it from the omnipresent Ebay (aka greedbay,fleabay,fleecebay) or use your own moniker! I paid inc. s/h $261 and have a set of burrs on their way for $41. So far I'm a tad over $300. I'm feeling that I got a good deal but curious to know what people have paid for a used Rio SJ.

Also, I've looked at many Rio/SJ posts and still don't understand what the chief difference that would have the Rio being priced at a $200-300 premium to the Mazzer SJ (new retail).

I was going to purchase the Baratza Vario but decided my first grinder should be used and less pricy. Finally, I was going to purchase a used San Marco SM90(a CL listing) for $100 +s/h but the owner decided that selling it local would be much easier and sold it after I made and had an accepted offer. Did I dodge a bullet on the San Marco and get a significantly better grinder with the RIO SJ?

Thanks -

BTW - I'm on my "got my first real espresso grinder" high. Please don't anyone ruin my buzz!

movnmik wrote:Also, I've looked at many Rio/SJ posts and still don't understand what the chief difference that would have the Rio being priced at a $200-300 premium to the Mazzer SJ (new retail).

Once you replace the burrs, there's no difference except cosmetic ones. From what I've read, these days used Super Jolly sell for the low to mid $300s plus the cost of burrs. You did better than most.

I tried for a long time to decipher the Mazzer / Rio / Astoria code, but to no avail. It's further complicated by the fact that there was a casing switch around 2004. I think I read one time that Rios had slightly more powerful motors. Regardless, if they are not better, then they are just as good.

$300 dollars with new burrs is a great price! You got a good deal, better than mine by a fair amount. Congrats! I remember how fun it was to bring home my used Super Jolly... good stuff.

No matter what, you got a good price.

One thing that drives the price is if anything, like the hopper, hopper cover or doser cover is missing.
Another is age, which you can determine from the serial number.
Another is condition, which is mostly cosmetic, but you may need to take it apart, and give it a good cleaning. You have to do that to change the burrs anyway.
The doser is a little tricky to take apart.

I think sometimes you can get lucky with a Rio or Astoria, and people don't know what they're worth, which is much more unlikely with a Mazzer.

Randy

The first 2 digits of the serial number should indicate the year. I assume that still applies for 2000 and above, but I'm not certain.

That is an excellent deal. You are now set forever...or until the "upgrade" bug hits.

Ross Leidy wrote:The first 2 digits of the serial number should indicate the year. I assume that still applies for 2000 and above, but I'm not certain.

It does.

I've got an Astoria badged super jolly.

Ser begins with 05 indicating built in 2005. Which is consistent with appearance, condition and what I was told by the previous owner, who was the original owner.

still don't understand what the chief difference that would have the Rio being priced at a $200-300 premium

Because the purchaser is unaware of the price difference and relies on the vendor as to what a great deal he is getting.

The guy I purchased mine from told me he had paid something like 1,000 for the grinder and had the paper work to prove it. The price they paid for an astoria machine was astronomical. You would think there was not such a thing as the internet. Why would someone just cough over these amounts of money without doing some due diligence. No wonder they go broke after trying to make a go in several locations as did the seller of my machine.


I'm guessing that they put themselves in the hands of a local professional who has to mark things up considerably to make a living.

Ross Leidy wrote:The first 2 digits of the serial number should indicate the year. I assume that still applies for 2000 and above, but I'm not certain.

Yeah - my Astoria ''Badged'' Jolly which is labeled Mazzer Super Jolly on the side sticker - was built in 98 according to the serial number.

It cost us under $160 from e-bay ($38 for new burrs back then) about 5-6 years ago, and it is still ticking just fine.

These rebadged Jolly machines are wonderful (as are the Mazzer badged ones as well)...