Orbit Grinder

Acaia's quality control asks for burr mounting surfaces that are flat to 10 microns and motor drive shafts concentric to 20 microns. That is the first thing worth knowing about the Orbit, which Acaia describes as its first-ever coffee grinder.

The reason those tolerances matter is retention. In an ordinary grinder, grounds hang about in the chute and between the burrs, and the next dose pushes out the last one. The Orbit is built for single-dosing. A knocking chute clears the exit, and an automatic purge runs after the grind to cut what stays behind to a minimum. The 64 mm flat steel burrs are adjusted stepless, and the burr set can be Mazzer 33M, SSP Multi-Purpose or SSP Lab Sweet V3.

A 200 W brushless DC motor turns the burrs, and RPM Stability Control Technology holds its speed steady whatever the bean load. Acaia says this gives quieter running and less heat. Through the app over Bluetooth 5.0, speed can be set anywhere from 600 to 1500 RPM, buttons can be reassigned, and profiles can be saved for grinding by weight or by time.

Paired with the Acaia Lunar espresso scale, the Orbit grinds by weight in single and batch modes and starts and stops itself. The Multi-Purpose Hopper serves as a single-dose hopper, or as an adapter for larger batch hoppers of up to 2 kg.

Acaia designed the Orbit in partnership with Weber Workshops, and states that Acaia alone is responsible for it. The Space Gray model has a detent ring on its dial, while White and Black have a wide adjustment dial.