Baratza - Virtuoso+

Baratza is a workhorse. It is not a quiet workhorse but it is a good machine 

1. Not already. You'd have to 'make' something. 2. Not really. 3. You can look at getting a grinder with a mechanical time grind function, or a mechanical On button; and then remotely activate it with a smart plug or timed plug. Something like the Baratza Virtuoso has a timer knob on the side, you could set that, leave the room, and activate the smart plug from your phone. Grinders very rarely have a mechanical "on" button that would remain on indefinitely - base safety feature to prevent burning out the motor or fire risk due to overheating if you left it running and walked away. You're either finding that in a weird-brand grinder that doesn't care about your fire insurance, or in a grinder that's not supposed to work that way but has been damaged somehow - I have a Virtuoso that is stuck 'on' because the timer knob jammed, and I need to plug and unplug it when I'm using it.

My Baratza, ordered from Baratza, ground unevenly (dust, ground coffee, and biggish pieces) with a loud cracking noise at regular intervals (not just the usual burr grinding sound) from the git-go, and broke irreparably within a year -- as I drink coffee only two or three times a month, that would be more like a few weeks for most users. The on/off switch doesn't have a timer and if you fill the top -- if you put in more than a few tablespoons, actually-- and turn your back for a moment it will clog. As I put up with it for about a year, having no other option for grinding coffee, service was nonexistent. The years old Baratza this was supposed to be a replacement for had a timed switch (the same switch from the outside, and the little glitch of turning on until YOU turn it off wasn't mentioned in any review or Baratza's description), ground delightfully evenly at all settings, and never clogged despite my ex-husband -- the main coffee drinker-- never cleaning it and me only cleaning it (running rice or cleaning grains through it) when I thought of it, which wasn't often. I guess the gist is, be sure of what you're getting if you get a Baratza.

Baratza is the answer. I've had mine for over 20 years. I recently contacted the company to buy the little rubber feet that deteriorated on the bottom and they sent me the feet, some extra other parts, stickers and postcards. Years ago I contacted them to buy a few other normal wear and tear parts and they sent those free too. Buddy at work has one, they've sent him new circuit boards and gearboxes for free. Outstanding product and customer service you just don't find anymore.

I would only add that if you have the extra cash, The Baratza Virtuoso is also excellent. It has a couple quality of life features like a little light inside and an extended number of settings. But likewise, I dial it in when loading the coffee and don't touch it again unless I'm changing coffee brews. Just tap the button once every morning. And that little light btw, while seeming like an afterthought, is CLUTCH. It's so useful.

Fellow Ode II is maybe a bit more, but well worth it. Better than a Virtuoso I had before.

I recently "upgraded" from an electric Baratza Virtuoso to a manual ZP6. I like the ZP6 a lot. It takes up less space and really doesn't take much time or effort to grind coffee. I do pour over with 15 or 20 g of coffee at a time, and it takes seconds to grind. I can't see myself going back to an electric grinder (unless I for some reason bought a Mr. Coffee and needed a lot of coffee grounds).

The M40 doesn't have external grind adjustment- no way I would ever get it. Copying an outdated grinder like the commandante is a weird business model. I have used a K6 every day for the past 2.5 years. I also have a baratza Virtuoso+ that I've basically not touched since I got the K6.

I have a (kinda old) Baratza Virtuoso, Ode Gen2 and Timemore 064S. You can't grind for espresso with the Ode. The 064S is just a bit fiddly for espresso because the available range is compressed/coarse -- but I use mine every day. My Baratza experience is "emergency use only" but a friend is quite happy with the ESP (filter/drip).

A bonus of the Encore and Baratza grinders in general: you can get parts and fix them. I've replaced almost everything on my Virtuoso