| Burr design and material | 20% | Confirm the burr geometry, material, finish, and replacement availability. Conical burrs may be made from hardened steel or ceramic; neither material alone guarantees better results. | Technical drawings, material specifications, burr-life testing method, and replacement-part details. | Provides clear specifications, consistent replacement parts, and repeatable test results for the intended grind range. |
| Grind adjustment and range | 15% | Check adjustment steps, repeatability, retention of settings, and suitability for the requested brewing methods. | Adjustment-step description, sample grind tests, and instructions for returning to a previous setting. | Settings are easy to identify and reproduce, with samples tested for more than one brewing method. |
| Build quality and usability | 15% | Assess body materials, handle attachment, grip, stability, assembly, and ease of cleaning. | Product samples, component specifications, cleaning instructions, and inspection criteria. | Parts fit securely, the grinder is straightforward to operate, and routine cleaning does not require specialist tools. |
| Quality management | 15% | Review incoming-material checks, production inspections, defect handling, and batch traceability. Certification claims should be verified for scope and validity. | Quality-control plan, sample inspection records, corrective-action process, and applicable certificates. | Uses documented inspection procedures and can trace production batches and resolve reported defects. |
| Compliance and product safety | 10% | Identify the requirements that apply in each destination market, including packaging, material, labeling, and general product-safety obligations. | Market-specific compliance documents, material declarations where applicable, and labeling samples. | Clearly identifies which documents apply to the product and destination, without treating one certificate as universal approval. |
| Production capacity and lead time | 10% | Confirm available capacity, minimum order quantity, sample lead time, production lead time, and seasonal constraints. | Written quotation, production schedule, order terms, and capacity confirmation for the requested quantity. | Provides realistic timelines in writing and communicates how changes in order volume affect delivery. |
| Pricing and total landed cost | 5% | Compare unit price alongside tooling, packaging, freight, duties, payment terms, and replacement-part costs. | Itemized quotation, stated Incoterms, packaging details, and spare-parts pricing. | Quotes are transparent and comparable, with exclusions and shipping responsibilities stated clearly. |
| After-sales support and spare parts | 5% | Check warranty terms, response process, availability of burrs and other wear parts, and support for product faults. | Written warranty, service contact process, parts list, and availability estimates. | Explains how claims are assessed and offers a practical route to obtain compatible replacement parts. |
| Communication and documentation | 5% | Evaluate response clarity, technical accuracy, sample follow-up, and consistency across quotations and product documents. | Written answers to technical questions, product specifications, and order documentation. | Answers questions directly, flags uncertainties, and keeps specifications consistent throughout the purchasing process. |