I now have the Niche Zero and Eureka Mignon XL Oro.
Given there is a bit of interest in these two grinders I thought a comparison was in order.
I won’t concentrate on the physical differences, but both seem very well built.
The beans I used are Ocean Grind ‘Shorebreak’ from Torquay (5 weeks post roast - not stale, but they are better at 2-3 weeks) and Mornington Peninsula Roasters ‘Big Left Blend’ (2 weeks post roast). These are both medium roast blends.
In terms of usability the Niche is simple and very easy to dial in. My first shot with the Big Left Bend was a gusher, but the second was spot on. I would like to say that this was because my barista skills are exceptional, however a complete guess is more accurate.
The Eureka requires a little more finesse due to the small adjustment dial and I have found that it takes a couple of shots for the new setting to stabilise. Bear in mind that I don’t single dose with it because I find once the timer is set correctly there is no need to. I just purge a couple of grams in the morning and it is good to go.
Both grinders produce fluffy grinds without any clumping. The Niche ends up with a little bit of chaff sticking to the outside of the chute.
After trying both beans my tasting impressions are that there is no difference in a latte, which is no great surprise. I use 20g in and 30-35g out.
With espresso (20g in and 40-42g out) there is virtually no difference, but any difference is subtle and I can’t really define it. This of course is assuming that I have the skills to be consistent - in reality any difference is probably down to me. They both produce very enjoyable shots and according to my son who only drinks espresso the Niche is slightly less ‘bold’, but gives them equal weight in terms of enjoyability. This is completely subjective and I doubt you could pick it in a double blind test.
My initial impressions are that the Eureka is more convenient if you don’t change beans and grind size regularly. It is blazingly fast and relatively quiet, but as you can see from the picture the grinders sit in in their own amplifying auditorium, so quiet is a relative term.
The Niche is slower and grinds at a lower pitch making it sound quieter. Weighing the beans first adds to the workflow, but I can start steaming the milk, so total time is about the same.
The Niche dosing cup is excellent and is way better than the Rhino Gear one I have been using with the Eureka. They should sell them separately.
I am only going to keep one grinder, but the Niche needs a few more weeks of use before I make a decision.
The thing that might sway me is that I no longer work from home and there are no decent cafe’s close by, so the Niche will be easier to swap settings for Aeropress. My plan is to pre-grind so that I can have a decent brew at lunch time.

Given there is a bit of interest in these two grinders I thought a comparison was in order.
I won’t concentrate on the physical differences, but both seem very well built.
The beans I used are Ocean Grind ‘Shorebreak’ from Torquay (5 weeks post roast - not stale, but they are better at 2-3 weeks) and Mornington Peninsula Roasters ‘Big Left Blend’ (2 weeks post roast). These are both medium roast blends.
In terms of usability the Niche is simple and very easy to dial in. My first shot with the Big Left Bend was a gusher, but the second was spot on. I would like to say that this was because my barista skills are exceptional, however a complete guess is more accurate.
The Eureka requires a little more finesse due to the small adjustment dial and I have found that it takes a couple of shots for the new setting to stabilise. Bear in mind that I don’t single dose with it because I find once the timer is set correctly there is no need to. I just purge a couple of grams in the morning and it is good to go.
Both grinders produce fluffy grinds without any clumping. The Niche ends up with a little bit of chaff sticking to the outside of the chute.
After trying both beans my tasting impressions are that there is no difference in a latte, which is no great surprise. I use 20g in and 30-35g out.
With espresso (20g in and 40-42g out) there is virtually no difference, but any difference is subtle and I can’t really define it. This of course is assuming that I have the skills to be consistent - in reality any difference is probably down to me. They both produce very enjoyable shots and according to my son who only drinks espresso the Niche is slightly less ‘bold’, but gives them equal weight in terms of enjoyability. This is completely subjective and I doubt you could pick it in a double blind test.
My initial impressions are that the Eureka is more convenient if you don’t change beans and grind size regularly. It is blazingly fast and relatively quiet, but as you can see from the picture the grinders sit in in their own amplifying auditorium, so quiet is a relative term.
The Niche is slower and grinds at a lower pitch making it sound quieter. Weighing the beans first adds to the workflow, but I can start steaming the milk, so total time is about the same.
The Niche dosing cup is excellent and is way better than the Rhino Gear one I have been using with the Eureka. They should sell them separately.
I am only going to keep one grinder, but the Niche needs a few more weeks of use before I make a decision.
The thing that might sway me is that I no longer work from home and there are no decent cafe’s close by, so the Niche will be easier to swap settings for Aeropress. My plan is to pre-grind so that I can have a decent brew at lunch time.

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