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  • Grinder Recommendation

    Hi Folks

    I am looking to upgrade my home set up. I won't be as foolish to say its a "forever upgrade", but something pretty close would be ideal.

    For the last 10 or so years, I have been using a Compak K6 Grinder (ex cafe) and an Astoria CKX-E HX machine. Both grinder and coffee machine were purchased 2nd hand, so actual vintage is unknown.

    The grinder still operates well, but the Astoria, whilst it still makes a great coffee is getting long in the tooth and I am now in a position to upgrade. The machine I will go with will be dual boiler, probably Rocket Cinquantotto or La Marzocco Linea Mini. I haven't physically used either but that will be the first step.

    The grinder is where I am stuck, there is a raft of options and variations all within a reasonable close range ($ wise), but key elements are -

    * Tidiness / Limited mess. I know coffee is a messy business, but I don't want a machine that is going to spew grinds half way across the kitchen bench.
    * Noise - bit of a factor, the Compak is fairly quiet (sort of), much quieter than the Sunbeam EM0480 I had before.
    * Quality of grind.
    * Size (the Compak with a short hopper fits under the cupboards above by about 2mm).

    Its all going to be in a butlers kitchen / walk in pantry so aesthetics are a nice to have, but aren't the be all and end all.

    The supplier that has both machines also sells the following which seem to fit the bill (on paper) but looking for real world experiences / recommendations -

    Eureka Atom (either 60v2 or 65)
    Rocket Fausto Touch
    Mazzer Mini Electronic
    Eureka Oro Mignon

    All are dose measured with the Rocket and Mazzer going into a funnel / hopper before dropping out, where the two Eurekas seem to come straight from the chute (messier?)

    Its for home, so we are talking only a few cups at a time with the occasional push to 4-6 with company.

    Thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.

    Regards

    Sen

  • #2
    Hi NZ.
    Are you a milk drinker or espresso only?
    Light roasts or med-dark.
    Light roasts will lean towards flat burrs and medium ristrettos would lean more towards conical burrs.
    If I was spending that much on a machine I would match it with a top line grinder.
    Niche Zero as a minimum for a conical (especially as you can hide it in the pantry. )

    Comment


    • #3
      I have the Eureka Mignon XL and have been very happy with it. As a comparison I had the Niche side by side with it for a while and preferred the XL in terms of flavour and less mess, but there wasn’t much between the two.

      I am not into single dosing and mainly use medium roast beans in a latte with the occasional espresso and long black.

      If noise is an issue, then the Niche will be a bit quieter. For all the promoting of silent grind technology the XL is not quiet when sitting in a tiled corner.

      Comment


      • #4
        Hi amberale

        thanks for the questions, I'd say mostly milk based, sometimes a long black for my wife (who adds milk) and I'll sometimes have a short black, but latte is the go to.

        Beans are home roasted 7-4 days post roast, usually stopped just short of 2nd crack - predominantly South American / Asian beans (Brazil, Columbia, PNG) but a few Ethiopians thrown in for good measure (Yirg / Sidamo) - Behmor roasted.

        Hadn't seen the Niche Zero before, will look into it also.

        Hi Dipendente
        thanks for the feedback on the Eureka - sounds similar to my use

        Comment


        • amberale
          amberale commented
          Editing a comment
          No worries Sen.
          I had a major upgrade 18 months ago and went from a Sunbeam grinder to a Eureka Silenzio and then to a Lagom P64.
          I couldn't be happier with its looks or performance.
          I don't drink light roasts so I don't feel the need for bigger flat burrs.
          I am looking forward to a quality conical priced somewhere between the Lagom and the Niche.

        • coffeemachine
          coffeemachine commented
          Editing a comment
          amberale, how are you finding the P64? I have a Eureka Specialita and thinking about upgrading to the P64. What is your current setup?

        • amberale
          amberale commented
          Editing a comment
          CoffeeMachine.
          I drink basically an Americano with a splash of milk.
          I make my first one of the day on the Bianca with a modified (Peter-SVK) gauge at a reading of 6.5-8.2 depending on the bean.
          I have a second, usually on the Strietman at a grind of 12.0-13.5.
          0.0 is chirp.
          I have no problems returning to my desired grind, the variation is because I am drinking a bout 12 different beans over time, all freshly roasted and aged.
          I love my P64.

      • #5
        NZSenator Last week I listed the grinders I've had since Covid started for a grinder review that I promised to write and I'm embarrassed to say that it was not the 8 or so I thought it was but 15. Yikes.

        Based on your posts above, I agree that the Niche Zero will tick all the boxes for you.

        There are more available from niche UK than they used to be although you may see one here for sale second hand every now and then. If you do see one, you will need to pounce fast!

        Comment


        • #6
          Originally posted by NZSenator View Post
          ...For the last 10 or so years, I have been using a Compak K6 Grinder (ex cafe)
          My 2 cents (2.2 cents in Australia inc GST, 2.3 cents in NZ)

          Why not just buy some new burrs for the Compak and keep using it?
          You know the grinder and how to adjust it, it's pretty bullet-proof and will last a lifetime (more or less) and you can do the upgrade for under NZ$100.

          The K6 is what I would call a small commercial decaf grinder. Not really big enough or fast enough for a cafe's house blend but perfectly suited to decaf and home duties. The gotcha with the K6 (and other commercial grinders) is the size and that'll often be what stops people buying one for home but you've found a place it fits, keep using it.

          Comment


          • #7
            Hi Andy

            Part of me agrees, but its the upgraditis. I don't even know if it needs new burrs although it probably would, 10 years @ 3-400g/wk is about 150- 180kg of coffee (which broadly matches my Green bean / roasted buying 20kg green in 10 - 12 months

            I guess I am looking for direct dose, not dosered, something that looks like it belongs sitting next to LM or Rocket (the Compak is painted black and shows signs of wear - its always been a workhorse).

            You are right about it being big. Fortunately I have a mini hopper on it and it fits perfectly under the cupboards.

            Comment


            • #8
              If you're looking for a single dose, little retention grinder that looks good in a mini kitchen, the Niche Zero is the first that comes to mind. However, if you're splashing for a La Marzocco Linea Mini, why would you 'cheap out' on the grinder. One that I'd love to buy that's 'only' $400 AUD or so more than the Niche Zero is Option-O's Lagom P64. If aesthetics mean as much as grind, then this may be the one for you. I gather they are quiet and have a variable RPM motor to change coffee grinding by adjusting grind speed - an additional coffee rabbit hole you never knew existed (or you probably did, but).

              Comment


              • level3ninja
                level3ninja commented
                Editing a comment
                Niche should cost you about $1100 +/-. The P64 is $2200 or so. (For my money the P64 all the way)

              • BanjoPaterson
                BanjoPaterson commented
                Editing a comment
                level3ninja - I agree if you buy the Niche directly from the UK it's about 580 pounds - but if you buy from an Aussie supplier it's closer to $1800, which is why I pumped for the Lagom being 'only' $400 more.

                But thoroughly agree that the P64 all the way. It's the one I want to buy, but baulking on which kidney to sell to get one.

              • level3ninja
                level3ninja commented
                Editing a comment
                You could pay more for anything if you tried, doesn't mean the item costs that much
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