I'm looking to upgrade my Rancilio Rocky grinder to a single dose grinder, which I think will better fit my current work flow. I'm asking for opinions/guidance/suggestions from the Greater Brains' Trust of Coffee Snobs.
Coffee Habit: Daily espressos from a Rancilio Silvia with PID. If we have guests, will do the milk drink thing, but I'm not (at least yet) into pour-overs or drip.
Why The Rocky Isn't Working: You can measure single doses in a Rocky, provided you slap it on the side frequently, but it's not made for that (either the single dose or abuse). I'm now trying differing coffees and I'd like a grinder where I can chop-and-change beans.
Criterion: Easy single dose work flow. No need to smack the grinder to get coffee out. Grind for espressos from lightish to dark roasts - exploring more clarity in the lighter roasts and more body in the darker roasts. I'd like to minimise plastic/silicon parts, particularly in the coffee pathway and motor. It's not a deal breaker, since it's very difficult to remove plastic from stuff, but something I want to avoid. For example, the Rocky has a plastic chute connected to a rubber outlet - not ideal, but liveable. Finally, stepless is better than stepped, but if stepped then with micro adjustments. Should be quieter than the Rocky and, finally, unsure if fast RPM has an effect on the coffee. No large hoppers.
Ideally priced $700-1400 - although I know I've put a a Lagom in the title...
What I didn't Short List and Why:
Pros:
Pros:
Lagom P64
Pros:
Thank you if you've made it this far. As you can see, I'd buy the Lagom if I could; but economic realities restrict. Any input welcome and a thank you in advance.
Coffee Habit: Daily espressos from a Rancilio Silvia with PID. If we have guests, will do the milk drink thing, but I'm not (at least yet) into pour-overs or drip.
Why The Rocky Isn't Working: You can measure single doses in a Rocky, provided you slap it on the side frequently, but it's not made for that (either the single dose or abuse). I'm now trying differing coffees and I'd like a grinder where I can chop-and-change beans.
Criterion: Easy single dose work flow. No need to smack the grinder to get coffee out. Grind for espressos from lightish to dark roasts - exploring more clarity in the lighter roasts and more body in the darker roasts. I'd like to minimise plastic/silicon parts, particularly in the coffee pathway and motor. It's not a deal breaker, since it's very difficult to remove plastic from stuff, but something I want to avoid. For example, the Rocky has a plastic chute connected to a rubber outlet - not ideal, but liveable. Finally, stepless is better than stepped, but if stepped then with micro adjustments. Should be quieter than the Rocky and, finally, unsure if fast RPM has an effect on the coffee. No large hoppers.
Ideally priced $700-1400 - although I know I've put a a Lagom in the title...
What I didn't Short List and Why:
- Baratza Sette - too much plastic in the body. Not sold on the grind adjustment
- Fellow Ode - not sure about its espresso capability
- Breville Smart Grinder Pro - bought one of these off Gray's auctions and gave it away. The plastic gears wore out and it sounded awful. Burrs seemed good, though.
- Eureka Oro Mignon Single Dose - a serious contender, but not sold on the worm gear for quick coffee switches. Seriously fast RPM - not sure if this is a +ive or -ive
- Turin/Coffee Tech DF64 - another serious contender, but not happy about the silicon anti-clumping. Would be in the list if the DF83 didn't exist, though.
- Mahlkonig X54 - another serious contender. Not sure why not. Perhaps not so good on the single dose.
- Varia VS3 - not enough information.
- Every grinder with a large hopper - no.
Pros:
- Niche like work flow
- Large burrs that can be swapped
- Looks well made - a tear down showed a robust motor
- Possible clarity with lighter roasts with flat burrs
- Fast grind
- Bellows ensure not many fines left after grind
- Silicon anti-clumping
- Plastic chute
- Fast RPM
- Loud?
- Bit more expensive than Niche from UK, but with warranty. I could buy this on a PayPal pay in 4, so if it were in stock, I could have it today.
Pros:
- Great single dose work flow
- Sterling reviews for espresso
- Quiet
- Anti-clumping is a metal bar across the chute - I like that
- Can stuff power cord into body
- Least expensive grinder on my list (going via Niche). I could buy this now.
- Plastic gears (I saw this in a tear down). This is a big, big con. I used to own a E92 M3 and the reduction gears in the throttle actuator were plastic on plastic - guess what went? At least the rod bearings remained intact, but I digress...
- if bought from the UK -> no real warranty
Lagom P64
Pros:
- This is the grinder I really want. Great work flow. Great everything, except $$$
- Excellent burrs - can swap burrs
- Excellent reviews covering espresso to drip coffee
- Variable RPMs
- Low RPMs
- Build quality is very high
- If this was 1/2 the price would buy in a heart beat.
- Price. I can't afford it this year and probably not until next. Have to get this past the CFO.
Thank you if you've made it this far. As you can see, I'd buy the Lagom if I could; but economic realities restrict. Any input welcome and a thank you in advance.


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