Looking for a Decent Home Coffee Grinder Recommendation?

SaberX on 25/03/2025 - 13:54

Hi all,

First coffee machine - the typical breville barista express that you can go - it's worked fine for our needs for the last few years since covid. We aren't full coffee snobs, but do enjoy making a proper cafe style quality coffee than an instant etc. hence made the shift.

Recently the grinder has been non-responsive. It will work sometimes, then you can make a coffee , come back to grind again and it won't start. I figure either the electricals or a sensor is going. Usually removing the burrs and on-off it works, (so it isn't a bean blockage in the burrs/hopper) but the time between it coming back alive is getting longer and now I haven't had a coffee the last few days as i just give up after a few minutes of trying.

So i'm wondering - what would one recommend in terms of a first foray into an independent coffee grinder? I saw Breville does a smart grinder, and I like the idea of set a number and let the machine do its thing. I'm into enjoying my coffee but I am not a full blown enthusiast so i am not looking for $1,000 grinders, nor am I looking for a kmart cheapie.

What would one recommend for a home enthusiast who isn't a full blown coffe head? alternative brewing's australian website has a heap of grinders, but i notice besides the breville smart grinder alot start $400-1000 and look very, very professional. Should I bite the bullet? or is a cheaper more affordable electric grinder or even a manual one just as good?

And should I just keep using it with my breville which still works? Beucause of the inbuilt grinder it takes up a lot of valuable bench space. And i do get annoyed that the milk frother despite cleaning it each use seems to sometimes block and not have pressure (then magically comes back to life a few days later when frothing). If i was to replace it with a stand alone espresso machine what would one recommend for under $1,000 , or at the sub $500-700 price point? Are the espresso machines at $150-300 just as good if the grinder is good?

Is there also any benefit in upgrading portafilters as i use the in built breville one and i hear all this talk about bottomless filters and other more enthusiast terms. Im not looking for diminishing returns up the high end price point, just a pretty nice coffee with whatever speciality beans we come across in the shops/cafes.

Any advice on what sort of things we should look for in a grinder when ordering online for a first timer? I know the obvious: go metal conical burrs, but that's about it.

Home & Garden Coffee Grinder

Comments

  • jv on 25/03/2025 - 14:27

    We got a De'Longhi Magnifica during one of the ebay sales for $349.

    Is a good small size, has a built in grinder, milk frother is excellent and never blocks and makes really, really good coffee…

    • SaberX on 25/03/2025 - 17:49
      +1

      thanks il'll keep it in mind. if my coffee machine breaks getting an all in one may make sense, now that the grinder is the only non-functional part i might consider getting the grinder.

  • laydownyourtongs on 25/03/2025 - 14:33
    +1

    For around $500 you can probably get Eureka Mignon Manual, or DF54 from local retailer such as Alternative Brewing and etc.
    I got Eureka Mignon Zero from espressocoffeeshop.com for less than $500 shipped from Italy few years ago.

    • SaberX on 25/03/2025 - 17:52

      are they good brands for a first timer? I presume this is the DF54 your referring to?

      https://www.reddit.com/r/espresso/comments/1evqmua/df54_long…

      I've only been browsing the alternative brewing website, not sure where else is best to order something in if i want warranty and ease of return if any issues - WA based currently.

      • laydownyourtongs on 27/03/2025 - 15:17

        Yep, DF54 and its siblings have plenty of good reviews online. It is a chinese grinder sold under many different "brand" worldwide but overall is a great value for money grinder to first timer, and much better choice than Breville or other consumer electronic brand at the same price.
        If brand concerns you, Eureka is a well known for making coffee grinder.

        Not sure about WA specifically, i'm sure there are coffee machine shops there where you can find both grinders.

        • SaberX on 28/03/2025 - 15:49

          Thanks. So you'd say the DF54 still beats buying the Breville smart grinders that jb sells, basically avoid it? I mean having a breville barista express machine with the inbuilt grinder i'd be a bit hesitant to go Breville again haha. Maybe i was unlucky, and it was a covid era machine so maybe it is time it died?

          Do stand alone grinders last for years easily typically?

          Ok i'll take a look at Eureka. I'm planning to use the alternative brewing website, so anything you can see on there is what i'm hoping to look for since I'm not across any specialty coffee retailers in WA that stock all the machines, so figured i'd go online.

          • laydownyourtongs on 28/03/2025 - 16:37

            @SaberX: I had Breville smart grinder pro before getting Eureka, smart grinder is your typical plastic appliance, and it wont be an upgrade from the built in grinder you have in barista express. The grind setting is stepped so it cant make small adjustment.

            Eureka Mignon Zero on the other hand built like a tank, most of the parts are made of metal.

            Standalone grinder from reputable coffee machine brand will easily last for years.

            • SaberX on 28/03/2025 - 19:02

              @laydownyourtongs: Thanks , so Eureka, DF54, is there any other "brands" commonly sold online such as alternative brewing that you rate? Baratza? There is the Fellow Opus and also Varia (see my comment below) which are on alternative brewing website, with decent reviews/ratings, wondering your thoughts?

              Seems either way one of these is better than the Smart Pro grinder (plastic) any time of the day. Ill avoid the smart pro - thanks!

              Do most at home drinkers get single dose grinders and avoid the ones with the built in hopper? I presume its only useful if your doing more than one or two cups at a time for you and your partner and need the hopper just sitting there?

        • SaberX on 28/03/2025 - 16:11

          just had a look online, https://alternativebrewing.com.au/products/df54-single-dose-…

          Are single dose grinders essentially you need to buy the weighing machines, weigh out and prepare a single amount of beans for a double or single short espresso, andt hats it? no hopper?

          For an at home user should i go these single dose or a normal electric/automatic? The thing is I dont fill a hopper up and leave it. I might release one-two coffees worth of beans to do, and whatever residual is left is in the hopper, but otherwise stored int he vacuum sealed screw top jars i bought. are single doses a pain due to nil storage?

          • laydownyourtongs on 28/03/2025 - 16:56

            @SaberX: Yep, you should be weighting you coffee bean and the output anyway if you want consistency.

            It doesn't need to be a fancy "coffee" scale, a $20 scale from Amazon or ebay that can do 0.1g is more than enough.

            I don't feel that its an inconvenience, just weight the bean in the cup comes with the grinder, dump into the hopper and grind. Single dosing also mean less wastage.
            Some will pre-measure and store in small storage tubes (such as this: https://amzn.asia/d/cPqA8OC) so they don't have to measure every time.

            • SaberX on 28/03/2025 - 19:00

              @laydownyourtongs: thanks, stupid question but do these tiny scales for measuring coffee typically come under any "name" when searching amazon? i never did it as i could never find one of those small ones you see everyone using for these.

              I had a look online at alternative brewing, and there is a a varia vs3 gen 2 that has alot of reviews, is a similar price range to the DF54 and others that i have seen mentioned here (eureka mignon and the baratza encore?)

              Any thoughts? the alternative brewing youtube video reviews on the product page listing seem to rate it as one of (gen 1 at least, when watching the gen 2 video) the best for the price range for lower end of a mid range grinder.

  • voo123 on 25/03/2025 - 15:33
    +1

    DF54 for $429 from a local seller is good value. I use it everyday and haven’t had any issues. Zero retention grinder so you make consistently good coffee. Paired it with a Bambino for a good entry level combo. Never get the machines with an inbuilt grinder.

    Sometimes you can get it for sub $400 on sale, but id rather just buy it and enjoy the coffee right away.

    • SaberX on 25/03/2025 - 17:53

      Above poster also mentioned it. Do you find any long term issues like this thread alludes to?

      https://www.reddit.com/r/espresso/comments/1evqmua/df54_long…

      Once i buy a seperate grinder, besides casual cleaning of dirt and grime do you need to service them or do any other maintenance or replacement of parts?

      Would you still recommend the DF54 over any of the other grinders that a typical alternative brewing sells - manual and electric wise for a first timer?

      • voo123 on 25/03/2025 - 23:56

        No major static or retention issues of note. I drink 1 cup of coffee a day and haven’t had to service it yet. I brush the chute once a month because of minor static buildup but thats about it. Should also brush down the internal blades once a month too but I havent felt the need to do it yet. Blade replacement should be the only consumable for this durable machine.

        I still recommend the df54 for milk based coffee and single dose. Df 64 for straight espresso. Definitely go electric grinder for consistency and ease in grind. If you make heaps of coffee, getting a grinder with a hopper is the better option for convenience.

        • SaberX on 28/03/2025 - 15:54

          I had no idea static or retention was a thing for grinders - as you can see very fresh behind the ears. BUt it makes sense. Through trial and error I was finding what "Time" i had for my shots typicalyl would go out the door when i'd take the conical burrs out and vacuum it all out to try and get the motor to work again…after a failed espresso i'd find the next grind or two would go back to the times and output i was used to, so i did notice in practice what i presume is retention (so i probably have my times down based on the burrs being full and retaining beans/powder).

          As a newbie can I ask a few stupid questions - is it normal to service a grinder? Or is it something you buy and use for years? LIke how a coffee machine needs descaling do you need to replace burrs or other parts "Normally" (i.e. not through abnormal breakages) ? Just the blade replacements you mentioned (is blade being conical burrs?)

          The brevile barista express uses single and double espresso measurements, i'm using the double espresso portafilter basket…. at most i make one coffee for myself and another for my mrs, if family are over or the odd guest maybe, but i definitely dont need a grinder to pump out each weekend for dozens of people.

          I have the vacuum screw top bean storage containers you get from alternative brewing, so I dont need a massive grinder and hopper, in fact taking up less space on my limited stone benchtop is the aim. i can get over not having a hopper at all if i need to load up for a single coffee, since i pour from the bags or storage containers anyway?

          edit: another newbie question following the grinder questions on maintenance/longevity:

          If i buy a grinder do i need to replace my existing portafilter from breville? Or assumedly it can just plug and play with most grinders to enable me to continue to use the espresso part of the machine till it K.O's? Is there anything else coffee tools wise one would buy to pair with an independent grinder? Or consider for stepping up once you have your own grinder (seems like people upgrade to a better portafilter basket? and i keep seeing mentions of a dosing tool or something?)

          • voo123 on 28/03/2025 - 22:32

            @SaberX: Yeah minimal retention is important to achieve coffee consistency. I.e 18g beans in, 18g powder out. Most don’t weigh the output, the good cafes do.
            For home use, you just clean the grinder every month. Clean the blades and moving parts. Get rid of the gunk build up. Blade replacement is just wear and tear- replace if its worn.
            Correct, single dose grinders are ideal for home use. Hopper is preferred for businesses.
            No need to replace portafilter with new grinder, you can continue to use the espresso part. The reason why dedicated grinder is better than inbuilt is because it can grind finer and more consistent particle size for espresso. Probably better for extracting flavour profile too.
            Getting a good even tamp is quite important too. Get a cheap sturdy steel tamper,dosing ring and rubber mat from aliexpressto protect your table. You can get a self levelling tamp if you feel fancy. Its like diving down a rabbit hole.
            Bottomless portafilter is good for shot diagnosis. If you wanna go down this route get a thick steel tamper to retain heat- but this is only important for black coffee, milk coffee not important as the milk masks the different naunces of flavour anyway.

            90% of the coffee drinkers seem to drink milk based coffee so getting the setups perfect isnt really needed. Just get a good grinder, basic espresso machine, steel tamper, dose ring and your set for milk coffee.

        • SaberX on 28/03/2025 - 19:32

          Have you considered or compared how the DF54 goes versus the varia vs3 gen 2? Both are highly rated on the alternative brewing website?

          https://espressosetupbuilder.com/grinders/compare/varia-vs3-…

          This comparison raises some questions which I have no experience to answer: should one be getting a conical burr (Varia) over a flat burr (DF54), and does the size of the burrs indicate better quality or bang for buck? The varia is 38mm while the DF54 is 54mm?

          Turin seems to be the DF54 brand, but someone mentioned it's a generic model rebadged like an OEM?

          • voo123 on 28/03/2025 - 22:35

            @SaberX: Generally, conical is good for black coffee as it extracts stronger flavour profiles.
            Flat burrs good for milk coffee as it extracts a balanced flavour profiles.
            Size of burrs just means grinding speed. Its not an issue for a home user.

            DF54 has many rebadged sellers. Turin is one of the many reseller. Most important factor is local warranty. Just buy one from a local seller for not much more. E

  • Banj0 on 25/03/2025 - 17:00
    +3

    Slippery slope this stuff. ;-)

    If you don't mind under 60 sec of manual labor, a premium hand grinder will probably do a better job than many powered grinders.

    Possibly a different flavour profile that may not be noticeable to the likes of me.

    • SaberX on 25/03/2025 - 17:54

      what is a good hand grinder? Can i just set it to the grind size and it's set and forget? That's more my issue - not so much the hand grinding action itself.

      I presume you need to get good at knowing when to stop grinding for when you "have enough" but if you're not one of those precise people measuing weights of exact coffee beans and doses, and just focusing on getting a decent middle range timed extraction, would a manual be enough?

      • rumblytangara on 25/03/2025 - 18:13
        +1

        what is a good hand grinder?

        Manual grinder for espresso is really for hardcore enthusiasts or masochists.

        • SaberX on 28/03/2025 - 15:47

          well if there's a similar sized electrical one that i can recharge or connect to a power source i'd be happy to grind just an one cup (double dose) espresso. But it seems anything electrical (non manual) is a full blown appliance(grinder).

          • rumblytangara on 28/03/2025 - 15:53

            @SaberX: The amount of torque you need to grind coffee beans guarantees that hand grinders will be far smaller than anything electric.

            Or you could get a manual grinder and use it with a good quality cordless drill- Kingrinder owners have reported doing this with success. A bit of a ghetto solution.

            • SaberX on 28/03/2025 - 15:55

              @rumblytangara: haha the drill solution seems abit defeating of the point, i'd go fully electric in that case!

              • rumblytangara on 28/03/2025 - 16:02

                @SaberX: Agreed. The drill solution really does seem pointless unless you're going for as cheap as possible when you own a drill while still maintaining good grind quality

                Any $100 electric grinder is going to be hot garbage.

      • Banj0 on 25/03/2025 - 18:24

        Commandante…quite expensive. 1Zpresso… a little cheaper. Kingrinder have gotten a good reputation…still affordable but have gone up in price with that rep increase. There's also Timemore with some reasonable hand grinders. Plenty of no-name grinders that I can't vouch for.

        You absolutely have to measure your input with a hand grinder - you're only doing 1 portion at a time. Doesn't have to be weight…could just be volume (so a scoop of some sort). Weight will get you more consistency though.

        My 1Zpresso is way more accurate than my Italian Eureka machine. I can go from one setting to another and back again, and it is exactly the same. If I change settings on the Eureka, I have to be prepared to do some tweaking - it will be ballpark but is not precise.

        So… a good hand grinder will absolutely get a good extraction once you've dialled in your grind size and quantity - all other things being equal.

        I use my Eureka mostly though because of the convenience and getting old and worn-out! Still, it doesn't take long - was about 40 seconds for me to grind a double in the past. I think a premium hand grinder is probably going to produce better grounds than one of the cheaper powered grinders (and that probably applies even to the very popular Breville Smart Grinder Pro).

        • SaberX on 28/03/2025 - 15:57

          Would you rate the Breville SMart Grinder Pro as a retail persons first foray but albeit low quality grinder to pay for at that price point?

          In which case what would you still recommend if i decide to go for ease and steer away from manual grinders and go for convenience? I dont need much of a huge cafe style hopper as its for two coffees max most weekdays (me and my mrs) and the odd occasion family or someone visits - so pretty much not a consideration on that end.

          Which Eureka grinder are you referring to sorry? And would that be at a price point comparable or worth stepping up from the Breville?

          I've written down the manual ones you mentioned to do some research and thinking anyway.

      • voo123 on 26/03/2025 - 00:05

        I wouldn’t consider manual cos im lazy. If budget is a constraint, prioritise on getting a decent grinder instead. Grinder is more important than the actual espresso machine. Df 54 + Breville bambino is a good sub 800 combo.

        • Banj0 on 26/03/2025 - 14:01

          Agree…cheap machine can still make good coffee with an excellent grinder. Not the other way around.

        • SaberX on 28/03/2025 - 16:03

          I mean budget isn't an issue for me. It's more that i haven't bought an indendent grinder, so i wanted to hit that sweet spot as a first timer where i'm not going down an enthusiast price point, with 0 knowledge on grinding/coffee (The advanced stuff) . At the same time I'm not after the retail mugs fix from jb hi fi but something which most of those knowledgeable in this area would recommend that's worth paying that bit more lasts longer (better quality/durability) and better functionality.

          So if a $300 grinder is rated by those in the know im happy. but if everyone is saying the $500-600 one is a whole another level then it isn't "too far" for me to stretch. i'm just not after the $1,200 enthusiast equivalent, if that makes sense? I just dont know what the budget versus "decent" price sweet point is for a grinder for most new to the area. That said I still love a good cafe style quality, so trying to get that deep, dark roast flavour and frothy milk, just im not that serious that im weighing out 18-20g beans, although i have considered where to get those little weighing scales haha. and i have never bought any portafilters or other new equipment to step up my game from the built in breville barista express gear.

          slippery slope perhaps… haha

          • voo123 on 28/03/2025 - 22:41

            @SaberX: Have a look at Lance Hedricks coffee equipment reviews. He reviews equipment at various budgets and ranks them within their price points. Most of the coffee tools are cheaper from aliexpress and amazon. Just invest in a good grinder and you’re set.

        • SaberX on 28/03/2025 - 16:04

          does the breville bambino milk frother stay consistently strong and frothy?

          I find my barista express great when it works, but like others i find sometimes the air output is almost clogged, even though after every frother/end of coffee making i run it to flush it, wipe it down the wand etc.

          • voo123 on 28/03/2025 - 22:44

            @SaberX: The bambino wand has 1 hole so its weaker and takes time to steam milk. The bambino plus has 3 holes and is quicker. Milk steaming result is the same though, only variable is time.

    • voo123 on 26/03/2025 - 00:11

      Certainly is ! Sub $800 combos are actually considered entry lvl in the coffee scene.

      My workplace has a $800 breville barista express impress with inbuilt grinder and everyone calls it fancy, but the reality is it struggles to grind fine enough for an espresso. This is where a dedicated grinder is handy.

  • ChrisLevo on 25/03/2025 - 17:09

    We teamed our Expobar Leva with a Breville Smart Grinder years ago - zero regrets.

  • SaberX on 25/03/2025 - 17:48

    Stupid question from a grinder newbie - if i do buy a separate grinder, besides the usual cleaning of the burrs and machines do you have to replace the burrs or other parts as part of a regular owner's schedule? Or do they tend to typically just run to they die sort of thing?

    • voo123 on 26/03/2025 - 00:01

      You replace your burrs only when it needs replacing, i.e clumping or inconsistent grind size. Its pretty easy to replace with youtube video guides. Burrs are a wear and tear consumable. Don’t grind beans straight out of the freezer otherwise it wears the burrs quicker.

      • SaberX on 28/03/2025 - 16:07

        interesting. the conical burrs in the breville barista express are metal/steel. I'm surprised they get worn down by beans.

        That said, stupid question but how do you even judge clumping or inconsistent grind size. do people look at their grinds regularly? I can tell if i forget to reset my grind size from when cleaning e.e.g bumping it to 10-20 on the breville, whereas normally im a 4, as you do get a lot more space taken up by coarser grinds, than the fine, but i wouldn't notice a difference in fine grind versus extra fine.

        That said i time all my espressos so i know if im well below 24 seconds that it's run way too short e.g. 18-20second, and once i pass 35 seconds i know i've usually used too much pressure stamping, or i got too greedy filling up my portafilter for abit more coffee level. I guess if i weighed and used specific beans i'd notice the grind differences as the time would change, albeit the variable of how hard i level it will be harder to completely eliminate.

        • voo123 on 28/03/2025 - 23:01

          Frozen beans are harder and room temp beans so there’s abit more wear and tear over a long period of time. I guess clumping isn’t a big issue, generally caused by oily bean- it can broken up with WDT tool. Inconsistent grind particle size is indicative of blunt burr blade or misaligned burrs. Its pretty hard to wear out blade from home use though. Usually cafes replace blades after around 1500-2000kg of coffee.

          Firstly, try getting the bean dose correct. 18g bean weighed, 18g powder out, express into 36g liquid. Keep the input consistent.
          Secondly, theres no such thing as tamping too hard. Once its compacted firmly, you cant go any harder. Uneven tamping (slope) does produce variable espresso output though. Firm and even tamp is the best way.

  • Flamo on 25/03/2025 - 17:54

    We bought a Sunbeam Grindfresh EM0440 many years ago and it is still working perfectly today. They have new/fancier versions of this grinder out too.

    The only minor issue I had was after a few years, the spacers inside got compressed, so you couldn't get as fine a grind. All I had to do was open it (it just twists open and the centre part with the burrs unscrews by hand) and put in an extra washer. Easy peasy.

    You turn the collar to adjust the grind level which is great, no digital shit to go wrong. Plus they're pretty affordable.

  • snapper17 on 27/03/2025 - 23:30

    have you looked at getting it repaired?

    • SaberX on 28/03/2025 - 16:08

      not yet- but I presume these things would cost a bomb? e.g. the breville barista express on sale is $550-600 aud when i bought it, normally $700 or whatever. assuming that they would take it for a service, the costs to send it off/service and eventually repair it surely would be over $200-300? IN which case i still end up with a 2-3 year old coffee machine with a working grinder built in. If it was under warranty i'd try sending it in.. but alas im pretty sure we got this just after covid around christmas (so maybe 2022 dec? edit: dec 2020 or 2021 that means)

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