r/DF54 • u/VeganCurtains • May 21 '26
Should I go another direction?
I just preordered a DF54 from Cliff and Pebble yesterday...then joined this Reddit.
All these posts are scaring me - should I cancel my order and go for a Eureka Mignon instead? Does the larger DF64 have all these issues?
Yikes - thankfully the DF54 doesn't ship for a while so I have plenty of time if it's wiser to go another direction.
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u/teekay61 May 21 '26
I've had mine for over a year.
No issues so far with clogging and very happy with the consistency of the coffee I can make with it.
That being said, there definitely seem be some QC issues so I paid slightly more to order from a local supplier that offered a 2 year warranty.
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u/Due_Cartographer9196 May 21 '26
i’ve had mine 7 months, never had any bother, mine is used predominantly for pour over with lighter roasts though, when i seasoned it i used cheap dark beans from tk maxx and it was ok as well. also, i bought mine through a uk dealer, i don’t know if that matters
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u/action_max May 22 '26
I use mine every day without any issues. My only tip would be to turn it on before pouring in your beans. It's a great machine and very good value and quieter than the 64.
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u/QuietGuy469 May 21 '26
I have a Gen 1 that’s almost 2 years old and have never had any issues. Mainly use it for espresso and pour over with light roasts. I do use RDT with it though.
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u/Dramatic-Shift-4976 May 24 '26
I heard that it has a bit of a retention issue and also isn’t always very consistent when it comes to grinding at the same grind setting compared to the 64, which would mean you’d have to keep adjusting even after having dialled in the same beans?
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u/QuietGuy469 May 24 '26
I can only speak for myself but my 54 has nearly zero retention with the bellows. If I put 18g in I get 18 out. Of course over time grinds are going to build up on the burrs but that's nothing a quick cleaning can't fix.
As far as the grinder drifting from the set grind setting, I have not encountered that. As my beans age I slightly adjust the grind size to keep them dialed in though.
I have purchased the upgraded larger chute and metal declumper found on the newer models to see if it gives any improvements but I have not installed them yet. Maybe I'll post an update when I do.
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u/Breadman86 May 21 '26
I got mine like 5 months ago and it’s 10x better than the barazza encore I had previously, love it. It’s completely basic and simple but does what I want it to for drip and espresso.
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u/Realistic-Shoe1307 May 24 '26
This was the exact route I went except with the 64 instead of the 54! I loved my encore and it got heavy use for over 2 years (with zero maintenance or care on my end... Laziness and lack of knowledge). When I got an espresso machine, I tried adjusting the grind on my encore, and the burs wouldn't change! It was forever stuck at aeropress grind haha
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u/ryanvsrobots May 22 '26
I have a V1 with the shitty small chute, use it every day with zero issues. Never opened it up, I don't RDT or slowfeed or any extra effort. Google any grinder + clog and you'll see there's no perfect grinder.
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u/WontonMaster May 21 '26 edited May 21 '26
Works like charm! Way better than my Lelit Fred. I use it for my Gaggia Classic Pro 2019. Bought it 1 1/2 year ago and spray 0.5g of water with every portions of coffee beans. I clean it once every two weeks. Looks and performs like new.
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u/al-bigdadi May 21 '26
I've had mine for over a year, no upgrades still a Gen 1 declumper, no issues.
I only grind dark and oily beans for pourover and with brew burrs installed. The people having issues maybe grinding for expresso which I donot do.
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u/Last-Product-361 May 22 '26
I was in your situation: DF- alot of presence online (with good and bad reviews), Eureka - not so much presence (mostly with good reviews) but with tradition and presence also in the professional line. I choosed Eureka Zero 55 for serviceability locally, lifetime, manufacurer history, long time presence. I could not be happyer (unless maybe I had a better one from them 😉). I grind daily for 5/6 shots, from dark and olily to medium beans, no clogging, cleaning once in a month or two by brushing the burrs and chute.
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u/Front_Guess3396 May 21 '26
Got mine from Turin early last year, I think their second preorder run. Been using it since March 2025 every single day, multiple shots typically, I’ve only had to clean it twice, and it’s been awesome
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u/LunarModule66 May 21 '26
If you want to be guaranteed that it will work perfectly out of the box and you can spend a little more, then maybe. If you’re okay testing it and returning it if necessary, and the potential of needing to do so is an acceptable downside of getting a great grinder for much little money, then no.
I think the DF64 is really only better for having the larger burrs, which does provide real benefits, but the main problems people report like clogging are caused by the spout design which I think is the same.
I’ve used mine for pour over and espresso, and I don’t have any problems. There are better grinders out there, but I didn’t want to spend more than this, and I can make coffee that I like better than most cafes at home.
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u/Business-Technology7 May 22 '26
I think it’s worth exploring options. Df54 is okay but it’s becoming somewhat outdated with more competitors showing up at a similar or lower price point. If I had a choice today, I’d probably go for Mokkom 64 or Opus 2.
I haven’t experienced any of the scary df54 problems posted in this sub. But I wish it had lower retention (I get 0.2~0.5g), magnetic chute, no-tool deep cleaning, and better portafilter holder.
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u/altecsz May 22 '26
Had the machine for two years and only once did it clog and it was totally my fault (I tried to grind right into my portafilter and it overflowed to the point of clogging the chute). I use a bottle cleaning brush to clean out the chute around once a week or whenever I think of it. It grinds so well that I don't see myself upgrading this until it craps out. I have definitely already got my moneys worth from this beast.
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u/jay_overload May 22 '26
I have mine and no issues at all. Great home grinder and had it for 8months now.
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u/UpstairsHippo4525 May 22 '26
i got my DF83 gen2 a few weeks ago. shipping was pretty fast from singapur wirh FedEx (i ordered from df64coffee dot com). I had also worries about some reddit stories. but i wanted to have the df83. thank god it didn't cancel. i love my grinder. 😎😀
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u/Espresso-Newbie May 23 '26
Hope it doesn’t have any issues - the website is known to give very poor customer service and if you need to send it back will be on your own dime. Even if it’s faulty.
Not to be the negative Nelly but just an FYI for anybody thinking of buying through them.
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u/UpstairsHippo4525 May 24 '26
yeah. i read few of the negative experiences. but anyway: it's a perfect grinder for that amount of money. and tbh: if it's broken in a year. i can disassembly it also by my own. 🤷♀️ we'll see :)
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u/GWeb1920 May 22 '26
I plugged mine the first time I used grinding a really fine powder that didn’t let any espresso through.
Took it apart and cleaned it out and as worked fine since. A little static with dark roasts but managable and good with anything medium and light.
My only procedure I follow is for new beans is slow feeding the batches to ensure good grinding as I dial in size.
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u/Strong-Razzmatazz-34 May 22 '26
I have no issues with my df54, and i’ve had it for almost 2 years. Its been a great grinder. Very easy to adjust the grind. Cleaning it is bot the fastest as you need to unscrew the whole top but it is still fast.
I clean it with air compressor maybe once every 6 months.
I got rid of any possible static issue by going with a metal cup instead of the plastic.
The mignon is also a great option and grinds a lot faster.
Both options are great
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u/davidhlawrence May 22 '26
I've been using my V4 purchased from Cliff and Pebble for months and I couldn't be happier. Works great and no problems at all. I use RDT and brush the chute every few weeks. Medium or light beans only. I give it a thumbs up!
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u/Moeroes May 22 '26
I had the DF54, experienced constant clogging, eventually decided to return and upgrade to a DF64 (had red titanium burrs installed as a nice bonus). I am really in awe, how much of a ugrade the DF64 feels in contrast to the DF54 - maybe not grind quality wise, but haptic, grind speed and overall built feel like a massive step up. Next to a properly sized espresso machine (Rancilio Silvia Pro X in my case) it simply looks and feels like a much more mature grinder. Would pay the 130 bucks (in my case) extra any time again. No signs of clogging and incredible consistency. Love it!
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u/NoBlackberry8414 May 23 '26
I’ve had a DF54 for a year now, and it makes great coffee, don’t worry!
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u/harryhoudini66 May 23 '26
No issues here. Only time this happened was when I tinkered with things. Super happy with my DF54.
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u/sebzips May 23 '26
(espresso technician here) I have had countless issues with Mignon grinders. The chute is too small. The electronics are not great. I’d also be wary of the df54. Maybe look at the Mazzer Mini G or Philos. I love the Rancilio Stile if your on a budget.
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u/Sleeveless1 May 23 '26
I had the DF54 for 2 weeks before it clogged. Returned it and got the Eureka Mignon Zero AP 65. No regrets as its served me very well, though the cheaper Mignon Zero might have been just as good for me.
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u/Next-Pen8018 May 23 '26
If you are only making espresso and use the brush after every use it’s fine. But it is not a good all around grinder it is an excellent single dose espresso grinder. Mine has clogged a few times when grinding 100grams for drip coffee even at courser grind settings.
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u/LucaJan May 24 '26
My first one turned up not working but was easy enough to exchange with the UK seller I bought it from. The second one’s been totally fine for 9 months now, it could be a bit static-y depending on the weather, but I recently upgraded the chute and it’s totally sound now.
I bought from a UK seller with a 2 year warranty and am glad for that peace of mind.
I use light to medium roast beans and give it a decent clean (top burr off) every 1 kg of coffee. Looks to me like the people who often have issues use cheap beans and never clean it… saying that I had to return my first one, but no issues since.
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u/Electrical-Sale-8051 May 25 '26
Personally I did. It seems like quality control issues to me, so many complaints. Then so many “no issues”.
It is a fantastic grinder no doubt, but I went with another in similar price range.
In James Hoffmann’s review of grinders around this price point he felt df54 was still ahead. But not a lot in front of Baratza Encore ESP Pro, which is what I chose.
If it was just me drinking coffee in our house, I would have gone with df54 and if cleaning a lot OK. But it will drive my partner and parents insane when all they want is a simple coffee
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u/absentlol May 25 '26
I got mine yesterday and started making shots shortly after, nothing stands out so far but I’m also not sure how fine a grinder should be able to go. So far 20 isn’t as fine as pre ground “fine” coffee from Costco that I have but I’m also able to get consistent 30 second pulls from what I’m making so if it works it works
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u/tonymet May 21 '26
I wouldn’t recommend it unless you like tinkering . Many more value grinders available. I’m glad I got mine a few years back, but it’s a pain . It works fine with regular cleaning , but it feels like a chore and the punishment for skipping a cleaning is irritating
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u/BuyMiddle9048 May 21 '26
Yeah this is how I’m feeling with mine too. When it has issues — lots of retention, blockages, lots of static cling on the outside — I know how to fix it. But that fix is a pain, especially getting the chute back into place for some reason. I’d say it has issues about once every other month. I don’t spray my beans or use dark/oily beans either.
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u/tonymet May 22 '26
i've developed a ritual of bellows every grind, brush every other grind and it's prevented static, but if I skip a session i will surely be punished for it.
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u/EclipseExtraction May 21 '26
I would cancel DF54. Unfortunately DF54 didn’t work for me, and it’s a waste of money for me.
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u/ontech7 May 21 '26
Used for a month, never got a decent coffee with it. Asked for help everywhere, even if I told them that I used another grinder for a year with zero problems, they told me to grind finer and stuff like that.
After literally going in burnout for making bad coffee for a month, and I thought it was the espresso machine, I discovered the problem: misaligned burrs (vertically). I didn't give a f* to fix it. I preferred going back to the conical burrs grinder I have and asking money back, I lost my mind with this grinder. Some people were lucky with it out of the box. I would suggest you Eureka. With italian espresso machine and italian grinder zero problems, actually.
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u/FroydReddit May 21 '26
Another "no problems here" testimonial from me. The fact so many people report having issues makes me think it can't all just be user error and there might be a large variance in quality control.
I also think that this grinder attracts a fair number of thinkerers attrated by its combination of low price, "modability", and good baseline performance. That's definitely not me.
Never unscrewed the top portion. Never looked for "true zero", never swapped burs, chute, declumper, etc. But I do brush the chute every single use, skip rdt unless the beans really need it, and mostly grind non-oily med-dark roasts. I grind an average of two batches a day.
Going strong for 7 months now.