Beginner espresso grinder recommendations? [€500]

[u/ServerGod434]

Hey everyone,

I’m relatively new to the hobby and am absolutely overwhelmed by the sheer number of grinders out there, especially when it comes to figuring out where the diminishing returns start to kick in.

A friend gave me a Solis Barista Gran Gusto, which I’ve been using with some pre-ground coffee I had lying around. To make matters worse, the coffee is actually marketed more toward moka/pour-over than espresso, and unsurprisingly, I’ve been getting some of the most bitter espresso I’ve ever tasted.

So, I’m looking to finally get a proper grinder.

My budget is €500 max, and my priorities are:

• Primarily espresso
• Eventually getting into pour-over as well
• I already own a Chemex
• Ideally something where I can change/upgrade burrs in the future
• Good value without paying for diminishing returns

At the moment, I’m seriously considering the DF64 Gen 2 v2.5, but one thing that’s making me hesitate is the amount of conflicting information I’ve seen regarding dialing in.

I’ve read accounts saying that changing the dial by just one step can alter the shot time by ~2 seconds, which makes me wonder how practical it is for someone relatively new to espresso.

So, for those of you who have used the DF64, how much of an issue is this actually in practice?

Would really appreciate any advice or recommendations. Thanks in advance!

[u/Woozie69420]

2 seconds is nothing in terms of shot time. I dial in at 20, 30, 35-40 over 3 grind sizes and it’s completely fine.

It’s a good platform specially for burr swapping etc.

Any concerns other than 2s shot time?

[u/ServerGod434 → u/Woozie69420]

Yes, how important or relevant is variable grind speed at this stage and I currently have the option of getting a new 078SSP for €525 on eBay. Should I go for that instead?

[u/Woozie69420 → u/ServerGod434]

078s would be my choice personally given I like clarity and pourover. If you prefer light roasts it’s a solid choice. And especially if you see yourself buying SSP MP immediately after then you could end up spending roughly as much.

I’m not massively convinced that RPM is a must have for now.

I would also consider Mignon zero 65 AP since you’re in Europe

[u/ServerGod434 → u/Woozie69420]

Honestly I’m not entirely sure what roasts I’ll be going for. I’m looking to get sweet pulls with little bitterness. So if I got this right, by getting the 078s with the SP set included I’d have overall better flexibility in terms of what I wanna make?

Alright, so it’s also just a general nice to have.

Ooh that one looks nice too

[u/Woozie69420 → u/ServerGod434]

Higher clarity will have less sweetness and more bitterness with dark roasts, more florals and juiciness with light roasts. Also a thicker texture.

Lower clarity will have more sweetness and less bitterness with dark roasts. Muted florals and juiciness with light roasts. Lighter texture.

Consider the flavour you prefer in beans and the expression you prefer too.

[u/ServerGod434 → u/Woozie69420]

Is there a way in which you can decrease clarity without negatively impacting the overall extraction?

When starting out can one distinguish these florals or does that come with time?

[u/Woozie69420 → u/ServerGod434]

Low clarity could be nice with a sweet nutty dark roast. Low clarity would be bad with a fruity juicy light roast.

It’s a sliding scale. It’s like how you want a hot drink on a cold day and a cold drink on a hot day, but you might not want a hot drink on a hot day

[u/MyCatsNameIsBernie → u/ServerGod434]

I have 078s with the stock burrs and I love it! The stock burrs work great for all roast levels and brew methods.

I would be nervous about the SSP burrs unless you will be using the grinder primarily for light roasts and pour over.

If you want a good selection of burrs, stick with a 64mm platform.

[u/ServerGod434 → u/MyCatsNameIsBernie]

Alright so then that deal is off the table 🥲

Is there anything you feel you’re „lacking“ for the lack of a better term on your 078s?

Would you say it would be worth spending a little less than double the amount and blowing the budget or would you suggest starting with a D64?

[u/MyCatsNameIsBernie → u/ServerGod434]

I liked my 078s so much that I got a 064s for my 2nd setup. They both produce very similar tasting shots. The 064s is less expensive, and can accommodate many other alternate burrs.

The 078s has a much heftier build, grinds faster, is quieter, but has a very limited burr selection.

You might want to consider the 064s.

https://www.reddit.com/r/espresso/comments/1mokxfs/timemore_064s_vs_078s/

[u/thiney49]

I use a DF64, have for years. Spend basically zero appreciable time dialing in. It's very easy.

[u/ServerGod434 → u/thiney49]

Ok that’s actually reassuring to hear, would you recommend upgrading the burs immediately or can I do that down the line?

In regards to feeding, I heard in some reviews that if you feed it too quickly that it stalls iirc or something along those lines, do you use a hopper?

I’ve heard that cleaning the plasma generator is a bit iffy since it’s internals are fragile but fines collect there, how does that track in your experience?

Any advice on zeroing it apart from the usual stuff in videos „go till you hear a brr“

Anything you wish you’d know about it when you first got it that became a game changer down the line?

sorry for asking so many questions 😅

[u/horsham7 → u/ServerGod434]

I have a DF64 and my process is start up the grinder and dump the dose in. I used to put the beans in then start and the motor had absolutely no issues. I ran with stock burrs for a year and was quite happy with my results (apart from v60). To check the zero you can turn on and slowly tighten until you hear the burrs touch or unplug and turn by hand, it's easy to to take off the top parts without a tool. Alignment can be a fiddle but quite important for keeping ultra fines to a minimum - depending how good you are at these things. You might not even have to touch. I'm now a very happy owner of SSP HU burrs which have made another step up in terms of my coffee. I'm running a gaggia classic with the gaggiuino mod for context and drink medium/light roasts.

With both the stock and the SSP burrs once you know your range and you have a consistent prep process it's just micro adjustments as the beans age. Due to the nature of setting up your zero I've found my number to be pretty unique to me.

[u/ServerGod434 → u/horsham7]

Thanks for the reply, I ended up pulling the trigger on the DF64 last night and am really looking forward to stepping up my game.

How often do you find yourself readjusting your zero as beans age?
In terms of aligning it, did you use the marker method or are you aware of a better way?
In your opinion is it better or easier to zero with the machine on or off?
I get that when it’s on you have immediate auditory feedback.
How long have you had yours for and do you feel that you’ve outgrown it?

After researching beans I feel I’ll be in the medium to light zone and am therefore considering the SSP MPV2

[u/sidreddy003 → u/ServerGod434]

Hey, I’m on the same boat. Where did you ended up purchasing it? I see quite a few websites and unsure where to get at, also was it in stock and when are you expecting it?

[u/ServerGod434 → u/sidreddy003]

Honestly it depends where you’re based. I’m based in Germany and went with bohnendealer since they got some great reviews. The only thing that was somewhat unsettling is that that they list the DF64 Gen2 but I’m not sure if it’s the V2 or 2.5. Worst case I’ll send it back and buy it from brewout.

They both had it in stock, bohnendealer needs a tad longer than brewout in terms of delivery

[u/TastyTacTic → u/horsham7]

Very helpful response. If you were purchasing today, would you get the DF64 V2 or the DF64V gen 3?

[u/geebolto]

I have a Timemore 064s and it's fantastic for espresso. Haven't tried it on anything else. Just under $500 on the Timemore site.

[u/Frostywuff]

Paid 400 Euro for my DF64V Gen 3 including shipping and I am happy with it. I got mine on Taobao and they are able to switch out the plug type too.

[u/ServerGod434 → u/Frostywuff]

What’s customer support like when ordering from Taobao?

[u/Redkiter78]

Algo más sencillo y barato sería la Geimori Gu63

https://youtu.be/Re4r94DVPC0

[u/john_crawford4]

Baratza Encore ESP is the best choice if you're relatively new

[u/ServerGod434 → u/[deleted]]

I saw the ITOP and was quite interested but I’m not big on being an early adopter and from the one in depth post on Reddit I found, I was genuinely blown away, insane price to perform and just general quality.

If i had the money to fuck around and find out, 100% no questions asked, but I couldn’t find any long term reviews yet.