Sette 270

>looks does matter I moved from the 064S to a Z1 because of many things but aesthetics was part of it. I considered the Orbit and everything mentioned so far except the Eurekas.

I always enjoy posting that my Baratza Sette 270 has ground coffee like a champ since the day I got it, low retention, a little loud yeah but it grinds for espresso and does filter coffee when it’s not dialed in for my espresso machine. Everyone always tells me online that it’s too loud but I don’t care about that. You can get the Sette 30 with the same burr set for a bit less.

I have a few as well. A Fellow Ode with the v2 burrs for pour over and drip. A Baratza Sette with the upgraded fine tuning ring for espresso. A Timemore Chesnut for work and travel.

In cup, Niche Zero is pretty similar, but as others have noted, out of budget, especially with the tariff nonsense rendering them especially unworthy. Baratza Sette 270 is noisy, plasticky, and janky. But excellent support from Baratza and the Etzinger burr gets you better texture and flavor (more clarity, sweetness, dramatically less ashy bitterness). Sometimes on sale just below USD$300. Baratza Encore ESP. Also an Etzinger burr, more liveable than the Sette, perhaps. I mean seriously, the Sette is noisy. Varia VS3 — good when they are good, but I guess QA got wobbly. I had one in a lab for a year, where people abused it 30-40 times a day without a hiccup. But some units were plagued by drifting grind dials which I agree would be infuriating. Stock burrs are decent in cup, maybe slightly cleaner than Niche/JMax. Good body, slow to grind. Excellent build.

Adding onto what everyone else is saying, I would recommend looking second hand. I got a Sette 270 grinder for $100 and a Breville bambino machine for another 100 on offerup yesterday

Baratza Sette 270. It's SO loud. It does a good job but it's WAY too loud. Would not recommend. Sounds like a jet engine.

Breville Dual Boiler and a Baratza Sette 270. Ideal combo. May be a little more than you want to spend, but worth it