Eureka - Mignon Zero

Go either for a 1zpresso in-hand grinder (https://2ly.link/1z3n0 ) or Eureka Mignon (https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1zFhI ) if you want to buy an electric one. You can also opt for Anfim or Fellow Opus.

Think about your workflow first, single dose, timed grinding, gravimetric, manual, etc., and take it from there.  You should also consider that you want from a grinder, clarity for light roast, body for darker roasts, etc. Different grinders (and burrs) excel at different things.  If you don't want to think too much about it, get whatever Eureka Mignon grinder fits your preferred workflow and call it a day.

Niche Zero is the best at this, but as you know, out of your price range. Maybe the answer is saving up a little while longer, or buying used. Any eureka mignon grinder you can find in your price range/preferred workflow would be next best. Check espressocoffeeshop.com/en/ for deals. Despite what you heard, that they have flat burrs has no bearing on this. I just brought back some beans some Palermo and they taste pretty much the same as they did in the caffe with a Eureka mignon zero. It'll take a while to switch back and forth for pourover though. You'll find this on a lot of espresso grinders though - small dials and worm drives are slow, but steady, for making small adjustments when dialing in espresso. Also important is that you buy dark roast coffee, preferably with some robusto mixed in. You won't be able to make Italian style espresso with med-light roast beans...

If you want to grind on demand with a hopper, then one of the Eureka Mignons. They are great grinders for someone who goes through a bag of beans at a time. If you like to frequently switch beans and want to single dose, then DF54 or DF64.

No, different grinders serve different origins/roasts, there is no one size fits all grinder. DF and Eureka flat burrs (both of them w/out the clump crusher, generally any flat burr type profile) produce grounds which you can use across light/medium/dark roasted espresso and v60's. That's not to say they don't have their cons, they're less forgiving and your medium/dark roasts won't be as sweet.

I picked the Eureka Mignon partly because it seems like a solid BIFL product. Very easy to take apart and service with nothing but a screwdriver. Made with excellent materials. Priced to compete with grinders 4x the cost. I have no regrets and would not hesitate to recommend it. If you're grinding anything other than espresso, the Filtro line starts at under $300 and is the same as the other models but with slightly smaller burrs (50mm vs 55mm). It has no problem grinding finely, so I would imagine you could get a decent espresso grind from this model too. Also, you can always purchase the larger burrs, install them, and turn it into an espresso grinder.

https://www.espressocoffeeshop.com/en/8-coffee-grinders Entry level Eureka is only around 200usd. Email and ask them for a coupon code, you’ll very likely get one. Excellent grinder, will make a huge difference.

Glad you’re happy with the smart grinder pro - but I would caution OP with this option; many haven’t been happy with theirs, consistency of grind, uneven shots, breaking down, stalling etc. a home Appliance grinder versus other options that are prosumer grinders. But, I’m super happy you’ve had continued success with yours :) The eureka mignon line is fantastic and will likely be your best bet

Espresso is an expensive hobby so if you want to get into it, make sure your really into coffee. Beginners machines start at 500$ and grinders start at 200$ anything below those price points are not capable of making actual espresso. Beginner setup would look something like this. Bambino plus, paired with DF54, or Eurka mignon grinder. You of course can spend more, but that's just an example of the most "budget friendly" setup. Because it only goes up from there lmao.

I completely agree with this! I had the Opus for about 10 months before I finally called it quits. There was even a time there that I stopped making espresso because I dreaded using this grinder so much. So now I finally have a Eureka Zero and it is leaps and bounds better.