That’s really unfortunate. I’ve personally bought 3 grinders from the current Mignon series, including the first gen Zero, and have had nothing but great experiences with the build quality. They’re basically tanks.
The quality control is bad. People have reported problems getting the machine to grind fine enough. Just search "Eureka can't grind fine enough." You'll get plenty of results. The people who affirm the issue often get downvoted into obscurity so the issue gets hidden. I've noticed it's mostly of the 55mm Mignons, like the specialita and zero. Also the design is outdated, with a tiny dial and oversized hopper. When you use one next to a grinder designed ground up for single dosing you really feel the difference.
Search for reviews of the X64 SD. If you see the reviews I've seen, you may want to remove it from your short list.
I have a 064s and I love it! It's super quiet when running empty, but it makes a fair bit of noise when grinding beans. Check out some of the video reviews of it, listen to the noise, and decide for yourself.
Zero 65AP is also a good choice and might be quieter.
I would add Timemore 064s to your list if you can get it during one of Amazon's frequent 20% off sales. It's great for all brew methods and all roast levels. If you go for the Eureka Zero, get the 65AP version. The original 55mm version is better for darker roast espresso. The 65AP will be be better for all roast levels and also for drip.
https://preview.redd.it/cumdgxdk75lg1.jpeg?width=664&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3d9468a0033cf5b4401b363c6ee402a11700efbe
It does, but it's burrs have a conical burr flavor profile and it works best with darker roasts.
I'd recommend against the Sette 30. It's large step size makes it difficult to dial in to the point where that would be a dealbreaker for me. Sette 270 is worth the extra price.
Mignon Zero is stepless so it doesn't have the problems of the Sette 30.
Some flat burr grinders have a conical flavor profile (Eureka Mignon 55mm) and some conical burr grinders have a flat burr flavor profile (Lagom Casa). The "general" rule doesn't always hold true.
As a former barista I think you will be most comfortable with a Gaggia Classic E24. It will feel closest to the commercial machines you've used in the past.
Don't forget to budget for a good grinder. When brewing espresso, the grinder is much more important than the espresso machine. lf you really have a budget for $1K, an E24 for $450 will leave you $550 for a grinder. Spend as much of that as you can stand. If you want to single dose, Timemore 064s would be a great choice. Get it at one of Amazon's frequent 20% discount sales. If you want to grind-on-demand with a hopper, then one of the Eureka Mignons.
Consider one of the Eureka Mignon grinders. They are flat burr, but (except for the new 65 AP burrs) they have the flavor profile of a conical burr grinder. When I used to own both a Niche Zero and a Eureka Specialita, the espresso brewed from both tasted nearly identical.
After getting disappointed with a df54 (bad malfunction and no quality control), I bought an Eureka Single Dose Pro. Really happy with it after two months.
My usual budget machine post is here: https://www.reddit.com/r/espresso/comments/1pemyi9/comment/nshft26/
But I'll extrapolate some algebra into levels and see what the sub thinks. Each step represents an improvement in both ease and quality/taste, from cheapest to decent cheap:
1. $170 = 1Zpresso Q Air Manual hand grinder ($70) + Casabrews 3700 ($100)
2. $300 = Baratza ESP ($200) + Casabrews 3700 ($100)
3. $350 = MiiCoffee/Turin DF54 ($250) + Casabrews 3700 ($100)
4. $480 = MiiCoffee/Turin DF54 ($250) + De'Longhi Dedica ($230)
5. $550 = MiiCoffee/Turin DF54 ($250) + Breville Bambino ($300)
6. $650 = Eureka Mignon Facile/Zero ($350) + Breville Bambino ($300)
7. $850 = Eureka Mignon Facile/Zero ($350) + Breville Bambino Plus ($500)
My opinion is that ***grinder*** is more important, but you need at least the Baratza ESP for an electric, so go with a hand grinder below that. The DF54 gets slightly better ratings, so the extra $50 is probably worth it. Not perfect, a fraction slow, a bit of retention, a little loud, not too strong. But good enough grinding until you can get up to a Eureka Mignon (my personal preference) or other decent options into that $500 range.
For ***machine*** I've seen a number of good reviews for that super cheap Casabrews, basically a throw away for as long as it lasts, but many say you can spend more and get less. Lance reviewed the HiBrew with decent marks for ultra-cheap, Dedicas are very popular, and I like my Bambino Plus as end game until I have money to burn for a La Marzocco Linea Mini. ;)
I'll be curious about what people would swap in and out based on experience.
EDIT: I updated some prices from Christmas sales, none are as cheap now. Note all these electric machines prices regularly swing throughout the year and can be found cheaper on sale or refurbished, and I usually wait and/or take that risk.
Your Breville Bambino Plus (BB+) is a perfectly fine espresso machine, better than adequate. Grinder is everything.
I would not recommend an appliance combining both machine and grinder. If either fail, you have to replace both. And neither are generally as featureful and quality as individual dedicated ones. You also can't upgrade one without the other.
I have a BB+ paired with a Eureka Mignon Libra ($800), which is a little beyond your budget but grind-by-weight means a lot less time single dosing (weighing each shot's beans and feeding them through the grinder per shot). I can walk into the kitchen and have a dose in the basket in about 15 seconds. Tamp another 10, pull a 30 second shot, and be drinking it within 60 seconds total. Add another 60s for milk.
Both the Eureka Mignon Specialita ($600) and Zero ($450) are cheaper than the Libra and with similar end results except for convenience of grind-by-weight. The Specialita has a hopper and can do timed doses, very close to weight although not quite as precise as the Libra, especially if you change beans a lot. The Zero is more intended for single dosing. All three look pro, are fast, quiet, feel heavy duty, use the same digital controls, and are very reliable. Eureka does not appear to sponsor YouTube reviews or provide free machines for them to review, so there are less reviews despite Eureka being such a large manufacturer, established 1920 in Florence, Italy.
In case it helps, here's my general BB+ and espresso recommendations, including a budget list post link: https://www.reddit.com/user/digitect/comments/1s75tvs/espresso_recommendations_bambino_plus/
At your budget, you could do a Breville Bambino Plus and a Mignon grinder. That's what I have and it is plenty of grinder and machine below aficionado "I can taste the differences between Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa beans at any roast level."
Cheap machines are discussed so often here I keep a post: https://www.reddit.com/r/espresso/comments/1pemyi9/comment/nshft26/
SUMMARY (US market):
* hand grinders: 1Zpresso Q Air Manual ($70) and KINGrinder K6 ($100)
* electric grinders: Baratza ESP ($200), MiiCoffee/Turin DF54 ($250), and any Eureka Mignon intended for espresso you can find refurbished or used
* espresso machines: Casabrews 3700 ($100), HiBrew H10B ($125), De'Longhi Dedica ($150), De'Longhi Classic($180), Breville Bambino ($250), Breville Bambino Plus ($400)
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DF54 Series
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Great value for espresso, but clogs and poor for pour-over.
ctjameson
