EK43S

Eh it depends on your budget. Can get Titus Nautilus or Ozik with brew burrs… realistically any 80/98/102mm platform will be great. Pietro is very capable and is a great value for money, I often reach for it instead of my EK43S with SSP HUs which are more espresso focused.

Mahlkonig EK43s with SSP HU burrs. love it

I have EK43 with SSP HU burrs. The light roasts are so good that i do not know why I would change the grinder. but 98mm burrs are kinda expensive. It was a huge pain in the ass to align and it took me about 10 tries and over 2 hours. But everything is super tasty. So well worth it. Good thing is that EKs pop up on used market periodically where i live for around €1600. So if mine breaks I would get a used one again probably. of course the coolness factor and experience of eg-1 is superior. depends what you want from the grinder. Option O P100, Weber EG-1, monolith grinders, ek43. All are amazing choices you wont regret.

fiorenzato is about the same level to be honest. i only have preference towards mahlkonig, because I am happy with my EK43. i just like the user interface better of the mahlkonig grinder. i suggest to watch the kaffeemacher review. i do not speak german but you can use translation tools: https://kaffeemacher.de/blogs/kaffeewissen/mahlkoenig-e64-ws?srsltid=AfmBOoqip1DkzIy898Dckwnb9hg5XImj87Hf1TKKJdx3keN-1YbkCjTN

The Atom 65W is a cut above the others. It’s more sturdy and substantial. My second choice would be the Malhkonnig. I have heard the the Allground has high retention and loses your settings when you open it for cleaning. The Eureka adjusts from the bottom. Also their ACE anti static system leaves you with super fluffy grounds in the basket (not clinging everywhere). Both will hum out an 18g dose in about 5 seconds. I love my Atom.

You are in a weird place with "way to expensive for medium grinder" but "not enough money for end-game". Wilfa make amazing pour over grinders. Fuji R220 as well. Anything flat burrs and larger size (up to 98mm) will give you good coffee. The bigger size - the better coffee. Try to get 2nd hand EK43 with good burrs, probably your best bet

Linea Mini R/ EK43 and Ode SSP MP

Haha, I appreciate the check in. I’ve noticed light espresso can be polarizing! I’ve been blessed to have a coffee shop with a EK43 and a Lagom 01, so I have been able to experience some really crazy espresso, even from beans thst really should not have a shot pulled from them. You’re spot on though, light espresso is a whole other ball park. A shot of good Kenyan can taste like juice!

For the record my workplace has an Ek43 with the post-2015 burrs, and honestly I often prefer the cups I get from my Ode 2 at home. That's with the same beans (I often bring beans in to work), but I don't have control over the water at work, so that probably accounts for some of the difference.