MiiCoffee - DF64 II Single Dose Coffee Grinder

I went from df64 gen 1 and upgraded to the gen 2 and it is significantly better. If you can afford it, get the gen 2 in the largest size you can afford

- You need 064s if you want to grind for espresso, 064 is different burr that cannot grind fine enough but is good for pour-overs - If you decide on DF64, do not get the gen1, get gen2

For the budget grinder, shardor/mokkom/GF64.  I prefer Mokkom since it’s updated version of shardor. 

So the issue isn’t so much that the Encore ESP is “worth it” but more the good reliable options are limited at that price point. The Fellow Opus is …. Not good So then the only “trusted brand name” grinder would probably be the Varia VS3. Then there are all the Chinese grinder options, but at this price point, you’re still looking at grinders that are considered “value” rather than quality among those. DF54 is the popular entry level option there for a flat burr grinder. Starseeker also has the E55 for a good conical burr option. Then there’s the ultra value sub $200 USD (sub 1000RMB in China) 64mm flat burr grinders like the GF64, the Shardor 64, and the Mokkom 64. They work well enough, but I think the problem with them is the temptation to upgrade because they just feel cheap. Remember, these are grinders that are considered cheap in the Chinese domestic market as well.

I’ve owned and returned a df64 and a df83 from the same family of grinders after playing around extensively with burr alignment, different burrs, clogging, overheating, and static issues (and not resolving them, at least satisfactorily). These grinders are inexpensive for a reason, and they are poorly designed and built. Send it back and get a better grinder (which will cost more money, of course). A happy ending is unlikely if you keep the DF54. You’re probably looking at spending more than $500 if you want to get a better new grinder.

Sadly the turin DF lineup is the best that you can afford in that price point. You'll get sick of hand grinding fast. Especially if you start to like the medium light to light roasts. So I don't recommend hand grinding long term. But you are running out of options in the budget space I don't like the plastic internals or noise levels of the Baratza grinders and too many others in the $200 price range are no better. If you are truly looking for a buy once and cry once with higher quality of life features and you don't want a turin or miicoffee DF style of grinder then you're looking at vertical burrs and $600 to $800 minimum. Like a timemore 64s or 78s.