DF54 V1/V2

The OP on this thread has probably made their decision a long time ago. I got the DF54 V2 a week and a half ago. Super easy to dial in and use with my Breville Bambino. The zero point is off but since I am using it for espresso only it doesn´t make any real difference as my adjustments are slight. I clean out the chute every few days with the provided brush. I am getting vitually 0 retention. Occaisionally .1 or .2 grams and often none. It is the rainy season here in Oaxaca, Mexico. So, I´m sure that is a factor. When the dry season comes and the humidity drops I may experience a little more but I will just spritz the beans then. I am hot starting and pouring the beans in gradually over 10 seconds or so. It came with the burr alignment perfect. I am super happy with the purchase and performance and am pulling fabulous shots of espresso using this grinder and the Breville Bambino!

Yes, I did the marker test. I am 2 months in now. I have put through about 5kg. 0 retention even though we have moved from our rainy season to our dry season. But the humidity in the morning when I am making shots is usually around 40%. But I notice very little static and lately when I pull a shot, it is dead on. 18 grams in, 18 grams out. Mid winter the humidity with get into the teens mid day and lower in the morning. So, maybe then I will see some static. I have a sprayer that I have yet to use. My only complaint would be the power button could be a little more sensitive. Other than that, I am 100% satisfied with how easy to use and how consistent the grinder is. I typically pull 3 double shots per day. Sometimes 2 more at night if my wife and I want an after dinner decaf coffee drink. I clean it with the provided brush about 1x per week and get less than 1 gram residual.

My experience as to quality has been excellent and my burrs were perfectly aligned. I was prepared to adjust them if necessary but it wasn´t. Mine has fuctioned perfectly. I couldn´t be happier as a home barrista (former pro) who pulls 3 to 5 double shots per day.

I recently bought a F54 after having used the Kingrinder K6 for 15 or so months. I have read good stuff about the DF54 for its price and it seems to be a good all-rounder, or some say it's more espresso oriented). Check out the "sub 250 grinders" video of James Hoffmann. The K6 was around 125 EUR when I bought it (local currency made it a bit more expensive than what you otherwise can get out there). I got the DF54 for 200 EUR, during a flash-sale. I put 900 g beans through it for it to settle a bit and now it makes much less fines. Out of the box it made much more fines for my V60 than what I was used to with my K6, even at the coarsest setting of 90. My drip-down time went from 3:30 to around 5 minutes as the fines were clogging, stopping the flow. After the "seasoning" the 0-point went down from around -3 to -8 on the scale, so I guess the burred edges are a bit smoother now on a microscopic level. I have only tried filter until now, but it now seems to be doing a great job at 75. I have read about the clogging and static issue, but I haven't noticed clogging, and the static is manageable, I don't (yet) do RDT spraying but have switched the plastic cup for the catch-cup of the K6 (as a temporary measure). I think that most of the complaints are about the DF54 V1, as there seems to be a V2 now? At least that's what I have gathered. If that's true, I think I got the V2. I don't have any issues with the step-less dial, I can easily turn it with one hand, it's smooth. I don't have filter-coffee particles sticking and flying all over the counter as some people have said. I did see some minor balling up of ground coffee but after switching to metal catch-cup and dumping the whole 30 g of coffee into the machine (instead of slow-feeding), the clumping seemed to get much better. I have been hot starting it, so first turning it on, and then putting in the beans. Some people have recommended that. TL;DR: I think the DF54 is a good all-rounder, especially at the price-point of €200. I haven't had too many cups (maybe around 5-6) but even now it is doing a good job already. I don't have much experience, other than 15 months of daily Kingrinder K6 for espresso (Dedica) and V60. So keep that in mind.

Go for the DF54.

This is what I was thinking. I also have a DF54 for espresso and am considering a hand grinder for the very occasional pour over.

I actually haven’t taken my df54 apart or recalibrated it. I haven’t necessarily needed to. It’s been doing fantastic for pour over and my espresso needs. Of course when it starts to chirp or needs cleaning I will adjust as needed but for now I haven’t made any changes since it’s arrived.