DF83 Gen 2

I have a df83 v2. Older version now. Modded it with a better chute and it has been fantastic. Very low if non existent retention. Recently put 151 mazzer burrs on it. Better in many ways than the philos

I have one. It’s good but I prefer my df83 with mazzer 151 burrs. I’m looking at getting rid of the niche in time

Df83 is excellent. I have one in my collection

Trust me it’s not. It’s good at all roasts. There are lots of people who just follow trends. I got it when it was an unknown entity. Remember. It’s only a machine. A burr carrier. Eventually I swapped the burrs for Mazzer 151A. I like very traditional style espresso.

Niche was ok. A bit underwhelming. I prefer the DF over it by a mile. I do also have a WW Key mk 2 which is fabulous. I have an ECM sync 2.

I'm happy with my DF83 v2. Also have the bb plus.

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.

Starseeker E55 Pro. No problem grinding for espresso and up. Stepless, low rpm, 55mm conical burrs, built in ionizer, metal construction, almost no retention. IMO unquestionably the best value and best grinder in your price range. FYI, I’ve owned DF64 and DF83 grinders and IMO they are definitely not good grinders. Three of my kids have E55 grinders and I have one too. Everybody loves them.

Started out with a Df64 and ran into pretty serious clogging, static, overheating (during seasoning), and unfixable alignment issues. Worked on resolving these issues and wound up sending the grinder back before the return window closed. (FWIW I am an engineer and scientist, and have done things like rebuild car engines completely. I like working on machinery and appreciate quality and mechanical precision.) I then ordered a DF83 v3 and went through the same process (also sent back). The DF family of grinders sits at an attractive price point and given their metal construction, apparent heft, popularity, and regular puffing by influencers, sell well. IMO, these grinders are to be avoided and are way more trouble than the their offsetting low prices merit. By now I’ve tried and owned probably 15 different grinders (including a Mahlkonig EK43), and have concluded that spending more from the get-go for the right grinder is the smartest move financially and experience wise. Grinders I’ve used and wound up keeping, liking or giving to family members include: Mazzer Philos (best overall combination of performance, cost, and quality), Kafatek SDRM, Starseeker E55, and MHW-3Bomber F74 Navigator. The last two grinders, IMO, offer exceptional value at their respective price points. These are merely my own experiences and opinions. Others will certainly have had different experiences, and offer different opinions.

I have a DF83 and it works well for both!

Very easy workflow. Can do a hot or cold start. No WDT needed (but I do it as I like the process - mindful meditative etc) I believe it’s worth the extra compared to the DF83 which has unknown longevity, quality control can be suspect and parts used are inferior compared to something like the philos.

I made the same jump about 6 months ago and went from an Encore to a DF83 I found on marketplace, I love it

DF83 on the grinder. (that's a full stop, IMHO, it'll do espresso and everything else that you ever get into) I'm partial to the AscasoDream because I have one, but anything that's a heat exchanger/thermoblock (instead of single boiler) is great for the home barista and the use-case you describe. Open-box and refurb machines will absolutely stretch your dollar. But, unless you are a tinkerer, I'd suggest sticking to reliable sellers (SGC, WLL, etc.) and not Craigslist or eBay. Might consider a Bambino Plus and with the little bit of money left over, get all of the accoutrement that you'll invariably find are necessary - some more than others - (e.g., scales, WDTs, towels, cups, brushes, pitchers, extra portafilters, upgraded baskets, etc.), The Profitec (as many others have suggested) would be a good choice too, I just personally dislike the aesthetic. Since you have a little wiggle room in your budget to get, consider style some...you and your partner are going to have to look at this thing everyday. I assure you that if I had a massive science-experiment looking Lelit Bianca sitting out on the counter instead of my sleek "space-age" looking Ascaso, my wife and I would have different conversations about the "coffee bar".