Niche Coffee Ltd - Niche Zero

I have 4. A C40 and a Zp6 for pour over (one stays at work). And a DF64V and a niche zero for espresso. Got the Df64V to try flat burrs for espresso so might sell the niche but tempted to keep it for dark roasts.

Honestly, if you’re brewing medium and dark roasts for espresso, it’s hard to beat the Niche Zero for UX. If you want a flavor upgrade from your Ode for filter, I absolutely love my 078. The two of those together would still be well within your price range, especially if you can find a 078 secondhand ($600-650 is reasonable). A secondhand niche can be found for $500 or less very easily these days. You could probably find a nice 83 mm grinder and put some lab sweet SSP burrs in there and get a pretty good compromise, but if you’re changing grind sizes between espresso and filter constantly, it’s not going to be the most delightful experience. I have two grinders myself now, and I think it’s the way to go.

Yes, depending on how “light” and “medium” the actual specific roasters you’re buying from are - I drink very very light roasts for filter, and I think the 078 is amazing. Whether you’ll like the Niche or another espresso grinder best is more of a preference question; there are so many options these days (Lagom Casa, DF54/64/83, Eureka Mignon series…) that are all pretty good that you can kinda pick your favorite based on price, workflow, and aesthetics. My espresso grinder is a DF83 with SSP HU burrs, and if I were buying today at the $1000-and-under price point, I’d probably stick with that, except upgrade to the DF83V for a quieter motor and better feeding mechanism. Love the HUs though.

The zero is not good for pourover.

I use the Niche zero for this application. Workflow still can’t be beat.

My husband is a coffee snob so we have a pretty wild setup. We have the Victoria Arduino E1 Prima espresso machine (which is great but kind of over the top for home use at $6500). We also have a Niche Zero grinder ($669) which I actually really like, and we recently got the Fellow Tally Pro scale ($185) which I can’t recommend enough! It’s much faster and more precise than the cheaper Haribo we were using.

On the bar is a Eureka A65 that is dialed in for espresso. Don't want to mess with that. It is dedicated to espresso. Next to it is a Niche Zero that handles pour overs, AeroPress, and the ocassional request for decaf espresso. It's marvelous. I also have a Mahlkonig K35 that I need to get dialed in or it needs to get off the bar. It has not been very cooperative so far! And I have a hand grinder for travel.

I used to own the Niche, replaced it with the 078 and now I don't feel like I will be buying a new grinder any time soon. It's fantastic for pour overs, and I stopped drinking espressos

I have been using the Niche Zero for drip coffee for 4 months now. It works great. It makes no sense to downgrade to a poorer grinder.

I’ve owned the Key MK2, Kafatek, and Niche Zero (and many more flat burr grinders). I’m sticking with the Niche Zero. For me personally, it’s the best grinder for medium to dark roasts. You won’t get the most complex flavor notes, but you’ll enjoy a rich, chocolatey, nutty, and syrupy-thick espresso. It’s honestly the best and easiest conical burr grinder to use even for other people in the household. Also, this grinder is truly high-quality. With the Key and Kafatek, you must shake, because they produce a lot of fines in the grind and I don’t like to shake my grinds.

The K6 will be considerably better for both espresso and filter coffee, but a lot less convenient and more physical work. I owned a SGP and replaced it with a Niche Zero which was a big upgrade. The Niche produces too many fines for my liking with v60s so I bought a K6 which was another big upgrade for filter. I tried the K6 for espresso and found I preferred it for light roasts to my Niche Zero as it's more acid forward! The Niche is my preference for darker roasts but the K6 is really impressive.

This was exactly why I replaced mine. It was so massively inconsistent. The Niche was such a massive upgrade in both taste and stability. But so is the K6...

The difference in taste between my old Smart Grinder Pro conical and the Niche Zero was night and day to me. I don't foresee me replacing the Niche with another conical grinder, but this upgrade was well worth it to me!

My Niche will grind 50 grams in one go, 40 with room. That’s not enough for 3 cups for you? What’s your recipe. Someone else here recommended the Encore. Good grinder for drip but louder and with more static. Not a lateral move

This is the way. Not $1000 but my overpriced niche zero is 10x better than what I was using before lol

# **Without philosophizing in the answer, you have two options: a handgrinder, or electric grinder.** — ## **🔹 Hand Grinders** ### **High-End Options:** - **1Zpresso K-Ultra** – External adjustment, versatile for both pourover & espresso. - **1Zpresso J-Max** – 8.8-micron steps, optimized for espresso but handles pourover. - **Kinu M47 Phoenix / Classic** – Precise & durable, great for both. - **Comandante C40 MK4** – Ideal for pourover; needs *Red Clix* for better espresso dialing. - **Timemore Chestnut S3** – Stepless adjustment, more suited for pourover. - **1Zpresso ZP6** – Produces ultra-clean grinds, excelling in filter brews. ### **Mid-Range Options:** - **1Zpresso JX-Pro** – Espresso-friendly with finer adjustments than JX. - **Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP** – Budget option with espresso-compatible burrs, decent for pourover. - **1Zpresso X-Pro** – Compact, external adjustment, slower but espresso-capable. — ## **⚡ Electric Grinders** ### **High-End Options:** - **Mahlkönig EK43** – The gold standard in specialty coffee shops. - **Weber EG-1** – Premium single-dose grinder for all brew methods. - **Lagom P100** – High-performance, SSP burr options for precision grinding. ### **Mid-Range / Prosumer Options:** - **DF64 Gen 2 / DF64P / DF64E** – Affordable single-dose grinders, great for both. - **Niche Zero** – Top-tier single-dose grinder for espresso & pourover. - **Eureka Mignon Specialita** – Stepless adjustment, solid for espresso & can handle pourover. - **Fellow Opus** – Budget-friendly, designed for both espresso & filter brewing. - **Baratza Vario+ / Sette 270** – Great entry-level grinders with micro-adjustments for espresso. - **Timemore Sculptor 078 / 064S** – New contenders with solid grind consistency. ### **Budget-Friendly Options:** - **Fellow Ode Gen 2** (Needs *SSP burrs* for espresso) – Excellent for pourover, but needs mods for espresso. - **Baratza Encore ESP** – Beginner-friendly with stepped adjustments. - **Eureka Mignon Crono** – Simple & effective for both espresso & filter. — 🔎 **Check reviews before buying**—grind quality & user experience vary. Preferences are subjective!

Specialita is that expensive there? It's 310euros ($340) here in Europe and the Zero, which is imo better, is 280euros ($300) without import tax.

Thank you chatGPT but the Niche Zero is terrible at pour over. I’d say not even really capable of it. The brews stall 8/10 times and the taste is awful.

My partner and I got a Niche Zero grinder and a Bambino +. Both are super easy to use and the price is pretty reasonable. We find the coffee we make at home is generally better than what we get at coffee shops. I did quite a bit of research and something I heard repeatedly from experts was that the grinder is more important than the espresso machine

In my opinion, your best options are: * Turin SK40 - $200 (I own and use an older version of this daily, and it's been going strong for 2 years) * Mii Coffe D40+ -200 * Truin DF54 - $250 * Turin DF64 Gen 2 - $400 * Niche Zero - $650 Some things to note: * The DF54 is a miniature version of the DF64. * The DF54 and DF64 are flat burrs. * Both DF54 and DF64 are probably the most popular "budget" options * The D40+ and SK40 are the same machine with different grind adjustment methods. If you only drink espresso, I recommend the SK40 for the smaller adjustments. If you drink both espresso and drip/pour over then get the D40+ * The SK40, D40+, and Niche are conical burrs. * The Niche is probably the best-built and most reliable of this list. (I've personally seen it used in commercial settings/cafes) Finally, don't over think the flat vs cone debate. If you're just beginning your espresso journey, chances are that your palate has not been developed/trained enough to notice those minute differences.

I’ve been using the Niche Zero for about a year. I’ve never had any issues with it, and adjusting between aero press and espresso grind sizes on the single burr set had been perfect. I’ve never has issues with beans bouncing or retention. Highly recommend.

I'm pretty happy with my Timemore 064s. I got it early on at a promo price about a year ago. I use it almost exclusively for espresso. I had a PCB go up on me recently and Timemore sent me a replacement. The replacement took a couple of "back & forth's" and the first replacement they sent was the wrong PCB so there can be some communication issues with these folks. All in all I still like my 064s. No regrets. I have a Niche Zero also which I like too.

I don't know how most people feel, but I started with a broken gaggia classic I fixed, and a Kinu M47. I figured it was a way to dip my toes in and really get to see if wanted to continue with espresso. I quickly upgraded to a Niche Zero lol but mainly used the hand grinding for some time. It was a lot of fun, but for me it was very cumbersome. It might be because I was initially so focused on getting all the parameters right, and when I messed up I dreaded having to "grind finer". I know it's lame to say, but while it doesn't seem bad for you. For me, it really did get sort of tiring when I was a beginner to have to hand grind to dial in so many times and made me enjoy the hobby a little less. It didn't help I also kept playing with temp surfing etc, but once I got my electric grinder it made just enjoying the process easier for me. It could also be that I have incredibly weak arms or something I dunno.

My 1Z took 5 minutes that’s why I got a niche and it was a great decision.

\> I would prefer a single dose as I use 3 types of coffee beans I use here and there. Agreed, go with a single-dosing grinder. \> I am thinking of getting the DF54 My strong recommendation is to get one via a retailer who can support you if there are issues and not direct. My own experience of buying directly from Turin is woeful; their customer service was non-existent. If you buy from an in-country retailer, they are responsible for sorting any issues. \> Would you recommend a DF64 instead or try and get a DF54? I had a v1 DF64 previously - IMO, it is probably the best value grinder on the market today, given its price and its ability to have different burrs. Given you say you don't mind loud noise (and it is, IMO a very loud grinder), this seems like a good option for you (but buy via an in-country retailer). \> Off topic, but it seems like the DF series is way more favoured than the Niche. I am not so sure. There is a lot of talk and recommendations for them, but when you see pics of people's setups, there are an awful lot of niche zeros out there (inc. with me - I have one alongside an Option-O P64 and some hand-grinders). The Zero is not favored so strongly as the flat grinders for pour-over, it tends to get used primarily for espresso, which IMO is is very good for. Plus, has the best workflow and sound (quietness) of any grinder I have used. \> On another note, I am thinking of getting a Lagom Casa A superbly well-built and capable grinder. Option-O are legendary in the business.

It is the internet, with a global reach. Many of the subs and forums get dominated by people who need to tell why they are right and you are wrong. Having owned a DF64 and found it to be one of the loudest, most unreliable grinders backed with no customer service, I have had in 40 years, I would say well done you dodged a bullet. Anything by Option O gets my vote (I have a P64 now, owned a Mini and tested a Casa and P100). The cheaper Eurekas I like as hopper fed grinders, but not single dose (the adjustment is not consistent). Niche Zero (I have one) is bombproof, quiet and lovely adjustment. However, more of a traditional darker to medium roast grinder. A used Mazzer SJ or Mini would be bombproof and a good find.

If the DF64's look bothers you, the niche zero is probably the nicest balance of design and usability. It costs more, but it's still solid for both espresso and filter, and way easier on the eyes.

I find that the zero doesn’t grind coarse enough for filter, which is why I still use my ode for that (plus it’s nice to have two grinders at two settings).

I would get a niche zero and option o 01 with SSP HU. The mizen does good with dark espresso (see if she likes it) and is great for pour over but is less acidity than ssp hu. Or go all out and get kafatek mc6 and 01.

Niche zero I use it for all of those. Easy to switch back and forth. Does all good

I use it for v60s every morning. It does just fine

I have a niche, a bartza encore, a zepresso jmax, an ek43. The niche does just fine

Eagerly awaiting my Casa. I have the Ode 2 w/ Gen 2 and SSP MP burrs, but I get far more enjoyable coffee out of my Kingrinder K6. Richer fruit notes, more rounded sweetness. I experienced the same with pourover from a friend’s Niche Zero, so my current theory is that my palate just likes the profile of coffee from conical burr grinders better. Worst case, the Casa will do espresso duty and I’ll just hand-grind for filter.

I’m using my Niche Zero but my issue with Niche Zero is it’s not really zero retention. It doesn’t come with a spring or sth, and I have to slap the grinder on top to get the retained powder out. Is it just me or does anyone got the same issue?

I think it just produced way too many fines. My papers were always covered in dust. Which always resulted in bitter brews. Probably not the end of the world, but I like it cleaner.

For milk drinks made from dark roasts, if you are willing to single dose, then you can't beat the Niche Zero in your price range.

Same here. I’ve had one for 2.5 years and I have never changed the burrs nor had any issues. On the contrary it’s a pleasure to use.

So I did this a couple of years ago when the Ode 2 came out - i had moved through much of my coffee journey and really started to hone in on what I liked and didnt like about it. I also was moving to a Ratio6 and wanted a single dose grinder that had capacity for a full brew at once (obviously can just put beans in twice - but i wanted to just do it at once). Niche was great while I was feeling out what brewing methods I wanted to use long term - but for my pot of coffee daily, and for the times i do a nice aeropress/clever - the Ode 2 was more than capable. Im sure there are others on the market at this point that are competitive with the Ode as well for the money.

Niche zero- I have it as a dedicated espresso grinder but only because I bought it after I got the fellow ode gen2.

People also give it bad reviews for espresso- especially after Lance posted a video about it… I think it does a good job at making both- jack of all trades, master of none probably sums it up. I’m happy with it and I would be happy as a single grinder- perhaps you could also just get a hand grinder for pour over if you wish for more every now and then.

I used to own a DF64, but I threw it away. I recommend adding more money to the Niche Zero, it's worth it.

It easily fits at least 32g of beans, which is what I normally use for my filter brews. The upper limit in the Zero is probably around 50g or so, unless you use two doses, which is pretty easy to do.

As others have said, manual is not the way to go for someone that wants a nespresso machine. As someone who went from a nespresso machine that I got as a gift to a bambino and niche zero, my current setup has basically the easiest workflow possible and I STILL sometimes miss the convenience of my nespresso machine. I don’t miss the taste at all, but popping a capsule in the machine and pressing the brew button was a very nice routine in the morning lol. Cranking a manual hand grinder for a few minutes isn’t for everyone.

I feel great about my niche zero. It has conical burrs.

This one is $70. I upgraded to a Niche Zero for $700 and the improvement in taste was much smaller than I expected. If I lost everything and had to start over, I’d buy this again. Most people will say (and they are probably right) that a hand grinder will give you the best quality at that price. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CB75NSKF?ref=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_6SV4BXRYRGE0GW45HMNZ_1&ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_6SV4BXRYRGE0GW45HMNZ_1&social_share=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_6SV4BXRYRGE0GW45HMNZ_1&previewDohEventScheduleTesting=C&csmig=1

As another commenter mentioned, hand grinding is totally fine... until you set it for espresso. We love our 1Zpresso JX Pro for pour over and other brewing styles, but found it cumbersome and annoying for espresso. As your budget allows for it, I'd definitely recommend getting an electric grinder. If you're interested in single dose grinding, you could look at the [DF64 Gen 2](https://espressooutlet.com/products/turin-df64-gen-2-single-dose-coffee-grinder) as it is well within your budget and arguably the best at that price point. You could also consider the Niche Zero as it is super simple to use, very well made, and extremely popular. Cheers!

This ultimately depends on if OP is stateside, but a valid point all the same. IIRC I saw a post in r/espresso recently about the cost of the Niche going from $650 US to over $900 because of the tarrifs. My personal opinion, the Niche Zero is still worth it at that price, but that's a steep climb from where it was 2 years ago.

I would recommend the Bambino Plus and a decent grinder (D54 or something better - maybe a niche zero if your budget will stretch). From what I could gather when I bought my kit a couple of months ago, you can get a much better grinder than the one built in to the Barista Express and the grinder is much more critical than the machine. The killer feature for me of the Bambino (which I appreciate as a busy parent myself) is the start-up time. A lot of machines either need pre-planning with a smart plug, being run all day or waiting at least 10-15 minutes to get ready. Breville/Sage has various tutorial videos for getting used to the machine so would definitely describe it as user-friendly/aimed at beginners.

I’m an espresso girlie and just ordered a hario switch and a v60 to explore pourover. I have a niche zero, which has been excellent for espresso, but I understand is not good for pourover. I also have a Baratza encore which I understand is ok for pourover. I plan on experimenting but what makes the Ode so good for pourover compared to others? Should I consider a hand grinder or something like the Ode to truly get the best from pourover?

I think it's very hard to find a grinder that can do filter and espresso well sub $1000. Maybe you can get that with the Lagom Casa - it seems to handle dark and light roast as well as filter and espresso. I haven't used it but it gets high remarks. Even that is over $400 I have a NZ for espresso and Femobook A4z for filter. The A4Z is definitely an end game grinder for filter for me. I love the NZ and despite what others say about light roast I think it does quite well. I don't drink a lot of straight espresso though and prefer my light roasts as pourover. I never thought in a million years that I would spend this much money on grinders, but I love them both.