Lagom Mini (Original)

You may need to stretch your budget to get out of the DF options if you want electric. I'm incredibly satisfied with the Option-O Lagom Mini. Granted I am only pulling 2-ish shots per day.

Pay $100 more and get the lagom mini. Leaps and bounds better than any fellow grinder.

Option O Lagom Mini. It’s better than any fellow grinder and more aesthetically pleasing.

Take the Oxo, Breville, Ode, and Opus off your list. Consider adding the Lagom Mini. I have one that does espresso and filter like a champ and has without issue for a few years now. It's a little slow and limited duty cycle (I think 90s per 5m or something) but for home use it's great. There's a mini 2 now that I admittedly don't know much about.

Not the Casa, but I have a Lagom Mini and love it as well! Option-O’s quality is just phenomenal. The Mini comes with Moonshine which makes FANTASTIC juicy pour overs too. And the new Lagom Mini can be powered via USB-C, making it a great option for portable travel too. All for under $400 is insane.

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.

I like the simplicity of the Smart Grinder's workflow (and noise), but it really doesn't compete with the Baratza for cup quality and ease of adjustment. Eurekas are way more aligned with my feature and aesthetic preferences, but as an entry grinder they're on par. For size and "hiding" ability, maybe the Femobook A2 or OutIn or something so you can pop it out and tuck it away when not in use since you're in a corner. My choice in that smaller category would be the Lagom Mini, but it's more than your price range. Again, between those options and if your counter has space, the Baratza.

I can confirm that the c40 and lagom mini are very similar...own and love both