Ive had one for a year, and like mine enough. Theres a little more work in the upkeep (frequently cleaning the chute) but it works well for a wife spectrum brew teks
I'd recommend a DF64 with SSP MP and HU. You will have a high contrast, each will end up better for one or another bean, MP is also nice for pour over, and with the 2 extra pair of burrs, it will bee within your budget.
You can also by the equivalent Aliexpress MP and SSP, the performance is close, according to some friends.
And if you want an even better grinder, you can buy a DF83v, Timemore 078s, but then you will spend significantly more.
If the main criteria is the quality of espresso, I'd buy a machine with PID, e.g. Profitec Go, Apex V2, Lelit Victoria.
If you think that she will make lots of lattes, maybe a Heat Exchanger like Lelit MaraX.
If she will make milk beverages but the quality of her espresso is a must, I'd choose a dual boiler with PID like Lelit Bianca or Elizabeth, but then only the machine will consume your whole budget.
Grinders are even more important, you're right. I'd recommend a DF64 because in the future she may try different burrs if she wants. And in the US, the DF64 are relatively cheap. Shardor is even cheaper, but the build quality is not the same, and it's a newer model, we don't have enough data to tell about longevity. I have both and I'm happy with my Shardor so far. But if you can, buy the DF64.
Long story short, Lelit Victoria is being sold for 800 by Whole Latte Love, a Df64 you can buy for 400 from Amazon, then you can buy some accessories like a Normocore Tamper, a knock box, puck screen, tamping station, barista mat, a WDT tool, some nice espresso cups like Loveramics or Kruve, with your remaining budget.
In case you're interested, I recommend this video about building an espresso setup:
https://youtu.be/FcA8APz2khs?si=jpLjhj-UqNHNPSeA
You’ll get a bunch of recommendations for Baratza however Baratza is now owned by Breville. That makes it an immediate non-starter in my house. Plus, so plasticky. I bought myself a df64 gen 2 that I love. Coming from a Breville Smart Grinder Pro (which was a gift), the difference was massive. I mostly drink espresso so a precise grinder is critical and the df64 never disappoints. I also use it for other types of coffee sometimes, it adjusts easily.
I have the 1st gen DF64. I think they fixed literally all the issues these mods address in the 2nd gen, and in the DF54.
The first one is literally a plastic arrow that points at the grind level on the dial, because there no way to see it otherwise (there is a line on the front, about an inch away from the marks on the dial- very difficult to eyeball exact grind level). They have an arrow on top on the production machines now.
They have angled the cup in the 2nd gen and DF54 in the same way my adapter does it. 1st gen was level with the ground, the DF54 angles the cup so it's angled same angle as the ground egress. It just leaves less room for grounds to go elsewhere.
The anti popcorn is [a disc like this](https://www.turingrinders.com/products/df54-anti-popcorn-disc-1), I think they may include this with the DF54 now. It lets the beans fall down the middle but then doesn't let them "popcorn" back up from the grinder into the bean loader.
DF64: I have a 3D printed attachment to angle the cup up, 3D printed grind level indicator as you couldn't see that without it, 3D printed anti-popcorning as it will popcorn like crazy without. These help a lot, although I can certainly imagine a grinder that "just worked" and didn't need them.
Stuff like the grind indicator, you could use it without but it's a lot easier to see the level with it. Cup angler, just ensures less of a mess if there is static (spritzing is necessary), it does work without it. The anti-popcorning helps a lot with that particularly if you take the cap off for some reason but the cap does keep it all in. It's just bouncing around more at the end without it.
I do think these were significant quality of life improvements but they were also pretty easy mods. It's definitely a machine with usability issues without them, and even after stuff like the button location, and have to be a bit careful with the cup that it doesn't vibrate out.
I could certainly imagine a grinder that didn't have any of these workflow issues. But I've had it for years now and they don't bother me that much either.
I have a DF64 for years now, since soon after it first came out, and same, has never clogged. Use the bellows every time but that's what you are meant to do.
It definitely has workflow issues, like spritzing with water is pretty much *mandatory*, it has a huge amount of static otherwise. Button is in a slightly annoying place. I added 3D printed grind level indicator, cup angler and anti-popcorn.
But it grinds very well and has been entirely reliable since I got it years back.
I have the 1st gen DF64. I think they fixed literally all the issues these mods address in the 2nd gen, and in the DF54.
The first one is literally a plastic arrow that points at the grind level on the dial, because there no way to see it otherwise (there is a line on the front, about an inch away from the marks on the dial- very difficult to eyeball exact grind level). They have an arrow on top on the production machines now.
They have angled the cup in the 2nd gen and DF54 in the same way my adapter does it. 1st gen was level with the ground, the DF54 angles the cup so it's angled same angle as the ground egress. It just leaves less room for grounds to go elsewhere.
The anti popcorn is [a disc like this](https://www.turingrinders.com/products/df54-anti-popcorn-disc-1), I think they may include this with the DF54 now. It lets the beans fall down the middle but then doesn't let them "popcorn" back up from the grinder into the bean loader.
DF64: I have a 3D printed attachment to angle the cup up, 3D printed grind level indicator as you couldn't see that without it, 3D printed anti-popcorning as it will popcorn like crazy without. These help a lot, although I can certainly imagine a grinder that "just worked" and didn't need them.
Stuff like the grind indicator, you could use it without but it's a lot easier to see the level with it. Cup angler, just ensures less of a mess if there is static (spritzing is necessary), it does work without it. The anti-popcorning helps a lot with that particularly if you take the cap off for some reason but the cap does keep it all in. It's just bouncing around more at the end without it.
I do think these were significant quality of life improvements but they were also pretty easy mods. It's definitely a machine with usability issues without them, and even after stuff like the button location, and have to be a bit careful with the cup that it doesn't vibrate out.
I could certainly imagine a grinder that didn't have any of these workflow issues. But I've had it for years now and they don't bother me that much either.
5hawnking5
