OPTION-O - Lagom Mini Series

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.

yeah the weight is the main disqualifier for the Casa for me. Mini2 is 1.5kg, Casa is 3.5kg. Also much larger volume.

Ok so I’ve had it for about a week now and this thing rules. Maybe not as much clarity and sweetness as I get from the P64, but it’s gonna be a perfect travel grinder. Thanks again!

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.

I'm puzzled, it seems like you're concerned about the noise of the grinder disturbing your children but you haven't said anything about the noise from the espresso machine. In any case the Option-O Lagom Mini 2 is pretty quiet but is $300-tiny-burr slow. As an aside Seattle Coffee Gear sells the Silenzio 55 (new) for $449 and Whole Latte Love does price matching.

I have a Lagom Mini and love it for filter and espresso. It is essentially a really nice hand grinder with a motor in it. I hear the Baratza ESP makes really good espresso for the price. I just didn't like the form factor. My other grinder is above your $500 limit. If I were to go for something under $500 that hits above its weight class it would be the DF64 V2. It's is possibly the last grinder you'd ever need since there are so many burr options available in that size. Most of the other options under $500 are stuck with the burrs that they are built with. If you don't like the espresso they produce you have no other option but to buy another grinder. I'd rather buy a set of $100-$200 burrs down the line if I want to change the flavor profile or update my grinder.

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.

I'd personally get a filter-only grinder. Wait for a sale, grab an Ode Gen 2, and buy an espresso grinder when the time comes (DF54 is insane value). The best grinders for double duty are medium-high clarity conical grinders like Comandante, K-Ultra etc IMO. The Femobook A5 and Lagom Casa are a couple electric grinders that are in the same category (I haven't tried either, but they're well reviewed). I previously used a Lagom Mini for both filter and espresso and it was fantastic. The DF54 and 64 both do a decent job at filter, but it's not great. The 64 mm SSP MP burrs are often recommended as a do-it-all burr set, but they are for a very specific espresso profile and they are not beginner friendly for espresso. I didn't enjoy the espresso with them. SSP Cast are supposed to be decent for both, but you're giving up the clarity everyone is always seeking. A couple other decent options that I've tried are Ditting 54mm steel burrs in the Vario+ and Eureka's 50 mm brew burrs in an entry level mignon. The UX is not ideal with either of these setups compared to a grinder designed to single dose. If the Ditting burrs fit in the DF without crazy mods it would be a great option. Edit: I forgot to mention that there are now brew burrs available for the DF54. I'm planning to grab a set to try out once they're available in Canada.

I’m late to the party here but I love my Lagom Mini 2. Unless you’re doing volumes of coffee, it’s a really good grinder that straddles that gap, and it’s small and easily transportable.

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.