Niche for V60

Ernie1

I’d love to get a single dosing grinder to sit alongside the Super Jolly for two purposes-

Occasional single dose of med-light espresso, perhaps one cup a day.

Daily use for 30g of med-dark for V60.

I know the Niche is capable of this but I wondered what people’s experience of it is for brew methods as the only complaint I see occasionally is that it doesn’t do V60 well due to fines.

Is this actually an issue or is it fairly minor? I’m currently using the C40 for V60 which it does exceptionally well, and as per my recent experiment it will do espresso very well too but grinding 30g at filter coarseness is a very different experience to 20g at the other end of the burr settings.

Assuming the Niche can capably do a good job of V60 then I’ll most probably hit the buy button.

LMSC

Ernie1 I know the Niche is capable of this but I wondered what people’s experience of it is for brew methods as the only complaint I see occasionally is that it doesn’t do V60 well due to fines.

I can’t help you with that! A lot of members use Niche for filter. I know for sure @MWJB has been using the Niche for filter for a long time. So is @PortafilterProcrastinator I think.

omahabristle

I’ve struggled with the Niche Zero for V60 - I’m getting very muddy beds. The very basic Timemore C2 provides much better-tasting outcomes. It’s possible I’m going wrong with coarseness somewhere, but I tried the coarser grind sizes in the range marked for filter, which should at least be directionally correct.

It’s great for espresso, though.

MWJB

omahabristle It’s possible I’m going wrong with coarseness somewhere, but I tried the coarser grind sizes in the range marked for filter, which should at least be directionally correct.

The marked filter range on the Niche Zero is too fine for most filter methods, the difference between the Niche & your Timemore is most likely largely to do differing grind setting.

InfamousTuba

I find I have to go much coarser than the marks indicate for filter. I am at least at what would be about 55 up to almost a full rotation back to 0

omahabristle

InfamousTuba Thanks - I’ll try that! Although I don’t like the idea of having to switch back between two grind sizes! :D

Ernie1

Thanks, seems to be a pretty common thread with the Niche.

The endless search for the ‘do everything well’ grinder continues!

I’d consider the Eureka Oro as it’s a flat which I prefer and seems people have had good results across different methods but then it’s apparently far more difficult to adjust between methods and requires purging between.

InfamousTuba

The niche does make good v60s, I think a lot better than people give it credit for. I am in the opposite situation where I am looking for a filter grinder because I already have a niche for espresso

whinmoor85

I use the Niche for flat bottom drippers and it’s fine.

I do notice the filter coffee from good coffee shops to be that bit more fruitier/cleaner than what I make at home. Could it be that they’re using big 98mm flat burr grinders that makes the difference - maybe? Is it my inferior technique - maybe?

I’m eyeing up a high end hand grinder to test the difference. I assume that the Comandante would provide a better cup for filter but I wouldn’t expect the difference with the Niche to be night and day.

hornbyben

I’ve always been happy enough with the niche for filter. It was a bit muddy at first, but now it’s bedded in it seems fine. I can’t say I notice much difference versus my hand grinder (aergrind).

Maybe I’m not that discerning though 🤷

Ernie1

I’m almost tempted to just stick with the C40. It does really good V60 and really good espresso. As far as I can tell it also doesn’t need purging as I made 30g of brew this morning, and just made an espresso now. I brushed the burrs out but that was all.

It’s an absolute workout but since I’m only making one at a time, it’s not the end of the world. If we have guests, they can have the darker roast in the Mazzer!

LMSC

@Ernie1"#p29847 I brushed the burrs out but that was all.

Am on Jx Pro since early 2021 - all brews and espresso. Please don’t worry about brushing out the stuck powder. Give a couple of taps before transferring the ground to the filter / basket and you are done. You won’t notice a difference. 😊

Ernie1 If we have guests, they can have the darker roast in the Mazzer!

Is there a reason why you aren’t grinding light to medium on your mazzer?

Ernie1

LMSC Is there a reason why you aren’t grinding light to medium on your mazzer?

Thanks for the tip!

My other half can’t stand light roasts and I mostly prefer med-dark roasts so we tend to rotate a handful of the same coffee. Mainly Rave Chatswood, Origin Stronghold and similar. So the Mazzer is used on-demand with about a day’s worth (80-100g) in the hopper each morning. Whilst the Super Jolly technically can single dose and be adjusted on a per shot basis, it’s much much easier to just dial in a bean and leave it set whilst we work through a kg.

The light/medium roasts is just me trying the occasional new coffee I see that takes my fancy so the C40 is arguably perfect for that.

PortafilterProcrastinator

I have successfully used my niche for filter, yes, but then I have nothing to compare it too.

I grind at 93 for my preferred v60 method. Certainly had some very tasty cups.

I do find going straight from espresso to v60 means more fines (retained grinds) and when i can justify it will get a puffer.

tompoland

I don’t do v60 so not sure if there is any relevance in this but I saw it on YT znd then remembered your post @Ernie1

There is another one on the Niche YT channel…

Ernie1

Thanks @tompoland , great videos!

I think I’m going to stick with the C40 for now, mainly because I make filter at least once a day, with only occasional ‘experments’ with single dose espresso. If it was the other way round the Niche would make sense.

I’m also still kind of hoping for more single-dose focussed flat burr grinders that can match the retention and adjustability of the Niche.

tompoland

Ernie1 I’m also still kind of hoping for more single-dose focussed flat burr grinders that can match the retention and adjustability of the Niche.

DF64 maybe (no personal experience with it) but definitely the Olympic Moca SD. Just a wee bit pricey.

Ernie1

tompoland

I’d noticed the Moca in your photo!

Only risk is I might have to get a Cremina to go with it!

How is the Moca SD? Details online seem to be fairly slim, but I know Olympia have a good rep.

tompoland

Ernie1 I’m really falling in love with it. Tiny little thing. I’ll post a full review before the end of the month. It’s got Ditting 64mm flat burrs and they are the bees knees for light to medium espresso. Haven’t tried it with dark yet.

(Yes it’s the SD version)

Ernie1

That’s great to hear, I’ll look forward to the review. I wondered what the burr set was as it looks like they don’t mention it on their website.

Have you tried switching between filter and espresso? Does it handle both ok?

It’s pricey but as with the LMLM, I don’t mind spending money on a product from a company with such a long and established heritage.

tompoland

Ernie1 they are Ditting 64mm flat burrs. The importer found that out for me, otherwise I’d never know.

I don’t do filter so can’t comment other than for espresso, at which it excells. Being a flat and giving what seems like a relatively high uniformity grind (both of those meaning less fines), I think that it would be excellent for filter, pourover, v60.