Aiming this at no one in particular.
I like the magnets. Centering catch cup. Easy to dismantle the chute. Panels clipping off and on with ease, no screws required. Hopper lids sliding into place. They are a very clever and very elegant solution. I have no idea why they are suddenly the target of negative comments.
I also accept the limitations of grinders, so long at the sellers are transparent about them.
The Duo is exceptional, no question. One of my favorites for sure.
But others like the DF64V or DF83V, whilst not equal in several respects, have their place in the coffee community too.
Yes, you’d better feed Nordic Light beans slowly, and yes you are best to hot start and no it can’t grind green beans like the Duo.
But the DF64V/83Vs are an example of grinders that perform well overall and those areas where they fall short of the Duo’s world leading standards, can be managed. So long as the sellers (not the influencers, we know they are a mixed bag) are up front about the capabilities of the grinders then we go into the purchase with our eyes wide open.
VS3 is another example of a grinder that is never going to live up to the level of a Duo’s performance but has its place in the world of prosumer grinders nonetheless.
To go into negative mode about grinders that fail to come up to Niche standards is a bit like comparing various cars to a Mercedes. Of course most of them are going to fall short. That’s not to say they are necessarily deficient.
It’s just a shame that we can’t take grinders for test drives.
In summary, yes the sellers need to be clearer about a grinder’s capabilities and limitations. But provided they are, then you are able to practice Caveat Emptor. An example of a reseller that does a reasonable job of pointing out limitations is Josh at Alternative Brewing - see his YouTube channel and this video at the 11:56 mark
