I’ve been on the home coffee journey for 10 years or so, and I’ve been resolutely a hand grinder user until this year. The reason is that I have an obsession with things that “just work”, and especially with a human connection. I use razors which are over a hundred years old, and clockwork cameras. My espresso machines have all been levers (currently the Cafelat Robot, but previously Cremina, Caravel and Ponte Vecchio).
In that context, the Duo is my first electric grinder, and quite an unusual purchase for me. I’m the sort of person who gets niggled by electric devices generally. And I am slightly niggled, but only by the centre screw that occasionally comes loose and needs a tighten. Niche didn’t seem particularly interested in resolving that.
Other than that, the Duo has been easily the best grinder I’ve ever owned, beating the HG One, Roscoe, Comandante, Mazzer and 1zpresso hand grinders by a country mile. It is also the first FLAT grinder I’ve ever owned, so I suppose it’s possible I just like flat burrs, but I doubt it.
I’ve only used it for espresso a couple of times, sticking mostly to filter, which has been a really interesting voyage of new flavour separation that just wasn’t there before. I’d buy it again, although I might have stuck to filter only (who knows though, perhaps I’ll get back into espresso again). That screw though….
