reidonkulous Very grateful for all the detailed info here on the T64. Wondering if some kind souls would be willing to weigh in on a few questions/requests:
I’ve tried both and may be putting my T64 for sale soon (tbc), will try my best to answer your questions. Both are very good grinders with great build quality and I’d be happy with either personally, but I wouldn’t recommend the standard DF64 unless you get it very cheap.
Any side by side photos showing the DF64V vs the T64? And/or comparative measurements of the diameter of the main grinder body — and the height without bellows? (Context: I have a space constrained coffee cabinet, and don’t want things too tight — the compact size of the DF64V was attractive vs. the bulkier DF64gen2 — so I’m curious how T64 compares).
Both grinders are a smaller footprint than the DF64, the DF64v is smallest and lightest even though there’s not much between it and the T64 height-wise. T64 is approx 0.5cm taller without bellows and 1.5cm wider in diameter than the DF64v. If you do use bellows, the T64 bellows are much more robust and effective in clearing but this adds 3cm.
@Patrick You mentioned the T64 is superior to the DF64V. Anything in particular you liked more about it? Noise levels when grinding? Something else?
The DF64v is barely audible when on with no beans in, while the T64 is audible but nowhere near as loud as the DF64. When grinding beans they’re similar but DF64v is slightly more high pitched although I imagine the burr geometry are the main difference there (eg put in SSP MP and it’ll be even more high pitched). You’ll be able to find videos online to get an idea of the difference, but both have a nicer sound than the DF64’s rumble in my opinion.
The T64 also sounds like it has a more robust motor, it doesn’t struggle at the lowest RPM while the DF64v did sound like it’s struggling at finer settings and low rpm, even though I never had any stalls. Other DF64v users reported stalls so your experience may vary.
Another difference worth noting is the grind adjustment, I prefer the DF64v’s mechanism as it is a smaller thread pitch and has a bearing which makes it feel smoother when switching from filter to espresso. T64’s adjustment is still enough to comfortably dial in espresso and is an improvement over the DF64 which was adjusted by the outside collar and could be apparently cross threaded easily.
Also I personally prefer the stepless analogue RPM dial of the T64 to the DF64v’s digital one which has clicks for each 100 rpm. It’s easier to move the T64’s rpm dial to max to clear out grounds rather than using the bellows.
If you’re an espresso drinker and like to dose into the portafilter then the T64 and DF64 let you do that, while the DF64v has a wooden stand that some users don’t like (although you can balance a bottomless portafilter on it it’s just not very stable).
Curious if the Gen3 update to the DF64V makes it a contender worth considering? This is what is planned according to MiiCoffee: “It will have a 400w servo motor, new improved grind path, and a declumper that can be flicked to release accumulated grounds. Ioniser will also be moved to externally mounted and it will come with the new red speed burr (similar burr geometry to SSP HU), instead of the DLC.”
I can’t comment on the gen 3 DF64v as I used a gen 2, but I would say that the T64’s grind chute was relatively low static for me even compared to the grinders I’ve used with Ionisers such as the DF64v and Fellow Ode gen 2. With RDT you’ll have no issue with either though, whereas the original DF64 made more of a mess.
The SSP HU burrs with the T64 gives a nicer more textured shot than the DLC which was thinner and less balanced from my experience, but you obviously have a good choice of 64mm burrs to swap, just factor this into pricing.
Any other questions feel free to ask.