I switch most days and have never had an issue, just remember what number you were on.
The only time I had a problem was when I forgot to switch it back and tried to do an espresso at 35 grind setting. It was too much for the basket, so I had to spoon some out, and then it went really fast. Only then did I realise my mistake 🤦
It was the Fellow Ode yes, I bought it as a dedicated brew grinder. Form-factor wise it’s perfect. Sadly in my experience it struggled with light roasts for one-cup (couldn’t go fine enough) but the bigger issue it makes enormous amount of mess due to the design (and static). Both issues can be helped by spraying the beans and upgrading the burrs but it’s already a £300 grinder.
I returned it as I only had it a week.
The one I’d like to return so I can afford a Niche is the x54, but the retailer isn’t having any of it and I feel it’s not really fair to sell it privately when I’m aware of issues with it.
Ernie1 The one I’d like to return so I can afford a Niche is the x54
Really, I had read only good things about the X54 when it was first launched…I must admit, I have not kept tabs on it since. Lots of very happy YouTube reviewers all saying great things.
As a clean, quiet, 54mm flat grinder, which grinds well in a ‘set it and forget it’ way, I can’t complain. I like how it looks and when it’s dialled-in it isn’t a bad grinder. I’ve had some really good results in the cup. It’s also pretty well put together.
But then for £500, if that’s all you want it for there are obviously better options. Someone on Home-Barista put it well in saying it’s an overpriced entry-level grinder dressed as an EK65.
I sold my Mazzer E to buy it because I wanted to grind for different brew methods, but I’ve ended up with a grinder that does the same thing but not as well.
My big issue is that it simply does not do what it is marketed to do without costly compromises. Realistically it needs a 30g purge between changes, even small ones, and the small, stiff dial makes it incredibly difficult to make small adjustments.
Perhaps I was naive believing the marketing hype!
I’ve been hovering over the Niche buy button regardless. We’ll see how long my self control lasts.
30g between brew methods?? Wow.
I remember when getting into home espresso about 18 months ago and looking for my first set up. I saw so many recommendations for the Niche at the time. My heart broke when I saw it was £500. I had no idea of the importance of a grinder at the time. Especially when this was more than I was planning to spend on my machine in the first place.
What’s interesting about the Niche is I have never seen anyone say it’s not worth the money and the build quality and versatility seem brilliant as an all rounder.
I personally opted for the Solo over the Niche when I upgraded my grinder, mainly based on looks. I saved myself £100 and a wait in the process, but from a workflow perspective, the Niche would win the test hands down. Not that it bothers me, but it might for a lot of people.
For home use, I’d struggle to see why anyone would want anything other than a single dose designed grinder and the Niche was the catalyst for that sentiment as far as I understand (hand grinders excluded).
I completely agree and if I could rewind a few months I’d certainly get the Niche. Embarrassingly it was recommended at the time against the x54.
I suppose my justification was that at the time, I had an espresso machine I didn’t particularly enjoy using. It was slow and not hugely user friendly and I stuck with hopper-fed grinders so I could just speed up the coffee making process. Fill the hopper with a bean my partner and I like, get it dialled in and then coffee making was quick(ish) and convenient.
I’ve since bought the Lelit Bianca which has been a game changer. It’s gotten me excited about coffee again in the same way when I discovered the V60 and a Baratza grinder about 12 years ago.
So now single dosing and subsequently the Niche are a lot more appealing.
I own a X54 and while I understand the ‘want’ for a niche and your personal experience. I’ve seen retention levels of less than 0.2g and purging required of maybe 3grams if I haven’t quite switched over bags at the right time. I use a full bag of beans….hoover during change of bean and I alway tap (the dispenser funnel) after my programmed times.
Now I will probably purchase a second hand grinder for workflow purposes (and I’m experimenting with more bean variety) but I haven’t had any bother with switching between grind sizes daily.
Obviously as many followers on here know, I’m not an ‘enthusiast’ per say, so if you looking at the minute detailing regarding grinders then some more experienced fellows have multiple devices they have tried and tested.
I just felt the need to add my personal experience with the X54 as an ‘all rounder’.
Once I get my Niche I will try and switch between grinds of course, just to see how I get on. But I guess it’s good to know I will have an alternative method should I need it.
I will however buy one ‘accessory’ that looks like it is worth it (unless you tell me different) one of those sputum cup thingys for puffing out those very few grinds left behind, especially for when I’m changing beans.
Pompeyexile I will however buy one ‘accessory’ that looks like it is worth it (unless you tell me different) one of those sputum cup thingys for puffing out those very few grinds left behind, especially for when I’m changin
It’s really not worth doing, just use it as designed. I don’t believe you can taste or see any real difference in the shots.
DavecUK It’s really not worth doing, just use it as designed. I don’t believe you can taste or see any real difference in the shots.
And I don’t mean that sarcastically. I just know my betters when it comes to this topic.
Pompeyexile The best way to think about it is, assuming a grinder that’s done at least 4 shots after any cleaning and not been puffed, or slapped about.
This is typically what I see with medium to medium light roast bean at espresso grind. Variations so small they have no effect on the extraction or taste within the cup.
I talked about an “Exchange” figure, which I directly measured on the Niche, from memory I think it was 0.3g. Please note if Eureka quote an exchange figure on their new grinder, it has to be an estimated one, there being no way to measure it. I believe retention was around 0.7g. The total retention sets the maximum exchange weight that’s possible, for obvious reasons.
I’m going to introduce 1 new concept here which I think I kept out of the review to keep it simple. “Retention” is of two types. Static and Dynamic..Static is the stuff that will never move and dynamic is the stuff capable of participating in “Exchange”
Keeping all the above in mind and the fact that only a portion of coffee available for exchange, actually does exchange, which is a reasonable assumption. In every 18g grind, you might get up to 0.3 g of coffee from the previous grind, it can of course be much less..
All using the puffer does is bring out that part of the coffee that would participate in exchange for the next grind (the dynamic portion of retained grinds)…so if for example you got 0.4g out, you are simply going to lower the grind consistency by an extra 0.1g and be puffing again to get all the coffee out….you will be forced to use the puffer all the time in your workflow.
All this faff for eliminating up to a maximum of 0.3g of exchange, which you see any effect from, in extraction or in the cup. A single coffee bean only weighs about 0.8g!!
There are a few things people do with the Niche which is pointless and counterproductive
Now this is the type of advice I like! Backed up by proper facts in a way even a dullard can understand.
I think you should start a thread Dave called ‘Mythbuster!’ You could save a lot of people a lot of time and money.
Pompeyexile I think you should start a thread Dave called ‘Mythbuster!’ You could save a lot of people a lot of time and money.
It would just make people unhappy.
I sometimes feel like setting up a webcam in the kitchen so people can see every single shot….and my general lack of any shot prep.
I agree on the taste aspect of not worrying about exchange or a fraction of a gram left in the machine
What annoys me though is mess, so the puffer gets all the leftover out (as does a cupped hand lightly tapping) which ensures every time you nudge the machine or move it you don’t get that stuff falling out onto the wooden holder or into the cup.
From the looks of some YouTubers set ups and posts people put online there are varying degrees of OCD about having a bit of ground coffee lying around.
It annoys the hell out of me though.
I must admit that is one big plus of the x54. It is by a margin the cleanest grinder I’ve owned and barely even leaves any debris around the chute let alone random dumps on the tray.
So I suppose the reason the DF64 has the bellows must be for two reasons…
Pompeyexile So I suppose the reason the DF64 has the bellows must be for two reasons…
You actually listed 3 reasons… 🤣
The whole Bellows thing is just not the Niche way of doing things….done right, a grinder shouldn’t really need a bellows. The 4th reason related to the 1st you mentioned is that as grinds build up, they accumulate faster and faster, until the retention is more significant. So puffing them out helps stop this accumulation.
With the Niche, this is unnecessary.
DavecUK You actually listed 3 reasons… 🤣
Maths was never my strong point, more of a home economics kinda guy. My teacher said I made the best shortbread she had ever tasted… from an eleven year-old.
Ah, my first post here…
Thanks to Dave I have a Niche and an Elizabeth. Wow.
I use my Niche every morning for automatic drip with a Breville machine, and then every afternoon for espresso with the Elizabeth. It is superb. Mine is not yet seasoned, but it is still working like a champ. I love the workflow. I guess my only problem is I do get static with the courser grind for the drip, so I do a quick spray and shake, then grind. Cures it all. Worth it to have just one grinder. So very nice. The Niche is just a pleasure to use. There is something satisfying about using a good tool, and the Niche is it.
