Ahh I am forgetting it has a different name in different markets.
I would point out a couple of things though, given when the video was made he has one of the first run and things have been tweaked a touch since then and secondly the poor folks in the US seem to get diddled a bit when it comes to price of Eureka grinders. The Mignon SD retails at pretty much double the price of the Solo and as such I think it is a very different proposition indeed.
I would seriously consider a flat burr alternative to the Niche however I don’t think there is a suitable option yet which can match its ease of use and workflow.
The Solo is an interesting prospect but not quite there in my opinion. They apparently improved the clump crusher since the first generation however there is still an issue with some grinds retaining and regrinding in the burrs. With a few mods it’s a decent if unrefined alternative.
The Mignon Oro SD reminds me of @DavecUK Evo Leva - bit of a Frankenstein 😄 Clearly Eureka are trying to carve out a share in the single dose market by cobbling something together without too much investment.
Like with many first generation products I’m sure they will make improvements with subsequent iterations but it’s a shame they didn’t choose to innovate out of the gate.
Will be interesting to see what other single dose flat burr alternatives enter the market…I’ll stick with my Niche for now.
BlackCatCoffee given when the video was made he has one of the first run and things have been tweaked a touch
Out of curiosity, when was the second run made? Was it really recent?
Niche will obviously be aware of what is going on in the market and what people think (rightly or wrongly) about conical vs flat burrs. I would be very surprised indeed if we do not see a flat burr Niche in the not too distant.
David
Not sure of the exact dates but post Christmas I believe.
BlackCatCoffee That would be nice. It will be interesting to see their burr size; I wonder if they would keep it similar or go up to 83mm.
In fact, I asked them, before Christmas, if there would be a Niche II with a flat burr. I did tell them I am in the market for a SD electric. I wasn’t expecting a reply. They didn’t! 😊
BlackCatCoffee but post Christmas I believe.
Understood. The video was published on the 28th of January 2022 - that’s post Christmas. Is your understanding the guy on that video is using an older model? If so, how can you tell? For me at least, as a only espresso drinker, I’d like to understand which improvements have been made since the first run. In all honesty, as much as the Niche is great, I’ve been going on about flat burr grinders for a while, and I’m thinking of upgrading - but it needs to be right.
I will see if I can get a change log and serial numbers from the distributor so we can tell but had a check on some email updates I got on the production delays and they stated the second run was delayed to mid to end Jan. We literally got stock from that run on Tuesday so he is almost certainly on a first run machine. I think he says in the video something about a first model although he could be referring to it being a Mk1 as opposed to a launch model as such.
My own thought process did include a two-grinder setup. I thought about it quite hard. A large part of it was that the Mignon was showing on a supplier’s site as being in stock. It wasn’t.
But, the more I thought about it, the more I came to the conclusion that for the amount of time I want to switch between espresso and, say, V60 or Clever, the Niche was a workable option. The Mignon? A bit of a PITA to do, so as a two-unit setup, maybe. As a dual-purpose but single-grinder setup, I prefer the Niche.
Am I bothered about flat v conical? Not enough to buy both.
Appearance? Subjective, but I prefer the Niche. To me, it looks like it was designed with some flair. The Mignon looks like someone hacked other CAD files to stick it on an angle, and added wood bits and feet because, hey, it worked for Niche. It looks to me a bit like wearing a knock-off Rolex or a local market ‘designer’ suit. I’d have had more respect for it if it wasn’t a wanna-be style.
All told, by the time the Migngn SD was actually available, I already had the Niche, had decided I wasn’t buying both, and don’t regret it. If I was buying now, the only thing I think would sway me to the Mignon was avoiding the delay getting the Niche. And I doubt it would be enough to swing it for me.
A flat-burr Niche? Well, if it ever happens, and at a sensible price, I’ll think about that, then. I’m not holding my breath, though. While they’re selling the current one faster than they can make them, I don’t see it happening as they would too much be competing with their own primary product. A lot depends on how much, if any, they want to grow the company. Do they want to try to be a big player, or just to be a very successful big fish in a specific pond? The effort, and especially capital demands, of scaling up to the level to be a much bigger fish means running a very different kind of company, and a very different set of risks. I don’t know the people involved, but it looks to me like they’re smart enough to not to too ambitious. Clever move, guys.
I have a wilfa svart for pour over. Happy enough with that, i have espresso burrs in my major, if ssp did brew specific for the major id of happily spent another 250 on a second major, and get those. Sadly ssp seem to have focused on 64mm for three different burr types.
The mignons that ive had have all been tbe £350 or less, 50 and 55mm versions and they have been ok. I really disliked my eureka 65mm, wasnt a good grinder. As for the sd mignon it looks like they have tried to make do rather than re invent, there not the best for switching between espresso and brew either.
Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -
Interesting and honest review of the new Webey Key - I know it’s been discussed a lot here but it’s really surprising to me how good the Niche appears for the money and how much companies are struggling to equal it. I know all tech is diminishing returns at a certain point but this grinder is way more expensive.
Don’t know if it will ever be mainstream enough to be classified a design classic but the Niche is certainly beginning to look like one to me.
Funnily enough, I watched this last night. The Niche always tends to be the benchmark whenever grinders are being compared, which I suppose is testament to how well regarded it is.
dutchy101 The Niche always tends to be the benchmark whenever grinders are being compared, which I suppose is testament to how well regarded it is.
I think that is also interesting, the comparisons of grinders 3 or 4 times the price. ……what the Niche has done is made single dosing, easy grind adjustment in a compact kitchen friendly form, accessible. This never used to be the case and at its price point, it’s very difficult to better. A big reason for their success.
LMSC In a way they have, but the manufacturers have been very, very lazy when it comes to prosumer grinders. Only now are they waking up to the fact that there is a huge market out there (for the right grinders)…much larger and potentially more lucrative for them, than the one for commercial grinders.
I remember many years ago Ceado expressing complete surprise (actually didn’t believe me) that any prosumer/home user would ever buy an E37S……ridiculous really. 🤣 So they didn’t even promote it to prosumers.
DavecUK - I don’t know when you told them that, but there are a few prosumer users who actually have E37S grinders in their homes. I know a few of them, some in this forum, actually. In fact, it’s one of the “friendliest” for the home in terms of overall size given the size of the burrs. I always wanted one, but it was very expensive. But then, the Niche came… and the rest is history.
To be clear: at the time, due to the lack of option in the home market, prosumer users had no choice and had to resort to commercial grinders to use at home if they wanted anything other than a Mignon, Ascaso Mini or Vario.
What I do not understand is why a company like Mignon wouldn’t bother creating something from scratch. A short cut is never going to work. It’s just not sustainable.
I hope Niche upgrades the Burrs and design in the conical space and also bring their flat version. I would love to see them cleaning out this market by keep raising the bar even higher leaving every one far behind.
LMSC - Very good point, which I keep asking myself the same questions. Any of those traditional brands could smash Niche if they wanted to. But in my opinion, they failed, miserably by trying to adapt their designs rather than think it through from the ground up and from a prosumer perspective using their kit in a home environment.
Surely 2 future Niches, one with 83mm flat burr and one with 83mm conical burr, sub-£1000 would just own the sub 3K market?
-Mac for sure! What I was trying to say is the traditional brands rather than Niche (who?) had the opportunity to smash it - but failed miserably. Now Niche has established itself as a trusty brand for the home market with excellent customer services, there’s no reason for consumers to look anywhere else for products at that price range. They got it right.
