HG-1…
It comes with Mazzer burrs (maybe, maybe not). The website says ”We source our burrs exclusively from Mazzer”.
Perfectly aligned shaft from the renowned Weber workshops (perhaps)
Hand crafted built in the aforementioned workshop, but the gear shaft might be incorrectly assembled.
Yet, according to the reviewer…. The best grinder in the world.
Something is not adding up in my simple mind.
it will be mass produced elsewhere and then put together, the crowd funding went mental and my be is they sold more than they ever imagined they would
Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -
Cuprajake - my point Is… despite the negatives, which were not trivial by any means, how can it be the best grinder in the world? I appreciate the reviewer exposing those, but then saying it’s the best grinder in the world feels like a contradiction to me.
I’d understand if it was a small defect which can be easily rectified, but that wasn’t the case. Besides, the consumer pays a premium for the brand and the craftsmanship which doesn’t seem to be present in the final product at all.
Usually like this guys videos very thorough and unflashy. This should assist in a few debates about Niche build quality, unless people just want to hold onto their own ideas driven by what they’ve purchased.
gotters It’s a good video by someone with reasonable engineering knowledge. Obviously there are some secrets about the Niche he doesn’t know, but he did a good job.
The main reason the Niche build quality was debated probably started on CFUK believe it or not, where (for whatever reasons) it was quite unfairly debated by some people. A cursory “review” was done…which kicked off said debate.
A huge amount of work went into the Niche, developing, testing for years before it went on the market. When I got involved with the testing and recommending, many years of work had already gone into it. When I said, it’s a great product, but I thought some things needed change, rather than be dismissed I was listened to and changes were made. When I pushed a prototype to its limits and broke it…changes were made…only when it was right..was it launched. This striving for quality even went down to the actual bearings chosen for the job. Plastics used that are substitutes for metals in aerospace etc..
I personally consider Martin who developed the Niche to be a James Dyson of the prosumer grinder world..A very clever man with a passion for doing it right.
My view has always been, buy a Niche and the savings in coffee (purging, dialing in etc.) for most people result in the grinder paying for itself in 5 - 6 years. If it’s still going….then it was effectively free. I never expect anyone will ever have to change the burrs, I think they are good for 800Kg+.
They are really great insights @DavecUK, you can tell using it that it’s been refined and designed to within an inch of its life, good to know that goes for the insides too. I’d seen another US based teardown months back on YouTube and he seemed a bit of a ‘good old boy’ who was berating it for having plastic gears. US engineering can be a bit rudimentary and unless it’s metal they think its ****.
When you say secrets do you mean design choices, materials or actual things in the unit he didn’t spot in the tear down ?
gotters When you say secrets do you mean design choices, materials or actual things in the unit he didn’t spot in the tear down ?
Yes, all 3, for the last one not necessarily didn’t spot, but didn’t understand the significance of..
The comments about metal gears good, plastic gears bad is a stupid one…it’s generally now the other way round for things like a grinder.
In the right applications, metal gears are fine…in a Grinder that’s not always the “right” application for metal. Gears in a spur gearbox (especially metal ones) have lubrication challenges…with a planetary the lubrication stays in the gears easier.
https://www.precisionmicrodrives.com/spur-versus-planetary-gear-types
http://www.zonpoo.com/planetary-gearboxes-advantages/
One of the concerns I would have about the Lagom is the spur gear system and keeping the lubrication in the gears (which I believe are metal)….So much, so I would advise anyone owning one these grinders to check the gearbox every 6 months by removing the cover, and ensuring the grease is properly distributed. Especially if they get more noisy! If I had one, I would also be thinking about changing the grease for new grease every 1-3 years depending on use.
The Niche is a home run for the home barista. Not cheap, but much cheaper than other grinders with similar performance. It is a joy to use. I am thrilled to have it, and I hope it will be the last grinder I ever buy. If Niche stays in business over the years, any part that fails looks so easy to replace. So nice.
gotters Thank you for sharing this, the guy has gone to some lengths and explained his point of view in layman’s terms.
So refreshing that it’s not just some entitled, opinionated twonk throwing monkey poo because he’s taken a particular stance.
As mentioned by DaveC, I’m certain that there’s a lot more to the Niche than covered in the video, but it’s a fairly balanced approach for all of that. Not that I’m even remotely biased,of course………lol
Cuprajake This is an interesting video from a HB user who states that their grinder has no burr misalignment as Roswell I believe might have been stating. Forget the bolt and the central washers…watch the burr edge of the moving inner in relation to the outer.
What do you think, recommend watching on YouTube full screen?
Hard to tell if its an optical illusion or the burr looks to move, did i read they said the beans centrlise the burr too?
I know the old hg 1 adjustment was a rubber mallet . Hardly finnese.
Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -
gotters I’ve just watched this after @dfk41 posted his Moka Pot video.
His style takes some getting used to, but the information content is great. Certainly one of the best Niche videos I’ve seen.
I was interested to see the use of PTFE tape on the main thread. I wonder if this is a worthwhile step to take? Does @DavecUK have any thoughts?
The only bit I didn’t agree with was the fines for v60, mind has never looked like that, but then I probably grind a lot coarser than he was. I am going to check out his v60 video at some point though.
PortafilterProcrastinator I was interested to see the use of PTFE tape on the main thread. I wonder if this is a worthwhile step to take? Does @DavecUK have any thoughts?
I don’t know, doing it might make the thread feel “tighter”, perhaps give less space for coffee to get in there. The only thing is PTFE thread has to be wrapped the right way and there is no right way on an adjuster that is twisted both ways. I don’t think it will do any harm…just don’t use too much.
In truth, it’s super difficult for coffee to get in there and it’s most likely to happen when cleaning. It might be better to wipe the threads out, perhaps following up with a toothbrush gently around them in one direction and lift when you get to the starting point (like cleaning a record)…a quick wipe with a kitchen towel and then a “smear” of food safe lube..again, don’t use too much…less is more. or a PTFE enhanced food safe dry lube if you have one.
PortafilterProcrastinator I was interested to see the use of PTFE tape on the main thread. I wonder if this is a worthwhile step to take
Feels like that’s nonsense to me. If I was having issues I would try it myself, but as is, I don’t see the point. If you are having issues, doesn’t cost much to give it a go.
MediumRoastSteam I tend to agree, but then if it is a potential preventative measure there wouldn’t be a problem to solve.
The adjustment has always seemed fine to me, certainly not loose, but then who knows what might happen over time.
PortafilterProcrastinator - I had mine for over 3 years - granted I only drink espresso and clean every 3 months, so I don’t move the adjustment that much apart from minor tweaks around that range when changing beans, which it’s usually even week or so. It has never moved by itself.
you would have to be an aggressive twister to trash the threads? no?
Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -
Cuprajake I read that as if you were meaning the twister game
