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Thankfully just barely beat the de minimis. Works great!
I recently upgraded my coffee setup from a basic Mr. Coffee and pre-ground beans to a Moccamaster and a Breville espresso machine. Initially, I used a budget hand grinder, which worked for pour-over but fell short for espresso. After extensive research on Facebook groups and YouTube reviews, I chose the DF54 grinder for its ability to handle both espresso and coarser grinds effectively.
Overall, I’m very pleased with the DF54. It delivers consistent grind sizes—comparable to high-quality pre-ground coffee—and is quieter, more compact, and better-looking than other grinders in its price range. Its solid, heavy build feels durable, and the lack of complex technology reduces the risk of breakdowns. At this price point, it’s an excellent value.
My only issue is static. Despite the built-in plasma generator (ionizer), static persists regardless of cleaning (using the included brush or a bulb blower), bean type (dark or medium roast, oily or not), or techniques like RDT. For example, this morning I ground 70 grams of medium-roast beans coarsely with RDT and had minimal static, but grinding 18 grams of dark-roast beans for espresso shortly after was messy due to static. I always hot-start and adjust the grind while running, but I didn’t season the grinder extensively, letting it season naturally.
Despite the static, I highly recommend the DF54 for anyone seeking a versatile grinder under $300 that excels for both espresso and other brew methods. I plan to try a metal dosing cup to address the static, though my all-metal hand grinder also has static issues, so I’m skeptical it will help much.
I don’t usually do reviews because I’m no coffee expert and I can’t explain the finer points. I got mine a few weeks ago and I love it. Dialing in a grind was pretty easy and my espresso tastes great. And Espresso outlet went out of their way to get my grinder to me faster. Couldn’t be happier.
