With a stepless adjustment here and flat burrs there, at times the world of coffee can feel pretty overwhelming. The market is absolutely full with different options to help you transform your home brewing, and whilst that can be a benefit, sometimes it’s difficult to know where to begin.
So, if you’re new to the world of coffee or are wanting to improve your home set-up with a new electric coffee grinder, you’re in the right place. We’re here to focus on just one piece of equipment that is revolutionising affordable home brewing, which is the DF54 grinder.
The DF54: Overview
The DF54 grinder is renowned as being a professional-grade electric coffee grinder that comes in at an affordable price point. This is offering home brewers the opportunity to experience an exceptional grind quality for a fraction of the price similar models come in at.
Going above and beyond the requirements of a basic electric grinder, the DF54 is a versatile choice to suit any home brewing style. James Hoffman actually reviewed it as the ‘Best Grinder Under £250′, sitting at £239 with most providers.
Key Features of the DF54 Grinder
54mm Stainless Steel Flat Burrs
Typically grinders under the £300 mark use conical burrs (cone shaped burrs) which aren’t as precise as flat options, causing variation in the size of the coffee particles as the grind isn’t as smooth. When you have some smaller and some larger particles, some become underbrewed and others overbrewed, creating a muddier flavour profile.
However, the DF54 comes with 54mm stainless steel flat burrs which are more common in expensive models, creating a much smoother, clearer flavour profile which transforms your home brewing.
All Metal Build
The majority of affordable electric grinders are made with plastic components, however the DF54 has a robust, aluminum body that supports durability, reduces vibration and generally looks great in your kitchen!
Stepless Adjustment
A feature not often found on cheaper electric grinders is a stepless adjustment. A stepped adjustment is one with a limited number of “clicks” on a dial for you to choose how fine or coarse you want the coffee grounds to be, depending on the type of coffee you’re brewing.
A stepless adjustment allows you to fine tune your brew, so you have superior control. This is particularly important when it comes to finding grinds for brewing espresso.
Low Retention
Retention is all about whether grinds get caught in the exit chute of your electric grinder. It’s common for this to happen as a result of static build up in cheaper grinders, meaning coffee beans are wasted and it’s much more hassle to clean.
The higher-end workflow features of the DF54 include a plasma generator, which reduces static and reduces retention to near zero! This is a rare feature to see at a price point this low (although we would recommend spritzing with a small amount of water as it’s not zero retention).
Where to Buy The DF54
If you’re sold on the DF54, there are plenty of places to purchase. Earl Coffee sells the DF54 grinder with a 2-year warranty and they also offer setup support, to help you get the most out of your new grinder. Typically they feature at the London and Manchester coffee festivals, so you can always head down and give them a go before you commit to purchasing. Make sure to pair with a coffee scale to keep everything accurate!
Final Thoughts
The DF54 grinder is offering a home brewing experience that other similar price point grinders aren’t currently, with an exceptional grind quality, low retention, precise experience. Grinding your beans fresh at home, rather than buying pre-ground, is one of the best ways to ensure you get that coffee-shop like taste, and if you’re just building your home setup, starting with a DF54 is going to be transformative.