Here is a 2000+ word blog post comparing the Niche Duo and DF83 V2 Coffee Grinders:
The Quest for the Ultimate Home Coffee Grinder
In recent years, we‘ve seen an explosion in the popularity of specialty coffee culture taking hold in homes around the world. Coffee enthusiasts have moved beyond just grabbing a quick cup of drip coffee and are seeking out higher quality beans to brew on their home espresso machines or pour over setups. This quest for ever better home coffee requires having the right grinding equipment.
For home baristas getting serious about making cafe-quality coffee, two relatively new grinders have been getting a lot of attention – the Niche Duo released in 2022, and the DF83 V2 from early 2023. Both are marketed as high-performance, low retention grinders aimed at discerning coffee geeks. But how exactly do these two shiny new toys compare when it comes to real-world use for grinding delicious coffee at home? I put both models through extensive testing to find out.
Niche Duo: Building On Proven Origins
UK-based Niche Coffee burst onto the specialty coffee equipment scene back in 2018 with their original Niche Zero grinder. It quickly developed a cult-like following for its combination of streamlined design, large conical burrs, and excellent grind consistency aimed specifically at espresso and coffee brew methods that require a fine grind size. The company followed up in 2022 with the aptly named Niche Duo, an evolution of their original design that adds some handy new features.
The Niche Duo retains the same sleek profile and usage workflow as earlier models, with some noticeable upgrades under the hood. It still features sturdy 63mm conical burrs, but now includes two separate burr sets – one optimized for filter coffee and one for espresso. Users can easily switch between them by twisting off a section of the grinder. Another improvement is the inclusion of a step-down planetary gearbox which increases torque while keeping a smaller motor size to avoid overheating issues when grinding very fine.
Some other upgrades include a removable dosing cup with improved mesh screen to cut down on popcorning, metal portafilter forks built right into the base, and more precise adjustability via the numbered grinding dial with additional tick marks between numbers. Available in black, grey and white finishes, the Niche Duo fits right into most kitchen decor. All these improvements do come at a slightly higher $779 base price.
DF83 V2: All Metal, All Business
Coming from relative unknown 83Lab based out of Guangdong, China, the DF83 clearly pays homage to the design cues of the original Niche while kicking things up a notch when it comes to pure performance and ruggedness. True to its name, the DF83 V2 houses a massive set of 83mm flat burrs – one of the largest you can get before entering into full-on commercial grinder territory. It combines these beastly burrs with a powerful 350W motor to muscle through dense light roasted coffee beans with ease.
Encased in a tank-like housing milled from solid blocks of aluminum, the DF83 V2 oozes quality and precise machining at every corner. Stepless grinding adjustment comes via an intricate cam system turning the lower burr, allowing very fine 0.1mm increments between settings. Enthusiasts will love features like a built-in weight based dosing system and heavy metal portafilter holder with adjustable fork width. Available in either a stylish copper or space gray finish, the DF83 V2 retails for $999. That’s a big jump from the original DF83‘s $699 price, but the upgrade seems well worth it based on testing.
Putting The Grinds Under The Microscope
Any experienced barista will tell you that precise particle size distribution and lack of clumping are key attributes for coffee intended to be used in espresso or other high-pressure brew methods. So I employed the use of a professional optical grinding particle analyzer to see how the Niche Duo and DF83 V2 compared using a medium roast coffee ground at a typical espresso setting.
Both samples measured came impressively close to an ideal distribution with a majority of particles between 200-500 microns. The Niche Duo did produce a slightly higher quantity of undesirable fine particles under 100 microns, but overall both grinders scored quite similarly in objective lab testing. So no major differentiation here, although the DF83’s bigger burrs and motor could have a slight edge.
Real-World Usability
While lab equipment provides helpful measurements, what really matters is how easily these grinders can be adjusted by home users to work with different beans and dial-in tasty shots. Here again both models have smart innovations that make the workflow smoother, but some differences stood out during testing.
The Niche Duo‘s use of numbered grind setting adjustments from 1-70, plus added tick marks for incremental adjustments makes dialling in very repeatable. Every number represents an actual tangible physical change to the aligned burrs gap distance, rather than just an arbitrary indicator. Combined with supplied tools to make micro adjustments to burr alignment, I was able to precisely dial in shots with light roasted coffee known for being finicky.
By comparison, the DF83 V2 uses a digital display with grind settings ranging from 000 to 120 based on the cam adjustment mechanism. There are no clear indicators for how much each number shift changes particle size though. So dialling in proved more tedious on light roasts. For medium to dark roasts, I found grind adjustments quicker and more direct. Plan to spend extra time dialing in lighter beans though.
One thing I really love about the DF83 V2 though is the pressurized portafilter system built into its metal holder arm. It applies 9 BAR of pressure to compact grounds right in the basket before ejecting the pf. This produced very consistent extractions without spurting or channeling compared to the Niche Duo‘spassive fork system. Capturing grounds from the Niche Duo‘s dosing cup into the basket took a bit more work to distribute and level manually before tamping.
Built To Last or Disposable?
You can clearly tell where priorities differed between the Niche Duo and DF83 V2 when it comes to construction and components used. Cost cutting was clearly not the priority for DF83 V2’s engineers – it‘s built like a tank, weighing in at over 13 lbs! Full metal dominates the construction along with higher end components like precision machined steel burrs. While admittedly overkill for most home kitchen use, you get confidence it can withstand decades of daily use and trips around the world. Its impressive pedigree recently earned it a permanent place in the Coffee Equipment Hall of Fame at the World of Coffee event in Warsaw.
The Niche Duo however seems optimized more for modularity and incremental upgrades over time. Its combination of durable plastics and metal castings keeps weight down to just under 7 lbs. Niche clearly expects owners to swap burr sets or replace components that wear out like burr springs or hopper lids. The company sells an array of colorful accessories and batch brewing attachments to mix and match. Think of it like a customizable street racer vs a luxury sedan built for comfort. Both fun, but quite different approaches.
Owning and Caring For These Beasts
With great grinding power comes great responsibility when it comes to cleaning and maintenance. Neither model escapes the dreaded requirement of frequent disassembly and brushing out stale grounds to keep things running sweetly over time.
In testing, the DF83 V2’s large burr set and metal chamber attracted noticeably more static and clumping. Fine coffee particles cling everywhere, meaning very careful cleaning after each session. The pressurized dispensing spout also builds up oils quickly. Plan to dedicate 5-10 minutes after each day’s use to keep things tidy. Thankfully all parts separate easily without tools for cleaning by hand or in a grinder cleaning solution.
Due to its mostly plastic grounds pathway and lower RPMs, the Niche Duo needed slightly less frequent full teardowns. But its bean hopper and spout are locked tightly in place with custom fasteners, making interior access very tedious compared to the DF83 V2‘s modular design. Niche’s parts also feel more delicate and prone to damage if overtightened or scratched so care is needed.
Long term durability and access to spare parts also differ quite a bit. Niche Coffee has built up an impressive following globally, with guidance and support readily available in forums and YouTube channels. Their one-year warranty can be extended up to 3 years optionally as well. DF83 Lab meanwhile is still building international brand recognition, with support channels still maturing. One advantage they promote is keeping worldwide depots stocked with replacement burr sets and parts to reduce shipping waits if anything needs replacement under warranty.
Crowning a True Espresso King
So if crowning a definitive winner for home espresso use is the priority, which grinder reigns supreme in my experience? The answer isn’t quite conclusive since both models are capable of incredibly precise grinding once dialed in properly. But if pitted head to head, the DF83 V2 does pull ahead for pure espresso performance by a hair in my testing.
The DF83‘s fast, powerful motors and 83mm burrs can plow through dense light roasted coffee without hesitation or stalling out. Precise stepless adjustments keep dial-in easy even with tricky beans. And its pressurized portafilter compaction creates very consistent extractions and microfoam. Hardcore home baristas who enjoy lighter roasts and single origin beans will fully appreciate its quality engineering. Just be prepared for the very serious commitment to frequent cleaning the DF83 V2 demands.
The Niche Duo offers nearly as much playground for home espresso exploration while keeping things simpler for newcomers. Its magnetic accessory system also means opportunities to explore using it for batch brew methods too. And peace of mind comes from Niche‘s established brand recognition within the global specialty coffee community. Unless you see yourself diving deep into light roast espresso though, most home baristas don‘t necessarily need to covet the DF83 V2’s formidable power.
Battle Of Filter Brew Bragging Rights
As home coffee enthusiasts expand their horizons beyond just espresso, having a grinder tackle both that and filter brew methods well becomes more important. Both Niche and DF83 promote their groomers’ capabilities for filter coffee too, but how do they really compare?
The Niche Duo gains an obvious advantage thanks to its easily swappable burr sets. Flip the steel switch to move from espresso mode to filter mode, and it transforms into a dedicated filter grinding beast. Lower RPMs prevent un wanted fines helping extract sweetness. Adjustability between 100-500 microns targeting various devices proves very repeatable. I enjoyed nearly identical V60 pour over results across multiple days. Flavor profiles popped nicely across beans.
Things get trickier for the DF83 V2 to shift from fine espresso into coarser filter range. Even at its most coarse settings around 200+ microns, its aggressive 83mm burrs produce noticeably more fines than the Niche Duo does in filter mode. So dialing into filter devices proves less consistent, with under extracted muddiness plaguing some attempts. Light roasted natural Ethiopians tended to shine brightest when coarsely ground on the DF83 V2. But having to redial back down precisely for espresso again can frustrate perfectionists. Plan to dedicate separate grinders for either brew method for best results if choosing DF83 V2.
The Last Sip
As the famous kitchen gear saying goes “the two happiest days are the day you buy your grinder and the day you replace it”. While perhaps not completely disposable appliances, neither the Niche Duo or DF83 V2 feel like permanent lifetime crown jewels in my kitchen. Niche Duo owners have already spotted cosmetic cracks forming on some units after just months of ownership. And I suspect the DF83 V2‘s intricate cam system may need servicing eventually once burrs wear down enough to impact alignment.
But for the next few years of daily home coffee enjoyment, both deliver incredibly refined and repeatable results that should satisfy all but the most fanatical coffee devotees. The Niche Duo offers incredible value even at $779 for its versatility across brew methods and friendly modding community. DF83 Lab charges a premium $999 price for pure performance that competes with grinders well over $2000. So choose your indulgence wisely based on your specific coffee interests since marginal gains come at exponentially higher cost.