OPTION-O - Lagom Mini Compact

You may need to stretch your budget to get out of the DF options if you want electric. I'm incredibly satisfied with the Option-O Lagom Mini. Granted I am only pulling 2-ish shots per day.

Pay $100 more and get the lagom mini. Leaps and bounds better than any fellow grinder.

Option O Lagom Mini. It’s better than any fellow grinder and more aesthetically pleasing.

I have a Lagom Mini and love it for filter and espresso. It is essentially a really nice hand grinder with a motor in it. I hear the Baratza ESP makes really good espresso for the price. I just didn't like the form factor. My other grinder is above your $500 limit. If I were to go for something under $500 that hits above its weight class it would be the DF64 V2. It's is possibly the last grinder you'd ever need since there are so many burr options available in that size. Most of the other options under $500 are stuck with the burrs that they are built with. If you don't like the espresso they produce you have no other option but to buy another grinder. I'd rather buy a set of $100-$200 burrs down the line if I want to change the flavor profile or update my grinder.

Take the Oxo, Breville, Ode, and Opus off your list. Consider adding the Lagom Mini. I have one that does espresso and filter like a champ and has without issue for a few years now. It's a little slow and limited duty cycle (I think 90s per 5m or something) but for home use it's great. There's a mini 2 now that I admittedly don't know much about.

Not the Casa, but I have a Lagom Mini and love it as well! Option-O’s quality is just phenomenal. The Mini comes with Moonshine which makes FANTASTIC juicy pour overs too. And the new Lagom Mini can be powered via USB-C, making it a great option for portable travel too. All for under $400 is insane.

It is the internet, with a global reach. Many of the subs and forums get dominated by people who need to tell why they are right and you are wrong. Having owned a DF64 and found it to be one of the loudest, most unreliable grinders backed with no customer service, I have had in 40 years, I would say well done you dodged a bullet. Anything by Option O gets my vote (I have a P64 now, owned a Mini and tested a Casa and P100). The cheaper Eurekas I like as hopper fed grinders, but not single dose (the adjustment is not consistent). Niche Zero (I have one) is bombproof, quiet and lovely adjustment. However, more of a traditional darker to medium roast grinder. A used Mazzer SJ or Mini would be bombproof and a good find.

I can confirm that the c40 and lagom mini are very similar...own and love both

Lagom mini has really good reviews. But ultra light espresso is tricky with any weaker machine.

I mean, if you want to carry that thing around, it’s an amazing grinder. 

Good luck. I saw a review from Toms Grinder Lab on Youtube that seemed really level headed and very positive, if you want to dig a bit deeper before shelling out the dough. He mentions that the burrs remind him a lot of the I200D set from the Mazzer Philos. That set I have and it is absolutely amazing. It is a bit harder to dial in than I was used to so far, but getting more bang for your buck should be next to impossible, considering the price of the Casa.

Lagom mini ~~or casa , niche zero~~ Why conical specifically?

I’m used to seeing budget in square brackets in the title - agree, these won’t fit. Editing my comment for lagom mini

So up to 4 back to back shots every half hour

Agreed. Especially if you make multiple (4+ back to backs). If you’re making 4 or fewer, a 90 s wait is common. Grind. Tamp and pull a shot. Steam milk. That’s probably 2-3 mins so you’re ready to grind again immediately after making a drink.

Don’t skip the rest time. Get another grinder instead

I don't think the Lagom Mini is a good choice for your needs, primarily because of its duty cycle. Straight from the manufacturer: Lagom Mini FAQ Q: Can I use LAGOM mini for espresso? (updated 9th June 2022 with recommended best practice) A: Yes, you can - although we haven’t designed the grinder specifically for espresso initially, our users have reported great results with using the Mini for espresso. Using it for espresso will not void your warranty. With 48 mm burrs on the LAGOM mini, grinding for a double espresso (18g dose) typically takes around 45-60s. Based on our further testing, the LAGOM mini will work well for home grinding duty (but is strictly not for commercial use). However, please refer and adhere to the duty cycle as recommended in User Guide page 5 (abbreviated version below) for getting the best out of your grinder. Duty cycle: <90s (1.5 min) grind time per cycle, with a minimum rest time of 90s (1.5 min) in between cycles, for no more than 4 shots within a 10 minute period. Rest for at least 30 minutes once total cumulated grinding time has exceeded 6 minutes. Starting July 2022, we have also updated the motor/gear component using reinforced gears to allow the Mini to handle even more demanding espresso applications (e.g. light roasts).

LOL! Me too buddy And to answer the question, I think one key thing to look at would be how well the grinder does going from espresso to pour over range and back. Having said this, Lagom mini for electric and K6 for manual are quite good I think

I would pick 98mm platform over 80mm… Titus Nautilus, Lagom, Levercraft Ultra and its variants, heck… even EK43.