Ditting 807 Lab Sweet vs Mahlkönig EK43S
Two answers to the same question — the split below is the whole argument.
Ditting
Strong consensusCA$3,800–4,200 · US$2,999–3,200
This is a bag grinder wearing a home-bar costume: a lab/shop tool from a company that has made burrs since 1928, repurposed by enthusiasts for its uniquely sweet, syrupy cup. Accept the size…
Full record & live prices →
Mahlkönig
CA$3,390–5,350 · US$3,899–5,350
This is a commercial bulk grinder that happens to also do excellent espresso once you accept the workflow tax of switching ranges and living with meaningful retention. Buy it for the burrs a…
Full record & live prices →The split
Where they actually differ
On 4 of 6 measures these two tie. The 2 rows below are the entire argument.
807 Lab Sweet
EK43S
Value per dollar
807 Lab Sweet leads, clearly
Quiet operation
807 Lab Sweet leads, clearly
weakerstronger
The EK43S leans clarity and sparkle; the 807 Lab Sweet leans syrup and body. Pick the cup, not the machine.
The counter’s vote
Looks barely figure in either machine’s record — the counter can sit this one out.
807 Lab Sweet: Reveals preference for industrial-elegant counter presence—owners cite "stunningly beautiful" and "looks attractive," and the aesthetic distinction from older 804 is documented purchase driver…
EK43S: Workhorse industrial aesthetic; no kitchen-approval talk, but pro-heritage look commands respect in espresso circles.
Where they tie: espresso duty · brew range · reliability record · built to last — don’t let a spec sheet invent a difference.
On the counter
The size difference, to scale
So — which one?
Take the 807 Lab Sweet if —
- Syrupy, traditional cups are the goal
- Every dollar has to earn its place
- There are sleepers to protect
Take the EK43S if —
- Bright, separated cups are the goal
The 807 Lab Sweet leads everywhere the data separates them, at the same money — the EK43S's case is taste, looks, or a deal you couldn't refuse.
Known weak points
807 Lab Sweet
Burr alignment variance on arrival (documented across multiple units 2021-2022, appears improved in recent batches); owner reports of poor service response from some dealers when shimming attempted; occasional reports of high retention with thicker metal flappers.
EK43S
Burr alignment drift requiring recalibration; bearing wear on high-use machines; variable QC on newer units relative to vintage models
For the row-by-row readers
The whole sheet, side by side
Matching rows fade back — the ink is where they differ.
807 Lab Sweet
EK43S
Class
Single dose
Premium
Burrs
80mm flat
98mm flat
Drive
Electric
Electric
Adjustment
Stepless
Stepless
Clarity lean
Syrup & body
Clarity & sparkle
Espresso suitability
4.5/5
4/5
Brew versatility
5/5
5/5
Single dosing
Yes
Yes
Hopper
510 g
800 g
Burr-swap scene
Documented
Documented
Maintenance
2/5
3/5
Noise
3/5
4/5
Build longevity
5/5
5/5
Dimensions
30 × 21.6 × 53.6 cm
23 × 41 × 68 cm
Workflow demand
—
3/5
Wrong match-up? Change one side → — any two on file compare.
Still torn?
This page weighs them against each other. The finder weighs them against your mornings.
Two minutes of questions — milk, noise, budget, space — scored across everything on file. It’s honest when the answer is neither of these.
Take the two-minute finder →