DF64 · Flat burrGen 2 (DF64 II) with DLC Burrs
A single-dose flat burr grinder that fixed nearly everything home baristas complained about on the original DF64 - static, wobble, and cheap stock burrs - and threw in a set of DLC-coated 64mm burrs that punch well above the price.
The short version
This is the grinder that made a $400-500 single-doser a legitimate espresso tool instead of a compromise.
Accept that it is a no-frills, single-purpose machine with a Chinese-factory support chain sold under a dozen different brand names, so warranty experience varies by reseller.
Why people buy it
- 64mm DLC-coated flat burrs included at a price where competitors charge extra for coating
- Genuine near-zero retention thanks to the redesigned chamber and plasma-ionizer chute
Why they don’t
- Loud at 1400 RPM fixed speed with no variable RPM option (that is the DF64V, a different unit)
The full tally
- 64mm DLC-coated flat burrs included at a price where competitors charge extra for coating
- Genuine near-zero retention thanks to the redesigned chamber and plasma-ionizer chute
- Real aftermarket burr ecosystem (SSP, Gorilla Gear, Cast) so the grinder scales with your palate
- Stepless adjustment gives fine, repeatable espresso dial-in
- Loud at 1400 RPM fixed speed with no variable RPM option (that is the DF64V, a different unit)
- No auto-shutoff and a bellows attachment that some owners find fiddly to keep seated
- Single-purpose single-dose workflow demands WDT and a bit of ritual every shot, not a grab-and-go grinder
What the community knows
Years of owner threads, distilled — strongly recommended.
The value single-dose darling — low retention, espresso-capable, an enormous online following and burr-swap scene.
Value
price-to-performance the community respects
Parts & serviceability
parts and repairs — you are never stranded
Ecosystem
mods, guides, and community know-how around it
All 9 community measures
price-to-performance the community respects
shows up every morning, year after year
parts and repairs — you are never stranded
mods, guides, and community know-how around it
kind to first-timers
years before you outgrow or replace it
how far the cup can go, per dollar
speed and simplicity, day to day
Worth knowing before you buy — Most owners treat it as a stepping stone to an endgame grinder, not a forever machine — the sub-$200 performance bar is so high that longevity questions go unresolved.
Known weak points — No widely documented failure mode consensus; scattered reports of motor longevity uncertainty beyond 5 years (insufficient evidence for hard verdict).
The measurements
Scored 0–5 on the same rubric as everything on file — the words matter more than the numbers.
The measurements
0–5, one rubric- Espresso
- reference4.5
- Versatility
- narrow3
- Built to last
- durable3.5
Position in the market
Every dot is a rival, measured the same way. The gold one is this.
- Upper half for espresso suitability
- a higher ceiling than 112 of the 155 grinders we’ve measured
- Lower half for build
- sturdier than 25% of the field, by the community’s own record
Every dot is a grinder measured on the same rubric. See the whole market
Living with it
The part spec sheets skip: counter space, upkeep, and what owners learn later.
The honest note — Owners rarely replace the whole grinder - they swap in SSP High Uniformity or Multi-Purpose burrs, or Cast/Gorilla Gear burrs, to chase a different cup profile before they ever look at a pricier machine.
The full spec sheet
- Class
- Single dose
- Burrs
- 64mm flat
- Drive
- Electric
- Adjustment
- Stepless
- Clarity lean
- Clarity & sparkle
- Espresso suitability
- 4.5/5
- Brew versatility
- 3/5
- Retention
- ~0.2 g
- Single dosing
- Yes
- Hopper
- 50 g
- Burr-swap scene
- Documented
- Workflow demand
- 3.5/5
- Maintenance
- 2.5/5
- Noise
- 4/5
- Build longevity
- 3.5/5
- Dimensions
- 13 × 22.5 × 30 cm
Before it arrives
What completes this grinder — the faded pieces can wait.
Coffee scale with timer — Espresso is a ratio. A 0.1g scale with a built-in timer is the single biggest consistency upgrade for any manual machine.
- Coffee scale with timer — Espresso is a ratio. A 0.1g scale with a built-in timer is the single biggest consistency upgrade for any manual machine.
- Dosing cup — Pairs with single-dose grinding — grind into the cup, swirl, and transfer to the portafilter cleanly.
- Grinder cleaning kit — Brushes and grinder tablets keep retention and stale grounds in check.
Feed it right
Week one is dial-in — and stale beans will lose it.
Coffee more than a few weeks past roast won’t extract predictably, and a new grinder gets blamed for it. These burrs lean bright — washed single-origins with real acidity are where they earn their price.
Pick your coffee — any of these dials in beautifully here:
Sergio - Brazillian Fazenda Joia Rara Aerobic FermentedSCA 88Medium-light · Cerrado Mineiro · Aerobic FermentedHoney · OrangeEnough brightness to show what this gear can separate.CA$29.18 · roasted to order
Honeycrest - Costa Rican Volcán AzulSCA 87Medium-light · West Valley · Red HoneyRaisins · Maple SyrupEnough brightness to show what this gear can separate.CA$19.50 · roasted to order
Wild Ember - Ethiopian Buno Dambi UddoSCA 92Medium roast · Odo Shakiso, Guji Zone, Oromia · NaturalBlueberry · MarmaladeEnough brightness to show what this gear can separate.CA$26.83 · roasted to orderWhole bean, dated, ready for your burrs the week it lands.
Roasted to order, daily, in Ajax, Ontario · ships Canada-wide. We’re the roastery behind this database — measuring the machines is how we make sure the coffee gets a fair shot.
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