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
Eden Gesha - Colombian MiramarSCA 87Medium-light · Kennedy, San Agustin, Huila · WashedCherry blossom · Tropical fruitEnough brightness to show what this gear can separate.CA$26.24 · roasted to order
Etherea - Ethiopian YirgacheffeSCA 88Medium roast · NaturalJasmine · BergamotEnough brightness to show what this gear can separate.CA$24.16 · roasted to orderWhole bean coffee, with the roast date on each bag.
Prefer regular deliveries? RoastPlan is RoastAroma’s coffee subscription. Choose your coffees and their available options, then set deliveries every 1–6 weeks.
One-time RoastAroma orders are roasted to order in Ajax, Ontario and ship Canada-wide. We’re the roastery behind this database — measuring the machines is how we make sure the coffee gets a fair shot.
Weighing it against something we didn’t list? Compare it with anything on file →
Still weighing it? The finder narrows all 429 down to three that fit your life.
Run the two-minute finder →