NICHE ZERO: ONE YEAR IN REVIEW 

Dont worry about it! It was a fair and honest review. I do think that you did bring up some of the disdvantages that a lot of reviewers might have overlooked and that's what I like about your reviews.

Look like and sounds like someone totally different #chill Hedrick 😂

I literally just took delivery of a Niche three days ago and I am super grateful for this video! Thanks for the excellent retrospective. I am enjoying it, but have a similar taste preference to you. I have the Option-O Lagom P64 on pre-order and will have to wait a few months for it. Looking forward to getting familiar with the Niche and then contrasting it to the P64. Will be freezing some of the coffees I like the next few months to compare. I have the Unimodal burrset on order for mine and think a comparison of the P64's different burrset options to the Niche would be particularly interesting from you!

The dislikes are nonsense. You gave an honest review, which is rare on the topic as far as I can tell. Some people have an intuitive interest in wanting to avoid criticism of something they spend so much money on.

Funnily enough, after making this comment RU-vid recommended videos from Brian Quan's channel to me. He covers the contrasts of 64mm flat SSP burrset setups to the Niche pretty well.

thank you! It has been a surprisingly pleasant reaction thus far.

An honest evaluation built by trust will always bring subscribers.

That's awesome! Glad you are happy with it!

I got mine on May 11th as well. I've been making about 10 shots a day since then, so this video answered a lot of questions I had about what I was experiencing with the niche. What grinder would you recommend I move to after the niche?

@@AediusOmega before I settled on the niche 2 others I was looking at were the DF64 (though to make it amazing you will need to spend quite a bit of extra money to make it better) and the Mahlkonig X54. I had thought about going a bit higher end with a specialita but decided against it as I have heard a lot of bad things regarding retention

I love this comment! So fair. And I agree with your points from your perspective! Thank you so much for watching and leaving this comment. I hope more see it!

Hi Eduardo, when you do use your DF64 how hard is it to dial in for espresso? I’ve been using a Eureka Silenzio for the past 6 months but just the other day got a Niche delivered. So far I’m already liking the Niche better and even for light roasts and dialing in is far easier than the Silenzio. I ordered a DF64 to try as well to compare and contrast with the Niche.

@@tomy2988 I don’t have problems dialing in for espresso with the DF64. I upgraded the burrs to the SSP High uniformity espresso burrs because I mainly drink espresso. I have heard that the SSP MP burrs although clearly better for filter coffee it’s harder to dial in for espresso than the SSP High Uniformity espresso burrs. The SSP High Uniformity espresso burrs make the DF64 give you more fuller body but less clarity than the SSP MP burrs. Well that’s my understanding. I have never used the SSP MP burrs on my DF64 but that’s what I have read from several reviewers. The DF64 can be frustrating out of the box. You will definitely need to at a minimum change the silicone membrane declumper. The DF64 tends to accumulate coffee in the silicone membrane. I have 3d printed every modification available for the DF64 to make the work flow acceptable. With all the modifications the DF64 is a good grinder for the price point. Maybe the SSP MP burrs on the DF64 is better to complement the Niche instead of upgrading it with the SSP high uniformity espresso burrs as I did since they will give you more clarity than the SSP high uniformity espresso burrs but not as much body as the Niche. If you plan to keep the Niche in addition to the DF64 maybe the SSP burrs to upgrade it with might be better the MP burrs if you want to get more clarity ( sacrifice fuller body of the SSP HU espresso burrs) but I understand that it might be harder to dial in for espresso.

@@EdGodoyPlana I see, thanks for the reply!

@@tomy2988 The DF64, even without any mods is super easy to dial in. The dial is stiff, so it will not budge once you set it, and you can move it in super fine increments. I have the stock burrs and I love the thing. I will eventually change the declumper (though with a few good puffs it seems to work fine), raise the dose cup (the static is real, particularly because I use a light roast) and add a dial. I find so far none of these are absolutely necessary, they will just make things nicer. I will probably try SSP HU at some point, but love what I'm getting now. Be great to hear your comparisons when you get it.

this is a perfect comment! And reflects EXACTLY what I am trying to convey here! I just wanted to ensure there is a balanced review out there. So many seem to treat the niche like an end-all-be-all grinder that can do any roast level, which is just can't. It has its strengths and it sounds like its strenghts align perfectly with your preferences, which is fantastic! But there are hordes of light roast lovers buying these based off the skewed reviews, so I just felt the need to speak up a bit, though with loads of nuance lol. Thanks for the comment!

May I ask what grind settings, after calibration, you are typically using for a medium to dark roast? Are you able to achieve roughly 1:2.5 in 25sec at 9bar?

Thank you so much! And I recommend starting around 350 RPM! I really love lower RPMs, for sure.

talk about a difference in grinder quality, omg. They're not even close to the same

@@Cenot4ph Well, I am not as current in this hobby as I used to be. I was more current when Monolith came out with their first single dose grinder (conical). It felt like a game changer in flow and build quality. I had a used K30, but was not single dosing as it did not do that very well. Then, finally Monolith came out with a Flat burr version and I splurged. My espresso machine I totally picked up barely used for a song (GS3), and so I felt OK with blowing money on my MonoFlat. I am not sure how much exactly later the Niche came out, but I believe it was the first true commercial single dosing grinder on the market and it was considerably less expensive. It was in high demand from the beginning for that reason. There is no doubt it fit my budget better, but I did not look back (until now). Ultimately used by James Hoffman on his new YT channel, that is quite the endorsement I would say. James critique of his K30 on hie Jimseven blog made me ultimately entertain a new grinder. Am I happy with my MonoFlat? Very!! Single dosing is a Godsend. It has been flawless and upped my game. I have been running the RPM closer to 500, which was a suggestion on the HB forum when I bought it. I am exited to see if a lower RPM will be noticeable in my cup.

Lance, I think the issue with the coffee flavor profile you enjoy is that one needs a flat burr grinder to produce that consistently. But many of us us don’t want the angst of dealing with burr alignment. I’ve watched the process, and it does NOT look like a whole lot of fun.

So… is there another conical burr espresso oriented grinder under 1k you can fully recommend?

Hahaha! I had to read that in Lloyd's voice. Fantastic

@@LanceHedrick Harry's voice ;)

But seriously, as someone who bought the niche as a first grinder when getting into making espresso at home, I am super grateful for the large sweet spot. Can’t imagine how many sink shots I would have had without its forgiving distribution.

@@LanceHedrick I love your videos, and I’ve tried a ton of the products you’ve reviewed (I own a coffee shop as well). I was curious if you’ve considered adding chapters in your videos? That would help a lot! Great content as always, keep it up, here, or any other place you live! Don’t let others discourage you with mean comments (I remember one of your videos that me sad to hear). You’re the GOAT barista and all things coffee!

@@benjaminbutton3476 Many probably. I started out with a tighter distribution flat burr and it certainly took a while to get a hang of it. Even now some coffees I dial back and forth the entire 1 kg bag looking for that perfect balance between all the notes. They're good shots but some coffees after drinking them for a month I suddenly realise that making it go 2 s longer totally changes it.

Thank you so much!

That’s for filter coffee, right?.

Afraid of loosing sponsors. It happens to all the reviewers that get a large audience.

I really love this comment. I read it, zoned out from my wife for a second, and had to read it to her because she was bothered I got distracted haha! Comments like these really confirm my decision to continue pumping these out. Thank you for supporting the channel!

Gradual feed can arguably help, but also, it could keep the beans in the burrs a bit longer since there isn't consistent weight pushing them through. So, they could crush longer than usual. But, I love all types of mods. This sounds fun!

Love it. Contentment in its finest form right here! Thanks for sharing.

100% agree with you! It’s extremely pleasant and I know what I’m gonna get and it just…. Works.

Love your phrase "taste the bag". I too am happy that I’m making tasty, enjoyable coffee, but it is uncommon for me to pick out the flavour notes described. Now and then, sure, and maybe the headlines of fruity/citrus compared to chocolate/plum. Thanks for a great comment!

ok bet. get ready for some rave music

This 👆 Brian Quan recommends DF64 w the Niche

Yes- I would likely go for DF64 because of the potential with burr variations. But, if you are someone that wants customer service, the Vario with steel burrs is also quite nice. Just a bit finnicky with the lever dial in arms.

How about the Eureka Mignon. It's finicky to switch between filter and espresso, but pulls amazing shots.

@@LanceHedrick would the vario with steel burrs be good for both espresso and pour over?

I think so! I have a whole video on it.

This is a great comment and completely aligns with many people's experience. Thanks for sharing!

Would say my experience is the same. My handgrinder (chestnut X) makes comparable or even better shots of espresso and better pour over.

haha! Thank you! Sincerely. For whatever reason (cough cough trolls), it was actually a bit nerve wracking coming on here with a different look. so thanks!

@@LanceHedrick Nice to see you doing collabs with your hipster twin! ;-)

hahaha! Need to collab...

@@LanceHedrick 😂

I need to get one of those! I love ugly ducklings

Where do you rank the Sette in this group?

@@Yirgamalabar according to taste most close to the Niche (a bit less balanced). The Sette is brutally fast (about 6secs for 17grams), horribly loud and rather cheaply made compared to the rest. The grounds is the least clumpy and least static load / most fluffy from all. Highly regret, that there is no premium version with metal housing, quiet and relieable gearbox. My Opinion.

Same 4 grinders mate that I have 😮

Ja Servus, Grüße zurück aus Bayern! 😄 das Ganze liest sich so als ob du dich sehr gut auskennst. Ich bin absoluter Anfänger und habe mir gerade meine erste Siebträgermaschine bestellt (Gaggia Classic Pro). Bis jetzt habe ich lediglich Erfahrung mit V60 und nutze dafür eine C40. Könntest du mir evtl eine elektrische Mühle empfehlen? Ich schwanke zwischen der Niche, Mahlkönig X54, Eureka Specialita und der neuen Eureka single dose..

@@drsteee das kommt stark auf die Anforderungen an. Wie oft sollen die Bohnen gewechselt werden? Wie viele Sorten sind parallel offen? Wie viele Tassen am Tag? Welche Röstungen (hell - medium - dunkel)? Uvm...

You.... you just get me.

Beautifully put

I have much the same feeling. In fact, I'm thinking of buying a 2nd grinder. But I can't make up my mind. I know that to complete the Niche (which I've had for over 4 years) I'll get a mill with flat burrs (and with a hopper, handy when there are lots of people at home). But when it comes to cup quality: 55mm (ex: specialità), 65mm (ex: Turbo or XL) or 75mm (Atom)? I'm talking about Eureka here (I started out with a Mignon dci, which leaves me with fond memories), but I'm open to other brands. The difference in diameter affects the price, that's for sure, but does it increase the quality of the coffee in the cup in the same proportion? Specialists don't really say, often giving the runaround (saying: it's stiffer, it's more regular, the roast is better, although from a certain size upwards this seems to change). For me, the only thing I'd like to know is the result in a cup.

Some have said lance played High School gold and was on a Junior Tour in his youth...

I think given his recent ode review, the recommendation for filter in the fellow ode range is... the fellow ode.

Ode, and use the remaining $300 of that budget to buy 2 pairs of after market burrs. I'd recommend SSP Cast and SSP MP

@@LanceHedrick Thanks, interesting that there aren't a lot of options at this price range.. I'm waiting for my Breville Conical Burr Grinder to die to make the switch :)

Could look into the Lagom Mini or the SPTK38

@@LanceHedrick My dream battle video that would be (all 3 in a single video.... haha)!

Schomer loves the Niche. He actually modded them for cafe use haha! I'm not sure why he didnt just buy actual Konys, but he does what he wants haha! And flat burrs are fun! Give them a go!

thanks for watching and the constant support!

Thank you so much! I really appreciate this! I try my hardest to present honest videos without bashing. My intent is to inform, but to be honest of my own bias. Thanks for watching!

that is great news! So glad you enjoyed it!

makes sense. I can understand that.

Weber key is more than double the price of Zero

Hance LeDrick

Haha! vance here to turn the world upside down! Glad you enjoy the Niche! Definitely a fun machine!

oh! If that is your kryptonite, then this would be great!

I know the feel. I own the Commandante as well, but just now ordered a Baratza Sette, had it with hand grinding. Sometimes i just want a quick coffee without the fuzz.

I have a Eureka Specialita and have also found it excellent. You know it is a flat burr grinder right? It’s not conical. Maybe I miss read your comment but thought it odd you say the mignon isn’t flat burr.

Man o man... I've been researching high and low, and deliberating between those two (Oro XL and NZ) for the last 2 months now. To upgrade my Sette 270 - after 3 years. Happy to be speaking to someone that has had them both. Based on the flavor profiles I like, and med-dark roasts I typically work with, I was convinced the NZ was the better decision all in all, despite all the "drawbacks" explained in this video, which I already knew before watching this. I was surprised though to read your disappointment with NZ on flavor profile it produces with medium to medium dark roast. I do know Eureka's flats are designed & tailored towards the classic italian espresso experience, hence they do do a good job producing body, chocolatey, charamely notes. (Hence Atom 75 or a Mythos is pretty much the gold standard for "that type" a espresso bar (not a contemporary 3rd wave espresso bar)). But i didnt think NZ would perform poorly. Can you elaborate a little more on the differences? Did you mean shots with NZ come out kind of bland? Vs with the Oro, you can detect distance chocolate, truffle, nut, caramel notes etc? (comparing medium to med-dark roasts only) Thanks a lot!

@@johnkoroglu8640 That’s precisely it: NZ shots are just meh. They taste as though they have half the flavor depth and complexity of the Eureka shots. Believe me, no one was more surprised (and disappointed) at this than I. I don’t think it’s a question of unreasonable expectations of the NZ, because I had equally high expectations of the XL - and it delivered. Flavor layers of chocolate, nuts, and caramel really come through on the Eureka. On the Niche, they are muted and diminished. I should also point out that I have a pretty sensitive palate, with food, wine, and coffee, so it’s not a question of me being unable to detect nuance or subtlety in espresso. I’ve tried going back to the NZ from time to time to give it another chance, but it disappoints each and every time. When I presented my partner with the first NZ shot, he gave me a look like “Huh? What happened?”. I’ve since purchased 3-D printed mods at Etsy for the XL, which turns it into a pretty capable single dose grinder - BUT with flavor! When I have more counter space, I think my endgame will be a Lucca Atom 75 and a Weber EG-1. As for the Niche, i’m trying to figure out the best way to unload it. Parenthetically, since I have published less than flattering comments about the Niche on the espresso sub Reddit, i’ve heard from quite a few Niche users who also regret their purchases… for the same reasons. For those trying the Niche as their first serious espresso grinder, they might be satisfied with it because they don’t have the benefit of comparison with another high-quality, different style espresso grinder.

@@johnp.1460 thank you very much for the insights. I understand it all - ever more so torn now. Eureka's flat burrs def fit the flavor profile I'm targeting. I consider myself intermediate level at home espresso. I def do not need NZ's "idiot proof" dialing in prowesses. (I actually like the challenge of nailing in the precise grind setting for a given bean type - and be able to make micro adjustments and see results in the cup) Plus, Oro XL can easily be used as a single doser like you said - which I def want to talk to you a bit more about, regarding the after market hopper you are using. (how can we connect more directly? ) Only slight concern is, and seems like this is not concern with Eureka's burrs, I def do not like acidity, brightness, too much clarity or fruity notes that flat burrs tend to bring in in my espresso. And I do like body. But also like to be able to detect distinct layers of chocolate, nuts, and caramel..etc.. vs having different espresso blends from different roasters (i usually do blends) taste the same, which you're explaining is what happens with NZ, yes? I've gathered you have a very similar pallatte for espresso. And having tried both grinders extensively, you are confirming Oro XL is the clear winner. Seems like that's what I'll do as well. Thank you again. ps: back to my comment about Eureka's own Red Speed burrs from Lance's other video. I'm super curious. I actually would love to see a review/comparison of Eurekas Red Speed vs. SSP HU: Say on a DF64 vs Oro XL (pretty similar machines.)

I'll consider it! Left my oro in the states but may need to bring it back!

@@johnp.1460 Thank you. Is your most recent comment deleted? I have the notification, but cant see it on here?

Different style / rendering of coffees basically. Many may prefer the more blended flavour notes of most conicals or some flat burr grinders. DF64 or Lagom P64 has a few different burr options. I think the Unimodal burrs give the truest rendering of the coffees at least with light roasts it can give you very good high clarity but light body (more tea like) coffee but its sweet spot is going to be allot lower so if you mess up the brew variables you'll end up with a lot worse results. Lagom p64 with those burrs has basically the opposite profile as the Niche with just as nice workflow so I think having both would be an ideal combo for all types of coffees and brew methods.

You do realize my review of the BDB was way before I did anything with breville, right? LOL. Joker.

I have said it's downfalls. What would you like to hear? I have no qualms discussing any machines issues. I have had mine, that I got 6 years ago, way before i did social media,and it still runs just fine. Never have taken it in. Never had to replace anything. Perhaps I have an anomalous experience. Or perhaps I know how to take care of a machine.

For sure! Ristretto and pungent shots it does well because you arent looking for clarity but for strength. Thanks for commenting!

For sure! Makes sense! It is all about finding what YOU like. Glad you found your babY!

Absolutely! I align 100% with your reasoning.

Workflow has sort of become a catchall for both ease of use AND enjoyability of use, and is a culmination of many, small impact points. Ease of daily use, ease of cleaning and maintaining, quality of accessories, amount of mess, how many beans can it hold, how fast does it grind, how much does it retain, etc etc. For example, the Niche has a very high quality and nice to use dosing cup. Very small and sort of a side point, but just improves overall experience of using the grinder. Small annoyances can really bring down "workflow" as the word is being used now. On the flipside, a bunch of miniscule "nice" points can really improve workflow overall

Well, sure. The purpose of this video is in response to the status the Niche has garnered. Perhaps you aren't on the online forums where it is heralded as the greatest, regardless of roast profile or shot profile. There are mercenaries for this grinder that go around and try to ensure they assert it as the top. So, this video is not from a place of ignorance. I have been working in coffee for.... a while. And it is my main hobby. My life is coffee lol. I am moreso addressing issues with it in its current use across the board. Look through the comments- MANY are people who bought it assuming it could do all. Just making a video I felt was needed.

Yeah maybe it was. It’s a nice little grinder and I enjoy it myself (I like medium nutty and chocolaty espresso) but the people are just stupid when they assume that it’s the best for the money out there. I think you can see that from any serious review. Some people like the taste more (those you prefer medium roasts) and some like you don’t like it that much. But let the people believe what they want. You won’t change their minds. It’s good that you made this video non the less. Maybe it can help future buyers to make a more informed decision. „Yeah maybe it’s not good for the light stuff but I don’t like that anyway so no problem for me.“ or „damn I like light roasts a lot. Better get another grinder.“ Anyway keep it going and f the haters.

haha! Watching too much Scorcese

I don't get why wannabe home baristas talk about workflow. You're pulling one or two shots, not a hundred shots in an hour like you would do at a cafe...

@@GGP39 I think good workflow matters at home for different reasons. Or perhaps workflow is the wrong word and "user experience" would capture it better. The deeper you go down the coffee nerd hole, the more steps you seem to add to making espresso. It's nice to have some equipment that takes steps out.

I replaced my Sette 270 (replaced the gear drive once and got many many years, but now it is sparkling and tripping breakers just to old). The 270 is so fast, and Sette has the Best customer service. My wife gifted me the Niche after a few sparky scares from the 270 and I have to say I love it. Work flow is so awesome I may be just fine with it. I buy one local fresh coffee and once I am dialed in I just rince and repeat shots. The super quiet grind is so much better for when people are sleeping for my first shot of the morning. I used to interrupt my wife's work calls if I did a grind on the 270 on the other floor of our house. As an engineer I always used to fixate on specs, but the Niche is so pleasant to use it just won me over. The cool thing about the Sette 270 was that when tuned in I got away with out using a scale and just using a timer. Great for my wife who would refuse to weigh anything for an early morning coffee if she was up before me.