Quick Answer: The DF64 Gen 2 (~$399) is the grinder that made single-dosing with real flat burrs affordable — its 64mm stainless steel burrs and 250-watt motor grind a double shot in under 15 seconds, per Coffeeness’s testing, while a plasma-generator ionizer and redesigned chute keep retention close to zero. It costs roughly $230 less than the Niche Zero, though its own price has climbed from the roughly $300 the original V5 held a few years back — still the value pick in the category, just no longer the bargain it once was.
The original DF64 earned its reputation as the grinder that broke single-dosing out of $600-plus territory, and the Gen 2 refines almost everything about it without touching the part that made it popular in the first place. Below is our full take on what changed, what it costs in 2026, and how it stacks up against the Niche Zero and Eureka Mignon Zero. (Shopping the whole category? See our best single dose grinder guide.)
DF64 Gen 2, by the numbers
| Spec | DF64 Gen 2 |
|---|---|
| Price | ~$399 |
| Burrs | 64mm flat stainless steel |
| Motor | 250W, 1400 RPM |
| Grind speed | Under 15 seconds for a 20g double shot |
| Adjustment | Stepless, 90 settings on the dial |
| Anti-static | Plasma-generator ionizer in exit chute |
| Hopper | Single-dose bellows funnel with anti-popcorn disc |
| Includes | Aluminum dosing cup, 58mm portafilter ring |
The number worth anchoring on is under 15 seconds — per Coffeeness’s hands-on testing, that’s how long the Gen 2 takes to grind a full 20-gram double-shot dose, driven by a 250-watt motor spinning the 64mm burrs at 1400 RPM. That’s meaningfully faster than a slow single-auger grinder like the Niche Zero, and it’s the practical payoff of larger burrs: more cutting surface means less time spent grinding per dose, even with a single-dosing funnel instead of a standing hopper.
The Gen 2, tested
DF64 Gen 2
- 64mm flat burrs grind a double shot in under 15 seconds.
- Plasma-generator ionizer and redesigned chute cut static and retention.
- Stepless dial with 90 settings makes fine espresso adjustment straightforward.
- Anti-popcorn disc in the hopper stops beans bouncing before they hit the burrs.
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In daily use, the Gen 2 reads as Turin fixing the parts of the original DF64 that reviewers actually complained about, rather than chasing a flashier redesign. The power button moved to a spot you don’t accidentally bump mid-grind, the grounds chute lost several of the openings that used to trap stray grounds, and the new chrome adjustment collar with a metal dial indicator makes it far easier to return to a saved grind setting than the original’s plain dial. None of that changes what comes out in the cup — it changes how much friction there is getting there.
Grind quality stays anchored to the same 64mm flat burr set the original DF64 used, which is also the burr diameter found in many commercial grinders — bigger than the 55mm burrs common on hopper-fed home units, which run cooler and hold particle size more uniform at fine espresso settings. Retention is the one spec where it still trails the category’s best: the plasma-generator ionizer and bellows funnel clear out nearly everything, but the Niche Zero’s single-auger design edges it out on paper, even if most owners can’t taste the difference.
Where the Gen 2 shows its age relative to its own launch pricing: it now costs close to $399, not the roughly $300 the original V5 held a few years back. That price increase has narrowed — without closing — the gap to step-up options like the Eureka Mignon Zero, and it means the “budget” framing that made the DF64 name famous fits less cleanly than it used to.
How it compares
| DF64 Gen 2 | Niche Zero | Eureka Mignon Zero | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$399 | ~$629 | ~$329 |
| Burrs | 64mm flat | 63mm conical | 55mm flat |
| Grind speed | Under 15 sec/20g | ~1-1.5g per second | Moderate |
| Retention | Near-zero (bellows + ionizer) | Under 0.1g | Under 0.2g |
| Cup character | Clear, separated | Round, sweet | Clear, separated |
| Best for | Fast flat-burr clarity for less | Lowest retention, enthusiast build | Compact, quiet flat-burr |
- Get the DF64 Gen 2 if you want flat-burr clarity and a genuinely fast grind cycle without paying Niche Zero money — see our full best single dose grinder roundup for how it stacks up against every pick in the category.
- Get the Niche Zero instead if near-zero retention and a rounder conical-burr cup are worth roughly $230 more.
- Consider the Eureka Mignon Zero if you want a quieter, more compact body and don’t mind smaller 55mm burrs at a similar price.
Who should buy it
Buy the DF64 Gen 2 if you’re moving up from a hopper-fed home grinder and want real single-dosing with flat-burr clarity, fast grind times, and swappable 64mm burrs, without paying enthusiast-grinder prices. It’s also the pick for anyone who grinds for more than one drink at a time — its speed advantage over the Niche Zero compounds fast in a multi-cup household.
Skip it if a $399 grinder no longer feels like the budget option you were expecting — the Eureka Mignon Zero sits close on price with a quieter, more compact body, or step down to a budget espresso grinder if single-dosing specifically isn’t the priority.
The bottom line
The DF64 Gen 2 is the single-dose grinder to buy when flat-burr clarity and grind speed matter more than shaving retention to an absolute minimum. Its 64mm burrs and 250W motor still deliver the fastest, clearest cup in this price bracket, even though that price has climbed from the roughly $300 the original V5 carried to closer to $399 today. Pair it with a machine from our best espresso machine guide, or see the complete field in our best single dose grinder roundup. Curious how it stacks up against the enthusiast-grade alternative? Our Niche Zero review covers its conical burrs, noise level, and the case for paying more.