The Emil T64 is another single-dosing grinder manufactured in Asia, appearing on the European market at an attractive price. Like the first version of the DF64, it still faces some issues. Nevertheless, the grinder proves that it will be a force to be reckoned with. Even today, it delivers solid results in its core categories, namely particle distribution and taste performance. We have thoroughly tested the grinder and present our findings here.
A review of the even smaller and more affordable Emil EM1 has also been completed.
Recommended specialist workshop for the Emil T64 [Partner link]: Lücke-Technik, Coffee24
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Design, Quality, and External Facts
The similarity of 64mm single-dosing grinders is striking. The Emil T64 is no exception. Slightly tilted forward, it stands stably on the surface at around 7.5 kilograms – with a height of 32 cm, a width of 13 cm, and a depth of 21 cm. Variants with a matte black and matte white painted metal body are available. A minor drawback is that even with the white grinder, the dosing cup is supplied in black. Since the grinder is regularly sprinkled with coffee powder during grinding anyway, we would generally recommend the black version.
The grinder is available from some retailers with Italmil burrs for under 400 Euros. We tested it with titanium-coated burrs. The 64mm burrs are also compatible with other third-party burrs.
The grinder is powered by a 300-watt motor. In terms of quality, it makes a good impression: it's heavy, stands firmly, and all components leave a good impression. The rubber bellows has sufficient stiffness. The wooden lid with aluminum inlay closes cleanly at the side thanks to the rubber guide. The stepless grind adjustment offers just the right resistance for comfortable operation.
The coffee chute can be completely removed for easy cleaning, as it is only held by two magnets. However, these are so strong that the adhesive on one of our grinder's magnets has already come loose.
The portafilter holder is stable and keeps the portafilter securely aligned. For better aiming, part of the dosing container can be removed and placed directly on the portafilter as a coffee chute. This allows the coffee to be ground directly into the portafilter.
However, caution is advised, as the blower in combination with the flapper represents one of the weak points. We will discuss this connection further below.
We like the elegant side button for starting the grinder, whose LED only lights up when the grinder is in operation. It is also positive to note that the grinder can be easily operated from the front and by people in wheelchairs.
Espresso and Particle Distribution
A grinder should grind coffee in a way that makes it taste good. Before we make a statement here, we draw hundreds of espressos, use different coffee varieties and espresso machines with various brewing profiles. We take grind samples and measure particle distribution with the support of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences.
Regarding taste: With the titanium burrs, the grinder laid the foundation for many delicious espressos. The coffees tasted round and balanced. The profile of each coffee was well expressed in the cup.
The grinder's particle distribution shows a main peak that is on the narrow side. Narrow means that many particles have a similar size, which indicates homogeneous grounds. The fine peak is not pronounced and fits well with the main peak.
The repeatability of adjusting the grind setting and then returning to the original value was good. We only saw a shift of 2 microns at the main peak here. It is therefore quite possible to switch between recipes and coffees and return to the previous grind setting.
Speed, Volume, Retention
The Emil T64 reaches a volume of 77.7 decibels, making it one of the quieter grinders compared to many other models. However, in another category, the Emil T64 positions itself at the lower end: speed. The grinder is not inherently slow, but it limits itself. Like earlier DF64 models (G-Iota, Turin), it has not optimally balanced static, clumping, and the flapper.
The plastic flapper at the internal coffee spout is supposed to reduce static and allow for even dispensing, but it is so massive and stubborn that coffee builds up behind it. To dislodge this coffee from the grinder, repeated actuation of the bellows during grinding is necessary. Even then, it takes time.
The grinder grinds 18 grams of coffee in about 12 seconds – but this is not immediately available. It can take up to 40 seconds for the coffee stuck behind the flapper to be released, which significantly impairs the workflow.
Ingenious minds will surely improve the flapper soon. Alternatively, it can be removed or modified with RDT to optimize the workflow.
Retention
Despite intensive blowing out, a small amount of coffee always remains in the grinding mechanism. Compared to hopper grinders, this is little, but for a single-dosing grinder, 1 gram of retention is not negligible. The temporary retention (0.7 grams) exchanges from shot to shot, while 0.3 grams of permanent retention remain. This can lead to a slight flavor transfer between different coffees.
Cleaning
A big plus is the easy cleaning. The coffee chute can be easily removed thanks to magnetic attachment. Tool-free access to the burrs is also well-designed and allows for quick cleaning. Regular blowing out with the bellows also minimizes most of the residual coffee.
Conclusion on the Emil T64 Single Dosing Grinder
The basic construction is high-quality, and the result in the cup is very good. With improvements to the flapper, the Emil T64 could become a serious competitor to the DF64. Those who can live with the long blowing out will find a good grinder here with potential for taste optimization. Additionally, there is the option to further refine the taste characteristics with third-party burrs.
We are curious to see if the manufacturer Ningbo Grind Electric Appliances Co. Ltd. will make further improvements to this model and if future variants will be launched.
