In 2024, Ligre not only introduced an espresso machine called Ligre Youn but also the first grinder from the spin-off of the German-Austrian company Gronbach. The Ligre Siji is an espresso grinder with Ligre design that promises consistent dosing of coffee grounds thanks to an integrated scale.
We conducted an initial test of the grinder at the beginning of the year. At that time, we still had some difficulties using the grinder, as the scattering, the angle of the portafilter holder, and the filling height of the basket, combined with static charge, caused some of the coffee to be dispersed instead of being ground into the portafilter.
After our initial test of the production model, Ligre quickly made improvements and sent us a revised unit in exchange for the grinder we had purchased. We were thus eager to see if the Siji would meet our expectations for a high-quality espresso grinder with weight-based dosing. In typical Kaffeemacher style, we extensively measured the grinder, gathered practical experience, and are now sharing our results after many hundreds of espresso shots and measurements.
Design & Craftsmanship
Visually, the Ligre Siji, as part of a set with the Youn espresso machine, forms a beautifully designed unit. In the current version, the grinder is finally parallel and flush with the machine – a detail that bothered us in the first model. The design appears modern and clean: the front and sides are characterized by anodized aluminum, which gives the Siji a high-quality look. However, upon closer inspection, less noble materials are also discovered. The lid of the bean hopper consists of plastic on the underside (with a seal) and has an aluminum plate on top. The entire portafilter holder – that is, the bracket into which the portafilter is hooked – is also made of black plastic. These plastic elements fall a bit short in direct comparison to the otherwise noble aluminum casing.
Haptically, however, there is little to complain about: the grinder stands stably, and all parts fit precisely. Inside, it becomes clear that much of the space is due to the chic design – the Siji feels somewhat hollow because the housing is larger than technically necessary. However, this hardly bothers in everyday life, especially since the construction is based on proven technology: at its core, the Siji is a Eureka Mignon Specialità – a solid 55mm flat burr grinder with direct drive – complemented by Ligre's own scale technology. The Siji's clear design language perfectly matches the Youn machine, but it also somewhat restricts it stylistically. Apart from this duo, the striking design language is likely to polarize – the Siji wants to stand next to its partner machine and less next to any other espresso machines. Overall, the craftsmanship leaves a mixed impression: outwardly chic and largely high-quality, but not quite at the level one would expect for a retail price of around €1,200.
Operation & Everyday Suitability
In terms of operation, the Siji presents an intuitive side. On the front display, you select between a single and double shot with a touch. A quick touch on the display leads to the menu, where you can, among other things, switch to time-based grinding. This switch between Grind-by-Weight and classic time-based dosing is a clever feature that many other grinders with scales do not offer. In everyday life, it allows, for example, to quickly grind a larger amount of coffee into a dosing container without having to attach a portafilter. We found the menu navigation itself to be clear and logical: grind time or target weight can be set via the display, brightness can be adjusted, etc. The display shows exactly what is needed at the moment – no more and no less. Overall, the electronics seem well thought out and user-friendly.
A small weakness of the Siji reveals itself in the grind adjustment. As with the Eureka Specialità, this is done via a small adjustment wheel at the top of the grinder, with a scale from 1 to 6 (stepless in between). This wheel is unfortunately quite delicate – precise fine adjustments are tricky, especially if you frequently switch between different recipes. In our test, we made extreme jumps (from espresso setting to ristretto and lungo and back) and noticed how difficult it is to hit the exact original grind point again. We often landed minimally off, which led to deviations in the flow time (e.g., the espresso suddenly ran ~5 seconds faster). Eureka itself has recognized this shortcoming and now offers larger adjustment wheels as an upgrade for the Specialità – it is all the more incomprehensible that Ligre missed the opportunity to improve this ex works. In everyday life, this means: frequent bean changes or recipe variations are less suitable for the Siji. However, if you stick to one coffee and only adjust occasionally, the handling is uncomplicated.
We also found the grinder cleaning to be less suitable for everyday use. The Siji – like its Eureka core – is not designed to be quickly opened. To get to the burrs, you have to do a lot of screwing and fumbling; patience is required during reassembly. Our tester Michel certainly cursed here, as the grinder is obviously not designed for regular opening. Of course, you can work with cleaning powder (which we recommend weekly), but a thorough manual cleaning every few months would be important, especially for darker, oily roasts – and that's really no fun with the Siji. Here, we would have wished for a more user-friendly design.
Another note on ergonomics: The grind adjustment of the Ligre Siji is not readable from the front. The display and controls are on the top; so you have to look down from above. In our test environment, the grinder stood next to the not exactly delicate Youn machine – both devices are quite tall. Anyone who is short or works while sitting (wheelchair) will have difficulty seeing the display. This aspect of the operation is not inclusively solved. In an average kitchen, this may not be a problem, but it is a detail that stands out – especially since we have always criticized it with Eureka grinders, and it is even more pronounced here due to the special housing.
Grind-by-Weight Function in Focus
Let's get to the heart of the Siji: the Grind-by-Weight function. The grinder has an integrated load cell, which is supposed to first tare the attached portafilter and then monitor the weight of the coffee in real time during grinding. In practice, this works impressively precisely. We checked the dosing accuracy over many shots: if we set, for example, 17.5 g as the target amount, then almost exactly 17.5 g ends up in the cup. The deviations in our test were usually at most ±0.1 g, which is absolutely negligible. Often, the Siji hit the weight to the tenth of a gram – exemplary!
Even vibrations did not faze the scale. In the test, we even knocked hard on the table without the grinding process being disturbed. The algorithm therefore seems robust enough to filter out everyday vibrations. For extreme cases (e.g., sudden movement of the grinder or perhaps a slight earthquake), there is still the manual time control as an alternative.
Overall, we were impressed by the functionality of weight-based grinding. Especially for beginners, this eliminates a stumbling block: you no longer have to worry about the grammage; the grinder automatically delivers the correct amount. This means the user can fully concentrate on the grind size – and here, the Ligre Youn machine helps by providing tips ("go a bit finer" or "a bit coarser"). In combination, the system thus considerably simplifies the path to a successful espresso.
However, our everyday experience with the scale also highlights an important point: static charge of the coffee grounds can cloud the beautiful theory. With certain beans (mostly very light roasts or fresh coffee), increased static electricity is generated, and the ground powder then shoots very "fluffy" into the portafilter. In the original model, this led to so much coffee grounds being lost after about 16g that practically nothing fit into the portafilter. Ligre reacted: The new version of the Siji grinds significantly more compactly into the portafilter, and the powder disperses less. In our test, we could easily dose 17g without having to use the supplied dosing ring. If too much still goes astray, you can slightly reduce the target amount or put on the ring – with the funnel, everything is guaranteed to stay in the basket, but its rim also increases the risk of channeling. In normal operation, however, it worked for us without a ring, which represents a real improvement over the first version. Overall, the Grind-by-Weight function of the Siji is a precise and extremely convenient solution – it takes work off your hands and makes espresso brewing more consistent. Only with very unruly static charge do you have to be careful or make small adjustments.
Ground Coffee & Particle Distribution
Particle distribution of the Ligre Siji: The measured particle size distribution (laser diffraction) shows a typical espresso profile. The main quantity of particles is around 200–250 µm (main peak at ~211 µm), the proportion of fine particles (~fine peak) is around 28%. The median (X50) of the ground coffee in the espresso setting was approximately 250 µm – a good average value for espresso. The curve is relatively narrow, meaning the Siji produces a tight spectrum of particles without excessive outliers upwards or downwards.
This means in the cup: the espresso is successful with good balance. And that's exactly how it tasted to us – the extraction with the Siji resulted in a smooth espresso with nice sweetness and a medium-bodied texture. The texture was velvety, aromas of cocoa and roasted almonds emerged – a profile we know and appreciate from the Eureka Specialità. No question, the Siji grinds espresso at the level of good household grinders.
An important point in our test was the reproducibility of particle distribution. Here we really challenged the grinder: After the first espresso run (Test 4), we set it extremely fine for a ristretto (Test 5) and then very coarse for a lungo/caffè crème (Test 6). Then we returned to the original espresso grind size (Test 7), which we reset by eye. The result: The particle size distribution of Test 7 matched the initial measurement astonishingly well. Median, fine, and main peak were almost identical to before – an indication that the grinder really delivers the same performance with the same setting and our optical adjustment was quite accurate. Theoretically, the Siji can therefore grind reproducibly.
In practice, however – as mentioned in the operation chapter – we observed small differences in extraction time. This was less due to the grinder itself than to the difficulty of accurately turning the tiny adjustment wheel back to its old value. However, if one proceeds carefully and in small steps, one can indeed alternate recipes and return to the starting point. For consistent taste, we recommend not jumping too often between drastically different grind settings – though this applies to most espresso grinders with such sensitive adjustment.
Comparing the grind profile of the Siji with known grinders shows: It corresponds to the character of the Eureka Specialità. No wonder – identical grinding unit. In plain language: the Siji delivers a good all-round espresso profile, as we know it from good flat 55 mm burrs. Compared to larger 65–75 mm grinders (or single-dosing grinders with special burrs), it may lack a touch more clarity or the very last nuance of fineness in the particle distribution. But the result is immediately delicious and balanced – and many coffee lovers even prefer it to overly "sharply" separated taste profiles. With the Siji, you can produce both light and darker roasts well. It creates enough fines for a rich crema and full body, but not so much that the espresso becomes unpleasantly bitter. In our courses, we have worked with the Specialità for years and brewed thousands of espressos with it – the Siji fits right in there in terms of taste. So, if you like this proven taste profile, you won't be disappointed by the Siji.
Special Features / History
Our test of the Ligre Siji provided some surprising insights that go beyond the pure data sheet. First, we were pleased that the manufacturer takes feedback seriously and has continued to work on the grinder. Since our test of the first iteration of the grinder was filmed but not yet published, it seemed more sensible to await the improvements. And that paid off.
Also noteworthy is the background of the Siji. Ligre is a young company on the German-Austrian border, but it draws from a long family tradition. They dared to take an established grinder (the Eureka Specialità) as a basis and enhance it with their own know-how. The fact that Eureka technology is under the hood is noticeable in many parameters – from grinding noise to retention – but the integration of weighing technology is Ligre's achievement. This scale is not a Eureka Libra unit, but its own development. The excellent weight dosing to 0.1g speaks for Ligre, and the menu navigation and function are better than those of the Libra, and above all, the Siji does not deliver an F4 error...
Conclusion
The Ligre Siji proves to be a successful espresso grinder with Grind-by-Weight in our test, impressing primarily with its dosing precision and solid grind quality. After the necessary revisions, we can acknowledge many strengths:
Dosing Accuracy: The integrated scale works extremely reliably – deviations were ~0.1 g or less. This eliminates a source of error for the home barista and greatly increases the reproducibility of shots.
Grind Quality: Based on Eureka's 55 mm burrs, the Siji delivers proven good espresso grounds. The particle distribution is even, and the flavor profile is balanced, with a pleasant body and sweetness.
Volume & Speed: At ~78 dB, the Siji is relatively quiet. It also grinds quickly – 18 g in about 8 seconds. This is above average for this class and allows for efficient work.
User-Friendliness: The menu navigation is simple and intuitive. Weight and time mode are easily selectable, and the display clearly shows relevant information. For beginners, handling a separate scale is eliminated; for advanced users, the precision brings joy.
Design Integration: For those who own the Ligre Youn, the Siji is the perfectly matched grinder – both visually and functionally. Designed as a combined system, it simplifies the "guided" espresso process as envisioned by Ligre.
Of course, there are also weaknesses or points to consider before purchasing:
Price-Performance: Around €1,180 (RRP) is a significant statement, considering that at its core it's a Mignon Specialità. You are therefore paying a considerable premium for the casing design and weighing technology. Other grinders with similar technology (e.g., Eureka Libra) are sometimes cheaper.
Grind Adjustment: The small adjustment wheel allows stepless fine-tuning but is fiddly. Frequent switching back and forth between different beverages requires a lot of dexterity – reproducibility suffers somewhat here.
Cleaning & Maintenance: The Siji is relatively laborious to clean. Without disassembly, you cannot reach all corners; opening it requires time and care. Those who use many dark, oily beans must continuously use cleaning powder to prevent old coffee residues from spoiling the aroma.
Scatter loss with static beans: Although improved, not completely eliminated – with some coffees, the Siji can make a bit of a mess. A dosing ring is included and can help grind the coffee into the portafilter.
Limited Placement Options: Due to its specific design and top controls, the Siji feels most at home in combination with the Ligre machine. In other setups, the top display may be impractical, and the futuristic appearance must match the surroundings.
Who is this grinder suitable for? In our opinion, the Ligre Siji is ideal for home users who are looking for a comfortable espresso experience and perhaps already use the Ligre Youn.
- Beginners benefit enormously from automatic weight dosing – a major uncertainty factor in espresso is eliminated.
- But also advanced users, who like to work consistently and appreciate the luxury of precise gram control, will enjoy the Siji.
- Anyone who often entertains guests or simply wants to make several shots in quick succession will appreciate the speed and quietness of this grinder.
We would not recommend the Siji for hardcore experimenters who constantly switch between filter, espresso, and different beans – the grind adjustment and cleaning are too cumbersome for that. Likewise, it is not a classic single-dose grinder for those who want to freshly grind every cup with weighed beans; there are more suitable devices with virtually zero retention.
Ultimately, Ligre has created a fresh variation of a proven classic with the Siji. The grinder is competently implemented, feels natural to use, and delivers approachable results – you get delicious espresso directly into the cup, without guesswork. At the same time, Ligre shows itself to be reflective: criticisms of the first version were taken seriously and rectified. The Ligre Siji is certainly not a bargain and not perfect, but it's fun, delivers on its promises, and brings new momentum to the espresso grinder segment. For anyone who values convenient precision and is willing to invest in it, this grinder is definitely worth considering. Cheers – and to good coffee!
You can find all GbW grinders in direct comparison in our Grind-by-Weight comparison article.
