Niche Zero in the espresso grinder test – a harmonious package

The Niche Zero aims to be a small, compact machine that plays at a high level. In March 2020, we bought the machine for CHF 617 / €580 via crowdfunding and compared it in our large test with 24 espresso grinders.

The technical specifications of the Niche Zero:

• Grinding burrs: Conical burrs, 63 mm diameter made of hardened steel
• Width: 120 mm
• Height: 310 mm
• Depth: 210 mm
• Bean hopper: 30 gram capacity, plastic

The Niche Zero is designed for grinding single doses. The advantage here is that you only take as much coffee from the packaging as you use. The coffee stays fresh and doesn't sit in the bean hopper for long. Grinding begins as soon as the lid is closed. This is a clever safety concept.

Grinding is done as follows: Weigh the beans (to our scales) in the supplied stainless steel cup. Fill in the beans. Close the lid and hold the stainless steel cup under the spout. The cup fits a 58mm portafilter, so the ground coffee can be easily transferred.

The "Zero" of the Niche Zero – Dead Space Measurement

The term "dead space" refers to areas of the grinder where coffee powder remains after the grinding process. Although this is ejected with the next grinding process, if the next coffee is not brewed for hours or even the next day, the ground coffee is exposed to the "air" for a long time. Ground coffee loses aroma and taste within minutes, it extracts differently, it tastes rancid. In short: the smaller the dead space, the fresher the coffee.

And here lies the big advantage of the Niche Zero: The dead space, according to our elaborate measurement (complete disassembly of the grinder, weighing every coffee bean, etc.), is only 0.47 grams. This is extremely low and almost lives up to the name "Zero".

Handling the Niche Zero

As described above, the workflow is smooth and fast. The grind size can be infinitely adjusted. Very good espresso results as well as delicious filter coffees can be achieved. This is also a great advantage of the Niche Zero. Often, several grinders are needed for different coffee drinks. During the grinding process, it works pleasantly quietly, but a little slowly. It takes a good 16 seconds for 18 grams.

Consistency and Precision when Adjusting and Resetting the Niche Zero

The grinder works extremely consistently, and we were able to enjoy many delicious espressos. For 10 espressos, there were only fluctuations of about 0.2g in the coffee grounds dispensed. The particle distribution of the grinder has its coarse peak between the grinders with flat burrs (M2D, Eureka Mignon) and the two grinders with conical burrs (Graef, Sette). The curve resembles the particle distribution of the Sage Smart Grinder Pro, but it is more consistent across extractions. In terms of taste, this meant a balanced and, above all, sweet taste experience.

Since it is particularly important for single-dose machines to reach the last setting of one's favorite drink again, we also measured the accuracy of adjusting and resetting. In our test, this works very well and reliably, even compared to similarly priced machines.

We could drink a perfect espresso, then adjust the grind size for a ristretto, reset it, and enjoy a perfect espresso again. Excellent.

Removing the Grinding Burrs and Cleaning

A coffee grinder also needs to be cleaned regularly to maintain its taste and lifespan. With the Niche Zero, the outer grinding burrs can be removed without tools. This allows coffee residue to be easily removed with a fine brush. While a wrench is needed for the inner grinding burr, cleaning is generally straightforward. We use Clean Grind for the regular cleaning of our Niche grinders and all other grinders in our academies.

Conclusion on the Niche Zero

The Niche Zero has the potential to become our absolute favorite. It grinds consistently, is super easy to adjust, and you can switch between beans and drinks as you wish, always achieving a superb result. So, if you want to enjoy a perfect quality espresso in the morning, a filter coffee in the afternoon, and a decaffeinated drink in the evening, this is the right choice. The only thing is that the design of the grinder might take some getting used to for some. Also, the grinder is not the fastest.

By the way, we do not sell the Niche Zero ourselves. Therefore, we have no financial connection to this grinder. Our conclusion is so good because we simply think the grinder is excellent!

Further background information can be found in a detailed blog article.