The Lagom P64 from Option-O has earned an excellent reputation in recent years and is considered by many to be one of the best single-dosing grinders on the market. Its combination of high-quality craftsmanship, minimal retention, and high grinding consistency makes it an exciting option for demanding home baristas and professionals alike.
We extensively tested the grinder over several months – in our home kitchen, at the coffee school, and in the lab. Our focus was on evaluating grind quality, ease of use, and espresso and filter coffee quality. The grinder underwent our detailed testing protocol. We aimed to find out whether the Lagom P64 lives up to its high expectations and whether it represents a worthwhile investment for passionate coffee lovers.
In addition to the long video version, there is also a short version and an English version of the review.
Workmanship and Design
Even upon unboxing, the Lagom P64 leaves a high-quality impression. The housing is made of solid, CNC-milled aluminum, which is visually and tactilely appealing. The grinder feels extremely robust, and it's a pleasure to use. The same applies to the included dosing cup and dosing ring.
The in-house WDT tool, however, is rather clunky and didn't impress us.
With dimensions of 21 cm deep, 13 cm wide, and 38 cm high, it's compact enough to fit into smaller kitchens. Its weight of around 7.8 kg ensures high stability, which is especially important for single-dosing grinding. The design is minimalist, with clean lines and a modern aesthetic that fits well into various environments.
The grinder is available in black and silver color options.
As always, we purchased our model ourselves to ensure an independent and neutral review.
Technical Features and Functions
The Lagom P64 is equipped with 64mm burrs, available in several variants. Option-O offers its own burrs, but the grinder is also compatible with third-party burrs such as those from SSP.
Compatible burrs with which the Lagom P64 can be purchased directly:
- Mizen-Burrs 650 Omni: An in-house development by Option-O, described as a middle ground between the two options and suitable for both espresso and filter coffee. Not tested by us.
- Mizen 64ES (Espresso): Developed for espresso. Tested by us and liked for both filter coffee and espresso. Clean coffees, lots of sweetness, good body and clear aftertaste, as well as a narrow particle distribution in the main peak.
- SSP High Uniformity: These burrs were developed for espresso and offer a very tight particle distribution with dense crema and intense sweetness. Not tested by us with the Lagom P64.
- SSP Unimodal: This variant is particularly suitable for filter coffee or light espresso roasts. It produces a cleaner flavor profile with higher clarity. Not tested by us with the Lagom P64.
Another technical highlight of the Lagom P64 is its brushless 300-watt DC motor (BLDC) with a variable speed of 300 to 1400 revolutions per minute (RPM). This allows for adjusting the grinding speed to different beans and brewing methods.
We conducted our espresso test at an RPM of 1000.
Grind Quality and Consistency
Grind consistency is one of the most important factors when evaluating a coffee grinder. The test showed that the Lagom P64 delivers an exceptionally narrow and precise particle distribution in the main peak. This directly affects extraction quality and ensures repeatable results.
Especially for espresso, the grinder impresses with a tight particle distribution and excellent reproducibility of grind settings. Even small changes to the grind size have a measurable impact on extraction time. This allows for very fine adjustment of the flavor profile.
The grinder has a stepless grind adjustment that is precisely adjustable. Fine readjustment of the grind size is easily possible, which is crucial for espresso preparation. The grind size reproducibility was good in both particle distributions and espresso extractions.
To test the grinder to its limits, we note the determined marking point on the burrs for a standard recipe. Then, we prepare a ristretto with a very fine grind and then a lungo with a coarser grind. In the fourth step, we return the grinder to the starting mark and take a ground coffee sample, which we compare with the particle distribution of the starting recipe.
Additionally, we pull another espresso and observe whether extraction time, strength (TDS), and calculated extraction remain constant. In both scenarios, we can attest to the Lagom P64's high precision in repeatability.
Despite the high speed, the temperature of the burrs remains stable during grinding. There is no noticeable heating of the grounds, which is a great advantage, as a temperature above 40 °C in the grounds can lead to negative taste effects.
In six consecutive shots, we measured only 28.28 °C – an excellent value.
The taste proves the grinder right!
In addition to the good workmanship and elegant design, the Lagom P64 particularly impressed us with its very good taste performance. We didn't have to resort to SSP burrs for this; instead, we used the in-house Mizen 64ES.
And what can we say? These burrs delivered fantastic results – and not just for espresso, for which they are actually designed. They also impressed with filter coffee.
We were able to observe this not only in terms of taste but also based on the very narrow particle distribution in the main peak – a value that clearly stands out compared to many other grinders, especially those with 64mm burrs.
Retention and Static Charge
Attention! The Lagom P64 can practically only be used effectively with water spray. This technique is called Ross Droplet Technique (RDT).
Since coffee beans are weighed before grinding with single-dosing grinders anyway, it's no extra effort to give the beans one or two sprays of water. This significantly reduces the static charge of the ground coffee.
Without RDT, the workflow with the Lagom P64 is problematic:
- High coffee loss, as coffee grounds stick to the grinder.
- Fluctuating results, with deviations of up to 0.4 g.
- With 18 g of bean input, output quantities varied between 17.7 and 18.2 g.
With RDT, the deviation is reduced to a maximum of 0.1 g, and the grounds become more consistent.
The retention was also extremely low at 0.2 g of permanent retention. Temporary retention was not observed. The grinder therefore empties almost completely. Only two taps on the bean hopper are needed. Because this works so well, a bellows is not necessary with the Lagom P64.
Usability
If RDT is not an obstacle for you, the grinder is very easy and intuitive to use.
Two of the three included tools work very well:
- The dosing cup has a wide opening and collects the grounds completely. When placed on the portafilter afterward, the coffee grounds are already distributed evenly. Since it only sinks slightly, it does not tend to promote channeling.
- The dosing ring allows for clean work. It is placed on the portafilter to better collect the grounds.
Without the dosing ring, some of the ground coffee spills next to it. The grinder's chute is relatively narrow, leading to poorly distributed grounds and a high coffee mound.
With the dosing ring, the grounds remain completely in the portafilter and can be evenly distributed by simple tapping.
The dosing ring is high-quality and sits securely on most 58mm portafilters thanks to embedded magnets.
The grinder also delivers good results in terms of speed. 24.8 grams are ground in 10 seconds with continuous bean feeding. This value is used for comparability with grinders with bean hoppers but is otherwise less relevant. What is relevant is that the grinder takes 12.6 seconds for 18 grams. That's a fast value.
The grinder is moderately loud at 83.8 decibels. The sound itself, however, is pleasant. Especially with cheaper grinders, you often hear the motor of a grinder working. Not at all with the Lagom P64. It runs smoothly and softly, and that's how it sounds.
WDT Tool – Not optimal
Also included in the scope of delivery is a WDT tool. However, the needles are very thick and too close together, so they do not optimally loosen the grounds.
For this reason, we did not use this tool in our workflow.
Cleaning and Maintenance
An outstanding feature of the Lagom P64 is its easy cleaning. Two hex screws need to be loosened, and you have access to the burr chamber.
This also makes it relatively easy to replace the burrs themselves. The tool-free design allows for quick disassembly, making regular maintenance and cleaning uncomplicated.
Value for Money and Conclusion
With a price of around 1,800 Swiss francs, the Lagom P64 is undoubtedly a high-priced coffee grinder. The question of whether it justifies this price depends on individual requirements.
The grinder offers exceptional precision, thoughtful craftsmanship, and a good workflow for demanding users. Those looking for a grinder that performs at the highest level for both espresso and filter coffee will find the Lagom P64 to be a long-term and worthwhile investment.
However, there are some minor drawbacks:
- The static charge is problematic without RDT.
- The low speed can occasionally lead to blockages with lighter beans.
- Do not use the included WDT tool.
Despite these points, the Lagom P64 remains one of the best coffee grinders on the market. For ambitious home baristas and professionals who value precision and quality, it is an excellent choice.
However, those who don't like RDT will not be well-equipped with this grinder. This is one reason why we do not use the Lagom P64 in our Home Barista starter courses. Above all, we want to make coffee preparation as simple as possible for all beginners.
The various third-party burrs expand the range of applications and allow the grinder to be adapted to different beverage and roasting needs.
And ultimately, the most important criterion counts: the taste in the cup.
Here, the Lagom P64 with the Mizen espresso burrs convinced us – and not only in espresso but also in filter coffee!
