Launched on crowd funding site Indigogo, the Niche Zero has taken the home espresso community by storm. Praised for its consistent grind (it uses the proven 63mm Mazzer burr set) and relatively quiet (if somewhat slow) in operation. The Niche Zero is also unique in that it is a single dose grinder where you weigh out beans before dumping them into the hopper. Since it is a single dose grinder it also is designed to be low retention which means not a lot of grounds are retained by the burrs or in the chute. Essentially if you put 18 grams of beans in you'll get 18 grams of finely ground coffee out.

The Niche Zero is also a step-less grinder, which means that by rotating the collar you have infinite settings. There are no set clicks or stops that limit your grind size. The Niche Zero can also grind extremely finely which is needed for espresso as well as coarsely for pour overs and drip coffee. This makes the Niche extremely versatile.

The Niche Zero is perfect for the home espresso maker as it allows you to change beans at will since you don't have a hopper as well as fine tune your grind to match a specific bean to your machine. The Niche Zero has a unique (some might say modern) appearance and comes in either black or white.

So what's not to like about the Niche Zero? First, as an Indigogo project, production runs can sometimes run out and the Niche is often unavailable. Second, it does have a decidedly non-traditional look and espresso tends to be a traditional hobby. If you want your grinder to match your finely crafted Italian espresso machine, the Niche might look out of place. Finally, the Niche Zero is expensive at $700 when it is available.

So what are the alternatives? Espresso grinders are notoriously expensive, large, and loud. However, the following choices would make excellent alternatives to the Niche Zero and all (except one) is available at a lower price.

Eureka Mignon Silenzio

This is a high quality, Italian made step-less grinder that is also super quiet. I guess that's why the Italians named it the Silenzio! This is the entry model from Eureka and does not have the touch screen controls which are convenient but not necessary.

The Eureka Mignon Silenzio uses 50mm stainless steel flat burrs to create a uniform and fluffy grind. This grinder does have a timer so if you do fill the hopper with beans, you can adjust the time to dose the exact amount of coffee each time. If you want to use it for single dosing, you can do that too.

The distraction-free interface and superior noise insulation make this the perfect morning grinder for a peaceful espresso making experience. It has classic Italian styling that will complement many brands of espresso makers. It comes in red, black, silver, or white. At $499, you'll be saving $200 compared to the Niche Zero, and unlike the Niche, the Silenzio is always available.

Eureka Mignon Specialita

This is the next step up in the Eureka Mignon line of step-less grinders. It has larger 55mm burrs (versus the 50mm of the Silenzio) as well as programmable dosing and a nice touch screen. It also comes in a variety of colors including Ferrari Red!

But, all of these features are going to cost and in fact it comes in at $699 which is also the same price at the Niche Zero. So why would you want a Specialita instead of the Niche Zero?

It all comes down to personal style and features. Grind quality and adjustment of both the Specialita and Niche are excellent, and I doubt that you could say one is qualitatively better than the other.

The Specialita just looks like a traditional grinder. It has a rest for the portafilter so you can grind directly into it. It also just looks like a grinder with its traditional boxy shape and clear hopper.

The Specialita offers some features that the Niche does not. For one, it has a hopper. So if you tend to stick to one bean and don't want to mess with weighing out each dose, then the Specialita is going to be way more convenient. It also uses a timed dosing system as well as offers manual override.

So if you  like the looks of the Specialita more than the Niche Zero, then know that it would be a great choice, and you would be spending the same $699 as you would for the Niche.

Baratza Sette 270

If the Niche and Eureka are quiet giants, the Baratza is a noisy spitfire that gets the job done in record time. The Baratza is a high performance grinder at an amazing price. But with that low price comes some tradeoffs.

First, it is loud. This is a high RPM 40 mm conical steel burr grinder. But on the bright side, it is also fast. So it's quick but loud. It also uses a direct drop grind path which minimizes retention. Even though it comes with a hopper, the Baratza can be used for single dosing.

Second, it has a unique look and is mostly constructed of plastic. You are not going to get high end finishes on the Baratza. However, you are also not going to be spending an arm and leg either.

What you do get is a very capable grinder that offers stepped macro and step-less micro adjustments as well as three programmable settings for dosing. The Baratza will grind to a nice and even consistency no matter what kind of beans you throw at it.

The price for all this goodness is a very reasonable $420. Baratza does make higher end Sette grinders that include more features. However, if you are going to spend more, then I would recommend going with the Eureka or Lelite which are described below.

Lelite Fred Stepless

This is an entry level grinder from Lelite and makes a great alternative to the Baratza Sette. Using 38 mm conical grinders, the Lelite spins at a low rpm to keep heat from affecting the beans. The step-less adjustment allows for an infinite number of grind settings. This gives you the flexibility to fine tune your grind to match your machine.

There is no programming but a simple button that is activated by pressing your portafilter against a button under the chute. If you are single dosing, this works fine. However, if you are using the hopper, then you are either going to have to weigh your grind or get really good at eyeballing.

The Lelite does have a classic look and is fairly low profile. Many people like how compact it is and that it can fit under any counter. While no one complains about the grind quality, the light weight of the machine (6.7 pounds) does make it slide around if you are not careful. Or you can just place it against a wall.

So while there are tradeoffs, at a street price of $299-$330, you are still coming in at more than half the price of the Niche and with the classic Italian looks.

Conclusion

Home espresso is not a cheap hobby, and grinders are no exception. However, even under the $699 price point of the excellent Niche Zero, you can find some very good machines that won't break the bank.

What do you think? Do you make espresso at home with any of these grinders? Did we miss some good alternatives? Leave your comments below.