Coffee grinders come in a variety of dosing types, from gravimetric (grind-by-weight) grinders to hopper grinders and on-demand systems.
In recent years, single-dose coffee grinders have gone from a niche choice to a preferred option among home baristas and professionals who value consistency and freshness.
But what exactly are they, and how do they differ from other types of grinders?
A single-dose grinder is designed to grind only the amount of coffee you need for one brew. While gravimetric grinders are built for fast, consistent workflows suited to busy café environments, single-dose grinders are all about taste optimisation and engineered to deliver maximum freshness, precision, and flavour consistency in every extraction.
Instead of storing beans in a hopper, single-dose grinding involves weighing each dose and adding it directly into the grinder. The design focuses on minimising retention, meaning almost no old grounds remain inside. The difference between the coffee going in and the coffee coming out is often less than 0.5 grams, ensuring every shot starts with fresh grounds.
Models like the DF54 and DF64 Gen 2, the DF64V and DF83V are designed around this brewing approach. These feature low-retention designs, stepless micrometric adjustment that combine workflow precision with the ability to switch beans or brew methods with ease. For many home baristas, they offer a level of control and cup clarity once reserved for much higher-priced commercial grinders.
Coffee Grinder Dosing Systems:
| Dose Type | How It Works | Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| Single-Dose | User measures and grinds exactly what's needed for one brew, with minimal coffee retention (typically below 0.5 g). | Freshness, consistent results, can easily switch beans or brew methods |
| Hopper (Doserless) | Beans sit in a hopper and are ground directly into a portafilter or container on demand. | Fast, convenient, and ideal for consistent daily use with one bean type. |
| Doser | Ground coffee collects in a mechanical chamber, dispensed by pulling a lever. | Efficient for high-volume coffee shops with demanding workflows. |
| On-Demand | Uses timed or electronic dosing to grind directly into the portafilter per shot. | Consistent dosing, minimal waste, efficient for high volume workflows. |
| Grind-By-Weight (Gravimetric) | Built-in scale automatically stops grinding when the target weight is reached. | Highly precise dosing with hands-free operation and repeatable consistency. |
| Hand Grinder | Manual single-dose grinder operated by a crank or handle. | Portable, quiet, zero retention, perfect for travel or manual brewing. |
