The Eureka Mignon Specialita grinder is one of the big names if you are after a dedicated home espresso grinder. The Eureka Mignon is a popular burr grinder that has a small footprint while packing a punch. It ticks all the boxes for a prosumer espresso grinder with 55mm flat steel burrs, stepless micrometric adjustment, and low grind retention.
In this review, we will cover the pros and cons of the Eureka Specialita to help you work out whether it is the right coffee grinder for you.
Eureka Mignon Specialita
The Eureka Mignon Specialita is a stunning grinder that is packed full of features. It has 55mm hardened steel burrs, which offer superb grind consistency, combined with a stepless grind adjustment to deliver the precise grind changes required for espresso. Finally an LED touchscreen offers programmable timed dosing. This is a superb espresso grinder that is worth its weight in gold.
Eureka Mignon Specialita
Specs: 55mm flat steel burr grinder | Steel casing | Stepless micrometric adjustment | Sound insulation | Doser- less | 13.87 x 4.75 x 5.5” | Weight: 12.34 lbs. | Burr Speed: 1350 RPM | Bean hopper capacity: 300g
About Eureka
Eureka is an esteemed company in the coffee industry. They were established over 100 years ago and are known to produce quality coffee and espresso grinders and accessories. All of their grinders are manufactured in Italy and hand-assembled to ensure excellent craftsmanship. The company prides itself on its faultless service and innovative designs.
The Eureka Mignon Specialita espresso grinder was released several years ago and was one of the first in its class to bridge the gap between domestic and commercial grinders – a prosumer grinder. The Specialita is a dedicated espresso grinder, while it is capable of grinding for other brew methods it has really been designed for espresso.
Design
The Eureka Mignon Specialita espresso grinder has a thoughtful and well-executed design. As we mentioned above, the Specialita offers some of the hallmark traits of a commercial grinder. This includes excellent grind consistency, precise grind settings, and all packed into a compact body that will fit comfortably on your benchtop. The grinder is comparable in size to the Breville Smart Grinder.
The Specialita has a unique and contemporary design, with a square body and bean hopper. It is available in a range of colors to match your espresso machine. The Eureka Specialita has an excellent build, weighing a substantial 12lbs. It is housed in a steel casing and is very robust, standing up to heavy-duty use.
The coffee grinder is packed full of features, including an LED touch screen, programmable timed dosing, and stepless grind adjustment. One of the other notable features of the Eureka Mignon is that it is an extremely quiet grinder. Eureka has carefully cased the motor in noise insulation to minimize the noise and vibration caused by the motor.
The only complaints some users have had are about the quality of the plastic bean hopper and portafilter holder. However, we would consider this relatively minor. Eureka has spent the money where it counts- on a high-quality motor and burrs.
Burrs and Grinding Speed
The Eureka Mignon Specialita is loaded with 55mm hardened steel flat burrs. So let’s unpack that a little bit. The hardened steel means the burrs are tough and resistant to chipping- these babies are going to last a while! Steel burrs are also razor-sharp, delivering a uniform grind size and clarity of taste. It pays to note that steel burrs often need to be seasoned or broken in before performing at their best.
The size of the burrs on the Specialita is a step up from some of the other models in the Mignon range. However, it is still not on par with many commercial grinders. The 55mm burrs slightly boost the grinding speed, with the Specialita able to grind a basket or 18g of beans in around 10 seconds.
Grind Consistency and Adjustment System
The Eureka Specialita produces excellent grind consistency, particularly at the fine settings. The ground coffee comes out of the chute light and fluffy with little clumping. The Specialita has what they have termed an ACE system- an anti-clumping and electrostatic system. And we have to say it does a pretty impressive job! If you watch a video of the Specialita grinding, you will see the ground coffee fall evenly out of the chute (it has often been likened to a waterfall) straight into the portafilter. Eureka was so confident in their system that they didn’t even need a grind catcher underneath.
While the Specialita coffee grinder excels at espresso, the grind quality does diminish at the coarser settings, with less consistency and more fines. In saying this, the Specialita is technically capable of grinding for drip coffee or French press- we just wouldn’t recommend it. And the reason for this is because of the adjustment system.
The grind size is adjusted by turning a small knob on top of the machine. The knob doesn’t directly move the burrs but instead moves a shaft inside the motor which in turn raises or lowers the bottom burr. This grind adjustment system allows for incredibly precise grind changes which are required in espresso grinders. The downside of this micro-adjustment system is that if you want to switch between espresso and filter settings, you have to rotate the knob several turns, and then it is hard to find your way back to that sweet spot. This is why many owners use the Specialita exclusively as an espresso grinder.
Grind Retention and Single Dosing
Grind retention and single dosing are trending topics at the moment, particularly since the release of the Niche Zero. It is common knowledge that coffee beans should not be stored in a hopper where they will be exposed to light and oxygen. Yet, the majority of grinders available do have large hoppers. While this would make sense in a commercial setting, single-dosing grinders are a far more sensible option for the home barista. This also allows you to switch between brewing methods and beans more easily.
One of the main selling points of the Eureka Mignon espresso grinder is that it has a very low grind retention of around 1.3 grams. This means that it can effectively be used as a single-dose coffee grinder, where you weigh your beans out and grind the exact amount you need. Because there is so little coffee stuck in the chute, you don’t need to purge when changing settings or between beans. Some enthusiasts have even created single-dosing mods for the Specialita- see here if you are interested.
Time-Based Dosing
The other way of using the Eureka Mignon Specialita espresso grinder is with the time-based dosing it was designed for. The LED touch screen on the front allows you to program the Specialita to grind for a set period of time and thus achieve a precise dose each time. A + or – button on the screen increases or decreases the grinding time by intervals of 0.1 seconds. Once you have found your ideal grinding time, you can program both a single and double dose time and jump between them effortlessly. It pays to note that if you are using the coffee grinder this way when you adjust the grind size, you will also need to change the grind time to achieve a consistent dose. Aside from this, there is also the option to manually grind without using the timer, or to grind continuously if you need to grind through a bag of beans.
Ease of use
The Eureka Specialita is easy and intuitive to use. The LED touch screen is simple to navigate and set up. The time-based doser enables you to achieve an accurate dose each time without weighing. You can also effortlessly switch between single or double shots. The hopper allows you to pull back-to-back shots quickly, or you could use it as a single-dose grinder. Overall the Specialita is convenient to use and allows you the flexibility of grinding how you like. We would only see an issue if you wanted a coffee grinder that allowed you to switch easily between different brewing methods.
Maintaining the Eureka Mignon
As we mentioned above, the Specialita is a relatively tidy grinder to use. There is minimal static and mess when it comes to using it. Maintaining the grinder is also uncomplicated. The Specialita has a unique adjustment system, with a lower burr adjustment (rather than the upper). This means that when you open up the burrs to give them a deep clean, you won’t lose your grind setting.
When it comes to cleaning out the burrs, the hopper has a hopper stopper that enables you to remove the hopper even when it is full of beans. You then unscrew the screw holding the hopper in place and the screws fixing the upper burr holder in place. Once this is done, you can remove the top burr and brush or vacuum out the burrs.
Who is the Eureka Mignon Specialita for?
Retailing at around $700, the Eureka Mignon is a significant investment. However, we would say that given the quality and build of the Specialita, it is an excellent investment. It simply is a stunning coffee grinder that will pair perfectly with your prized espresso machine. It is really designed to be an espresso grinder so offers excellent grind consistency, stepless adjustment, and precise dosing. All in all a solid espresso grinder for those invested in specialty coffee and looking to step up to a prosumer level. This is a burr grinder that won’t disappoint.
Other Alternatives
There are a few alternatives to the Eureka Mignon Specialita espresso grinder.
Niche Zero
The Niche Zero is a superb single-dosing grinder that is beautifully and elegantly designed. It boasts an impressive set of 63mm steel conical burrs and exceptional grind quality for both espresso and filter coffee. This is an outstanding coffee grinder that we cannot rate highly enough. See our full review here.
Baratza Sette 270
The Baratza Sette 270 is another solid option if you are looking for an espresso grinder. It has 40mm conical steel burrs and a stepped grind adjustment system (although this does have both a macro and micro adjustments allowing for 270+ grind settings). The Baratza Sette is simple to use, quick to grind and also has time based dosing options. Overall an excellent alternative, although not as aesthetically appealing as the Eureka Mignon Specialita Espresso Grinder.
Eureka Mignon Specialita- The Verdict
The Eureka Mignon Specialita is an excellent espresso grinder offering unparalleled construction and quality. It has melded commercial grade with domestic functionality. The Eureka Specialita boasts consistent grind size, low grind retention, and accurate dosing. In addition, it simply is a stunning coffee grinder worthy of pairing with your favorite espresso machine. You won’t be disappointed if you decide to invest in the Eureka Mignon.
