ECM S-Automatik 64 Espresso Grinder in Test

The ECM S Automatik 64 impresses us with good espresso. That's the good and most important news first. Unfortunately, it leaves some potential behind along the way. In our comprehensive espresso grinder test, we examined the ECM S-64 in comparison to 23 other espresso grinders. In this article, we summarize the most important results of our test.

We conducted the test again with our Apas Espresso. You can get it hier in Switzerland and hier in Germany.

Buy ECM S-Automatik 64

The following specialty shops distribute the ECM S-Automatik 64 and we can recommend purchasing from these businesses. All offer the option to adjust the machine's offset.

Germany: [Partner links] Stoll Espresso, Lücke

We search for specialist partners who we know provide good work and good service, and we are in close contact with the mentioned retailers. The links are so-called commission links. If you order via one of these links, you won't pay a cent more – we receive a small commission, which we invest directly in new test equipment.

We are still searching for competent partners in the DACH region for you.

First Impression, Material and Appearance

A narrow, tall and beautiful espresso grinder shines at us when we first unpack it. And at first glance, we like almost everything about the ECM S-Automatik 64. The grinder weighs a solid 6.9kg, which stands on perfect feet. Why perfect? They absorb the vibration of the grinder, give slightly, and are yet stable. This also means that the grinder at 77.9 decibels ranks among the quietest in the test field.

The high gloss of the polished stainless steel remains, but becomes decorated with numerous fingerprints over the course of the test. The home barista will have to get used to this as well. It's hardly avoidable when using the ECM S-64. A width of 16cm, a depth of 250cm and a height of 41.5cm make the espresso grinder appear slim and elegant. The S-64 doesn't push itself to the fore next to an espresso machine, but takes a step back.

The grinding discs of the ECM S-Automatik 64 have a diameter of 64mm and are made of hardened steel. The disc grinder can be adjusted infinitely. The adjustment works well and precisely - even though it is difficult to read the exact grind setting. Small changes in the grind size already lead to large changes in the grain size. So always adjust slowly!

The programmability of the grinder suffers somewhat from the old, somewhat fiddly control. This repeatedly jumps out of the setting of the two programming buttons if you don't work quickly. ECM has been relying on a similar technology for many years that works well and produces no errors, but slightly restricts ease of use. (Clearly visible in the video from minute 20:30 onwards.)

Single Dose Grinder? No Way!

The ECM S-Automatik 64 cannot convince as a single dosing grinder. It was simply not built for that. The most important counterargument is the enormous dead space. With 12.2 grams of measured dead space, the ECM S-64 sets a negative exclamation mark. As a reminder: dead space means that around the grinding discs and before the ground coffee output, already ground coffee is sitting that is not ejected with the current grind. Instead, the ground coffee gets stuck and is only pushed out during the next grinding by the ground coffee pressing from behind.

The ECM S-64 functions here more like a dosing grinder with storage and not like a direct grind grinder. Up to 12 grams of coffee from the current espresso will be prepared with "old" coffee if the grinding chamber is not emptied before extraction. Of course, this is not necessary if multiple extractions are made in quick succession. Especially at home, this is often not the case, and so 12 grams of good coffee are either lost or become old coffee as part of the fresh espresso. And as a reminder: within less than an hour, we have a loss of over 50% of volatile aroma components after grinding.

Unfortunately, the bean hopper on the grinder is also not easy to remove and the coffee is not easy to switch. Our barista trainer Michel Aeschbacher could only remove the bean hopper with great effort. ECM signals here quite clearly: the grinder is rather not intended for regular bean changes. In fact, this was less of an issue a few years ago when the grinder came to market. However, bean hoppers also need to be cleaned regularly. That's doubly unenjoyable when removal is such an ordeal.

Between the sliding slide of the grinder and the grinding discs, there are still 23 grams after removing the bean hopper. So if you do want to change the beans sometime, you must first remove this coffee before you get to the new coffee.

Where do I order the ECM S-64 from a competent address? We recommend the following specialist partners: Lücke Technik*

Espresso Quality

We have drunk some excellent espressos that were ground with the ECM S-Automatik 64. We were surprised by the sensory profile. Many coffees tasted very complex, had an elegant acidity and a soft texture.

Unfortunately, it wasn't easy to simply replicate the grind size, as the grinder lacks a clear scale, or the numbers don't indicate the same grind size precisely enough. The following curve shows the deviation between two grinds. With the gray curve, we had adjusted the grinder perfectly. Then we adjusted the grinder to ristretto and then to café crème. Despite precise marking, we failed to precisely reset the grinder to the original recipe. This is not initially serious, but it means that the coffee needs to be readjusted each time. Recording recipes and flexibly switching between recipes becomes difficult.

The consistency of the ECM S-Automatik 64 over multiple extractions shows larger fluctuations. Our target size was 18 grams, but over ten extractions we had values between 16.9 and 19.1 grams. That's a lot! Reliable grinding is no fun this way. Espresso drinkers with standards are advised to reweigh the amount of ground coffee before extraction.

Ten extractions with the ECM S-Automatik 64.

Despite all challenges, it should be noted that the ECM S-Automatik 64 achieves an interesting particle distribution curve. It has a relatively low fine portion - also in relation to other grinders - and has a solid main peak. In fact, the grinder regulates the grind size in the range between espresso and ristretto primarily through the fines and remains quite constant at the main peak.

The particle distribution curves shown here represent our measurements 4 - 7. 4 in gray is the readjusted espresso recipe. T5 green is the setting of a 1:1 ristretto at 25 seconds extraction time. T6 in blue represents the setting of a café crème. T7 is the reset espresso recipe.

Conclusion on the ECM S-Automatik 64 Espresso Grinder

The ECM S-Automatik 64 leaves us with a torn back and forth feeling and impression. While we rate it as good for espresso quality, the low noise level compared to other grinders is pleasant, and the operation overall leaves a solid impression, other factors are frustrating. The large dead space is a real counterargument. Also, consistency leaves something to be desired and, like the fixed bean hopper, leads to frustration.

But one thing is clear: whoever learns to live with their ECM, knows the weaknesses and deals with them, has a good espresso grinder at home for espresso quality, and that's what matters in the end!

*We search for specialist partners for you, from whom we know they provide good work and good service. We are in close contact with the retailers. These are commission links. If you order via this link, it won't cost you any more, but we get a small commission that we put into new test equipment.