The Emil T64 is another single-dose grinder manufactured in Asia that appears on the European market at an attractive price. Like the DF64 in its first version, it still struggles with some issues. Nevertheless, the grinder proves that it will be a force to reckon with. Even today, it delivers solid results in its core category, namely in its particle distribution and flavor performance. We tested the grinder intensively and present our results here.
A test of the even smaller and more affordable Emil EM1 has also been completed in the meantime.
Recommended specialist workshop for the Emil T64 [Partner link]: Lücke-Technik
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Design, Quality and External Facts
The similarity of single-dose grinders with 64mm burr sets is striking. The Emil T64 is no exception here either. Slightly tilted forward, it stands stably on the ground at around 7.5 kilograms – with a height of 32 cm, a width of 13 cm and a depth of 21 cm. Variants are available with matte black and matte white lacquer finishes on the metal body. It's unfortunate that even with the white grinder, the dosing cup is supplied in black. Since the grinder gets regularly sprinkled with coffee grounds when grinding anyway, we would generally recommend the black version.
The grinder is available from some retailers with Italmil burrs for under 400 euros. We tested it with titanium-coated burrs. The 64mm burrs are also compatible with other third-party burr sets.
The grinder is powered by a 300-watt motor. In terms of quality, it cuts a good figure: it's heavy, stands firmly and all components leave a good impression. The rubber blower has sufficient stiffness. The wooden lid with aluminum inlay closes cleanly on the sides thanks to the rubber guide. The infinitely adjustable grind setting offers exactly the right resistance for comfortable operation.
The coffee chute can be completely removed for easy cleaning, as it's only attached with two magnets. However, these are so strong that the adhesive on one of the magnets in our grinder had already come loose.
The portafilter holder is stable and keeps the portafilter safely aligned. For better aim guidance, part of the dosing container can be removed and attached directly to the portafilter as a coffee chute. This allows the coffee to be ground directly into the portafilter.
However, caution is advised, as the blower in combination with the flapper represents one of the weak points. We discuss this connection further below.
We like the elegant side button to start the grinder, whose LED only lights up when the grinder is in operation. It's also worth highlighting that the grinder can be easily operated both from the front and by people in wheelchairs.
Espresso and Particle Distribution
A grinder should grind coffee so that it tastes good. Before we make a statement here, we use hundreds of espressos, different coffee varieties and espresso machines with different brewing profiles. We take grinding samples and measure the particle distribution with the support of the Zurich University of Teacher Education.
On taste: With the titanium burrs, the grinder provided the foundation for many delicious espressos. The coffees tasted round and well-balanced. The profile of each coffee came across well in the cup.
The particle distribution of the grinder shows a main peak that lies on the narrow side. Narrow means that many particles have a similar size, which speaks for homogeneous grounds. The fine peak is not pronounced and fits well with the main peak.
The repeatability when adjusting the grind setting and then returning to the original value worked well. We saw only a 2-micron shift in the main peak here. So it's definitely possible to switch between recipes and coffees and return to the previous grind setting.
Speed, Noise Level, retention
The Emil T64 reaches a noise level of 77.7 decibels. This makes it one of the quieter grinders compared to many other models. However, the Emil T64 positions itself at the lower end in another category: speed. The grinder is not inherently slow, but it limits itself. Like earlier DF64 models (G-Iota, Turin), it also hasn't found the optimal balance between static, clumping and flapper.
The plastic flapper at the internal coffee outlet is supposed to reduce static and enable even dispensing, but is so massive and unwieldy that coffee backs up behind it. To release this coffee from the grinder, repeated operation of the blower during grinding is necessary. Even then it takes time.
The grinder grinds 18 grams of coffee in about 12 seconds – but these aren't immediately available. It can take up to 40 seconds for the coffee stuck behind the flapper to release. This significantly affects the workflow.
Resourceful minds will surely improve the flapper soon. Alternatively, it can be removed or modified with RDT to optimize the workflow.
Retention
Despite intensive blowing out, a small amount of coffee always remains in the burr set. Compared to hopper grinders, this is very little, but for a single-dose grinder, 1 gram of retention is not negligible. The temporary retention (0.7 grams) exchanges itself from dose to dose, while 0.3 grams of permanent retention remain. This can lead to slight flavor transfer between different coffees.
Cleaning
A major plus point is the easy cleaning. The coffee chute can be easily removed thanks to magnetic attachment. The tool-free access all the way to the burrs is also well solved and allows for quick cleaning. By regularly blowing out with the blower, most of the residual coffee can be minimized.
Conclusion on the Emil T64 Single Dose Grinder
The basic construction is high-quality and the result in the cup is excellent. With improvements to the flapper, the Emil T64 could become a serious competitor to the DF64. Anyone who can live with the long blowing out will find a good grinder here with potential for flavor optimizations. Additionally, there's the option to refine the flavor characteristics further with third-party burr sets.
We're curious to see if the manufacturer Ningbo Grind Electric Appliances Co. Ltd. makes further improvements to this model and whether future variants come to market.
