This is our Eureka Mignon Specialita review. This grinder became popular after hardcore espresso fanatics made it one of their favorites. It stays strong, even after newer and fancier models enter the market.
Unlike most competitors, the Eureka Mignon Specialita has a solid Italian brand backing it, which speaks loud of its build quality, design, and performance.
But the Specialita isn’t an all-purpose grinder, and you should know a few things before pulling the trigger on this grinder.
That’s why I wrote this article. To help you decide if the Eureka Mignon Specialita is the grinder you want for your espresso setup.
Will it make you proud every time you dial in an espresso shot?
Let’s find out.
Eureka Mignon Specialita Coffee Grinder Review
- Low retention
- Compact and sleek
- Superior construction
- Stepless grind adjustments
- Quiet high-performer
- Excellent for espresso
- Great value for under $1000
- Relatively small adjustment knob
- Portafilter forks have limited adaptability
The Eureka Mignon Specialita has grown a global community of loyal owners. Just ask on Reddit, Facebook groups, and even Twitter, and you’ll get dozens of comments praising it in no time. But popularity isn’t a quality standard. It doesn’t apply to grinders, nor anything in life. That’s why we researched and checked hundreds of positive and negative reviews to find the
Pros and cons of the Eureka Mignon Specialita
On balance, the Eureka Mignon Specialita is an excellent home espresso grinder. And some of its fans would say it works just fine in a commercial setup. So, to decide if it’s the better grinder for you, consider whether the key features sound.
In short, the Eureka Mignon Specialita rises above the crowd because it has:
- Great looks
- Compact size
- Low-grind retention
- Superb grind size distribution
- Excellent noise reduction
- Stepless adjustments that are perfect for dialing espresso like a pro
Since Eureka launched the Specialita in 2018, it has thus far been well-received by reviewers.
The Eureka Mignon Specialita has been in production for many years without consistent issues. It makes it a solid investment for an espresso grinder because it will likely last a long time. Moreover, this grinder is well worth the money because of its quality and durability.
Is Eureka a good brand?
Eureka is a reputable Italian manufacturer of burr coffee grinders for commercial and home use. The company has a long-standing tradition of high-quality products. They continue manufacturing their grinders in their factory in Firenze, Italy.
Indeed, Eureka took advantage of its solid reputation among baristas and café owners to develop a new product line for home use. And in doing so, Eureka changed the home barista market.
Unlike espresso grinders for coffee shops, the Eureka Mignon grinders come in a convenient size that fits most countertops: they’re sleek, solid, and in a wide range of colors. Moreover, they’re incredibly affordable compared to similar and even cheap grinders.
Build Quality and Design: Perfect for Single Dosing & Good Looking Hopper
The Eureka Mignon Specialita is small, elegant, and robust. Unlike domestic grinders, it looks professional and sleek, like a proper espresso grinder.
The size is one of the most impressive characteristics of the Eureka Mignon Specialtita and other grinders in the Mignon series. It’s incredibly compact! I couldn’t believe it the first time I saw a Specialita in real life, because it’s smaller than some blenders. Moreover, it’s elegant, with an excellent construction.
When I grabbed the Eureka Mignon Specialita, it was evident that the materials were top-class. The finish, body, and weight indicate this grinder’s amazing quality.
The sharp and straight lines add to the style of the Specialita. Eureka offers dozens of colors for the Specialita, and several online retailers have an excellent selection.
Due to its size, you could easily underestimate it. But once you pick it up, you notice it’s well-built, solid, and powerful.
The Eureka Mignon Specialita is heavy because of its motor, burr set, and metallic case. According to most Specialita owners, this grinder is durable and reliable, with regular cleaning and maintenance.
The Eureka Mignon Specialita is a robust, durable, and good-looking espresso grinder.
Burr set and motor quality: Grind your espresso dose in seconds
The Eureka Mignon Specialita comes with a powerful motor and sharp burrs. Unlike several competitors, the engine and the burrs are of outstanding quality.
The burr set comes with 55mm hardened steel flat burrs, which bring a pleasant clarity to the cup, according to several Specialita owners. The latter is when we compare the Specialita with conical burr grinders, which are more affordable, like the Baratza Sette 270.
But bear with me. The quality of the coffee taste has a lot to do with grind size distribution and retention. I will be analyzing these features in more detail below.
Getting back to the heart of the machine, the Eureka Mignon Specialita comes with a 310-watt motor capable of 1350 RPM. In practical terms, the Eureka Mignon Specialita can produce between 1.2 and 1.8 grams of finely ground coffee per second. Speed is considerably higher for coarser grounds, but we don’t consider the Specialita an all-rounder but an excellent espresso grinder.
Grind retention and consistency: Dial an espresso shot like a pro
The Eureka Mignon Specialita espresso grinder has minimal grind retention, making it an excellent single-dose coffee grinder. The burrs get a consistent grind size at home and produce shots you’d expect from commercial-grade equipment.
The Anti-Clumps and Electrostaticity or ACE system minimizes clumping through the coffee chute and prevents static, improving consistency. Furthermore, reduced statics help to have cleaner counter space, as coffee grounds, chaff, and micro-fines don’t fly everywhere.
Several users measured retention around 1 gram, which is pretty low. Moreover, some baristas claim a water spritz over the coffee beans before grinding can further minimize retention and static.
Ease of use
Operating the Eureka Mignon Specialita doesn’t take much skill. Its uncomplicated approach seems practical, particularly when dialing an espresso shot properly.
I have tested a few Eureka Mignon Specialita in cafés and coffee labs to improve and gather more accurate information for this review.
In my experience, it’s easy to use and quite practical. The Specialita grinds your coffee beans with a button above the portafilter cradle. If you need to pause the grinder, press the button again. If you continue grinding, tap a third time, and it will pick up where it left off. If, for any reason, you started grinding, canceled, and wish to reset the timer, click and hold the double or single shot button until the timer resets.
You can adjust the portafilter holder to fit different heights regarding other crucial features. Yet, some owners claim that the fork works better as a guide than anything else. In this regard, hands-free grinding isn’t promising because the holder doesn’t look or feel too reliable.
As a home barista, I don’t need hands-free grinding. But, if that’s important for you, the Eureka Mignon Specialita would need some help to get there. Some of my friends have used attachments and mods to improve the forks successfully.
Regarding the display, Eureka did a great job of making it look modern and sleek without overcomplicating things. Some customer reviews point out that the screen is a bit too sensitive and that it takes practice to learn how to press the controls on the touch panel. Yet, after testing different Eureka Mignon Specialita, I didn’t have problems with it.
Value for money: A top-notch flat burr grinder under $ 1000
The Eureka Mignon Specialita is a premium piece of equipment. I don’t have any doubt about it. But is it worth the money?
Learning from Eureka Mignon Specialita owners, I can say that the Eureka Mignon Specialita is a top-of-the-line espresso grinder that offers excellent value for the price.
The Specialita has many features that you can find among its competitors and even more expensive grinders -ahem, stepless grind adjustments.
Additionally, it performs above the expected for a domestic grinder. Whether you’re a hardcore espresso fan or want a quality cup of coffee without spending thousands of dollars, the Mignon Specialita is perfect.
Alternatives to the Eureka Mignon Specialita
There are several alternatives to the Eureka Mignon Specialita espresso grinder. Yet, at this price point, it’s hard to think of a better option for a domestic espresso grinder.
The Eureka Mignon series offers decent alternatives, but I won’t focus on Eureka products for balance. Moreover, most Eureka Mignon grinders are dedicated espresso gear.
You can find good alternatives if you’re looking for a grinder that performs better for drip and filter brews. Additionally, you can find more affordable options if you want to compromise on some things.
Baratza Sette 270
The Baratza Sette 270 is usually below the price range of the Eureka Mignon Specialita. And it looks more affordable too. The plastic body isn’t too appealing, and it’s very noisy. Still, those would be the major compromises to make if you buy a Sette 270 instead of a Mignon Specialita.
Grind size distribution and retention are competitive, and you’ll need to be quite perceptive and use fine coffee to learn the difference between both grinders. If you are interested in the unique design and affordable price of the Sette, we wrote a Baratza Sette 270 review too.
Rancilio Rocky
The Rancilio Rocky comes in different versions: one with a doser and another without. In both cases, the Rancilio Rocky has a lower price than the Eureka Mignon Specialita.
Besides its price, the Rancilio Rocky’s strong side is that it comes with a decent motor and a commercial-grade burr set. Conversely, its main limitation is that it comes with stepped grind adjustments.
Additionally, both retention and grind size distribution are good. But they aren’t at the same level as the Mignon Specialita and other alternatives in our selection.
Read our Rancilio Rocky grinder review for more details.
DF64
The DF64 is a low-retention grinder with 64mm flat burrs in the price range of the Specialita. According to DF 64 owners, this grinder can be consistent across various grind settings, from drip and immersion to espresso.
Although the early versions of this grinder had a few issues, it seems that newer versions have several improvements. Aesthetically speaking, it isn’t my favorite option, but it’s worth considering.
If you’re interested in this grinder, read our DF64 coffee grinder review.
Niche Zero
The Niche Zero is famous for its extremely low retention and fantastic versatility. Getting one is relatively hard due to high demand, which may create a backlash against the former coffee geek’s favorite.
It’s an entirely different grinder to the Eureka Mignon Specialita. Depending on the market, you can sometimes find both at similar prices.
Some people do not want the Niche Zero because it is too expensive or has more features than an on/off switch. If you go for the Niche Zero, you’ll need the patience to get your hands on one of them.
The Verdict: Eureka Mignon Specialita Review. The Best Espresso Grinder Under $1000
Silent. Fast. Beautiful. The Eureka Mignon Specialita is a premium-quality espresso grinder that ticks all home-use boxes.
The main limitation of this small marvel is that it doesn’t perform so well for filter coffee grounds. Still, it isn’t an issue if you’re after a dedicated espresso grinder.
Other problems, like the relatively poorly designed forks to hold the portafilter, aren’t too necessary for a home espresso setup.
Considering the value it offers, the Eureka Mignon Specialita Espresso Grinder is hands-down one of the best espresso grinders under $1000.
If you’re looking for an affordable espresso machine to match this amazing grinder, you can check our comparison of the Breville Bambino vs. Bambino Plus. Both are excellent options.
And if you want to check more espresso machines in this price range, read our review of the best espresso machines under $500.
For those who prefer a more premium experience, you can check our review of the best espresso machines for under $1000, too.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Eureka Mignon Specialita
The Eureka Mignon Specialita and the entire Mignon product line have attracted attention in recent years. So, questions about Eureka and its grinders have risen across the internet.
Find some answers to the most common doubts about Eureka grinders below.
Where are Eureka grinders made?
Eureka manufactures its grinders in Fiorenze, Italy. The company has more than 100 years of experience manufacturing coffee grinders. The company prides itself on its extreme attention to quality, making its grinders by hand and adding advanced technology to its products.
Top-quality spare parts are part of their business philosophy. Eureka is a company committed to manufacturing long-lasting products.
Several espresso fanatics and café owners I know have Eureka grinders. All of them praise them for quality and durability.
Eureka Mignon Specialita 15 BL Vs 16 CR Vs 17 NX?
You’ll find different setups or configurations for all the Eureka Mignon models. It may seem a bit awkward to look at the 15 BL, 16 CR, and 17 NX variants, but they simply refer to color schemes.
– 15 BL: Black chute
-16 CR: Chrome chute
– 17 NX: Chrome chute and chrome sides with Eureka logo
If you’re curious about how is going to look your favorite Eureka Mignon Specialita, you can use the Mignon Configurator, on the Eureka website.
How do you adjust the grind on a Eureka Mignon Specialita?
To adjust the grind settings, you’ll find a small wheel next to the hopper on the grinder’s top. The wheel moves the burrs and adjusts the grind size.
You can purge coffee through the grinder each time you adjust the grind size to reduce grind retention. Devices with high retention require more purging to ensure that all ground coffee is fresh. Yet, remember that Eureka Mignon grinders have low retention, so they don’t require purging between every adjustment.
How To Clean The Eureka Mignon Specialita
Cleaning the Eureka Mignon Specialita consists of two different processes. A thorough cleaning is the same process you can use for replacing the burrs when necessary.
On the other hand, cleaning the chute group is relatively more straightforward, and you’ll need to perform it more frequently. Yet, remember that Specialita’s retention is pretty low, so it shouldn’t be necessary to clean the chute group more than once every week, depending on use, of course.
