Turin DF83 Espresso Grinder Review
There is something intriguing about using 83mm burrs for the first time. They grind through an 18 gram dose blazingly fast, and they should provide more homogeneity in the grind distribution. I have recently got my hands on the highly anticipated DF83 from Turin, and this page will report my findings. The DF83 is the larger brother to the very successful DF64 and range of single dose grinders.
Keep checking back, as I augment the page, based ob subsequent use of the grinder.
The Looks of the DF83
The Turin DF83 is a very heavy grinder, weighing in at 10.8 kg. It is a stately grinder, with a slight forward tilt, to help with lowering the retention. In my humble opinion, the forward lean, the silky smooth coating, and the always illuminated button on the side make for a handsome grinder. It comes standard with a nice silicone bellows and a very nicely created wooden lid, which adds a nice design contrast to the otherwise matte black finish. I think it looks good both with the bellows, and also with the bean hopper that it comes with.
Some people do not like the looks of the cable coming out of the side, but I am neutral to cord placement. I think it works just fine, and I do not think it makes or breaks the looks of the grinder.
The glass dial on the top of the grinder is probably my favorite design element, as it adds some contrast to the otherwise metal build of the machine. Besides its aesthetics, the glass dial with the included metal pointer prove to be very functional, allowing one to change between espresso, pour over, and french press grinds with ease. I really do enjoy the dial!
What does the DF83 come with?
In the heavily padded box are a few nice items, including the bellows, grounds catching cup, RDT sprayer, brush, and manual. Additionally, the DF83 comes with a standard bean hopper, which I really appreciate! This way, once the grinder is dialed in, you can use it not just for single dosing, but also for multiple extractions in a row. The DF83 also comes with extra silicon parts as replacement items for the portafilter holder, and for the upper burr casing within the grinder.
How does the DF83 grind?
The DF83 so far has been a pleasure to use. It grinds nice and fluffy, with a good homogenous particle distribution. It is easy to adjust with the collar on top, since it only requires about 270 degrees of a turn to go from espresso to pour over. The dial seems to be made out of glass, making it feel really premium. With the 83mm burrs, this grinder completes its job very quickly, and with the included bellows, the retention should be low. I found 0.6 grams of initial retention, but I think that was due to the burrs being brand new and particles getting in between the teeth. I expect 0.1 to 0.2 grams of retention from here on out.
After using the grinder now for 6 months, I can say that retention is very good: about 0.1 grams, if the bellows is used to blow out the remaining particles after grinding. My favorite use case for the DF83 is to go in between grind settings for different espresso machines. The La Pavoni for instance requires a finer grind than a standard pump espresso machine, so all I have to do is adjust 1-2 notches finer on the dial, and voila – I am grinding for the La Pavoni. It’s also great to be able to coarsen the grind easily for my Moccamaster or other brew methods, and come back to an espresso setting with ease.
WAF – Wife Acceptance Factor (Grinding noise)
The DF takes up some prominent real estate on our counter top. Therefore, W.A.F. or P.A.F. (partner acceptance factor) is important. In our case, this grinder gets the stamp of approval from the misses, for its good looks. She did remark however, on the noise level on the DF83, which is higher than that of the Eureka Specialita. No wonder, since the Specialita is dampened, while this grinder is not. Nevertheless, grinding only takes 3-4 seconds per dose, so the noise is short lived.
My better half does however have one other gripe. This grinder suffers a bit from static, especially if not using RDT. Therefore, there may be a mess on the countertop after grinding, depending on how static-laden your beans are. The collar that sits atop the grinding cup does help somewhat.
Pros and Cons
I have quite enjoyed using the DF83, and continue to do so. It grinds super fast, it looks pleasing, it is well dimensioned with its powerful motor, and the dial adjustment is great. I DO have a couple of caveats, however. First of all, it’s so damn fast, that it clogs. If one is not careful about portafilter placement, it can fill up the portafilter so fast, that it piles up into the nose of the grinder, and clogs the whole grinder up. In that case, one has to take the grinder apart to clean it out. Additionally, it is very heavy, and not that easy to move around. Not a big deal, if it has a permanent spot on your counter, but for a guy like me who’s switching things up all the time, it would be nice if there was a built in grip or something to make transporting it easier.
Specifications
Here are the quick specs of this grinder:
- Weight: 10.8 kg
- Dimensions: 38cm tall, 25cm deep, 14cm wide
- Power: 550 watt motor (this is a lot of power!)
- Available for both 110V and 220V
- Available in black and white
- Either standard stainless steel burrs, or SSP high uniformity burrs for $350 extra
YouTube Video of the DF83
Curious to see further details? Just click on the youtube video below!
Where to find the Turin DF83?
The DF83 can be found on Espresso Outlet. If you would like to order one, find the grinder here Turin DF83.