Best electric grinder for filter coffee? (clarity + light roasts)
Hey everyone,
I’m looking to add a dedicated filter grinder to my setup. My current grinders are great for espresso, but I’m just not getting that super clean, tea-like clarity I want out of pour overs and French press.
Right now I’m running:
Niche Zero (daily espresso)
CF64V (mostly for experimenting with modern espresso)
They both do their job, but for filter they lean a bit too “rounded” and blended. I’m chasing more separation—floral notes, acidity, all that good stuff you get from lighter roasts when things really dial in.
A few things I’m trying to stick to:
Electric only (not looking to hand grind right now)
Prefer solid build quality — I’m a little wary of stuff that feels too plasticky or has known QC quirks unless the cup quality really justifies it
Budget is ideally under $1k, but I can stretch if there’s a real jump in performance
Grinders I’ve been looking at:
Timemore 078 — seems like people love it for clarity, but I’m curious about long-term reliability
Mazzer Philos — expensive, but looks built like a tank. Is it actually worth it for filter?
Zerno Z1 — I know the wait is brutal, but is it basically endgame for this?
Also wondering if I should just upgrade burrs/alignment on the CF64V instead of going for a whole new grinder, or if something like 78mm burrs is really a different experience for filter.
Would love to hear what you all think, especially if you’ve compared these side by side or found any sleeper options I should be looking at.
Thanks in advance.