Eureka Mignon Notte Review: A High-Achieving Beginner Espresso Grinder

We all know that I’m an espresso nerd, right? Consequently, this Eureka Mignon Notte review has me feeling a little giddy. I just love espresso grinders, especially when they are equipped with sturdy metal frames and precision burr sets.

Needless to say, I’m pretty pleased with the Eureka Mignon Notte grinder. Feel free to read along as I discuss the shining features of this entry level espresso grinder.

Overview: Eureka Mignon Notte Review

The Italian coffee company Eureka may not be well-known among the wider public, but espresso nerds certainly know the name. Established in 1920, Eureka is a reputable brand that manufactures everything from affordable espresso grinders to prosumer burr grinders and commercial behemoths.

Notably, every Eureka machine is hand-built in Florence, Italy. Incidentally, Eureka’s Mignon line includes affordable home grinders that are exclusive to Seattle Coffee Gear. Given how much I respect the SCG pros, it’s no wonder that I’m pretty impressed with Eureka Mignon grinders.

As it happens, the Eureka Mignon Notte Espresso Grinder costs only $329.00, making it one of the most affordable Eureka espresso grinders you can get.

Though the Notte is intended as an entry-level espresso grinder to pair with a beginner espresso machine, don’t be fooled; this machine is still an impressive specimen.

It’s got a durable aluminum build, precision stainless steel flat burrs and stepless grind adjustment. Meanwhile, a bottom-burr adjustment design and simple user interface make the Notte accessible to beginner baristas.

On the other hand, the manual dosing mechanism may prove to be cumbersome for home baristas looking for convenience. Similarly, the Notte’s small grind adjustment dial isn’t very stylish or ergonomic.

Still, the Eureka Mignon Notte is remarkably easy to use and represents almost unbeatable value for money. What’s more, its utilitarian vibe would make it a striking addition to a modern kitchen. Most importantly, the Notte boasts a stellar performance and grind consistency that is sure to impress most home baristas.

Eureka Mignon Notte Espresso Grinder Features

Now that I’ve gone over the basics of this Eureka Mignon Notte review, let’s break it down further.

Size and Design

The Eureka Mignon Notte Espresso Grinder features the classic Eureka look, with geometric lines and a modern aesthetic. I’ll admit this look isn’t for everyone, but I happen to like it. At the very least, the Mignon Notte grinder pulls it off with ease.

Incidentally, this grinder is surprisingly compact with only a 5-inch (12.7-centimeter) wide footprint. That said, the Notte has a boxy silhouette that makes it look bigger than it is. What’s more, the durable aluminum build means this grinder weighs in at a sturdy 15 pounds (5.4 kilograms).

As I mentioned at the beginning of my Eureka Mignon Notte review, this is an entry-level espresso grinder. Consequently, its design is pretty pared down. In other words, there are no fancy display screens or flashy special features.

Rather, the Eureka Mignon Notte Espresso Grinder comes in a simple black matte finish with a plastic portafilter fork and plastic bean hopper with a 12 ounce (340 gram) capacity.

User Interface

Again, since this Eureka grinder is an entry-level espresso grinder there aren’t any advanced user controls to fiddle with. That means no LED screens, dosing mechanisms or built-in scales.

Instead, the Notte simply has a power switch and a manual dosing switch. Meanwhile, a small textured adjustment knob serves to change the grind setting.

Come to think of it, really the only grinder with a simpler interface than the Notte is a manual coffee grinder.

Stepless Grind Adjustment

Like many quality espresso grinders, the Eureka Mignon Notte Espresso Grinder features stepless grind adjustment. As it happens, stepless grind adjustment enables you to make precise micro adjustments to the grind size so you can dial in your espresso like a pro.

Allow me to reiterate that the Mignon Notte is intended as an espresso grinder, and an affordable one at that. So, you can expect it to produce a more consistent grind size in the espresso range versus when you try to grind coarser for other brewing methods.

That said, the Mignon Notte isn’t intended to be an all-rounder anyway, so I don’t consider this quirk to be a real flaw.

Before I move on to the rest of this Eureka Mignon Notte review, I’m going to complain for a second. The grind adjustment knob on this grinder is very small, with hard-to-read numbers. Even worse, I’d imagine that it’d be extra hard to keep track of micro adjustments with this system.

However, Eureka has earned plenty of fans with this model, so maybe it’s not as bad as it seems.

Stainless Steel Flat Burrs

When it comes to the conical vs flat burr debate, the two sides can get pretty rowdy. And when you bring the topic of espresso grinders into the mix, well, the debate can reach a Monopoly-level of division.

For my part, I’m going to sidestep the debate and just focus on the Eureka Mignon Notte Espresso Grinder. As it happens, the Notte grinder features some pretty stunning 50-millimeter stainless steel flat burrs.

I call them stunning because, again, the Eureka Mignon Notte is intended as an entry-level grinder – but the burrs punch above their weight class. As a result, this grinder produces uniform and fluffy espresso grounds.

My one complaint is that the grinding operation is said to be quite loud. However, this quality is notorious among grinders with flat burrs, so a bit of noise almost comes with the territory.

That said, it would have been nice if Eureka had included some sound-dampening in the grinder’s build.

Bottom-Burr Adjust

The Notte’s bottom-burr adjustment feature is unique to Eureka grinders.

Normally, espresso grinders have a fixed bottom burr. Meanwhile, the top burr moves up and down on the grind shaft to make the grind size bigger or smaller.

In the case of Eureka grinders, it’s the opposite; the top burr is fixed and the bottom burr moves up and down. According to Eureka, this design makes it easier to take apart your burrs for cleaning and maintenance without messing up your grind setting.

In other words, the bottom burr adjustment ensures that when you remove and replace the top burr, the actual burr position won’t get misaligned from the reference numbers on the grind adjustment knob.

Still, I’ll be honest – I’ve never had an issue with my burrs getting misaligned after removing the top burr. Sure, you may need to flex your skills with some problem solving, but that’s all part of the fun of being a home barista.

To make sure you don’t mess up your grind setting when cleaning the grinder, all you have to do is keep track of the top burr orientation when you remove it, and put it back in the same way. Often, top burrs have a logo or some other marker on them, and I just make note of whether that logo is pointing toward the grinds chute or somewhere else.

With all that said, I understand the appeal of a bottom-burr adjustment mechanism so beginners don’t have to worry about this.

Manual Dosing

As I mentioned earlier in my Eureka Mignon Notte review, this grinder has a manual dosing switch. Because of the switch design, this grinder does not have a hands-free grinding operation. Rather, you must manually hold the portafilter against the dosing switch for it to work.

With that context, the portafilter cradle seems kinda useless to me. That said, I suppose it probably makes it easier to hold the portafilter level and steady.

One plus side of the manual dosing operation is that the Mignon Notte works as a single dose coffee grinder. Actually, it may be easier to use this Eureka grinder as a single doser. I mean, you’ll get more consistent results with less waste if you simply dose out your espresso beans using a coffee scale, then pass them through the grinder.

Anti-Clumping Technology

Eureka’s ACE anti-clumping technology is a standard across Eureka grinders. As it happens, the design of the Notte’s grinds chute prevents clumping and static, resulting in a cleaner portafilter. What’s more, the ACE system produces fluffy grounds, which contribute to an even coffee bed and help reduce the risk of channeling.

Unfortunately, this anti-clumping technology fails a bit if you grind too fine. That said, if you’re grinding within the espresso range you shouldn’t have a problem.

How to Use the Eureka Mignon Notte

As I mentioned earlier in my Eureka Mignon Notte review, using this grinder is easy as pie. Again, there are no fancy settings or programmable features to fiddle with. All you gotta do is fill the hopper with coffee beans, turn on the power switch and hold the portafilter against the dosing switch. Could that be any simpler?

Alternatively, you could use it as a single dose grinder and forgo a loaded bean hopper for manually pre-weighed doses. I already described that process when I discussed the manual dosing feature of this Eureka Mignon Notte Espresso Grinder.

Of course, beyond the physical grinding operation of this grinder there’s also the process of dialing in your grind size. If you’d like some guidance in that regard, check out my guide to pulling a perfect espresso shot.

Eureka Mignon Notte Espresso Grinder Cleaning

Eureka’s bottom-burr adjustment design may be a bit overkill, but it certaining makes cleaning the Mignon Notte grinder a wee bit easier. What’s more, the bean hopper is easy to remove with a simple screw. This makes it a breeze to access the burrs for cleaning and maintenance.

First thing’s first: for the safety of you and your grinder, remember to turn off and unplug your grinder before sticking your fingers anywhere close to the sharp stainless steel burrs. Remember, those burrs are sharp enough to turn coffee beans into powder!

To clean the burrs, you’ll need a soft bristle cleaning brush, a microfiber cloth and a vacuum with a narrow hose attachment. Oh, and as far as tools go you’ll just need basic household tools: a screwdriver and possibly an Allen key.

Again, remove the hopper to access the burrs, then loosen the screws that hold the top burr in place. At this point, brush away and vacuum up any accumulated coffee residue. Remember to also brush out any coffee grounds near the flapper and grind chute, too.

Once the burrs are clean, replace the top burr, tighten the screws and screw the hopper back on. Then, you can clear out the grind chute by turning the grinder on, placing the vacuum hose at the mouth of the grind chute (not inside it) and pulsing the dosing switch a few times.

As you can see, this process is so easy that you could do it weekly without batting an eye. That said, most home baristas can probably get away with cleaning the grinder about once a month. Then again, if you are pulling shots for several people daily or are using super oily beans you may want to clean the Mignon Notte more often.

Eureka Mignon Notte Technical Specifications

Manufacturer	Eureka
Name	Mignon Notte
Type	Electric coffee grinder
Grinder	50mm stainless steel flat burrs
Grind levels	Stepless
Power	210 watt
Voltage	120 volt
Weight	15.0 lb / 6.8 kg
Dimensions	13.8 x 5.0 x 5.5 in / 35.0 x 12.7 x 14.0 cm
Suitable for	Espresso, moka pot, AeroPress
Accessories	User manual
Current price on Amazon	$N/A

Eureka Mignon Notte vs DF64 Gen 2

If you found your way to this article because you’ve been searching for an affordable espresso grinder, it’s likely that you’re considering the DF64 Gen 2 espresso grinder as well.

With a $399.00 price tag, the DF64 Gen 2 is a bit more expensive than the Eureka Mignon Notte Espresso Grinder. That said, it’s got some bonus features that I think are worth the extra cash.

For example, the DF64 has a faster operation and more consistent grind size thanks to the large 64-millimeter stainless steel flat burrs. What’s more, it has a big grind adjustment collar that makes it super easy to adjust the grind.

Beyond these upgrades, these two grinders are pretty similar. Both the Notte and the DF64 Gen 2 are compact with sturdy metal frames, and feature stepless grind adjustment. Meanwhile, as far as looks go they’re both very modern and unique.

On the other hand, the DF64 grinder loses points in a few categories. For example, rather than a portafilter cradle, it includes a 58-millimeter dosing funnel. Sure, you can purchase a portafilter cradle separately if you prefer, but then you’re just adding to the price of the grinder.

Additionally, the DF64 Gen 2 has a very tiny bean hopper, so you can’t really use it as a hopper-fed grinder. But then again, I tend to think that grinders with manual dosing are better as single dosers anyway.

Still, despite these potential flaws it seems to me that the DF64 Gen 2 is all around a better grinder than the Mignon Notte and could be a better choice for an entry-level grinder.

See Also: DF64 Grinder Review

Eureka Mignon Notte vs DF64 Gen 2 Comparison Chart

		DF64 II Grinder
Manufacturer	Eureka	MiiCoffee
Name	Mignon Notte	DF64 II Single Dose Coffee Grinder
Type	Electric coffee grinder	Electric coffee grinder
Grinder	50mm stainless steel flat burrs	64mm stainless steel flat burrs
Grind levels	Stepless	Stepless
Power	210 watt	250 watt
Voltage	120 volt	120 volt
Weight	15.0 lb / 6.8 kg	14.3 lb / 6.5 kg
Dimensions	13.8 x 5.0 x 5.5 in / 35.0 x 12.7 x 14.0 cm	12.0 x 5.2 x 10.0 in / 30.5 x 13.2 x 25.4 cm
Suitable for	Espresso, moka pot, AeroPress	Espresso, moka pot, AeroPress, pour over, drip machines
Accessories	User manual	User manual, 58mm aluminum dosing cup
Current price on Amazon	$N/A	$399.00

Verdict: Eureka Mignon Notte Review

There you have it, my Eureka Mignon Notte review! Overall, this seems like a solid espresso grinder, especially considering the price. After all, it’s sturdy and modern with precision stainless steel flat burrs. What more could you ask from a beginner espresso grinder?