Mahlkonig X54 Grinder Review

Mahlkonig X54: geni.us/9fi6d
Single Dose Hopper for X54: geni.us/7Idk0Bm
Try our coffee! geni.us/4AAmhpj
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Today, we are taking a look at a brand new grinder from an iconic brand. The X54 from Mahlkonig promises to trickle down their extensive knowledge into a grinder made for home use, for brewing methods ranging from espresso to french press. Can the X54 live up to the very high expectations put on it by the Mahlkonig logo it wears? Let's find out!
#coffee #espresso #mahlkonig
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0:00 - Intro
1:08 - Build Quality / Design
3:09 - User Experience
5:42 - Grinding Performance
7:22 - It has wi-fi??
8:25 - Conclusion

[@LifestyleLab_]

Mahlkonig X54: geni.us/9fi6d Single Dose Hopper for X54: geni.us/7Idk0Bm Try our coffee! geni.us/4AAmhpj (As an associate, I earn from qualifying purchases)

[@lancemoore3867]

I’ve been waiting for this one! Was so excited when I saw your unboxing

[@andreasschumacher8798]

Nice and really one of the first real reviews, not just an unboxing. I got my x 54 a few days and love it. As you say, it's hopper based and it's easy to pull a few more shots and it gives you a really good specialty coffee shop feeling. For my 18g vst basket, the x 54 grinds about 21 seconds. Not really fast but the beautiful portafilter holder invites to watch the grinding process

[@fugixi]

Do you switch between beans and/or brew methods? If so, how is that working out on this one? I am having a hard time finding something for both espresso and french/filter and I really want to avoid having two grinders on the counter top.

[@MahlkoenigGrinders]

Such an excellent review. Thank you!

This point I never thought about it and you're totally right: seems to be complicated if you want to use different coffees bags

[@Ed-ch4wq]

This is a really beautiful grinder. I am looking around to see if there is anything better than the Ceado 37j before pulling the plug to purchase one. The hopper size does look a bit large and wish it was 25-50% of that size. I do agree with you on the large adjustment ring as that would make it so much easier to make adjustments. Great video thank you!

[@expecto10]

This help with my grinder review. Thanks!

[@catman928]

I love mine, got the short hopper which keeps my beans fresher. Mostly used for AeroPress grinding.

[@boonewong1453]

I use the X54 as a single dozer with no issue at all. Also the burr adjustment knob is way faster and easier to dial in and to switch from espresso to filter coffee compared to a top adjustment ring design. It produces fluffy grind and last but not least, It is super quiet and easy to clean. Love it. If you are looking for an all ground coffee grinder, the X54 is the best. I would rate it better than the Fiorenzato.

[@Cenot4ph]

great review, thanks

[@checkwhatsleft4565]

Where I live, I don't have to deal with cabinet height, so I'm using full size hopper(mine grinder is Eureka Zenith E65) with single dose every time, full size hopper looks great in the eye ^_^

[@garethmorris2042]

I have always liked the aesthetic of Mahlkonig grinders and like that they have a more affordable home optiom I'm based in Canada and comparing this to a Macap M6D grinder which has larger titanium burrs. Do you have any experience with the grinder to compare, would it be forego the Macap just because I like the looks of Mahlkonig given the price is similar? Thanks

[@JimboJones99]

Great review. Lelit Elizabeth V3 Dual Boiler next for a review? ...

[@bikesrulewithchris]

Thanks for the review. would a 54mm portafilter fit in the holder or is it designed only for the standard 58mm. Thanks.

[@espressotime6909]

Nice Review as always! Could you do a Review of the lelit elizabeth dualboiler? Very impressive machine:)

[@LifestyleLab_]

Would love to do some Lelit in the new year. Hopefully we can make it happen!

[@damianhbk1]

Similar to your giveaway, is there any 3rd party after market single dose mods for this yet? Beautiful machine! Would love to taste what kind of cup this grinder produces. Thank you for the upload! Cheers!

[@LifestyleLab_]

I haven't seen any YET. But I'm sure someone's already working on it

[@emreerokyar]

Just curious, if you had any communication with the manufacturer about the size of the dosing cup they decided on. I assume it wasn’t just random, so I’m actually interested in learning the reason behind.

[@alejandrosamaniego5179]

It's been a while since your comment, but I think that the "dosing" cup is for uses other than espresso. Such as grinding for pour-over, etc.

[@I-l-l-l-l-l]

This is the only sub $1000 hopper grinder with a clean (ish) design aesthetic. Wide open market for any aspiring industrial designer with the right design sensibilities.

[@EdGodoyPlana]

I am sure it’s a nice grinder but it’s not for me. Once I started using single dose grinder I am not going back to a hopper for all the reason you stayed. However, I am sure it’s a great grinder for someone that likes to use one coffee at a time! Thanks for great reviews like always!

[@LifestyleLab_]

Well said Eduardo! Knowing what works for you in your home is extremely important. Not always chasing after the newest and shiniest just because!

[@oyvindgu]

Looks really nice iam now looking for a grinder for both espresso and filter but i dont know if it will be this one or the DF64, what would u choose?

[@LifestyleLab_]

Personally, I would choose this. Far more polished product

[@radiantav]

For last 4 years I am using Vario Home but branded as Mahlkonig. I actually had no ideas about Baratza until I started looking for videos about it. That grinder has 54mm flat burrs too and by all accounts they look to be the same burrs. Not sure can you confirm that. One huge difference is how much quieter X54 seems to be - Vario Home is 80+ dB and it is impossible to talk while it’s working. The clumping is worrying but they really must be too fine.

[@dumkopf]

Haha I didn't realize that Mahlkönig did this. I had a baratza branded one Yes the burrs are the same if not similar. I did side by side tasting. And my tastes concur with that. The Vario is a noise. The X54 has a nice tone at least.

[@anthonytorgerson4175]

Great video. Your videos have convinced me to get the Profitec 400 with flow control for my first espresso machine. Now I need a grinder. I could seel my fellow ode gen 2 and use this for espresso and filter, or get the df64 for espresso. Which grinder would you recommend?

[@LifestyleLab_]

I'd recommend getting a dedicated espresso grinder and keeping the Ode Gen 2 if you'll be regularly enjoying filter as well. Any time you consider an "all around" option there will be sacrifices.

[@anthonytorgerson4175]

@LifestyleLab_ Thanks. You think the df 64 is a good option? Or something else?

[@LifestyleLab_]

The new Timemore Sculptor 078 is apparently a serious contender as well. Can’t go wrong with either

[@thien1809]

This one has only 120w in power while most espresso grinders stand at 350w and up. Do you think it might affect the durability of the machine?

[@gavinBsussex]

Nice grinder, but for my workflow of a couple of coffees per day, the Niche is still a far better option.

[@TheAlexRosas]

I’ve seen some people suggest removing the de-clumping flap and do RDT before grinding and the retention is super low. Would love to see if you could confirm this.

[@LifestyleLab_]

With RDT I don't see a real need to remove the declumper. I was getting quite consistent results single dosing. I just don't want to outright recommend using this grinder for that purpose, because that's not what it was designed for. But quietly in the comments, I see no reason why not to single dose into it when there's only variance of 0.2g or so

[@Kaffeinated11]

I use this as a single dose machine and removed the declumper. Virtually no retention, never more than 0.1g. Been great so far. Also very easy to modify the grinder to work without the hopper!

[@Kaffeinated11]

Also, i did these retention tests after fully vacuuming out the grinder to ensure there was no exchange.

[@chadgregory9037]

the weird thing is how the mahlkonig noise literally sounds like, a 'pleasurable nuisance of luxury' opposed to just a really nice grinder lol. That high pitch noise... idk man, maybe a psychologist could explain to us why we are the way we are! lmao

[@radbcc]

never mentioned the price nor did he compare it to the workflow of the built-in grinder in the breville. but, still my favorite coffee gadget channel....

[@LifestyleLab_]

I never mention exact prices because they can vary so much from region to region. Workflow-wise it will be identical to a built in grinder. Grind quality however is a massive step up from a Breville grinder

[@bigby6023]

How does the Mahlkonig compare to DF-64 with SSP burs, almost at the same price point as the SSP upgrade on DF-64. Does the bigger bur size beat out 54mm burs on the Mahlkonig? I really like the build quality on the Mahlkonig and the warranty on the motor is unbeatable.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Personally, I would go with the Malhkonig for the build quality and warranty alone. Taste I can't comment on too deeply because I haven't run the SSP burrs on any of my grinders yet, but I was quite impressed by the X54 grind quality throughout the range

[@bluemystic7501]

I'd love to see a single dose hopper option.

[@victorchen8484]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f53YkpqXh7ZjrNU

[@tybaltmercutio]

All in all, sympathetic and nice review. However, what I do not understand is why so many people don‘t understand the concept of retention. Better not to give any number if you didn‘t measure it correctly than giving a number which obviously is wrong (since the approximation it is based on is not proper).

[@LifestyleLab_]

I think that a "dose in vs dose out" retention figure is still valuable to those who single dose PURELY for the workflow advantage. However, that is why I mentioned that there was very likely some exchange of grinds going on. Unfortunately I didn't have enough time to run trials where I opened the grinder and cleaned the burrs out after every dose to get a "true" retention figure

[@dawgman2256]

Great video! You said you preferred the taste out of the x54 for pour over vs the niche, stock df64 and ode in a blind test. What about espresso taste between x54, niche and stock df64? Interested to hear your thoughts on this!

[@LifestyleLab_]

For espresso, I still preferred the Niche. Shots were a little richer and full bodied. X54 would be 2nd place, followed by stock DF64

[@dawgman2256]

@@LifestyleLab_ gotcha! Thanks for the reply. Video is very nicely done as per usual!

[@hanantaseloadji5286]

how it's compare to atom 65 for home/small cafe usage?

[@bosnjak8180]

Pretty complete

[@rommiemex9532]

This looks great, and it's priced far below the niche, however, as a home user, unless I have friends over, it's rare to make more than 2 x double shots per day. Single dose grinder may be the way for me. Any recommendations apart from the niche zero?

[@LifestyleLab_]

DF64 is a solid option if you aren’t afraid to do a couple modifications! Baratza Sette is always another solid option on the lower end of the price scale

[@rommiemex9532]

@@LifestyleLab_ without the mods, it's not really worth it?

[@LifestyleLab_]

At the very least you’ll need to align the burrs. Everything else just helps with workflow. I have a video on the DF64 explaining :)

[@sunapasuwanpakdee1183]

Which would you choose this vs df64 gen 2? I’m deciding between these two

[@LifestyleLab_]

Depends what you'll be using if for primarily, and how you'll be using it! And what burrs are in the DF

[@KennethGoldbergkglegal]

Do you feel this would be a noticeable step up from my Sette 270 and can you comment on ease of cleaning and maintenance?

[@LifestyleLab_]

It is definitely a step up from the Sette in terms of grind quality. Cleaning does require an allen key to get inside and remove the upper burr. Not as easy as some other grinders that are tool-free, but still a simple process

[@KennethGoldbergkglegal]

@@LifestyleLab_ Always enjoy your videos! Thanks.

[@poj531]

Would you please review ECM puristika ?

[@Iceman-xe7jo]

I don’t know if I would use this as an all purpose. Going from fine expression to drip is a pain in a but to adjust all the time. Once I dial in a bean I don’t want to touch it.

[@AD.H.]

If you have to choose between the Mahlkonig X54 or Rancilio Stile, what would you choose?

[@LifestyleLab_]

I don’t have hands on time with the Stile yet, so tough to say. They seem quite comparable and in reality you’ll be very happy with either. I confidently recommend the Mahlkonig often

[@schadow65]

Since the coffee in your hopper is pretty dark/traditionally roasated, I wonder: Have you or did anybody else test the grind quality with more modern/ light roasts?

[@LifestyleLab_]

Those beans are just my "filming beans" so I don't waste good stuff on vanity shots! Haha I tested throughly with medium through light roasts when developing my tasting opinion

[@aarongolob4725]

I just learned about this grinder recently, as I was about to purchase (wait) for a Niche Zero. Now I’m very conflicted. My household does 2 morning espressos a day and 2-4 a day on the weekend (with no company). We pretty much exclusively do espresso and I will only be doing single dose use. Niche or x54… :-/

[@LifestyleLab_]

Your situation sounds better suited to the Niche in my opinion

[@azza2575]

Hey@lifestylelab_ what is the issue with clumps at a finer setting. Would WDT help with this? I'm considering this grinder but I do 16g double shots, would want to make sure the clumps won't have negative effects

[@LifestyleLab_]

Not a big issue, yes, WDT exists for this exact reason :)

[@azza2575]

@@LifestyleLab_ and lastly would you recommend this grinder for light roasts?

[@LifestyleLab_]

@azza2575 absolutely! These flat burrs are some that I really enjoyed for lighter roasts

[@azza2575]

@@LifestyleLab_ thank you

[@BigBear--]

How coarse can this grinder grind? I mostly French press, is there enough of a range on the coarse side of the settings to be able to dial in the perfect French Press grind? Or is this more of the type of grinder where the highest coarse setting just gets you to the bare minimum for a French Press grind?

[@BigBear--]

Basically what I can’t seem to figure out is are there any nice grinders in the $400-500+ range that have a lot of adjustment on the coarse side? Like the Baratza Virtuoso Plus? I would get the Baratza, but it’s missing one of the main quality of life features for me - being able to remove the hopper with beans still inside. I’m also not super keen on the Baratza using a glass infused nylon gear in their version two of the gearbox (even though they claim it’s stronger than the original metal gear). I also don’t particularly like that the burr carriers are not metal.

[@LifestyleLab_]

If you're looking for a lot of adjustment on the coarse side, you may want to consider the Fellow ODE. All if it's grind settings are in the Pour Over to Cold Brew range. That being said, the X54 has about 10 (stepless) settings that I would consider to be in the French Press zone

[@ticciba]

How would you compare this grinder with the Baratza Forte? I make 2 espressos every morning and more when we have visitors. My wife will make a full pot of coffee in the MoccaMaster each day to take to work and more if we have a large group at the house at one time. If I am working in my home office and want a cup, I will make a V60. Which of the two, or other would you recommend for making these multiple brew styles each day?

[@LifestyleLab_]

If you’re going to be switching brew styles that often, I might opt for the Baratza due to the more repeatable grind settings

[@ticciba]

@@LifestyleLab_ Thank you for your quick and helpful reply. Are there any other grinders I should consider?

[@LifestyleLab_]

If you’re going to be using the same coffee for all of these brew methods then I think you’re down the right path with these two options! Advantage of the X54 will be that it is significantly quieter, and feels more premium for the money

[@Coffeehome]

Nice grinder

[@LifestyleLab_]

It is!

[@CKD21]

Can this grind be use with a Moccamaster for batch brewing and a Rocket R58 effectively

[@LifestyleLab_]

Absolutely :)

[@MrAsimomytis]

excellent grinder, but with all our interest towards single dose grinders i think it will be overshadowed.

[@BlueTrep]

does 54mm portafilter fit ok without mess？

[@jennablorezone8Band9A]

I live in an old house and I can't use these tall grinders, can you guide me to some grinders that allow me to add the choice of beans I want daily? I'm always creating my own blends ;)

[@LifestyleLab_]

Niche Zero, Eureka Oro Single Dose, DF64 :)

[@emersonmsd]

I'm torn between the X54 and the Uniform. I'm a Auto drip drinker 90% of the time but I have been known to brew with my clever. So then the Uniform should be fine but maybe I will go back to espresso and then the X54 is a better grinder. 🤷

[@PiriyaSambandaraksa]

How's the grind compared to a DF64 with SSP Red Speed burr set?

[@LifestyleLab_]

I don't have any experience with SSP in the DF64. But that would make an interesting comparison grind quality wise. Compared to the DF64 from a workflow perspective these are completely different animals though.

[@arisafghanzada]

Between the Niche Zero, Mahlkonig X54, and Baratza Vario W+, which is ideal for pour over where you're single dosing a different roast each day?

[@LifestyleLab_]

Definitely not the Niche Zero For only pour over I’d take the Vario W+ For pour over and espresso X54

[@arisafghanzada]

@@LifestyleLab_ Wow, Niche just really isn't for filter brewing huh! Too bad about Niche and Mahlkonig (for my needs), they are both remarkably more attractive and "sturdy looking" than the Baratza. But I appreciate your input, and will follow, as I'm looking for the best output and workflow over aesthetics. Thanks for the quick response and great videos!

[@LifestyleLab_]

Don’t discount the ODE if you’re just doing filter! I’d take an ODE Gen 2 with SSP MP burrs over the Vario any day

[@arisafghanzada]

@@LifestyleLab_ Really!? I'd got the impression that it was more hype than it was a grinder that could deliver. Some criticisms were levied against its retention of grind, production of fines, static / mess, and limited range of setting. Were these more nit-picking than legitimate drawback? ./watching your review now.. .//hilarious, your video on the Ode Gen 2 (and the improvements) literally covers all this. Appreciate the follow-up suggestion, I don't think I would have taken another look at the Ode, but that seems like the one for me!

[@LifestyleLab_]

Watch my Gen 2 update, it essentially fixes all the complaints about Gen 1

[@Elfin4]

You can get a 250g hopper now and its perfect.

[@johnnymata523]

Will this be ok for mobile pop up coffee shop ??

[@LifestyleLab_]

Keep in mind that it is technically not rated for commercial use. However, of all grinders in this price range, it’s the one I’d pick for a pop up

[@user-mx6me1yv1u]

Any word on Eureka oro mignon single dose grinder ?

[@LifestyleLab_]

Still only for pre-order when I am! Hopefully I can get my hands on it soon 🙏

[@rsallavin]

Can I use it for my small cafe ?

[@LifestyleLab_]

It will obviously depend on your expected daily volume. While this grinder is not TECHNICALLY certified for commercial use, I see absolutely no reason why it couldn't handle very light cafe use

[@radiantav]

0:40 - that's a much darker roast than I use. I can feel the bitterness just from looking at it. 😖

[@LifestyleLab_]

Knew someone would notice! These are just some cheapo beans I use so that I don't waste good beans filming :)

[@radiantav]

@@LifestyleLab_ My faith is restored!

[@LifestyleLab_]

😂😂

[@scottscottsdale7868]

Now do the Olympia Express Moca , please

[@LifestyleLab_]

Not sure we'll be able to get around to that one any time soon unfortunately

[@marcochiasson2298]

You had identified the odd size for the dosing cup in your unboxing. Did you reach out to the manufacturer as to why? I’m also curious of their choice. Again, nice review. 👍

[@LifestyleLab_]

No formal response back on it before this video went up unfortunately 😕

[@boazyahav9529]

Unlike the Baratza Sette 270wi, this one has no scale. You say +-0.2g consistency which is good but It's also slower. I don't get the feeling that this one is your choice but rather, as with the Baratza Sette 270wi a compromise. This one goes for around $900 (Including VAT) over here... would you go with a different option if the budget was larger?

[@LifestyleLab_]

This is the one I'm currently using in my home for pour over, and the Niche Zero for Espresso. You aren't going to find many grinders that are as fast as the Sette. It's one of the fastest around, apart from very large commercial grinders

[@boazyahav9529]

@@LifestyleLab_ The Niche Zero is a single dose option which is not relevant for me. Thanks for the GR8 reviews, will keep watching. decisions... decisions... decisions...

[@LifestyleLab_]

If you're looking for hopper-fed the X54 is a great option for home. Looking even higher-end something from Ceado might suit you nicely :)

[@TheM00ntasir]

Is it good fro espresso?

[@LifestyleLab_]

Absolutely!

[@TheM00ntasir]

@@LifestyleLab_ Thanks a ton! Last Friday I got my unit. It is an upgrade from breville barista express built in grinder. Since I have never tried other grinder. Also thank you, your videos (dialing) on breville barista express helped for getting consistent shots. When I saw using this grinder I ordered. Got the confident from you. But I was unsure how good it is for espresso.

[@russellhammack8666]

Another review mentioned that the shell of the body is plastic, is this so? Your review says an all metal body. Just trying to which is true. Thank you.

[@LifestyleLab_]

The body is metal….

[@russellhammack8666]

Thank you and I’ve subscribed. Your presentation and content is spot on.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Thanks Russell :)

[@russellhammack8666]

How was the “clumping” for espresso grind? Will WDT be a must? I have a breville SGP and it makes the portafilter look like a lava bed!

[@LifestyleLab_]

WAY better than a SGP. Different level entirely. WDT is a requirement for any grinder though

[@chadgregory9037]

I swear dude, companies do the stupid things like with the dosing cup, just to see how much people care about it

[@dumkopf]

Basically a Vario in a fancy frock, and twice the price. Ditting burrs from Baratza is a solid upgrade. Looks good and I like the portafilter holder. I've compared one side by side, with the same burrs: Tastes identical. The stock burrs are great of course. I'm not at all shocked that y'all would prefer this to any of the others. It should produce the sweetest, most clear cups of the bunch. Niche makes a lot of fines. DF has similar grind distribution with stock burrs. Finally Ode would be closest but can't go fine enough. I would say the dosing cup is geared towards filter brewing. Agreed on the grind adjustment.

[@Cenot4ph]

you can't compare just on the basis of burr size, theres motor quality to consider, there's the burr mounting stability to consider, there's after sales, there's general build quality. And so on and so forth.

[@rballiett3275]

Just received mine. Purchased directly from Mahlkonig. Cannot calibrate it. Followed the directions to the letter. The adjustment knob will not move the burrs. So frustrated and angry right now. This X54 should never have passed inspection to be shipped. At the finest setting, the shot spurts out like a broken fire hydrant. HORRIBLE.

[@thePowerPlant]

The biggest flaw with the x54 is that it's made for the coffee enthusiast from 2005. The days of large bean hoppers and clumpy fine setting reeks of the coffee community back then. When we had the Rocky grinder and Super Jolly as our main sources of grinding machines. While the x54 will work for some people, those are the traditionalist types that cannot support this platform. Coffee heads today need single dose hoppers, solid-consistent grinding across the settings, and maybe an extra feature like a bellows or knocker.

[@seaneckhart9914]

16 seconds for 18 grams is painfully slow

[@LifestyleLab_]

Depends what you're comparing it to 🤷‍♂️

[@seaneckhart9914]

@@LifestyleLab_ I got 18g out of the Sette 270 for just under 10 seconds

[@LifestyleLab_]

Yes, the Sette is very fast compared to most home grinders

[@DaIeDenton]

Cool plastic grinder.

[@LifestyleLab_]

It's all metal...

[@toddd7444]

it's a cheap grinder it made for drip coffee its easy to use buy EK43 is a better for Espresso coffees wheelchair larry

[@LifestyleLab_]

Nearly had a stroke trying to read this comment. - It's not a cheap grinder (price or build quality) - It's not meant for drip, it's an all around grinder that actually made it into my 2022 espresso setup video - An EK43 is a commercial shop grinder and unless used in that setting is an absolutely terrible choice.

[@toddd7444]

the gearing made of mostly plastic parts it has low attraction not made to last hugs wheelchair larry @@LifestyleLab_

[@toddd7444]

its affordable grinder? It is made for drip coffee. It's easy to use and to buy. EK43 is better for Espresso coffees. the 54-gearing made of mostly plastic parts has low attraction compared to the EK the 54 is not made to last? hugs wheelchair larry @@LifestyleLab_

[@jjg19631]

Again, why would you need a hopper in a home environment. The average consumer might do 4-6 extractions per day. A single doser would would make way way more sense. And why would Mahlkönig produce something this cheap where they know that coffee-lovers will pay more if they get more. My ECM 64 S-Automatic is around a thousand euro’s and I would gladly pay that or even a bit more for a cool King of Grinders.

[@niqvuk]

The niche looks terrible

[@LifestyleLab_]

To you I guess 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@dooshakhaboosha2573]

This is an ad

[@ottoernstsen]

This is a comment

[@LifestyleLab_]

Nope, this is an unbiased, honest review. As always. I can't go out any buy EVERY single item I feature. I don't have limitless money. So if a manufacturer wants to send a product when I reach out to them, better for everyone