Single Dosing Coffee Grinders 2025: Definition and Advantages in Focus

Quick overview: Single dosing at a glance

Single dosing means you grind exactly the amount of beans you need for a shot or brew – without storing beans in the hopper. This increases freshness, consistency, and control. Modern single-dose coffee grinders minimize retention, reduce static electricity, and allow for quick coffee variety changes.

  • Advantages: maximum freshness, precise reproducibility, low dead space, quick changeover between espresso and filter grind size
  • For whom: Home baristas, micro-roasters, lab setups, cafés with changing specialties
  • Important: Workflow (weighing, Ross Droplet Technique , bellows) and mill design (low retention) determine the result.

What is a single-dosing coffee grinder?

A single-dosing coffee grinder is designed for grinding individual portions. Instead of holding beans in the hopper, you weigh each dose separately, add it, and then remove the entire amount of ground coffee. The goal: as little coffee retention (dead space) as possible and maximum consistency between input and output.

Difference to a hopper mill and why dead space matters

Hopper grinders work best when beans are always available – they are designed for high throughput and service. The disadvantage for home use: different beans get stuck in the dead space. A single-dose grinder reduces this dead space and ensures that almost all of what you put in comes out again.

  • Hopper: faster workflow in the café, but makes changing varieties more difficult, higher retention
  • Single dose : more precise, more flexible, saves beans, less dead space
  • Practical application: Bellows (air bellows) can be used to further purge the remaining amount.

Key terms: Retention, Popcorning, RDT, Bellows

  • Retention: the coffee particles remaining in the grinder . The goal of single dosing: a low-retention grinder.
  • Popcorning: Beans "jump" over the inlet; funnel-shaped hoppers and lids reduce this.
  • RDT (Ross Droplet Technique): 1-2 sprays of water onto the beans to reduce static charge.
  • Bellows: Air bellows on the inlet to blow ground material out of the shaft (Bellows coffee grinder).
Single Dose Coffee Grinder Grind Setting

Why are single-dosing mills gaining in popularity?

Home barista trend, variety changes, freshness and consistency

With the specialty coffee boom comes a growing desire for experimentation and control. Single dosing is permitted.

  • Spontaneous variety change without bean residue
  • Maximum freshness, as no beans degas in the hopper.
  • Reproducible recipes thanks to precise input/output quantities
  • Combination of espresso and filter with one setup (with a suitable grinder)

Disadvantages and limitations in everyday life

  • More steps: Weighing, RDT, possibly purge
  • Potential static load in dry air without RDT
  • Slower speed when consuming many drinks in a row
  • Some grinders require modifications (hoppers, bellows) for optimal low-retention results.

Buyer's guide: What to look out for when single dosing

Grinding discs : flat vs. conical, 64/83 mm, coatings

  • Flat vs. conical burrs: Flat burrs often provide clarity and separation; conical burrs emphasize body and sweetness. Flavor depends on geometry and setup.
  • Size: 64 mm grinding discs are universal and offer a wide selection; 83 mm grinding discs increase output and particle distribution, but also affect noise and power consumption.
  • Coatings (e.g., titanium nitride, diamond-like carbon): increase service life, can improve friction and retention.
  • Profile: Espresso-oriented vs. filter-oriented geometries – or universal discs.

Workflow and handling: scale, RDT, dosing cup, unloading

  • Scale: Weigh input (beans) and control output (ground material) for reproducibility.
  • RDT coffee: A touch of moisture reduces static, minimizes fines in the cup and ensures clean grinders.
  • Dosing cup/funnel: Clean transfer into portafilter or filter – less loss.
  • Discharge/Purge: Tap briefly or press Bellows to release any retention at the end.

Cleaning, noise level, speed, spare parts

  • Cleaning the coffee grinder: Brush regularly with a dry brush; depending on the bean and oil content, occasionally clean more deeply.
  • Noise level: Larger, faster mills are often louder; hand mills are quiet but slower.
  • Speed: 64–83 mm burrs typically grind espresso in 6–12 seconds; hand grinders take 30–90 seconds.
  • Spare parts/service: Pay attention to the availability of grinding discs and seals – Mazzer traditionally scores well here.

Single-dosing coffee grinder from Mazzer on kitchen counter

Mazzer in focus: Which models are suitable?

Mazzer is known for robust commercial grinders and offers compelling single-dose options with dedicated low-retention solutions and customizable classic models. Note: The Mazzer Philos i200d , which you can find in our shop, is also an interesting option for precision workflows.

Mazzer Omega (hand grinder): Design, strengths, target group

The Mazzer Omega is a premium hand grinder with precise bearings and high manufacturing quality. It is quiet, portable, and extremely consistent – ​​ideal for travel, cuppings , and filter coffee, but with the right setup, also suitable for espresso.

  • Strengths: Zero retention, no static when correctly filled, excellent feedback during grinding.
  • Target audience: Baristas who want maximum control and are in no hurry.

Mazzer ZM / ZM Filter: Low-retention, calibration, use

The Mazzer ZM is a benchmark for low-retention grinders in both laboratory and café settings. Its vertical grinding chamber minimizes retention; digital calibration allows for reproducible steps from filter coffee to espresso (ZM Filter: focus on filter coffee clarity).

  • Low retention design with near-complete discharge
  • Precise, repeatable calibration for recipes and comparisons
  • Use: Filter bars, roasters, ambitious home baristas with a focus on consistency

Mazzer Philos I200D : Single dosing, hybrid grinder, precision

The Mazzer Philos I200D is Mazzer's modern take on the single-dosing espresso machine. Its hybrid flat burr grinder combines high grinding speed with a clean, well-structured cup. Thanks to the direct-drive motor and optimized spout geometry, retention remains minimal, while the digital interface ensures precise grind size consistency.

  • Single-dosing design with minimal retention and fast discharge
  • Digital control for precise, reproducible grind settings
  • Applications: High-end home baristas, specialty cafes, professional laboratories focusing on efficiency and taste precision

Comparison: Mazzer vs. Alternatives (Niche Zero, DF64/G-IOTA, Eureka Mignon Single Dose)

  • Niche Zero: Conical disc, simple workflow, very popular – good Niche Zero alternatives depending on taste are flat 64mm platforms (e.g. DF64).
  • DF64 / G-IOTA: 64 mm platform, many disc options, attractively priced; very low retention with bellows.
  • Eureka Mignon Single Dose: Compact design, slanted body to prevent retention, quiet operation – ideal for small kitchens.
  • Mazzer: Stronger in the professional and long-term sectors, excellent spare parts supply; ZM as a high-end reference, Philos as a robust base.

Price, availability and seasonal tips

  • Timing: Black Friday coffee grinder deals, Christmas promotions and seasonal B-stock can bring attractive prices.
  • Plan to have spare parts on hand (discs, seals) if you plan on experimenting extensively.
  • Please note delivery times: High-end models like the ZM may have a lead time.

Single Dosing Coffee Grinder: Coarsely ground coffee in a glass.

Instructions: Single-Dose Workflow Step by Step

Weighing, RDT, grinding, purging, distributing, tamping

  1. Weighing: Weigh out the target amount (e.g. 18.0 g for espresso).
  2. RDT: 1-2 fine sprays of water onto the beans, shake briefly.
  3. Grinding: Fill with beans, put on the lid (to prevent popcorning), grind.
  4. Purge: Tap lightly or press Bellows 1-2 times until nothing more comes out.
  5. Dispensing: Swirl in the dosing cup, transfer to the portafilter; WDT or leveler if required.
  6. Tampen: Straight, with constant force; start the extraction and note the shot parameters.

Troubleshooting: static discharge, fines, channeling

  • Static charge: Adjust RDT, check grounding, use an antistatic ejection hood.
  • Too many fines: Use a coarser grind, try a different disc geometry, choose fresh beans with a suitable roast level.
  • Channeling: Improve distribution (WDT ), even tamping , check sieve size, adjust dose.

Glossary and checklist for a quick start

glossary

  • Dead space/retention: residual amount in the grinder; keep as low as possible when single dosing.
  • RDT ( Ross Droplet Technique) : Water mist against static electricity; improves cleanliness and consistency.
  • Bellows: Air bellows for blowing out the mill shaft.
  • Low Retention Grinder: Grinder with minimized cavities and smooth ejection.

Checklist

  • Scale with 0.1 g resolution
  • Funnel/dosing cup suitable for the portafilter
  • Two to three bean profiles for testing (espresso, omni, filter )
  • Regular cleaning: brush, pipe cleaner, bellows
  • Note-taking app or index cards for recipes and mill settings

Further steps: Log your recipes, test RDT variations, and try different burr geometries. This way, you'll consistently get the best results from your single-dosing coffee grinder.

FAQ about single dosing coffee grinders

What does single dosing mean in coffee grinders?

Single dosing means weighing each portion of beans individually and grinding them without a bean hopper. The goal is maximum freshness, reproducible results, and minimal retention.
Are Mazzer grinders suitable for single dosing?

Yes. The Mazzer Omega (hand grinder) and the Mazzer ZM are particularly suitable due to their very low retention. Classic models like the Mini or Super Jolly work well with a single-dose workflow and optional bellows.
Do I need Bellows for single dosing?

Not strictly necessary, but a bellows can further reduce retention and make the dispensing more consistent. Especially with hopper-based grinders, it improves the single-dose workflow.
Which grinding discs are better: flat or conical?

Flat burrs often deliver clearer separation and more clarity, while conical burrs offer more body and sweetness. Both work for espresso and filter coffee; geometry, size, and setup are more crucial than the burr type alone.

You can also find coffee grinders here!

View all