Mahlkönig X54: Home Grinder Deep Dive Review

Nice video tom !

Good video as always. In my country the Mahlkonig is a similar price to the Rancilio Stile, a bit less than a Mazzer Mini and a bit more expensive than a Eureka Specialita.

For it's engineering, materials , ease of use and quality of grind, I'd say that it's good value.

Tom, enough about the mahlkoening, is that a Hamilton Kahki on your wrist?

can you make a video comparing the IMS basket you have to on Dedica to other baskets? if it makes much difference on the outcome. a basket like NEOUZA basket is much cheaper,

Looks good and definitely a great quality grinder however I was shocked by the consistency. Those are absolutely unreliable numbers, 1-2g swings with the same time setting. if someone wants to use it with the hopper filled up its a no-no. Otherwise its nice machine.

A little spritz of water helps reduce retention I've found with my X54

Thanks for your extensive review! One of the best online in my opinion.

Hi from Brazil!

Do you get lots of static

Please can you do an in depth video on how to properly zero the burrs. I am struggling the same as you with getting the finest setting fine enough for espresso. I have tried the suggested pulling out the dial, changing 0 to about 15 - then attempting to turn and bring the burrs closer until they chirp - however it just doesn’t let me go any further!!!! It’s as though when I lift the ceiling - the floor comes up too. I can’t wind it any further. You mentioned you took it apart and did something else? The photos on the hood are clear but not sure what you did once you took apart the gear box?!?! Please help ! I want to love this grinder but I hate this grinder!!!

They are made in china

Baratza has had that for 10 years sette

I am a fan of German and Japanese made machinery. I never would have known Mahlkonig has a home model if you didn't do this video. Great info and experiment as always.

The difference in the shot made is visibly clear compared to when you use the same espresso machine in subsequent videos but with other grinders.

I purchased an X54 directly from Mahlkonig in late November of 2022. I was so excited when it arrived the day before my birthday. Unfortunately, that's where the happiness ended. I received a hunk of junk that could not be calibrated. I followed the videos and all available information to no avail. My machine spewed coffee like a broken fire hydrant on the finest setting from the X54.

After removing the adjustment ring I found that the gears that provide the burr adjustment are PLASTIC and would not move. My X54 arrived with coffee grounds in it, so it had obviously been tested. How it passed is beyond me, unless the test consisted of "yep, it spins, and coffee grounds come out".

It became apparent to me that in the rush to enter the home market, Mahlkonig created a budget grinder and kept their fingers crossed that the Chinese factory (Yes, the X54 is made in China) would have adequate quality control. As I later learned, my issue was a known and ongoing issue with a number of the X54s that left the factory in China.

As it was the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, no one from Mahlkonig was available to help. To make matters even worse, when finally I was able to contact someone, it was obvious that they JUST DID NOT CARE. They talked a good game, "We'll do whatever it takes to make this right!" But the reality was that all they were really willing to do was to have me send back the grinder, "fix" it and then send me back the very same grinder. NO THANKS! No recompense of any sort for my time, effort, and frustration in dealing with the defective grinder that they sold me.

In my opinion Mahlkonig just accepted that a certain number of these poorly made, low-cost Chinese grinders were going to have issues. I boxed mine up and sent it back. To add insult to injury, Mahlkonig made me pay to send it back. I then purchased a real grinder. A Mazzer Super Jolly V Pro and I could not be happier.

I know some people love the X54, but I have serious doubts about its build quality and Mahlkonig customer service. CAVEAT EMPTOR.

Hi! Thank you so much for this video review. I would like to know if you recommend or if you test it for pour over coffee in demand? I have been looking videos about retention but with pour over grind size and I havent found one that talks about it.

This is a very accurate review. I bought it and after 2 months i must say, very happy with the grinder. My previous grinder was a little cheaper, but so much better coffee for the extra money. Thanks, great video

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

Thanks for the review. I’m trying to decide on a grinder at the minute. This is one of my top picks alongside the Ceada E5p and the Eureka Oro or Specialita. For someone who does only espresso twice to three times a day is the x54 the right choice or is there something else. It is a great brand. I saw quite a lot of static coffee near the end of the video. Is that a problem? Thanks

Great video! I'm looking for a hopper-fed directly into portafilter grinder mainly for dark roast milk drinks for that first breakfast latte with minimal steps. Looking closely at the Libra for its GBW, but a consistant timed grinder would work as well, this one seems a bit too far off unfortunately since I'm seeing this on sale right now for $500 while the Libra is about $300 more

I looked at your blog to see how you readjusted the gear to a 1. It made no sense to me. Maybe you can do a short video on readjusting the calibrating gear to 1 for this machine for newbies like me considering purchasing this grinder. That would be so helpful. Thx.

Is there a way to use a portafilter dosing funnel with this grinder?

These reviews. These grinders are not made for single dose unless you have bellows. They work best for one recipe at a time.

The kings of grinders, but you have to adjust the gears yourself? Oh my...how do you know/measure it's not fine enough?

You mention it briefly but how how did you find the grind adjustment in terms of robustness and precision? It looks like a beautifully made machine and I would like this essential part of the design to measure up to that standard of precision overall.
Also, that shot had a huge amount of crema. Was this due to the type or freshness of the beans you're using? I'm using an ECM machine with Eureka grinder but don't get that much crema.

Thanks.

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

Great review, thank you. So, I'm just starting out & have realised the importance of the grinder vs the actual coffee machine. So I'm looking at the price point of this X54, across Eureka and any other quality brands (by which I mean, reliable, but fixable & candidate for passing down to my kids). On this basis, what grinder would you recommend for me? Many thanks.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MINE I’ve had it only for a month it’s fierce 🎉

Excelente, Muchas gracias, muy completo el video

Does this grind by weight?

Static mess

Thanks for good review!^^

Hi tom, whats the retention on the first grind after cleaning