A New Grinder to Compete with the E80S
Anfim have recently released a direct competitor to the Mahlkonig E80S commercial espresso grinder in the Anfim Alba – a bigger brother to the 65mm burr Anfim Luna which coincidentally rivals the Mahlkonig E65s. In this article, we’ve provided a guide and comparison between the Anfim Alba and the Mahlkonig E80S to decide which of the two 80mm espresso grinders might be right for your cafe, and why you might want an 80mm grinder in the first place.
First off, why would you need an 80mm burr grinder?
The size of the burr set on your espresso grinder is linked with speed, grind consistency and quality of flavour, daily output and burr lifespan. 80mm burr grinders have not been around for a long time in the grand scheme of things, but are quickly taking on as great choices for high volume cafes looking for superior grind quality and workflow speeds. Large burr grinders do come with a higher price tag, but could definitely be worth your investment if it will be going into a high volume coffee shop that wants great tasting coffee ground quickly and with a long lifespan to the burrs.
The choice between our two top contenders, the Anfim Alba and Mahlkonig E80S—often raises a lot of questions. In this article, we’ll answer the most common questions to help you make an informed decision between these two fantastic grinders if you’re looking to invest in an 80mm burr set.
Key Differences Between the Anfim Alba and Mahlkonig E80S
Difference in Price
Price is going to be one of your main decision-making criteria if choosing between these two grinders. There’s a clear winner, with the Anfim Alba at around £1,850 vs the Mahlkonig E80s at a heftier £2,300. Going for the Anfim Alba saves you around £450, so this will be an easier choice for those looking to keep below a certain budget.
However, value for money is not the same as price, and for that extra £450 you’re getting a significantly improved design and build quality, along with an upgraded burr set. More on that later. So, the Anfim Alba wins on price, but we’d argue the E80S offers better value for money.
Burr Design and Options
As mentioned, both grinders feature 80mm burrs for high quality grounds, delicious flavours, and high speeds. Whilst the two grinders feature the same burr size, the materials are slightly different. The E80S comes equipped with advanced ‘Special Steel’ burrs out of the box, providing superior grind consistency and quality. The good news however is that you can upgrade the Alba to the upgraded E80S burrs with a simple swap out, enhancing its speed and grind quality without needing to pay for the full price of the E80S.
Workflow and Touchscreen UI
User experience is largely similar for both grinders, with both the Alba and the base model of the E80S featuring the same grind-by-time dosing system. Note, however, the option of the GBW (grind by weight) dosing system version of the E80S for quite a bit more money.
Actual shot-by-shot workflow of the grinders is identical, simply having the correct dose selected on the touchscreen and locking the portafilter into place to start the grind. We preferred the screen on the E80s compared to the Alba, offering slightly easier customisation of recipes with the additional physical buttons and being slightly brighter, higher definition and professional looking.
Dialling in Mechanism
One key difference between the two grinders is the dialling in mechanism. On the E80S, grind adjustments are made using a simple left<->right paddle, whereby moving the paddle towards a lower number dials the coffee finer, and a higher number takes it coarser. This is an intuitive control mechanism for your baristas, and comes with the added benefit of being able to lock the grind into place using a switch on the back of the grinder.
The Alba’s worm-drive style dialling mechanism works slightly different, in that there is a screw on the front of the grinder that is physically connected to the burrs. This is turned clockwise or anticlockwise to make minute adjustments to the grind size. Whilst the grind can’t be locked into place, this style allows for far more control over the grind size.
Build and Materials
Both grinders are incredibly well designed on the inside, but with the E80S you get a far more premium outer shell. The all-plastic body on the Alba is nicely designed but slightly less durable than the all-metal body of the E80s, made up of stainless steels and brushed metals.
Which Grinder Is Faster?
Speed is crucial in high-volume settings and is the reason many coffee outlets look to upgrade to an 80mm grinder. Here’s how the two grinders compare.
The E80S consistently grinds 18 grams of coffee for espresso in under 3 seconds, making it one of the fastest grinders available. This speed is a great selling point for this grinder in busy cafes where quick service is a priority. In comparison, the Alba was slightly slower at 4.4 seconds during our testing for the same coffee dose (Still a very fast grinder!). Upgrading to E80S burrs can help close this gap further reducing grinding time by about a second, making it a competitive option for those who need reliable speed without the higher cost.
What Are the Daily Capacities of Each Grinder?
This is one area where the grinders are similar in spec. Manufacturers of both grinders recommend upgrading from a 65mm to an 80mm burr set grinder when you’re reaching above 20kgs of coffee per week, and that both the E80s and Alba are great for up to 35kgs of coffee per week. So in terms of daily capacity, the grinders are on par. However, the higher quality burrs on the E80S are likely to run for longer before needing replacement, and it’s improved speed in grinding over the Alba gives the E80S the edge in terms of daily speed and workflow.
Which Grinder Is Right for Your Cafe?
Ultimately, the choice between the Anfim Alba and Mahlkonig E80S comes down to your specific needs and budget. Both grinders give you great speeds, grind quality and performance you’d expect from an 80mm burr set. Which grinder is right for you will largely come down to your budget, and design and build preferences.
Whilst speed is a large selling factor of the E80S over the Alba, 4.4 seconds is still a very fast grinding time from the Alba, so it’s probably not a factor that should be influencing your final decision a great deal. If you’re constricted by budget, the Alba is a great choice. If you see the value in an additional £450 for a full metal body, more feature-rich touchscreen interface, and the upgraded burrs from factory, you’ll have a great time choosing the E80s for your commercial espresso grinder.