ECM S-Automatik 64 Anthracite – Espresso Grinder with Timer and 64 mm Steel Burrs
A quick press of the button, an even hum, and the ground coffee falls light and fragrant into the portafilter.
What rises into the air is already a large part of what you'll taste later. Coffee carries more than 800 compounds, and many of them are only released when the bean breaks. As you swallow, they rise through the throat to the olfactory mucosa, retronasally, and that is exactly where what we call aroma comes into being.
What sets the S-Automatik 64 apart
Two 64 mm steel burrs run in an aluminium grinding unit. The diameter gives the beans room to be cut cleanly rather than crushed, and the more similar the particles are in the end, the more evenly the puck releases its sweetness, its caramel and its chocolate into the water.
The grind adjustment is stepless. You don't turn from click to click, but as finely as the day calls for, and the 450 W motor pulls even darker-roasted beans through calmly. Fins on the body release the motor's heat to the outside so it doesn't linger in the grinding unit.
The timer doses to a tenth of a second, programmable for one and for two doses, and the display shows the quantities ground. That takes work off your hands, but it never replaces the scale: every shot is its own, because the bean, the humidity and you yourself change from day to day. That's why we think in weight ratios, 1:2 as a calm starting point, so 18 g of coffee to 36 g of espresso, and never by time alone.
There's no answer to which grinding unit is the best. Grinding units are like car engines: one person loves quick torque, another loves smooth running. There's no right and no wrong, only the coffee you enjoy. Our opinion is one of many.
At a glance
| Burrs |
Steel, 64 mm diameter |
| Grinding unit |
Aluminium |
| Motor power |
450 W |
| Grind adjustment |
stepless |
| Dosing |
Timer for 1 and 2 doses, display of dispensed quantities |
| Bean hopper |
approx. 500 g, optionally approx. 1000 g |
| Dimensions |
145 x 200 x 415 mm |
| Weight |
6.5 kg |
| Housing |
powder-coated in anthracite, stainless steel gear ring |
| Scope of delivery |
Carry bag, bean hopper with lid, catch tray, locking screw, instruction manual |
| ECM item number |
GR100005-01 |
| Manufacturer |
ECM Manufacture GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany |
Who it's made for
For everyone who makes two coffees in the morning and one more in the evening, and wants the dose to stay the same. The S-Automatik 64 sits calmly on the counter, works at the touch of a button and asks for no prior knowledge. If you'd rather have every grind in your own hands, you'll also find purely manual models among the electric espresso grinders, and if you switch between espresso and filter coffee every day, grinders with a single dose funnel are more likely your thing.
With us, affordable grinders are worth no less than expensive ones, and expensive ones are never the only right way. Our advice tool for coffee machines and grinders can also show you which grinder suits your machine. You'll find the whole brand in our ECM collection.
What goes with it
It's a scale that turns the timer into a real tool. For everyone who wants a scale that is affordable and precise: Normcore. Anyone who wants app connectivity and a flow rate display: Acaia. Both sit side by side in our coffee scales.
The same applies to tamping. For everyone who wants a tamper that is affordable and precise: the spring-mounted Normcore Spring-Loaded Tamper. If you want more: the Weber Workshops Tamper. You'll find both in the collection Tampers for portafilters, and if you want the ground coffee loosened and fanned out before tamping, the Normcore WDT Tool is ready, while the Weber Workshops Moonraker is the finer version.
Frequently asked questions
How does the S-Automatik 64 differ from the S-Manuale 64?
Burrs, motor power, dimensions and weight are identical. The S-Automatik 64 doses via a programmable timer for one and two doses and shows the quantities ground, while the S-Manuale 64 grinds for as long as you hold the switch and has a height-adjustable portafilter rest instead.
How much coffee fits in the bean hopper?
About 500 g. ECM offers an optional larger hopper holding about 1000 g. If you'd rather fill in only the amount for the next shot, you can work with a dosing cup, which works just as well with this grinder.
Do I also need a scale?
We recommend one, because the timer measures time, not weight. The age of the beans and the humidity change the yield from day to day, and with a scale you see that immediately instead of guessing.
Can I see the ECM S-Automatik 64 Anthracite live before buying?
That depends on whether the ECM S-Automatik 64 Anthracite is on display right now. Our showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zurich Oerlikon (Hagenholzstrasse 50b) show a wide selection, but not our entire range – it is too large for that, and the display changes. Drop us a quick line at [email protected] before your visit, and we will check whether the ECM S-Automatik 64 Anthracite is currently there.
How long does delivery take in Switzerland?
2–4 working days, throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein. Financing is available, and we're always happy to answer questions at [email protected] or by phone during business hours.
Tip from our coffee roastery
When we dial in a new grinder, we usually reach for Cozy Chocolate or Nutty Delight. Both are dense and full-bodied and bring clear notes of caramel, chocolate and nut, which makes adjusting the grind size pleasantly easy to follow. If you're looking for maximum body without any acidity, stay with Very Nutty, and for the curious who'd like to discover a fruity experience, Wild Peach is ready. That's our recommendation, one of many, and any bean you enjoy works just as well on this grinder.
