Eureka Mignon models compared – from the Specialità to the Single Dose

Eureka Mignon models compared – from the Specialità to the Single Dose

A short whirr, then that first burst of aroma spreading through the room before any water has even started to flow. Freshly ground coffee smells different than whole beans ever could – and for a moment, that alone is half the anticipation.

Which Mignon creates that moment for you depends less on "better" or "worse" than on one question: how do you actually want to grind in the morning? In advance from a hopper, precisely by weight, or dose by dose with no supply sitting around.

One burr set, many ways to get there

The first thing you notice: within the Mignon family it is not only the size of the burrs that differs, but also how the grinder itself works. The Specialità and the Libra 55 run 55 mm hardened steel burrs at around 1350 revolutions per minute – calm and deliberately held back, from the same quiet motor generation the brand built precisely for that gentler pace.

The Oro Stark 16CR, the Stark W and the Single Dose 65 turn noticeably faster with 65 mm Pure Diamond burrs, at around 1650 revolutions. Higher speed tends to produce more body in the cup, while lower speed treats delicate aromatic compounds a little more gently – a difference you feel rather than see, and one chosen deliberately between the two Mignon lines.

Then there is the question of dosing itself. The Specialità and the Oro Stark 16CR grind into a hopper you take your portions from. The Libra 55 and the Libra 65 All Purpose weigh live as they go and stop exactly at the gram you set. And the Single Dose 65 does without a supply altogether: you put in exactly as many beans as you need right now, and the grinder works through them completely, leaving practically no retention for the next coffee.

Our opinion is one of many: burr sets are like engines in cars – subjective, and there is no objectively best one. Anyone grinding the same bean every day has different priorities than someone switching varieties every week. Both are a complete route to good coffee in Switzerland.

At a glance

	Specialità 55	Libra 55	Single Dose 65	Oro Stark 16CR	Libra 65 All Purpose	Stark W
Burrs	55 mm, hardened steel	55 mm, hardened steel	65 mm, Pure Diamond	65 mm, Pure Diamond	65 mm, hardened steel	65 mm, Pure Diamond
Motor	1350 rpm, 310 W	1350 rpm, 310 W	1650 rpm, 320 W	1650 rpm, 320 W	1350 rpm, 310 W	1650 rpm, 320 W
Dosing	Dosed, hopper	Grind-by-Weight	Single dose, no hopper supply	Dosed, hopper	Grind-by-Weight	Grind-by-Weight
Display	Touch, 2 doses	Touch, 2 doses	No display, manual	Touch, 2 doses	Touch, 2 doses	Touch 2.8", 2 doses
Weight	approx. 5.6 kg	approx. 6.5 kg	approx. 7.2 kg	approx. 7.4 kg	approx. 6.5 kg	approx. 8 kg

We also carry the Specialità in the 18WD colour variants (white, matt black, chrome) – technically the same grinder, simply dressed differently. If you want to go one step beyond the Single Dose 65, the Oro Single Dose Pro is a separate, more refined take on the same principle. And if you want to move past the Mignon class altogether – larger burrs, sturdier build, more throughput – the Atom range (Atom 60 E, Atom W 65 Casa, Atom 65W, Atom 75W) is Eureka's next step up; you will find every model in our Eureka Collection.

Which grinder suits whom

The Specialità suits anyone who wants to open the lid in the morning, top up the beans and start grinding – quiet, compact, with a hopper that holds several days' worth. The Libra 55 is for anyone who wants that same compactness but would rather dose to the gram than by time or feel.

The Single Dose 65 is for anyone switching between different varieties who does not want them mingling in a hopper – every dose a fresh start. The Oro Stark 16CR suits anyone who wants larger burrs and more throughput while staying with the familiar hopper principle.

The Libra 65 All Purpose is for anyone grinding not only for espresso but for other brewing methods too – its fork takes both a portafilter and open vessels. And the Stark W combines large burrs with weight-based dosing for anyone unwilling to compromise on either.

No budget here is merely an entry point into something bigger – the Specialità is not a small precursor to the Stark W, but a complete answer in its own right to the question of how you want to grind. If you like, you can see several models live in our showrooms in Bern and Zurich before you decide.

What else belongs with it

Every Mignon deserves a machine that does it justice – for an overview of our full range, see our coffee machines collection, or go straight to our coffee machine advice tool.

To keep an eye on the brew ratio – 1:2 is always our starting point – a scale is worth it: compact and reliable from our Normcore collection, or with app connectivity and flow-rate display from our Acaia collection.

And for a clean transfer from grinder to portafilter, a dosing funnel earns its place: affordable and dependable from the Normcore collection, or in aluminium with an even more precise fit from our Weber Workshops collection.

Every Mignon from our Eureka coffee grinders collection comes with our advice on the right grind size for your machine. Delivery takes 2 to 4 working days within Switzerland and to Liechtenstein, and financing is available on the larger models.

Frequently asked questions about the Eureka Mignon grinders

What is the difference between the Specialità and the Libra 55?

Both share 55 mm burrs and the same quiet motor. The difference lies in the dosing: the Specialità grinds into a hopper you take your portions from. The Libra 55 weighs live as it goes and stops automatically at the gram you set.

What exactly does "single dose" mean on the Single Dose 65?

You only load as many beans as you need for the coffee you are making right now, instead of keeping a supply in a hopper. The grinder is built for as little retention as possible between grinds – handy if you switch between varieties often.

Do I need 65 mm burrs, or are 55 mm enough?

Larger burrs tend to grind faster and, with some beans, more evenly, but not automatically "better". For most quantities at home, 55 mm delivers a thoroughly rounded result – the decision is more a question of throughput and preference than of quality.

What makes the Libra 65 All Purpose special?

Its fork is built to take both a portafilter and open vessels for other brewing methods – a grinder for anyone not grinding exclusively for espresso, combined with the same weight-based dosing as the Libra 55.

Is a larger or more expensive grinder automatically the better choice?

No. Our opinion is one of many, but from experience: the Specialità makes an excellent espresso for most rituals at home. The larger models pay off above all with higher throughput or particular preferences – not because anything is missing from the smaller ones.

Can I see the Eureka Mignon grinders before buying?

Yes, several Mignon models are set up live in our showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zurich (Hagenholzstrasse 50b), so you can experience them before you decide.