Niche Zero 2: What We Know About the Next-Gen Niche Grinder

The Niche Zero changed home espresso grinding when it launched. It proved that a single-dose workflow grinder with minimal retention could exist at a reasonable price, and it became one of the most popular home espresso grinders in the specialty coffee world. So naturally, everyone wants to know about the Niche Zero 2. If you're here looking for information on the successor, I'll share what's been confirmed, what's rumored, and what the original Niche Zero already does well to help you decide whether to wait or buy now.

I'll also cover the original Niche Zero's strengths and weaknesses, because understanding them is the best way to predict what a Niche Zero 2 would likely improve.

What Made the Original Niche Zero Special

The Niche Zero stood out for a few specific reasons that no other grinder at its price combined:

Near-Zero Retention

The Niche lives up to its name. The grind path is short and angled so that gravity pulls almost every particle of ground coffee out of the chute and into your cup or portafilter. Typical retention is under 0.1 grams. Compare that to most flat burr grinders that retain 1 to 3 grams, and you understand why the Niche attracted single-dose grinders who hate wasting coffee.

Single-Dose Design

There's no large hopper for storing beans. You weigh your dose, drop it in the top, and grind. This keeps your beans in a sealed bag or container until you need them, which is better for freshness. The Niche was designed from the ground up for this workflow, while most other grinders had hoppers bolted on as the default design.

63mm Mazzer Conical Burrs

The Niche uses a well-regarded 63mm conical burr set manufactured by Mazzer, an Italian company known for commercial espresso grinders. These burrs produce a grind profile that works well for both espresso and filter coffee, making the Niche a genuine all-purpose grinder rather than a specialist.

Quiet Operation

The Niche uses a low-RPM motor that's significantly quieter than most electric grinders. You can grind at 6 AM without waking up the house. The slow speed also generates less heat, which preserves the aromatics in your beans.

What a Niche Zero 2 Would Likely Change

Based on common feedback from Niche Zero owners and the direction the specialty coffee market has moved, here are the areas a successor would most likely address:

Grind Consistency Improvements

The Niche Zero's conical burrs produce a wider particle distribution than modern flat burr grinders. This isn't a flaw per se. Conical burrs create a bimodal distribution (two peaks of particle sizes) that many people actually prefer for espresso because it adds body and richness. But the trend in specialty coffee has moved toward tighter, more uniform grinds that produce cleaner, more transparent cups.

A Niche Zero 2 might use updated burr geometry, different materials, or even switch to a flat burr design to tighten the particle distribution while maintaining the low-retention, single-dose philosophy.

Stepless vs. Stepped Adjustment

The original Niche uses a stepless (infinitely adjustable) grind dial, which is great for espresso. However, it can be tricky to return to an exact setting. There are no click stops, so you're relying on visual markers on the dial and your own precision. Some owners mark their settings with tape or labels.

A next version might add indexed markings or a numbered system while keeping the stepless design, similar to what grinders like the Lagom P64 offer.

The Niche Zero is well-built, but the plastic body has drawn criticism from buyers spending $700 or more. The plastic doesn't affect performance, but at this price point, people expect metal construction. The original also uses a plastic grounds funnel that some find flimsy.

A Zero 2 would likely upgrade the exterior materials to match the premium positioning. Metal body panels and a machined catch cup would bring the look in line with competitors.

Anti-Static Technology

Static buildup is a minor but persistent issue with the Niche. Grounds sometimes cling to the inside of the chute or scatter slightly when leaving the grinder. The Ross Droplet Technique (RDT) of misting beans with water before grinding solves this, but built-in anti-static features would be a welcome improvement.

Should You Wait or Buy the Original?

This is the practical question. Here's my take:

If you need a grinder now and the Niche Zero fits your budget and brewing style, buy it. The original remains an excellent grinder. The near-zero retention, quiet operation, and versatility across brew methods haven't been surpassed by many competitors at its price. Waiting for a product with no confirmed release date means drinking worse coffee in the meantime.

If you're not in a rush and you have other grinders to use in the interim, waiting to see what comes next is reasonable. Any successor will likely be an improvement, and the announcement would probably drop the price of the original on the used market.

For comparisons with other grinders at this level, the best coffee grinder list covers competing options from Eureka, Lagom, DF64, and others.

Living With the Original Niche Zero

I used a Niche Zero for over a year, primarily for espresso with occasional filter brewing. Here's what daily life with it looks like:

Morning espresso routine: Weigh 18 grams of beans, pour into the top, grind for about 12 to 15 seconds, dose directly into a portafilter. Total time from bag to portafilter is about 30 seconds.
Switching to pour over: Turn the grind dial from my espresso mark to my V60 mark, weigh a new dose, grind. No purging needed because there's almost nothing retained. The switch takes 10 seconds.
Cleaning: Weekly brush-out of the burrs, monthly deep clean where I remove the top burr and wipe everything down. Takes 5 minutes.
Noise: My partner sleeps through my 6 AM grinds. That alone is worth the price.

Espresso Quality

Shots from the Niche have good body, sweetness, and a smooth texture. The conical burr character gives espresso a rounded quality that many people prefer over the sharper, more analytical cups that flat burr grinders produce. For milk drinks, the Niche is particularly well-suited because that body holds up against milk.

For straight espresso with light roasts, the wider particle distribution can make it harder to pull shots with bright, clean acidity. Light-roast espresso drinkers who want maximum clarity might prefer a flat burr option.

Filter Quality

The Niche makes good pour over, but it doesn't match the clarity of a dedicated filter grinder like the Fellow Ode or a flat burr grinder with SSP burrs. It produces a rounder, heavier cup that still tastes great, just different from the "transparent" cups that flat burrs produce. For French press and AeroPress, the Niche is excellent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Niche announced the Zero 2?

As of my last check, Niche has not officially announced a "Zero 2" or a direct successor to the original. The coffee community speculates based on typical product cycles and hints from the company, but nothing is confirmed. Check Niche's official website and social channels for the latest information.

Is the Niche Zero good for beginners?

Yes. The single-dose workflow is simple, the stepless adjustment is intuitive, and the grind quality is forgiving enough that beginners produce good shots quickly. The main barrier is the price, which is higher than entry-level options.

Can the Niche Zero grind for Turkish coffee?

The Niche can grind very fine, fine enough for Turkish coffee. The stepless adjustment lets you go as fine as you want. It's not the most common use case, but it handles it.

How much does the Niche Zero cost?

The original Niche Zero retails for around $700 to $750 depending on the color and current availability. It's sold directly through the Niche website and through select specialty coffee retailers.

Where Things Stand

The Niche Zero remains one of the best single-dose grinders you can buy for home espresso. Whether a Zero 2 arrives this year or next, the original continues to deliver excellent performance for both espresso and filter brewing. If you're in the market now, the Niche Zero is a safe, well-tested choice. If you're willing to wait and see, keep an eye on Niche's announcements, but don't hold off indefinitely. Good coffee every morning is worth more than waiting for the next big release. For alternatives at various price points, browse the top coffee grinder roundup.