Part of: DF64 grinder review: versions, workflow and espresso
DF64 Gen 1 vs Gen 2: Which Version Are You Buying?
A DF64 Gen 2 is easy to spot in a photo: painted black or white body, wooden lid, aluminum dosing cup and a red power button on the side. A DF64 Gen 1 has a vinyl wrap, a metal lid, a clear plastic cup and a front power button. This guide was researched from manufacturer listings and published reviews; it covers identification only, and the full grinder assessment lives in the DF64 review.
DF64 Gen 1 vs Gen 2 at a glance
| Feature | DF64 Gen 1 | DF64 Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Body finish | Vinyl wrap, several colors | Painted, black or white only (Brew Coffee Home) |
| Lid | Metal | Wooden (Homegrounds) |
| Dosing cup | Transparent plastic | Aluminum (Brew Coffee Home) |
| Power button | Front-center, white | Moved to the side, red (Brew Coffee Home) |
| Dial indicator | Coffee-bean shaped indicator | Coffee-bean indicator removed (Coffee Chronicler) |
| Static control | None built in | Plasma generator in the grounds chute (Homegrounds) |
| Anti-popcorn disc | Separate purchase | Stock (Brew Coffee Home) |
| Stock burrs | 64 mm Italmill | 64 mm Turin-brand stainless steel (Homegrounds) |
How to identify a DF64 version from listing photos
Five exterior cues separate a DF64 Gen 1 from a DF64 Gen 2 without opening the grinder. Check them in this order, because the first two survive most aftermarket modifications.
- DF64 body finish. A vinyl wrap, often in colors beyond black and white, points to Gen 1. Brew Coffee Home notes the Gen 2 moved to a painted surface in black or white only.
- DF64 power button position. A button on the front, center points to Gen 1; a red, unlit button on the side points to Gen 2, as Coffee Chronicler describes.
- DF64 dial indicator. The Gen 1 coffee-bean dial indicator was removed in the Gen 2, per Coffee Chronicler.
- DF64 lid. A wooden lid suggests Gen 2 and a metal lid suggests Gen 1, although lids are easy to swap.
- DF64 dosing cup. A clear plastic cup suggests Gen 1 and an aluminum cup suggests Gen 2; cups are also swappable, so treat the cup as the weakest cue.
Lids, cups and bellows are common upgrades for a DF64 Gen 1, so a Gen 1 with a wooden lid and a metal cup is possible. When the finish and the power button disagree with the accessories, trust the finish and the power button.
DF64 Gen 1 vs Gen 2 internal differences a listing photo cannot show
Several DF64 Gen 2 changes sit inside the grinder. Homegrounds reports a plasma generator added to the grounds chute to cut static, a stock anti-popcorn disc, and a redesigned declumper. Brew Coffee Home adds that the Gen 1 used three springs in the burr carrier while the Gen 2 uses a wave spring fixed to the chamber. Reviewers also report the Gen 2 shipped with Turin-brand burrs instead of the Gen 1 Italmill set, and Coffee Chronicler describes the Gen 2 burrs as giving a brighter, more modern taste profile.
Because a DF64 Gen 1 can carry aftermarket burrs such as SSP burrs, the burr set says little about the generation on a used grinder. Ask for a photo of the chute exit to see the plasma generator on a claimed Gen 2.
Questions to ask a DF64 seller before buying
- Which DF64 generation is it, exactly? Ask for Gen 1, Gen 2, 2.5 or 2.7, not "ELR" or "V2" alone; "ELR" is a retention descriptor used on the DF Grinders Gen 2 (V2.5) listing, not a generation.
- Can you photograph the DF64 power button side and the dial? These two photos settle most Gen 1 vs Gen 2 questions.
- Are the DF64 burrs stock or aftermarket? Aftermarket burrs change grind settings and value.
- Which DF64 voltage is it? df64coffee.com sells the DF64 Gen 2 in 100-120 V and 220-240 V versions, and an imported unit may not suit your outlets.
- Is there a DF64 receipt or warranty? DF Grinders lists a 1-year warranty, so a used grinder is often out of cover.
DF64 Gen 2.5 and Gen 2.7 are revisions of the Gen 2
A DF64 labelled Gen 2.5 or Gen 2.7 shares the Gen 2 exterior cues above. DF Grinders describes Gen 2.5 ionizer probes built into the inner chute wall, and the Turin Gen 2.7 listing at Nossa Familia describes a convex anti-popcorn blocker. The full version table, specifications and workflow sit in the DF64 grinder review; once you own either generation, start dialing in with the DF64 grind settings guide.
DF64 Gen 1 vs Gen 2 FAQ
How can I tell if a DF64 is Gen 1 or Gen 2?
A DF64 Gen 1 usually has a vinyl-wrapped body, a metal lid, a clear plastic dosing cup, a front-mounted power button and a coffee-bean dial indicator. A DF64 Gen 2 has a painted black or white body, a wooden lid, an aluminum dosing cup and a red side-mounted power button, according to published comparisons.
Does the DF64 Gen 1 have a plasma generator?
No. Published reviews describe the plasma generator in the grounds chute as a DF64 Gen 2 addition; the Gen 1 has no built-in static control.
Do DF64 Gen 1 and Gen 2 use the same burrs?
Both use 64 mm flat burrs, but reviewers report the Gen 1 shipped with Italmill burrs and the Gen 2 with a Turin-brand stainless steel set.
Is a DF64 Gen 2.5 or Gen 2.7 a different grinder from Gen 2?
No. DF64 Gen 2.5 and Gen 2.7 are revisions of the Gen 2 that changed static hardware and the anti-popcorn blocker, so they share the Gen 2 visual cues described here.