So I've had my Niche since 2019, I ordered it off IndieGoGo before they were even selling on their own site. It's been with me though 3 different espresso machines, ground I don't even know how many doses, certainly thousands over its life (which I realize isn't a crazy amount but it's not nothing).
Unfortunately it's come to a point where the chrome plating on the bean hopper has started to corrode. I'll caveat all this issue by saying that this is almost certainly my own fault because my workflow is stupid. I weigh out my doses directly into my Niche 58mm cup, dump them into the bean hopper, then spritz them twice with water and mix them around in there before closing the lid and grinding. I do this because I try to minimize the amount of little things on my bar and a cup specially for weighing and RDT is just another thing that I will eventually have to clean.
So after my coffee is ground there winds up being water droplets that just sit on the bean hopper and it's gotten to the point where they are pitting the chrome.
I will say that I break my grinder down roughly every 6-months and give it a thorough cleaning, but this was bound to happen eventually given my workflow.
Ironically, I'm a corrosion engineer and deal with this type of stuff every single day….but i try to keep the rust observing to work hours only (literally impossible once you realize that it's literally everywhere, entropy is terrifying).
I've already contacted Niche customer support and they're shipping me a new one for £40 which is totally fair. Just figured I would share my story in case anyone else is just as lazy as i am and also has a Niche.
Corrosion never sleeps friends!
by evaneggnog
9 Comments
As an owner (also since 2019) this is interesting.
I guess you find RDT necessary? Is it climate static that’s the issue?
I have never needed to RDT and not done it, so my Zero (and other grinders) runs dry.
“I’m a corrosion engineer and deal with this type of stuff every single day….but i try to keep the rust observing to work hours only (literally impossible once you realize that it’s literally everywhere, entropy is terrifying).”
Take my upvote.
nothing is more emblematic of this sub than breaking your expensive grinder to avoid putting your beans in a cup.
They’re going to ship you a new one? They told me to kick rocks when I brought up corrosion in my internal parts that weren’t even from RDT.
That’s pretty awesome of Niche to send you a new one! Especially since it’s a 5 year old machine already. Super impressed
I use a little cup lol. Now I’m really glad I do
Does niche sell replacement parts?
I do the exact same thing in my workflow. Eek! But £40 for enjoying my workflow 2x a day for 4 years…might be worth it haha. Hopefully I’ll get lucky and not have an issue.
You’re right. That’s a really bad workflow.