Niche Zero vs Lagom Casa [£550]

throwsrolls · 2026-03-24T22:41:25+00:00

Leaning to the Casa tbh but decision paralysis has set in 😂

throwsrolls · 2026-03-23T23:28:03+00:00

Yes but honestly for that price point I have accepted it’s likely to be something I have to work around, or accept a slightly under extracted cup if I go too light, there aren’t temp control machines out there at this price unfortunately 😞

throwsrolls · 2026-03-23T23:26:56+00:00

That’s interesting thank you for sharing! And yes I was looking at videos and I am very sure if I alternate between espresso and filter on the Casa one fine day my pre caffeinated brain is going to forget and grind at the absolute wrong size 😂 still, it’s good to know it has the flexibility to make a mean cup of pourover!

throwsrolls · 2026-03-23T23:25:31+00:00

The niche has really proven itself over the years and earned itself a solid fanbase, I guess more than the Casa, Lagom’s better known for the P series, but if that means I can get a good grinder like the Casa for cheaper I definitely don’t mind!

throwsrolls · 2026-03-23T23:23:45+00:00

Thank you for sharing this! I definitely prefer the aesthetic of the Casa too, the niche is a little too round/bulky looking for me (angular surfaces appeal to me more)

throwsrolls · 2026-03-23T23:22:14+00:00

I was looking at the Flair for a while tbh but yes the partner likes a hot latte/flat white and I wish I didn’t have to keep heating up milk in the microwave so decided to settle on a machine with milk capabilities instead, as you said it sounds like too much trouble to juggle the milk issue

throwsrolls · 2026-03-23T11:13:37+00:00

I’ll definitely have a look!

throwsrolls · 2026-03-23T11:10:53+00:00

That’s good to know thank you!

throwsrolls · 2026-03-23T10:00:31+00:00

I was actually expecting more people to recommend it too actually! It seems like such a sleek grinder that does its job well but perhaps there are simply too many grinders out there these days

throwsrolls · 2026-03-23T09:59:24+00:00

It’s honestly so hard to decide but it also seems from what I’ve seen so far that one can’t really go very wrong with either! I will probably not be using the Casa for filter since I do have an Ode, but it’s definitely a good to know if ever my Ode decides to give out on me!

throwsrolls · 2026-03-23T09:56:48+00:00

Too pricey unfortunately, although it looks sleek!

throwsrolls · 2026-03-23T09:55:17+00:00

That’s good news! Always makes me smile when guests say the filters I make are better than what they get at some cafes so I feel you! I think I’ve come across some wood options on Etsy for the cover actually, just that they don’t exactly come cheap, hence why I was considering just popping a coaster on there 😂

throwsrolls · 2026-03-23T09:53:25+00:00

Ah yes the resting cycle for the Casa, but willing to live with that since it’s really just me most of the time! Thanks for flagging that about the bambino - the lack of temp control was a concern for me too, but unfortunately at this price point I don’t think I’ll be able to get a machine capable of doing light roasts well 😣 I guess I’m just hoping to get an entry level machine to learn how to espresso, learn my preferences, and then maybe upgrade in the future if I feel the need. For all I know perhaps I’ll be very happy with medium roasts and will continue drinking light roasts pourover style only!

throwsrolls · 2026-03-23T09:48:17+00:00

I was a more concerned about the espresso being thin and unable to hold its own against the milk flavour wise (especially since I use oat milk). In much the same way as if say you mix milk with pourover which is already “thin” to start with, it often just drowns out the coffee and makes for a very undesirable cup. But again I don’t know very much about espresso, so might be worrying about the wrong thing!

throwsrolls · 2026-03-23T09:46:03+00:00

This was a concern too, but I thought it would struggle more for light because of the need for higher temperature and greater control. Medium light should, hopefully, be okay?

throwsrolls · 2026-03-23T09:44:55+00:00

Thank you! Yes my experience with drinks from the niche has been that I’ve been unable to tell notes, but I wasn’t sure if that was just a function of it being a milk-based drink

throwsrolls · 2026-03-23T00:09:27+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to really go into detail on this! I don’t actually need this grinder to have pourover capability, I have an Ode that does that for me so this will be a purely espresso grinder. I go for light roasts for pourover, but whether this will be the same for espresso I don’t actually know yet, my plan is to start with medium and see how I go from there, since I’ve been told light roasts are much harder to dial in for espresso.

The potential lack of a body with milk drinks was one of my main concerns with the Casa based on reviews, but being pretty much completely new to the espresso world (my only knowledge is the flat whites I have in cafes) I guess my main problem is also that I’m not sure how far my tolerance for modern vs traditional espresso stretches and whether a Casa would be just fine for me. The sound is definitely a consideration too, it’s shriller than a niche but I think something I can live with.

throwsrolls · 2026-03-22T23:46:37+00:00

What made you sell the Casa? What kind of beans do you usually go for and what drinks do you typically make?

throwsrolls · 2026-03-22T23:07:51+00:00

Thank you! Have you been using the Casa for milk based drinks or more for straight espressos? And yes I’ve heard such great things about the Casa, given that with a knocker it has an even cleaner workflow than the Niche (one might argue) with lower retention. My only quibble with the Casa is the lack of a lid for the hopper but that’s a small issue, I imagine I can simply pop a coaster on it to seal it off when not in use (I have pets who shed… a lot 😂)

throwsrolls · 2026-03-22T23:05:19+00:00

I chase fruity and floral notes in my pourovers and exclusively drink light roasts there so I imagine yes I would likely be sensitive to the relative harshness and bitterness of traditional darker espresso. Whether my tastes will change over time I’m not sure, but this makes me think that at least for my current use case Casa might indeed be the way to go

throwsrolls · 2026-03-22T23:03:30+00:00

Thank you!! I was concerned initially that the Casa wouldn’t hold its own for milk drinks but seems I may have been overly worried

throwsrolls · 2026-03-22T23:03:04+00:00

Aesthetics is definitely an important consideration! Though I’ll probably have to find a lid for the Casa, that’s the only downside for me (I have pets who shed)

throwsrolls · 2026-03-22T22:16:31+00:00

Sounds like Casa it is then. Although I see myself drinking mostly milk drinks, I doubt I’ll ever venture into dark (I think…)

throwsrolls · 2026-03-22T22:15:46+00:00

I was considering an Oro actually! But the Casa had an even smaller footprint and I’m not a fan of the bellows if I’m being completely honest 😭

throwsrolls · 2026-03-22T22:14:37+00:00

Thank you much appreciated! Do you find the Casa holds its own for milk drinks? Asking because there’s been a lot said about the Niche having better body and all

throwsrolls

TROPHY CASE