Is a Dedicated Decaf Grinder Worth It? How a Single Dose Grinder Cut My Waste and Boosted My Efficiency
If you're a café owner or barista trying to decide whether a dedicated decaf grinder makes sense for your business, you're not alone. Decaf is a tricky category—lower volume, yet it still demands high quality and consistency. As a café owner and consultant helping new cafes open all the time, I’ve wrestled with the same question: Is the cost, space, and effort of a dedicated decaf grinder really worth it?
After running a side-by-side experiment using Mazzer's Philos single dose grinder, I found some unexpected results that just might change your perspective.
The Decaf Dilemma: Why It’s Hard to Justify
Decaf isn’t the star of most menus. It's typically low volume, but still requires all the tools: a grinder, space on your bar, and staff training. For years, I hesitated to give it a dedicated setup because of the waste and the overhead. But the bigger issue? I was spending too much money on a product we barely sold.
I decided to run a simple experiment in our café to track how much decaf was being pulled vs. how much was being ordered, comparing a traditional hopper grinder setup with a Mazzer single dose Philos grinder.
The Results: Single Dose Grinder vs. Hopper Grinder
Using internal café data, we tracked the following:
At the cafe with the Philos single dose grinder, we pulled 25% more decaf shots than the café using the traditional hopper grinder.
At the same time, we were ordering 25% less decaf coffee.
Let that sink in. We were serving more decaf, using less coffee.
Why the Difference?
It came down to waste. Here's where the hopper grinder fell short:
Dialing in a grinder wastes coffee
Purging between shots wastes coffee
Cleaning at the end of the day? More waste.
The Philos, on the other hand, is hopperless and precise—dosing within 0.5 grams. We only ground what we needed, when we needed it. No waste, no guesswork.
ROI: How Long Until It Pays Off?
Let’s do the math:
Average decaf waste = $500 per quarter
Cost of the Mazzer Philos = ~$1,200
Time to ROI = <9 months
Annual savings = ~$2,000
In under a year, this grinder pays for itself. And from there, it’s just smart business.
Why I Chose Mazzer: Quality + Catalog Depth
Mazzer is known for its rock-solid espresso grinders—and for good reason. I’ve used Mazzer in every café I’ve worked in over the last 20 years. They’re reliable, intuitive, and built to last.
What many people don’t know is that Mazzer also offers one of the most extensive catalogs in the grinder market, including single dose options like the ZM filter and the Philos.
If you're like me—trying to maximize space, reduce waste, and increase consistency—Mazzer's single dose line is a game changer.
Final Thoughts: Don't Sleep on the Single Dose
In a business where every gram counts and every second on bar matters, choosing the right grinder setup isn’t just about coffee quality—it’s about efficiency, cost savings, and sustainability.
So, is a dedicated decaf grinder worth it?
If you choose the right one—yes. Unequivocally, yes.
And if you’re navigating similar decisions for your bar flow, equipment selection, or overall café strategy—this is exactly what I help café owners with.
Need help? Let’s chat.
