20 Best Hand Grinders For Espresso (2023 Updated)

This is a lovely piece of engineering and design, as much as it is a fantastic grinder. It’s compact and looks great and gets a lot of comments. The build quality and durability, like all VSSL products is superb.

I’ve used hand grinders in the past, that took ages to grind for a single cup. In under a minute, this will grind the full hopper (which I found about right for a regular, strong mug of that liquid nectar, or a smooth and punchy double espresso).

I use it every day and now only drink coffee from fresh beans (a new level of coffee snob status, which I am fully embracing). If I was to pick a fault, it is that the numbers used for the grind do not easily show how many full rotations of the dial have been completed.

although I currently leave it set where I’m happy for my preferred style of brewing, so not a bit issue. The other little irritation I have found is that the supplied brush, as nice as it is, has a hole with a smaller diameter than the carabiner handle of the grinder, so you have to carry it separately if you want to take it with you.

If that was wider, you’d be able to attach it to the grinder, which would be great.

This is my first coffee grinder and as soon as I unpacked it I was impressed. The quality is top shelf. Since I have never had a coffee with fresh ground beans I had to try it. Set it up and started grinding.

Made my first cup with the coffee press I bought with it. I’m hooked. No shortage of settings for the type of grind you want and grinds quickly. The carabiner is a nice touch. The one and only thing that I can find fault with is the wing nut that sets the grind stands proud of the grinder and prevents it from standing on its own while dumping the coffee into my press.

I live on a boat so the compactness of the grinder is nice. I use it up to three times a day so hopefully it will last. If you are looking for a quality coffee grinder this is it.

I’m not coffee aficionado, but I love to drink it. This lets me drink that coffee at home, on the go: pretty much everywhere I can find hot water. Plus it looks and feels super great. I’ve used it quite a few times now and absolutely love it every single time.

I’d recommend anyone in a similar boat to buy it in a heartbeat. You like coffee brewed from beans? Might be time to get this product. I really think this. I have no clue who will read this, but I’m sure if you read it you probably have lots of questions about this product.

Does it feel like a work out? Does it grind the size we need? How’s the sound, is it too loud? What about the quality of the grind? Quality of the grinder itself? Is it easy to clean? Too heavy? The list goes on.

I don’t know. I think it’s close to perfect. Just buy it and try. Don’t know where I’m going with this review. Thanks for making this. It’s great.

After my electric coffee grinder broke, I stumbled upon the Grosche Bremen manual grinder, so I decided to give it a try. I’m impressed! If you read the instructions and use this grinder accurately (which is not difficult, as long as you have more patience than the modern Twitter-bred attention span and a modicum of deductive/spatial reasoning skills), then you will be able to operate this device.

It works with impressive accuracy (although it may take a few turns to adjust to your preferred grind size) and ease (although it takes significantly more time and physical exertion than an electric grinder).

It also seems to be made for durability. Despite the reduced time efficiency and the learning curve of adjusting the grind size, I find this grinder a much more gratifying experience: It connects me closer to the whole coffee-making process, so I appreciate the work that goes into brewing a cup of coffee a lot more deeply, and I also appreciate the flavor that much more.

I really do savor my coffee more mindfully now. I not only appreciate this coffee grinder for its accuracy and durability, but also for the whole experience it offers. I think it’s worth the money – even if you only use it for weekends and special occasions when you feel like you have more time to use it.

I purchased this to grind my own coffee. One of the reasons I selected this one is because I could change the texture of my coffee beans. A finer grind provides a stronger, more bold flavor, which I love most days.

Sometimes though, I just want a cup of coffee with just enough strength to get me thru the last few hours of the work day, but not keep me up at night. For that, I use a coarse setting so the water doesn’t gain all of the flavor from the grounds, but just the perfect amount.

Last weekend, I ground up coffee ahead of time to go on an overnight trip. There isn’t anything better than having freshly ground coffee in the morning. The jars store the coffee very effectively too.

I can grind on Sunday for the work week and it will taste as if I just ground them all week long. The seal on the jar is impeccable and keeps air out. I’m definitely happier having this coffee grinder in my life.

I drink coffee but not lots, and have lived in apartments a lot, so I don’t like excessive bulky items. So this was perfect in utility, compact size, well-made, and I also like that it helps provide clean water in places needing that.

Being a conical ceramic grinder, the user can adjust the grind size to whatever they want. The extra jar/lid is handy when I have ground more than I would like to use immediately, and it is also easy to wash.

Overview: This is simply an entry level grinder, focused mainly on use with pourover coffee, and nothing more than that. Do not have high expectations or you will be severely disappointed. If you are buying this grinder to get you started, for travel, or if you just need something that will get the job done, this is for you.

If you are putting anything into this grinder worth more than $120 a kilo, look elsewhere. This grinder is just not going to do those coffees justice. The grind is not particularly consistent, with huge boulders appearing here and there, and plenty of fines, all of which are going to affect your brew negatively, making it a waste to stick your most prized specialty coffees into it.

I have however had some pretty nice brews out of it, I just mean to be cautious about the fact that if your buying this to use with specialty grade coffees, you are going to outgrow this grinder fairly quickly.

Quality: The build quality is very good, the steel is nice and strong, but it’s worth noting the paint around where the grinds catcher connects to the the grinder chips very quickly, like, after your first few uses.

Really, the main thing that makes this grinder not really worth the money, is that the burrs are exactly the same as those that can be found on Hario’s base model slim grinder, but for twice the price because the body is made of steel instead of plastic.

If you ARE putting expensive coffee into this, but really can’t afford anything more than something around this price range, go buy a poralex tall for a bit more. It’s a much better grinder. Shipping: On Alternative Brewing’s side of things, shipping is fast and reliably, especially if you fork out a bit more for express.

If this is good first time purchasing from alternative, I’ll let you know that their standard shipping uses Aramex (Fastway) couriers, and express uses auspost express. It’s up to you which of those couriers you trust more.

I’ve used both standard and express through alternative and have had a perfect experience either way.

I have an existing bladed grinder, which got damaged, and the grind is not consistent. I wanted to improve that without spending a fortune. I also wanted something non electrical, like an old style mill, save energy.

electrical, not mine! This is a very nice mill, seems to produce a reasonably consistent grind. It is easy to adjust, though it would be fiddly if I switched from espresso to Bodum press pot and back, but hey, what’s time?! It means I only grind what I need, which keeps it fresh.

It’s easy to dry clean by tapping it to remove the fines.

The Hario Mini-Slim Plus manual coffee grinder comes as advertised. Be prepared to put in a bit of muscle power to grind enough coffee for one cup of coffee. It is made of plastic so is a great travel companion to my Aeropress.

I bought a medium size toiletry zip up nylon bag that is big enough for the Hario grinder and my Aeropress and a bag of beans. It is easy to adjust the grinder and I use one step below a fine grind for the Aeropress.

I recommend this product.

Great design when it works. I owned one for 4 years. The lid/handle has gone out twice since then. The company only has a one year warranty. I used the grinder only on Saturday and Sunday mornings. I would not recommend this grinder due to lack of durability.

First, do not buy if you are left-handed. Awkward at best. Second, I bought this thinking it could be used for espresso. Nope. Even adding the washers for finest grind was not enough for proper espresso.

What I do believe this is good for is all other grinds. Tried some for pour over, French press, and percolator, and it was perfect. So, it works well, except for a left-handed barista wanting to pull an espresso shot on a europiccola! :).

Easy to use and clean. Less effort in the process of grinding. However the burr wasnt made perfectly uniform. You can see the burr moving slightly from side to side as u rotate the handle. While the axle is solidly mounted.

If the burr is not uniform, the grind size could still vary. Overall its good a good product.

This grinder seems to be quite well made from high quality materials, but I’ve been having trouble learning how to use it correctly. I bought it in a bundle with an Aeropress, and I’ve been finding it quite difficult to achieve the correct grind.

I watched the Alternative Brewing Video on YouTube about how to find the zero point, but for some unknown reason, when I attempt the demonstrated method of finding the “Zero Point” point, (where the grinding handle falls), I can’t find it.

Even when the ceramic burrs are completely removed, the handle stays stubbornly up. I have tried everything, including completely dismantling and reassembling the device, but nothing seems to work. I have now been trying to adjust the grind by ******** the adjustment nut as far down as possible, and then unscrewing it one full turn at a time, trying out the grind, and just working by trial and error.

The demonstration video makes it look so easy, but my experience unfortunately does not match the video. Maybe the grinder is faulty, but the mechanism seems so simple, I really can’t see what could be wrong with it.

I am now considering purchasing a different brand of grinder, but I would first like to see if there is any way I could fix my problem.

I bought this grinder as an upgrade to my trusty Hario grinder, but it’s not lived up to the expectations whatsoever. A list of the problems I’ve had to date: 1) Handle was incredibly squeaky upon purchase and had to oil it 2) Handle is so weighted that the grinder topples over any chance it gets 3) The basket is interference fit with the grinder body (poorly) so it slips off and you have to squeeze it tightly to keep it on 4) The top burr is ceramic and fits against plastic which wore away and now spins around with the bottom burr unless the grind setting is on very fine, this also caused large chunks of coffee bean through around the outside – I’ve had to glue it into place now A few pros: 1) It’s quiet in comparison to the Hario which is good for using at work 2) Less effort to grind (especially on the fine setting) 3) Looks and feels good quality.

I would not recommend, at all. I’ve not had an issue with the handle attachment, but I’ve read a lot of reviews that have said theirs have snapped off the Hex fitting.

a great grinder, but u have to hold the bottom against something, otherwise the bottom just falls off and all your ground coffee spills??? im honestly quite disappointed, for the price, i dont think its too much to ask for the grinder to not fall apart.

I originally picked this grinder because it was the least expensive out of multiple high-end manual grinders, but also how versatile it was. No burr-switching for espresso grinds vs pour-over. I’ve had it for about 1 year now and still love how versatile it is.

I love that you can super-fine tune the grind. I also love how durable the grinder is – I even accidentally dropped it on the hard floor and it just got a little dent in the stainless steel grind holder.

Also, contrary to other reviews, my grinder has never locked-up and it has never lost position when using it. Just lightly nudge it into place at whatever setting you want and it will stay. There are however two issues that almost make me regret my purchase that aren’t super clear in other reviews.

First, the lid just rests in place when grinding and will just come off when grinding – even when trying to be gentle during grinding. This is annoying, but I just end of leaving the cap off when grinding then putting it back on to store it.

The second, and worse issue, is that the folding handle consistently folds when grinding. I typically grind 16 grams at +7 for my aeropress and it takes about 60 seconds to grind. Without fail, the folding handle will collapse mid-grind 2-4 times.

Super annoying, especially considering the price of the grinder. I put an o-ring where the puny spring is and it helped for a few weeks but got works. I wish they would have picked a stronger spring or developed a fix for this issue.

Would I buy it again? I don’t know – probably? If the spring issue is fixed then dfinitely yes.

I like the quality of the grind I get from this grinder. The grind seems uniform with minimal clumping. I did find that the grind setting came loose easily when I first started using the grinder. Even thought the manufacturers instructions caution against tightening the locking ring too firmly, I found that I needed to cinch it down pretty firmly to prevent it from coming loose and allowing the grind setting to change while grinding.

This is really my only complaint. Overall I find it to be a competent grinder that will be a good addition to my pour over setup in the RV.

I upgraded to this grinder after the ceramic burr on my Hario cracked inside of a year. (The ceramic burr on my last Hario lasted many years of nearly daily use). Prima rep recommended it and it gets very high reviews.

Here’s a contrary view: The grinder is very tall and very narrow. I have to stash it in the corner of my counter or I’m afraid that this expensive hand grinder will fall. Seriously – what a poor design.

The height also makes it impossible to grind unless I’m seated. I’ve spent the last 10 years moving around my kitchen grinding my coffee. Now I have to sit in a chair and position the grinder between my legs.

Yes, the steel burr sharply cuts through the beans, but it’s very awkward. In addition, making adjustments to the grind is a pain in the neck. There are three parts that move in a variety of directions.

The various rings have a tendency to all move while making adjustments, which means that you can easily lose track of what setting you’re aiming for. Finally, maybe because it’s a steel burr, ground coffee (even at a relatively course grind for pour over coffee) gets attached to and stuck up in the burr and on the rings, which means that I have to use the brush almost every time, lest coffee grinds end up everywhere or the collection bin not screw on properly.

Having now laid all of this out, I’m thinking I’m going to reach out about returning this and replacing it with another Hario. Yes, it’s had its problems, but for almost $200, a hand grinder should have more positives than this.

What I like about this manual coffee grinder is it’s simplicity. I researched coffee grinders online prior to buying and I decided on a manual over an electric. This grinder is easy to use and easy to clean.

I just received it on 1/18/22, so I’ve only had it under 1 month. What I dislike is that it’s small and does slip a bit when holding and grinding. What I mean by slip is that the top part slides in to the bottom part.

As long as you hold it securely, it’ll be okay. For me, one round of grinding will get me one cup of coffee and it takes me about 10 minutes to grind. I don’t mind that though because I love coffee. What I also disliked is that it did not come with instructions how to use and how to clean.

I googled a review online that showed me how to use. For newbies to grinding beans — I think it should come with brief instructions. And when I washed it, I remembered what went where and I also doublechecked the images of it online to make sure I put it back together properly.

One of the main reasons I chose manual over electric is because a lot of the reviews of electric grinders complained about not being able to thoroughly clean the grinder. For this small grinder, you can throw the whole thing in soapy water, clean gently, air dry, then put back together.

The only manual grinder I could find and takes 10 minutes just to grind enough for a cup. Much to slow in the mornings. Then after a week it fell apart. I ended up hooking my battery drill to get it to work.

So after all, a complete waste. Just get a decent Burr grinder if you like a French press and need a fat grind. They’ve been the best I’ve found. Otherwise just get a blade gringer if a fine grind is okay.

But don’t waste time with this thing.

For the price, this lightweight and efficient little coffee grinder is a good value and can grind enough for a pot of coffee. Good backup for electric grinders which can stop working!

Very capable small grinder! It can easily grind for espresso (takes a while, but totally repeatable results).

TranslateShow in original languageWszystko jak należy, szybka przesyłka, spoko młynek. Do espresso nie mieliłem, do alternatyw znakomity. Jedyny minus młynka to to, że ziarna kawy wpadają w miejsce gdzie montuje się rączkę do mielenia.

Producent chyba o tym nie pomyślał. Trzeba stosować lifehacki :).

TranslateShow in original languageJeśli ktoś szuka tego młynka, to na pewno wie, że warto. Jeśli ktoś sie waha, to uważam, że wart każdej wydanej złotówki, jeśli komuś wybitnie nie zależy na lekkości to również uważam, że wart dopłaty do mniejszego Q2.

Polecam!.

We started with a very basic Stokes ($10) ceramic grinder with plastic mechanical parts. Within a month the shaft had fractured the plastic piece which drove the ceramic grinding cone. JBWeld re-cement the shaft to the cone.

but the ability to adjust the grind for different coarse/fine settings was lost. That fixed setting worked fine for french press coffee but a year later. happily in love with fresh ground coffee. we went looking for an upgrade.

WOW did we strike gold!! The TIMEMORE C2 grinds coffee in a fraction of the time the ceramic burrs took and the resulting product is a coarseness that is totally consistent. from grind to grind and within each grind.

Smooth operation, rugged dependability and perfectly uniform grounds. with any level of coarseness you want to set it for. And don’t disrespect the little brush that comes with the grinder. At first glance I thought it was an affectation.

but it turns out the coffee grounds emerge with a considerable amount of static charge. They cling to the grinder plate and the sides/bottom of the base with religious enthusiasm. That little brush quickly and easily moves all the coffee you’ve ground to where you want it to go.

The Timemore C2 is beautifully designed, with most older reviews that mention plastic parts being out of date. The newest version that I received (ordered Jan 2022) is almost completely metal with two bearings.

Grind speed is super fast (0. 7-1 grams/s), while taking very little force. (The smaller diameter of the grinder also makes it very easy to grip). Grind consistency is good, having used it for aeropress mainly.

My only complaints are a lack of reference/numbering on the grind adjustment dial making it necessary to log your grind setting, and the catch cup feeling like it’s easy to cross thread (thread it on carefully!) One other thing to note is that the catch cup is two parts: the outer cylinder, and a bottom piece which threads on.

It loosened on mine but a quick tighten with my fingers made it pretty snug. Not a deal breaker but if you’re unaware it may lead to spilling of grinds. I foresee this making it a great pepper grinder if ever comes time to decommission it from coffee use.

I received this grinder as a Christmas gift, but I had pre-selected it. I use a French press, and I thought it would be nice to have fresh ground beans, but I underestimated how much effort it takes to grind coffee beans by hand! I thought that when I did my research, it said that you could easily change the type of grind, depending on your brewing method, but I have not been successful in changing the grind since I received it.

Unfortunately, I have only used it a handful of times because it is much more work than I had initially anticipated. This product is for someone that lives off the grid without power or has countless hours in the day to grind coffee beans.

First time use – worked well, although it seemed like it took a long time. But living in an area with frequent power outages, and having worn out 2 electric DeLonghi grinders, i’ll take it. I’m just hoping the gears last & are replaceable.

It’s a overall build quality and design are very good. Only problem I’ve had is the cranking handle finger nut keeps coming loose. I corrected it by adding a flat, then lock washer where the handle connects to the tool.

I love coffee, but honestly, the fresher it is, the more I enjoy it. I like to buy whole coffee beans at the store and then use this coffee grinder to grind them up. The grinder comes with a handle that you just pop on and you can remove the top to insert any coffee beans of choice.

Simply twist the handle and grind those beans. The taste of the coffee is so much fresher and delicious. I also like that this comes with a storage pouch so I can travel with it. I can make myself some amazing coffee while on vacation too.

I love coffee but I only drink my brand. So, when I’m on the go it’s hard to get coffee I can drink. This portable grinder makes it so easy for me to grind my own beans and take them with me so I always have my own brand of coffee on hand.

Very sturdy built and works great. Easy to use even with arthritis in my hands. I would definitely recommend this product.

Easy to set up and grind some fresh coffee. You can adjust the grind by twisting the little knob inside, just hold the top piece so it doesn’t spin. Seems easy to clean, took it apart and washed it all out with water to clean out the grinds.

The only problem might be if you wanted to grind lots of coffee you’d have to fill it more then once.

First of all, the delivery by the AB is arranged impeccably. Second of all, very responsive to answer my questions. Third of all, about the product. Solid. Stylish. One really has to understand how it is cobbled together (disassemble it) to learn how to operate it.

Once understood, it is phenomenal. It will significantly save novice users time to find all answers if the packaging included INSTRUCTIONS. In my case, I over-tighten the adjustment wheel right off the package.

You know, I though I followed the infographics on the attached card. Don’t get me wrong, the packaging is thoughtful and graphics are cool. But not enough. Also please restore adjustment wheel markers as many older youtube videographers demonstrate.

How do I record the positions for different beans? Is there any other way? As you grind the beans they may fly out out of the feeding chamber. I know it is a tough question how to design a lid for it.

So, it is solid and stylish 4 stars from me.

First grinder bought to pair with first machine (Rancilio Silvia). Chose the ROK as it looks classy on the countertop, Build quality is solid, yet light. For portability I’ve chosen not to adhere it to bench – the aluminium construction makes it easy to move yet sturdy enough to stay put (with one hand firmly grasping the top) when grinding.

Grinds are consistent and from a beginner enthusiast point-of-view, I’m happy with the results for espresso. As previous reviews mentioned, static does build when grinding, but just poke the beans in the hopper with a damp fork and you’re good to go.

There is popcorning near the end of the grind, however, a company called Top End do make a hopper lid for the ROK if you’re so inclined. Honestly though, the slight popcorning isn’t bothersome and the smell of fresh beans being ground is a fantastic start to the morning.

If you’re into the whole Zen/hobby experience of espresso then the ROK Grinder doesn’t disappoint. ROK themselves haven’t released a lot of information on the grinder on YouTube or social media, however James Hoffman and Whole Latte Love have done videos.

Pros: Excellent build quality, darn quick for a manual, won’t wake the house up, consistent, able to grind for espresso within a reasonable price range. Cons: It’d be great if ROK could incorporate a bench clamp in future versions.

Final thoughts: Real happy with this guy – it’s a ‘for life’ purchase. And unless it’s an entirely different grinder for other purposes (e. g. Niche Zero) it’ll hold upgrade-itis at bay for a few years.

I have used the machine for about two days now and am totally delighted with its performance. It looks beautiful sitting next to my ECM espresso machine and it is so much fun to use. It is solid and does a great job of grinding for espresso.

I am currently fine tuning the fineness of the grind for maximum flow and taste. I love how easy it is to use and the solid, quiet sound of the sharp steel conical burrs is like fine music to the ears – almost like sitting next to a quietly contented, purring kitten or next to a bubbly stream in a quiet forest glade emitting its relaxing rhythms and melodies as the crystal mountain waters flow seaward.

I love the idea of hand grinding rather than just pushing a button on an electric machine. This machine’s ingenious design with the long vertical handle is world’s ahead of another machine that I have been using with a horizontal turn of a shorter handle.

The sticky base is superb and the machine is as solid as a rock (ROK) when grinding. I am hoping the stickiness will last forever, and not give out on me in the future. It is almost anathema to refer to this as a machine though.

I prefer to look upon it as “a sculpted work of art” sitting sublimely in my little espresso grotto. Even the silver coloured box it came in was a delight to the eyes and the double, solid packing made the dark, dangerous, arduous journey to our country of Canada a journey of safety with its precious contents remaining unscathed, unlike the journey of the Fellowship of the Ring to Mordor.

This whole process makes the adventure of coffee crafting worth every minute of it. (And that is about all the time the grinding takes for one dose of espresso – neatly measured in the beautifully designed cup with the subtle markings sculpted into its design.

At first the static of our dry Canadian winter air caused a lot of static cling, but the easy hack of a few drops of water in with the beans in the hopper solved the problem completely. I love this new addition to my home “barista” experience.

The only con I can think of at the present is that I had to pay the exchange between Canadian and American dollar and a hefty duty of about $27C to get it into my eager hands. But, Whole Latte Love had discounted the machine’s price quite a bit, so overall, I was happy with the purchase.

It took a little longer to get here than I was anticipating, but that was not really an issue for me. BTW, I really love the video reviews that this company provides on YouTube and their website.

Does work great for the task we ask from it. I use it at work to light up areas above ceilings, duct work inspections, and repairs. I have bought 5, because of other staff loving how well they work. Battery quality will give you longer light time.

I use $1 18650 and it last 3-5 hours.

It’s a great headlamp very bright if you don’t want to blind your fellow campers you can wear it backwards the red light is bright enough to see by. I used it for four nights straight and it still had power.

I was trying to decide on which flag to purchase and really liked the nylon solar guard protection it offered. I received the flag and was very satisfied with the quality and materials used with their product.

A very happy customer.

I have no complaints really. I’ve been using it as my daily grinder (for Aeropress). Only good for 1 serving but I’m a single dude so that’s not a problem. I love how the handle collapses – super compact in my cabinet and can store with the handle on.

Coffee does get stuck in the hopper a bit due to static electricity which apparently Timemore has improved with newer Nano grinders. Not a big deal though.

This is my first manual burr grinder. I upgraded to the titanium burr set. I primarily use an aeropress to brew coffee and the Timemore Nano gives me fine and consistent grinds everytime. Love how the handle folds in – making it very easy to store after use.

It looks great and feels very well made.

This grinder is very tiny and work pretty well. It’s perfect to bring everywhere. The only thing i saw it’s not perfect is the amount of bean you can put in it. It’s around 15g max. The titanium burr work well.

I was looking for a hand grinder based on a recommendation from an Italian guy that said hand grinding makes better coffee. He said the electric grinders turn too fast and burn the coffee. I bought this one based on the price, size, and reviews.

I brew my coffee in a moka pot, so I also wanted one that could grind fine. Well, turns out he was right. The coffee certainly tastes better using a hand grinder. It is a nice compact unit that fits well in the hand.

The grinding process is smooth, and I actually find it a bit therapeutic. It takes under two minutes to grind out about 14 grams. It grinds much finer than my electric model; which Is most likely the main reason for the better taste.

The construction of the product is good. Having been in manufacturing I would say it is a bit overpriced. Time will tell as to it’s durability. As of now I am pleased with my purchase and look forward each morning to my new coffee making routine.

Bought this to use with my Aeropress. Was using a cheaper grinder, from China, bought off Amazon. The quality of the Porlex Mini II is far superior to the Chinese one. I’m using it for a fine grind for an expresso like extraction with the Fellow Prismo.

The grind is consistent with the Porlex, where as the Chinese one isn’t. Could have bought off Amazon, but try to buy Canadian, when I can. So this and the Aeropress will be going with me when I go solo motorcycle camping this summer.

If the wife comes along and I bring the french press will be purchasing the Porlex Tall, as the mini only does 20 grams at a time, and the tall does 30.

I started roasting my own beans, mostly out of boredom during the first wave of Covid. However, after nearly two years, I’m hooked! I’ve been using this grinder for about a week now, and it brings home roasted coffee to a whole new level.

Incredibly even grind, that can be finely tuned to suit the needs of your preferred brewing method. It definitely makes the morning ritual more peaceful without the noise of the electric blade grinder.

It is also light weight, and compact, meaning that it’ll fit nicely into a backpack for camping, fishing, and hunting trips. My only real compliant is that the handle is made for people with incredibly tiny hands, making it a little difficult to get a proper grip on the knob.

At some point, I’ll have to drill out the rivet, and replace the knob with something a little bigger, but I can make do until it’s a little warmer out in the garage.

I switched from a Hario Skerton Plus to this and I have been thoroughly enjoying the grinding experience with this one. It’s easy to transport, set up, and clean up when done. The stainless steel material and the heft makes the grinder feel extra special and definitely worth its price.

The design of the nut which allows the grinder to stand upright when disassembled is a nice bonus. My complaint with this grinder is that it doesn’t come with the grippy rubber handle-holder. Although it’s sold as a separate piece for the Tall grinder, as it comes with the Mini grinder, I have smaller hands so it’s hard for me to maintain a strong grip for long.

All in all, a great piece to own.

Tldr i recommend from a noob. So heres the long story I heard specifically the mini porlex was decent and found the tall for the capacity. The only other grinder i own is one of the hario dome convex wood body and it was not quite comfortable to use.

It was difficult to feed the hopper being off angle, is big enough to not be able to hold for my tiny hands so i have to sit it on the bench, adjusting grind is tedious as **** being a thread and locking nut adjustment, hard to clean as the wood body has threads and coffee can catch in them when pouring out.

The porlex fixes all that and then some. First the whole thing is pretty small in general with like 30-40g capacity which i usually go 24-28g medium fine and for espresso 8-16g for the nanopresso doesn’t take that long to grind.

Small enough to hold which i think is way more comfy to use while grinding. The spring loaded clicks is so much easier all you have to do is zero real quick then couple clicks out for grind size and note it down for which ever coffee you’re using.

The cup is cylindrical so it pops the coffee right out and not catch on anything but now some nit picks. Would have liked a bigger handle knob or at least was threaded so that i could print or hand make my own knob.

The hopper is narrow which makes pouring coffee beans smidge tricky but at least its open at the top and not off angle and have to finagle the whole thing. Wish the clicks were more positive, deeper and maybe have half clicks because from the end of one click to the start of the next theres quite a bit of adjustment especially when doing espresso grind but for larger grinds doesn’t necessarily need it.

The coffee catcher cup isn’t flat on the bottom theres like an elevated base ridge in the centre which can collect tiny amount of coffee around the edges. Wish it had some rubber oring for the top lid and bottom cup to feel more secure as i grip the hopper my hand does crossover the lid and top of cup section which does wiggle it out of “lock” per say.

Otherwise real happy i got this as adjusting for grind is sooooooo much easier. Would highly recommend from a noob coffee guy on a reasonable budget. Speaking of which in terms of price its sort of in the middle as its under 100aud and has a bunch of features that are better than what i have previously (being the one Grinder i own).

I was encouraged by good reviews here but I’ve had this grinder for over a year now, and I really wish I had just spent a bit more for a better model. In my experience this grinder produces a very uneven grind, almost comparable to an electric blade grinder.

It also takes a comparatively long time to grind the 16-17g I use for a cup, probably a good 1-2 min of effort, so if you tried to grind beans for multiple servings of coffee with this, it would be very inefficient.

Although ease and time for grinding is dependent on the bean roast and hardness. The screw style grind adjustment is imprecise and hard to keep track of. The glass base is hard to screw in, on mine it catches on the threading and requires a good bit of force to fully screw in.

The glass base also slips out of the rubber “boot”, and is too big/awkward to comfortably grip. I have to sit down and hold it between my thighs. I do appreciate that the components come apart easily and are easy to clean.

Will this grind your coffee? Sure, but it’s not worth the cost. Either get a cheap blade grinder or get a more expensive, better functioning model that’s worth the extra investment.

The Hario Mini Slim had been a part of my morning for more than ten years. When it started acting funky, I bought the Skerton Pro. After over a month of daily use here are my experiences. The rubber slip-on base is a nice idea, but it just slips off.

I can’t use it. It’s designed to provide a nonslip surface for the base on the counter when grinding. But because it takes a good amount of force to turn the grind handle, it’s just not ergonomic to use it sitting on the counter.

I have to pick it up and hold it to grind. And the base just slips off. Holding it presents another problem. That is, it’s difficult, not impossible, to hold the grinder with one hand and grind with the other because of it’s size.

And I have large hands. I tried sitting at the kitchen table to improve the angles, but not much better. In addition, the clear lid fits loosely and wobbles and rattles while grinding. Seems it should fit more snug.

Lastly, the glass container is nice, but the inside has a lip , making it difficult to get all the particles out of it. In a way, I miss my Mini Slim. There are lots of pluses about the Pro model, nice handle, large capacity, storage lid, die cast handle.

And it grinds nice and consistent.

I love Hario and I thought this was a great grinder. but have really changed my opinion in the past 12-months of ownership. I think the Skerton PRO has a number of issues that compromise the user experience.

The diameter of the grinder body makes it pretty unergonomic, I have fairly normal man-hands and its pretty unpleasant to hold the barrel of the grinder after a while because of its larger diameter. This is made harder by the rubber ring round the middle, which starts slipping after a year of ownership requiring quite a lot of pressure to securely hold of it in one hand whilst cranking away with the other.

After a while, the plastic construction starts to warp or weaken which causes the shaft and burr to wobble slightly. This means you get some very inconsistent results with your grounds and while this is OK for some coffee methods (cold brew), its terrible for others (espresso).

You can loosen and adjust the upper burr to mate better with the lower burr, but it’ll be back to being inconsistent after a little while. You can double grind, but this is a pain with the first issue! The benefit of the Skerton PRO is the large size, if you need to grind 35g of beans or more (the collector will hold about 80g of grounds easily) it works with the Hario SmartG electric handle (or an electric screwdriver) if you are doing loads of beans at once.

If you don’t need this then I would say there are more consistent, hand friendly options out there. Keep up the great work AB. I think I will be upgrading to a new grinder very soon!.

I have used this grinder almost daily for about 2 years. Using it only for coffee, it has performed quite well for me. I’ve used it primarily for pour over, but also auto-drip and French press. I will say that now, it does seem to work its way from my preferred setting, to the next one larger quite slowly, like over several days.

But I’m completely satisfied with that amount of play after the amount of use I’ve gotten from it. As for design, it is pretty simple. I suppose it would make more sense for my use case if the base/foot part was integrated with the cup at the bottom, but that is a choice, and I suppose it could be nice to not have that if used while backpacking.

I started typing this with four stars filled out, but I really cant fault anything about it, the price was right, it performed consistently for years, and in general filled its purpose for me. I’m sure it has several more years of good use left.

This is a clever design that allows a good range of grind size. I was dubitative when ordering – thinking that it didn’t seem very pricy for a seemingly sophisticated gadget – but it is reassuringly well made and has been grinding consistently.

Once you’ve understood how it works, it is very quick and easy to set up. I agree that the smooth stainless steel surface isn’t ideal. You need to grip harder to avoid it slipping in your hand. Should be a textured surface.

I’m thinking of modifying mine with anti-slip tape. This isn’t enough for me to go down to four stars, because everything else about it is great. The only other downside for me is that it requires quite some effort for five or six minutes to make the quantity of coffee I would like, but, as someone else wrote, a bit of activity in the morning is good for you!.

This is an excellent grinder with a minor ergonomics issue. I use it for pour-over method, I’d say medium to medium-fine grind. Pros: I got this grinder from last drop two months ago and have been using it every day in the office, sometimes twice a day.

The grind has been very consistent. It grinds really quickly and the crank arm is long and easy to turn. No cleaning required; I just blow off the flakes from the burr after each grind. It is well built and feels nice in the hands.

Looks really good too. Cons: It’s definitely not the most ergonomic design, it requires some lower arm strength. Someone with smaller hands will have harder time gripping it. I place the grinder on tabletop while grinding and I tend to hold it closer to the top to stabilize it.

As you can see from pictures, the diameter increases toward the top and that’s the main problem for me. I’d say I have medium-sized hands and I definitely got used to it after few uses. Overall, I think for $36 it’s an amazing deal.

My first grinder was the JavaPresse manual grinder I got on amazon for $24, and GEFU Lorenzo is a major upgrade in every respect. I am now thinking about getting a second one to have one for home and one for office.

After researching grinder options for more time than I would like to admit, I am extremely happy with the MK4. Feel of the C40: My previous hand grinder was my first hand grinder purchase 6 years ago, the Hario Skerton Pro.

In my smaller than average hands, the Skerton Pro was not exactly “comfortable” when grinding since that grinder is about as wide as you can get. This was a concern for me when learning that the C40 had a wider body than other grinder options in this category.

However, once in my hand, I found that C40 was actually very comfortable. Also, I would add that the rubber band that is included with the grinder can help with the grip when grinding smaller beans at a finer grind setting.

I own a wood version of the C40, but the non-wood options may provide more grip based on feedback that I ran across. You can feel the quality of the grinder with its solid build and parts. I appreciate that it is simple to disassemble and clean and personally find the plastic components that some do not appreciate for a grinder of this price is not a concern for me.

I appreciate that the design choice helps reduce weight while not impacting the longevity. Grinding Experience with Different Coffee Beans: I also understand that the C40 is not the fastest hand grinder compared to other options available in the market now, but I find that the C40 “cuts” through the beans when grinding vs using more power to grind.

When paired with the larger wooden knob on the handle, I find the overall effort expended to crank a C40 to be less taxing than I was used to. For example, when grinding larger size Arabica beans (ex.

Illy Classic Medium roast) at 20 clicks, it was not difficult task at all… it like cutting through butter with little resistance on the turns. When grinding light roasted, smaller beans (like Ethopian Chelbesa), it does take more torque, but not enough that my heart rate jumped/I dread the thought of grinding a 2nd batch of 30g.

Overall, the grinds produced are incredibly consistent and none of my V60s have stalled since switching to the C40 and the flavors you are able to access with this grinder are the best so far in a 10 yr journey with coffee.

Hack to Adjust the Grind Setting: After I watched the C40 cleaning video on the Comandante website and saw how you can hold the grind adjustment dial while turning the handle. 1 rotation of the handle equals 12 clicks.

Now, I find it simple to go from 0-24 clicks in no time/no tedious click counting required. I simply line the handle to the Comandante logo on the side of the grinder to benchmark one rotation. I start a new bag of coffee for a James Hoffman style V60 pour over method at 25 clicks and adjust 1-2 clicks finer until to find the best result.

C40 Community: One last benefit of buying a Comandante is the community available. I enjoy being able to easily find recipes based on C40 clicks to start dialing in recipes on pour overs. Summary: Overall, I was hesitant paying a significant premium vs other high-quality grinder available.

The C40, in my opinion, falls into the “you get what you pay for” category and I have zero regrets after a month of daily grinding.

My brewing method is mainly V60 and my beans are mostly light to mid roasts. Before C40, I have owned Lido-E and Ditting KR805. In comparison, as soon as I used C40, I can feel the burr is much sharper than my 2-year old Lido.

It is a pleasant grinding feeling and less effort to grind with the same bean. The strength of C40 is on the extremely uniform grind particle distribution. I did not do a scientific measurement, but just by eye and water drain speed I can tell that the fines is much less.

At the same time, you can easily make V60 brew “too clean” or “having less flavor” due to the lack of fines, which can be addressed by increasing the stirring (by pouring) and adjust the water/bean ratio.

There are some design choices/issues that I wish C40 may take different approach. First, the glass grind holder/jar has a “neck”, which holds some grinds there and it is a hassle to get them out every single time.

Secondly, the glass holder could be dropped very easily if one did not align it carefully before twisting it on. So now I always put C40 upside down before I put on the glass jar. Thirdly, the coarseness adjustment can be a nightmare if you use it for different brewing methods.

Fortunately, I only use it for V60, so I can manage to remember its setting with some marker dots as a hint. I cannot blame the adjustment mechanism too much since C40 is very easy to disassemble and clean compare to Lido-E because of it.

The Comandante exceeds my expectations in several ways. Grind quality, consistency, and zero retention, (usually 0. 0g but occasionally 0. 1g max will be retained). I wake up eager to grind for my morning cup.

Workmanship oozes quality. Weight in your hand is perfect, as is the crank knob. I grind 27g at medium fine burr setting in 60s and the cranking is easy, because of the quality of the Comandante’s unique conical burrs.

And then you smell the grind, ahhh! even before you unscrew the catch cup, which is also the perfect diameter. Grinding finer for espresso, a tad harder, but not so much that you’d consider it a “burden.

” It inspires confidence that you are in control of the process. Coffee tastes better too! You don’t have to clean the burrs every day, but I usually do brush out the burrs daily because it is easy and fun.

I enjoy it! The other thing that surprised me was clicking the dial to set the fineness of the burrs, very solid, you know where zero grind (burrs touching) is, and the click feedback very positive. You know when you set it, it is where you want it to be.

I’ve owned several grinders, manual and electric, conical and flat burrs, and I get the most enjoyment and best coffee using the Comandante. And I’ll even dare to disagree with James Hoffmann about the clear plastic piece attached to the crank to avoid popcorning, it is not cheap, does not seem cheap, but rather seems perfect for what it’s intended to do.

And Comandante has some nice videos too, there’s even a factory tour online. Absolutely no buyer remorse.

It is timeless in esthetic, and sturdy and reliable in function. I use it for aeropress and pour over and it has drastically enhanced my coffee experience ! If you’re not planning to use it for serious espresso and you want something beautiful and functional that has a nice grip (I have small-medium hands), you won’t regret buying this! Would easily gift with confidence because it screams quality, class and durability when you hold it in hand.

(I do push its recommended setting to 7 or 8 and use it for espresso with a Bambino Plus and it works for my taste buds by tweaking dose and other parameters) Wish – that the adjustment dial had more clicks, sure it’s got the E&B burr, E for espresso but two-three clicks isn’t enough.

A custom adjustment ring exists with double the clicks but not accessible! Only then would it be perfect for my purposes which is “ok to stay at espresso-noob stage who enjoys feeling like a barista at home, and enjoys her pour overs and aeropress and occasional French press.

” I agree with the cons detailed by A. B. and N. H. Update: few months in, still a breeze to grind med-dark roast, but you’re in for a workout for lighter roasts. Very good size for travel!.

I’ll preface this by saying I’m by no means a big coffee snob. My reasons for purchasing this product had more to do with buying quality, versatile equipment that will last a long time and keep cheap plastic crap out of landfills rather than the pursuit of a perfect cup of coffee.

With that in mind, this review aims to provide some basic observations about the product, and I’ll let those who have obtained a higher level of coffee snobbery draw their own conclusions. – The unit feels pretty solid and well constructed.

I haven’t dismantled it yet to look at the internals, but on the surface it seems like it will last a long while. – The listed 20 g capacity seems fairly accurate. – The various internet sources I found listing a ~30 s grind time on average seem to be fairly accurate.

The couple quibbles I do have with the product relate to the grind size adjustment. There is a detent mechanism to help you adjust grind size, however the mechanism is a little bit notchy (in excess of the manner in which a detent mechanism is supposed to be notchy).

The detent mechanism should provide 12 distinct positions per rotation, but the unexplained notchiness means that keeping track of the clicks is best done by looking at the bottom and watching/counting as you turn.

Without the visual feedback, the notchiness of the mechanism has you questioning whether each click you feel/hear was a detent, or just some of that notchiness. You can work with it no problem, but it would be nice if the detent mechanism was a little more refined.

The second quibble I have with the grind size adjustment is that the product allows you to put yourself in a position where you are damaging the burrs if you’re not careful. In order to set the grind size, you screw the adjustment knob all the way in at the bottom.

This moves the conical burr up closer to the external ring which puts you at the finest grind setting. Then, to set your grind size, you back the conical burr out by unscrewing the adjustment knob and counting the clicks.

This works, except at zero clicks, the burrs on the rotating central piece and the outer ring actually interfere with each other when rotated. If you read the directions, they say not to use the grinder on an adjustment less than 6, as you’ll cause damage to the burrs.

For an espresso grind, the directions suggest starting at a grind setting of 8. With the unit I have, a grind setting of 8 still has interference between the burrs. When turn the shaft at a grind setting of 8, you can hear clicking inside the unit as the burrs on the central conical piece contact the burrs on the outer ring.

Because of this, I grind espresso on a setting 9 or 10. The grind is still fairly fine (I can’t quantify how fine) but I’ve definitely purchased ground espresso which has been finer. So if you’re looking to get a really fine grind, you’re not necessarily going to be able to achieve it without risking having the burrs contact one another and potentially damage themselves.

Note that depending on the manufacturing tolerances, this could easily vary unit to unit, as achieving no interference with such fine grinding is inherently going to require really tight tolerances. The issues with the grind setting adjustment seem like oversights in the mechanical design of the unit.

Why would you give the user the opportunity to potentially damage the product if you could remove that possibility with a simple mechanical stop which limits their ability to adjust the burrs to a position where they interfere? What is the purpose of having 6 unusable grind settings on the finest end of the adjustment range? It’s just 6 clicks you have to cycle through backward and forward every time you want to grind coffee and can’t remember what grind setting you left it at.

These issues should be easy enough for Timemore to fix in the next iteration of the product, but I don’t understand why they weren’t addressed right off the bat.