TIMEMORE Chestnut C2S Manual Coffee Grinder with Internal Adjustable Grind Setting, Capacity 20g Hand Coffee Grinder with Stainless Steel Conical Burr, for Espresso to French Press, White

TL;DR: this grinder is a wonderfully zen way to feel each bean grind with your own hands, and genuinely convenient if you are only brewing for one and try many different types of beans. Right off the bat, I want to establish an important point in terms of practicality; while the coffee gear universe is expansive and this is only scratching the surface in terms of cost, it is still a fairly expensive way to grind beans. It is not fast. It is not a portal to magically better tasting coffee, in my experience. Gear like this is about enjoying the experience much more than the result. My fourth pic shows a comparison between the coffee ground by the Timemore C2S, compared to the same beans ground by a fairly typical countertop electric grinder. The Timemore is twice as expensive and about 10-20 times slower. The grounds from the Timemore are noticeably more consistent - they are all very equally sized within a small margin of error. The grounds from the electric grinder are mostly very similar, but there is more dusty finer grinds, and it can clump a bit more. I didn't notice any difference in the coffee, but I like it with cream, so I'm hardly the most nuanced expert there. The electric grinder was fast and loud. The hand grinder was near silent but for a very satisfying crunching. It's well made all around, heavy in the right ways, and cranking feels so good. It's incredibly smooth and the only resistance is from the beans themselves. You can immediately tell when the last tiny bit has been ground. It's pretty easy to clean, which is great because it doesn't hold much, so you'll be cleaning fairly often. To again sum up a slightly-too-wordy review: it's not fast, it's only practical if you grind small amounts, it doesn't make your coffee taste much different, and it's a relaxing and enjoyable way to stop and smell the coffee when starting your morning.

Before getting this, I was a bit skeptical of what to expect. The prior model did have some legitimate complaints. This review is also being compared against my prior grinder, a Breville model. Having made 50+ shots of espresso, I can definitively state this is an amazing coffee grinder. The construction of this grinder is all metal. I could not find a single plastic bit to be found. The operation of the grinder is smooth as can be. I use a IMS precision 14 g basket with my espresso machine. Unlike the Breville grinder, I can be assured that when I put 14 g into the grinder, that's what I get out. I also am not getting any stale or leftover grinds from the prior brew. This is my biggest complaint with my Breville grinder and seemingly this is an issue for many of the sub $600 electric grinders. Having changed nothing but the grinder my shots are 100% consistent. That said, I also have been using as part of my process a WDT tool, a leveler, a puck screen and a spring loaded tamper. I also use fresh beans from an excellent local roaster and they're usually within 1-2 weeks of roasting. Using the Breville, I'd pull a good shot 7 of 10 times. Using the Timemore, it's been 100% (after dialing in the grind setting). The only thing I have changed in comparing these two is the grinder. I may still look at something like the Niche Zero, but I am quite satisfied with this grinder that I can use this to make my 3 daily cups with the Timemore and no need to invest in the Niche zero. Bottom line: I am blown away at how good my espresso tastes now.

I have primarily used a 1zpresso hand grinder for my espresso, which has done a decent job. However, that grinder is getting old, and I was looking for a cost effective upgrade. Recently, I also purchased a digital scale from Timemore, so I was already familiar with this brand and the quality of their products before getting this grinder. This grinder comes nicely packaged and includes an attractive, fabric storage case, and well as a cleaning brush. Just on looks alone, this is a beautiful looking grinder and the build quality is excellent. I like the white aesthetic and high end components they've put into this, and the size is fairly compact which makes is well suited for small quantities of coffee. This grinder will be a great tool for a pour over, espresso, and other use cases that don't require high quantities of ground coffee. However, if you're looking to grind 50 grams of beans for multiple cups of coffee in your drip machine, this is not a good option. The quality of the grind is excellent, and you can use the dial to select different levels for your grind. I thought the grinder did a nice job and provided a consistent result. I also appreciated the compact size of this grinder which makes it great for traveling or camping. My only reservation with this grinder is that this same brand makes newer versions with upgraded burrs (the C3 models) that are only a small additional investment. I would probably opt for one of those grinders personally, however, if this particular grinder is at the max of your budget, then I think it's an excellent purchase and I'm sure you'll be happy with it.