TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 ESP Pro Manual Coffee Grinder, Stainless Steel S2C Conical Burr Hand Coffee Grinder with Foldable Handle, Adjustable Grind Setting for Espresso and Pour Over - Black

Why it's worth it

The Chestnut C3 ESP Pro is an all-metal hand grinder with stainless S2C conical burrs and roughly 36 clicks of adjustment, each moving about 0.0233mm. It weighs under a pound and folds down, so it fits a carry-on or a cabin kitchen.

A good hand grinder beats a cheap electric one, and this is the clearest example. CoffeeGeek forum testing rated the C3 Pro's grind consistency comparable to electric grinders costing two to three times as much. The burrs are CNC-machined stainless with a double-bearing axle, so the shaft doesn't wobble — wobble is why cheap manual grinders produce dust and boulders in the same dose.

The ESP version is built specifically for espresso, and the click spacing shows it. Each click moves the burrs about 0.0233mm, which is fine enough to chase a shot time in one-second increments. Most hand grinders make you choose between espresso resolution and a usable coarse range. This one commits to espresso.

From our review of 7 coffee grinders

What we like

• +A good hand grinder beats a cheap electric one, and this is the clearest example
• +The ESP version is built specifically for espresso, and the click spacing shows it
• +It also solves problems electric grinders don't

What to know

• –It's physical work, and owners are split on how much
• –Capacity is about one cup's worth of beans, so it's a single-serve tool, not a way to grind for a dinner party