Kinu M47 Grinder: Blows Away The Competition

It’s hard to convince yourself to drop a lot of cash on a coffee grinder, especially if you just bought an expensive espresso machine. Unfortunately, that beautiful espresso machine will never live up to its potential without a quality grinder.

A high-end manual coffee grinder is the best way to get a quality burr set at a reasonable price, and Kinu M47 is a wonderful option. It sports large burrs and a stepless grind adjustment, and its exceptional machining makes it a joy to use – rather than a workout.

Summary: The Kinu M47

• Manual coffee grinder with 47 mm conical burrs
  
• Available in three models with varying price points
  
• Easy-to-use stepless grind adjustment for dialing in your brew

I hesitated to drop a good chunk of money for a premium grinder, but this has certainly lived up to expectations. Very easy to use despite my hesitancy with it being a manual grinder.

– John P., Customer

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The Full Kinu Coffee Grinder M47 Review

There are three models of Kinu’s M47: Classic, Simplicity, and Phoenix. This review covers all three, pointing out key differences and similarities along the way.

The Kinu M47 Grinder

• Grind Consistency
• Build Quality
• Burr Quality
• Portability/Capacity
• Price

4

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The Classic is the original model and the most expensive of the three. The Simplicity was the second release. It swaps some metal for plastic for a less expensive and reduced-weight coffee grinder. After a fire destroyed the Kinu factory in 2018, they rebounded by releasing a new coffee grinder, the Phoenix – a grinder rising from the ashes, if you will (1).

With that brief summary in mind, let’s get into the details. 

The Classic

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The Simplicity

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The Phoenix

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Grind Consistency – 4/5

The Kinu M47 offers excellent grind consistency, which is true of every model. All three feature identical internal mechanics and the same 47-mm conical burr set. 

The burrs are designed to deliver very uniform grinding results at the finer end of the grind spectrum. This coffee grinder is best suited for Turkish coffee, espresso, Moka pot, and finer filter brewing methods – like small pour overs or the AeroPress.

Pour Over Grinding

The M47 grinder handles coarser grinding, but that’s not its specialty. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend Kinu M47 for Chemex or similar preparation methods.

There are some manual coffee bean grinders that are better options for serious pour over fans. Comparing the M47 vs Comandante C40 pour over grinding capability, the latter delivers more consistent grinds at coarser settings. Likewise, when evaluating the M47 vs Baratza Forte BG, the Forte BG performs better because it was designed for “Brew Grinding” – though it’s an electric grinder that will cost you a pretty penny.

Easy Grinding Adjustment

The M47 has a stepless high-precision grind adjustment system, which is key for a good espresso grinder. Dialing in an espresso shot requires far more precise grinds than brewing a pour over (2). Discovering the perfect shot for your coffee beans falls between two settings is endlessly disappointing. However, stepless grind adjustments on hand grinders are often clunky, making it difficult to make large adjustments or return to previous grind settings. 

The M47 offers a best-of-both-worlds solution for easy handling. It has an obvious zero point, so you’ll never lose your frame of reference. Each rotation of the adjustment knob is marked with 50 settings, making macro adjustments easy, and every mark corresponds to precisely 0.01 mm of vertical burr movement. It’s an elegant design that’s far more user-friendly than the commonly seen system of counting clicks.

How to Adjust The M47 Phoenix Grind

Adjusting the grind setting is the same on every model and takes little effort. Loosen the nut at the top that holds the handle in place, turn the dial to change the setting (clockwise for a finer grind and counter-clockwise for a coarser grind), then tighten the nut again. Easy!

Build Quality – 4.5/5

Build quality is the defining feature of the Kinu M47s. They have a stainless steel body and crank arm; any plastic is durable food-safe ABS plastic. 

It’s not just about the premium materials; the manufacturing quality is also top-of-the-line.

The design of the internal components promotes stability and auto-centers the axel while in use, and two sets of steel ball bearings help with grinding.

Differences Between Models

Build quality is one area where the three models differ, though not in any way that impacts grind quality. 

• The Kinu M47 Classic has a stainless steel grinds catch cup that attaches to the body of the coffee grinder seamlessly using neodymium magnets.

• The M47 Simplicity has a food-safe ABS plastic beans funnel and grounds catch cup.
• The M47 Phoenix has an ABS plastic beans funnel and grounds catch cup, and the thumb stopper is replaced by a silicone ring.

Burr Quality – 4/5

All three models have the same 47-mm Black Fusion-treated hardened conical burrs. Black Fusion treatment is a proprietary burr coating that hardens the M47 burr set to prolong its lifetime and ensure long-lasting grind consistency.

Conical Vs Flat Burrs: A Quick Sidebar

Coffee grinder burrs are typically conical or flat. Without embarking on a geometry lesson, there are a few things to know about both (3).

Conical burrs have the advantages of less heat generation and lower grind retention. Flat burrs are known for better grind uniformity, which leads to a clean cup popular with pour over lovers. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference when deciding which burr shape suits your coffee style.

Portability/Capacity – 4/5

The M47 coffee grinder is very portable, even sold with its own travel case. All three models have a 40 to 50-gram hopper capacity, enough for about four shots of espresso or cups of coffee. The Classic’s metal grounds catch cup is slightly smaller, holding up to 35 grams versus 40 grams for the other two. The all-metal Classic is the most rugged of the three grinders but also the bulkiest and heaviest.

Here are the detailed specs, with the crank arm in place:

• M47 Classic: 8.25″ x 2.75″ x 7.8″ and 2.3 pounds
• M47 Simplicity: 8.20″ x 2.75″ x 7.8″ and 2.1 pounds
• M47 Phoenix: 8.20″ x 2.75″ x 7.8″ and 1.6 pounds

Price – 3.5/5

The Kinu Classic is expensive for a manual coffee grinder, usually priced around $350. This is competitive with similar options like the Comandante C40 and Mazzer Omega. Still, it’s getting harder to justify paying those prices with higher-quality budget options entering the market from brands like Timemore and 1Zpresso.

The M47 Simplicity and Phoenix are much more affordable. The Simplicity is about $100 less than the Classic, and the Phoenix is around $50 less than that. Unless you’re deadset on a magnetic grounds catch cup, they offer far better value for money.

Don’t Buy The Kinu M47 If…

• You don’t make espresso: The burrs of the M47 are designed for espresso and fine drip grinding. If you favor pour over or French press brews, choose a coffee hand grinder made for those brewing methods. The Mazzer Omega and the Comandante C40 are great options of similar quality.
• You don’t want to grind manually: Prefer to let a motor do the work of grinding your beans? Check out the Baratza Sette 270. It’s a great grinder in the same price bracket and features a set of 40-mm conical burrs.
• You want something less expensive: Our favorite option for budget-friendly espresso grinding is the 1Zpresso JX Pro. Comparing the M47 vs 1Zpresso, the latter has larger burrs and is less than half the price of the Classic.

The Verdict

The Kinu M47 Classic is an expensive but beautifully engineered coffee grinder. The durable build quality, precision machining, and innovative grind setting system combine to make it one of the best manual burr grinders on the market for espresso lovers. While the cost can be hard to swallow, the lower-price Simplicity and Phoenix models make Kinu’s M47 grinders attractive to a broader audience.

The Classic

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The Simplicity

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The Phoenix

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