Timemore C2 Review: The Best Hand Grinder On A Budget?

Timemore continues to impress, balancing quality and value like no other.

I always find that there’s something therapeutic about manually grinding coffee beans. It grounds you – no pun intended – in the morning coffee ritual, with the quiet whirr of the burrs and the enticing aromas that escape.

Today, I’m reviewing the Timemore Chestnut C2 manual coffee grinder, which has been on the market for a few years now. Even though an upgraded C3 version has since emerged, I still think the C2 is a fantastic pick for the beginner or budget-conscious coffee lover.

The Full Timemore Chestnut C2 Review

The Timemore Chestnut C2 is a manual coffee grinder that has been on the market since 2020. It was introduced as an affordable, entry-level grinder that still had the chops to appeal to serious coffee fans. 

I reviewed the C2 in 2022 and was generally impressed, with just a few minor quibbles. However, Timemore upgraded the C2 to the C2S in 2023, fixing some of the problems I encountered. So it feels like high time to give the new model a fresh look, starting with how it differs from the older C2.

How We Rated It

• Grind Consistency
• Build Quality
• Burr Quality
• Portability/Capacity
• Value For Money

4.2

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What is the difference between Timemore C2 and C2S?

Let’s start with a quick overview of what has changed. The biggest changes in the C2S are all in the build quality; this grinder has less plastic and more metal. While this makes it a bit heavier, it also feels way more durable. It has a full metal unibody, metal grind adjustment dial, and metal internal grinding mechanism – along with the stainless steel burrs of the original (1). 

You’ll also note a few aesthetic updates to the exterior. The handle knob is aluminum rather than plastic, and a no-slip silicone base has been added.    

Is the Timemore C2 a good grinder?

I’ll start with the basic specs as we dive into this question. Timemore Chestnut C2 hand grinder with 38mm stainless steel conical burrs – a pretty standard size for grinders in this market (2). They’re impressively sharp, yielding a relatively smooth, comfortable, and fast grinding experience. It took me less than 30 seconds to grind 15 grams of coffee for a V60.

The coffee grounds are very uniform from medium-fine to medium-coarse, which puts it in the ideal range for brewing methods like pour-over, Aeropress, and drip machines. It drops off a little at the coarser settings, but this is still a fine grinder for a French press coffee maker.

There are 36 grind size settings with roughly 83 microns between each step. This is far from the most precise available, but it’s plenty for dialing in your perfect Chemex or V60 brew. 

Like most hand grinders in this price range, you change size settings by twisting the metal grind adjustment knob at the base of the mechanism. It isn’t numbered, so you track your setting by counting clicks. I always find this process a little tiresome, especially if you happen to lose track and have to re-zero, but I appreciate the practicality and cost-effectiveness of the design.

Can the C2 grind for espresso?

There is a notable loss in grind quality at the very fine settings below about 12 clicks – not to mention a notable increase in grind time. While you certainly can grind for espresso or Moka pot with this grinder, especially if you have a pressurized portafilter, it wouldn’t be my pick for a serious espresso lover.

It’s also worth noting that the instruction manual explicitly advises against using the finest settings (0 to 6 clicks) to protect the sharpness of the burrs. This is not the grinder for Turkish coffee, either.

Upgraded Build Quality

The new C2S edition of this grinder definitely takes the build quality up a notch. One of my main complaints reviewing the C2 years ago was the amount of plastic in the build. Back then, it felt like a dense light roast bean might warp something – no longer. This grinder feels burly and built to last.

Its aluminum body means it’s still relatively lightweight, though it is about 300 grams heavier than the original C2. While I’ve only been testing this grinder for a few months, I have no qualms about its engineering, particularly given my long experience with other Timemore products.

It’s currently available in two colors (black and white), both with attractive etched grids on the body of the grinder and a color-matched aluminum knob. The etching isn’t just easy on the eyes; it also enhances your grip, which I thought was kind of silly until I was grinding one morning with damp hands. In that context, it really does help!

A Great Option For Travel

Hand grinders are always great for travel because they don’t require electricity. Durable and compact models like the Timemore Chestnut C2 Grinder (or its more compact cousin, the Slim Plus) are even better. 

Even with its new, heavier formulation, the C2S is a fantastic road trip companion. It weighs just over a pound and a half and measures 5.79” tall with a 2” diameter.

I’ll just mention as an aside here that, as a person with small hands, the relatively narrow C2S is one of the most comfortable hand crank grinders I’ve tried.

It has a 25-gram capacity hopper, which is small but appropriate. You can grind enough for two small or one large coffee drink in one go. Look into the C2 Max if you want a bit higher capacity.

Is the Timemore C2S worth it?

I think the Timemore C2S offers incredible value, particularly given that its recent upgrades don’t seem to have come with much of a price increase. It still retails for just $89 – and can often be found on sale. 

It might not deliver the consistency or precision required by a serious specialty coffee professional, nor is it the right pick for an espresso enthusiast, but for the vast majority of coffee lovers, this is a solid buy at a fantastic price.

The Chestnut C2S comes with a cleaning brush and carrying case, the latter of which is a nice value-add if you’re planning to travel with your grinder.es, you should do an in-depth research into grinders’ nuances before deciding anything. For this, we created a detailed comparison table:

	Reviewed item
Manufacturer	Timemore	Porlex	Hand Ground	Lido	Mazzer
Model	Chestnut C2	Mini	Precision	3	Omega
Product category	Hand grinder	Hand grinder	Hand grinder	Hand grinder	Hand grinder
Materials	Stainless Steel	Stainless steel	Aluminum, Glass, Ceramic, Stainless Steel, Acrylic, ABS, Pakka Wood, Silicone, POM, PU	Plastic	Stainless steel, anodized aluminum, carbon fiber
Color options	Black	Silver	Black	Black/Gray	Aluminum
Burr type	Stainless steel conical burr	Ceramic conical burr	Ceramic conical burr	Swiss-made steel burr	Conical stainless-steel burr
Burr size	38 mm	47 mm	40 mm	48 mm	47 mm
Grinding adjustment	Switch dial	Switch dial	Switch dial	Aluminum locking ring	External Stepped Adjustment Ring
Number of grind settings	36	Stepless	15	Stepless	6
Hopper size	1.05 oz / 30 g	0.7 oz / 20 g	3.5 oz / 100 g	2.46 oz / 70 g	1.48 oz / 42 g
Easy to clean	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Weight	15.2 oz / 430 g	8 oz / 226 g	27.8 oz / 789 g	47.36 oz / 1.34 kg	26.5 oz / 0.7 kg
Dimensions	7.72 x 5.55 x 2.52 inches	6 x 2.3 x 1.8 inches	5.5 x 4 x 7.5 inches	13.5 x 3 x 3 inches	7.7 x 3 x 3 inches
Warranty	1 year	n/a	1 year	n/a	n/a
Price	No products found.	No products found.	No products found.	No products found.	$382.5
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Do Not Buy The Timemore C2 If . . . 

• Espresso is your priority: Plan on spending a little more money for a grinder with the precision and fine grind consistency required to dial in an espresso shot. Lately, I’ve been very impressed with the 1Zpresso J-Ultra. If you’re on a tighter budget, the Timemore Chestnut C3 does a little better than the C2 in the fine grinds range, particularly the ESP version.

• You don’t want a manual grinder: Not sold on starting every morning with an arm workout? That’s totally reasonable, and luckily, there are some great options! The Goat Story Arco is a unique 2-in-1 grinder that can be operated manually or attached to a base to become an electric grinder. The Timemore Grinder Go is a battery-operated grinder that keeps the compact and portable idea of a hand coffee grinder but eliminates the elbow grease.

• You want a more premium coffee grinder: The Timemore C2 is maybe the best budget hand grinder, but if you’re willing to spend a little more, you open up a world of better burr sets and more advanced engineering and design. For example, check out the famed Comandante grinder or Mazzer’s first foray into manual grinding, the high-quality Mazzer Omega (3). 
  
  Another grinder option is the VSSL coffee grinder. It doesn’t have a better set of burrs, in my opinion, but it has one of the most durable builds in the game, having been designed for rough-and-tumble adventures.

The Verdict 

The Timemore Chestnut C2S is a good quality hand grinder at a great price. While not the grinder I’d recommend to a specialty coffee geek, it’s the perfect entry-level conical burr grinder for anyone ready to upgrade from a blade grinder without breaking the bank. Its grind consistency and build quality far exceed its price point, particularly in the drip coffee range of the grind spectrum.

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