Comandante vs. Timemore – Hand Grinder Comparison

The first resistance comes immediately. Beans crack under your palm, no motor hums, only the rhythm of your own movement.

And with that first crack, the anticipation already begins, long before the water is even hot – that small dopamine hit our brain releases in expectation, not only at the first sip. It's exactly in this moment that part of what later arrives in the cup gets decided: how finely the bean is broken down, how even the particles turn out, how much feeling you invest.

Comandante vs. Timemore – two philosophies of hand grinding

Two names come up especially often at this moment: Comandante and Timemore. Both build hand grinders that are a firm part of everyday life in our roastery and in our showrooms in Bern and Zürich, and we carry both as partners in Switzerland. And both answer the question of what a hand grinder should be in completely different ways.

Nobody needs a hand grinder – the electric grinder right next to it grinds just as reliably. But a hand grinder says something else: about the ritual you allow yourself in the morning, about the pace you choose when everything outside could long since be faster. Comandante and Timemore answer this feeling differently, not better or worse. You're not choosing between two price classes, but between two attitudes, each standing for itself.

Comandante: a German manufactory, one focused idea

Comandante builds a single, consistently refined line in Germany: the C40, currently in its fourth generation as the C40 MK4 with its in-house Nitro Blade burr set. The conical burr set measures 39 millimeters on the outside and 30 millimeters on the inside and is made from a high-alloy, nitrogen-rich martensitic stainless steel – flavor-neutral and remarkably wear-resistant, so the cutting edges stay sharp even after years of use.

The crank carries a knob made of oak from the Black Forest, and the body is available in either matte stainless steel or wood veneer. 40 clicks are available, each moving the burr set by roughly 25 to 30 micrometers – anyone who wants it even finer can upgrade with the Red Clix system to roughly 15 micrometers per click. Alongside the C40 MK4, we also carry the larger Baracuda line, the C60, the compact X25 Trailmaster for on the go, and the Lab Series specialty burr sets for filter coffee.

Timemore: a Chinese design studio, a whole model family

Timemore takes a different path. The company from China has won international design awards multiple times, including Red Dot, iF and G-Mark, and keeps developing its Chestnut line in quick succession. We currently carry the Chestnut C5 series: it relies on a patented, 42-millimeter S2C-042-III burr set built on the Spike-to-Cut principle – the bean is first scored and then cut rather than crushed, which reduces breakage and fines. 48 numbered steps are available: as the C5 Pro with 0.031 millimeters per step for filter and versatile use, or as the C5 Esp Pro with 0.015 millimeters per step for finer espresso settings.

The C5's catch capacity is around 30 grams, and its all-metal aluminum housing weighs around 640 grams. Also available from us: the Chestnut S3 with the patented S2C890 burr set, built for filter and brewing methods, and the S3 Esp with the six-armed S2C-042-EI burr set for espresso. Both share the same housing, a foldable spring-loaded handle and the same external adjustment via a numbered ring with 0.015 millimeters per click – the difference lies solely in the burr set, not in the precision.

Good to know: with the Sculptor 064 and 078 series, Timemore also builds single electric grinders with 64 and 78-millimeter burr discs and a brushless motor. That's its own, electric segment and not a hand grinder – anyone wanting to take that step still stays within the Timemore family.

Why the evenness of the burr set matters at all

What ultimately ends up in the cup depends largely on particle size and how even it is. If the particles turn out too uneven, the fine particles extract faster than the coarse ones, and the result feels unbalanced, no matter how precise your coffee-to-water weight ratio is. That's exactly why both manufacturers invest so much in their burr geometry, even though they take completely different technical paths to get there.

Burr sets are a bit like engines in cars: subjective, with their own character, and there's no single best one. That's our observation from many tastings in the roastery – others in the community see it differently, and that's entirely fine. Feel matters more here than you'd think, too: weight, resistance and the sound of the crank shape the enjoyment before the first sip even arrives.

We don't have espresso rules anyway. What counts is the weight ratio between coffee and water, usually around 1 to 2, and how the coffee ultimately tastes. No shot is like any other, because the bean, the humidity and you yourself change from day to day. With a hand grinder you feel this even more directly, because you're part of the extraction yourself, not just a spectator to the push of a button.

At a glance

Feature	Comandante C40 MK4	Timemore Chestnut C5
Origin	Germany	China
Burr type	Nitro Blade, conical	S2C-042-III, conical (Spike-to-Cut)
Burr diameter	39 mm outer / 30 mm inner	42 mm
Burr material	High-alloy, nitrogen-rich martensitic stainless steel	Stainless steel (burrs), aluminum housing
Adjustment	40 clicks, approx. 25–30 µm/click, Red Clix upgrade approx. 15 µm/click	Pro: 0.031 mm/step · Esp Pro: 0.015 mm/step, 48 numbered steps
Bean capacity	approx. 40 g, glass or polymer container	approx. 30 g catch capacity
Weight	approx. 700 g	approx. 640 g
Dimensions	approx. 60 × 158 mm (Ø × H)	159 × 53 × 163.5 mm
Handle	Crank with oak knob from the Black Forest	Ergonomic handle
Other models in the range	C60 Baracuda, X25 Trailmaster, Lab Series	Chestnut S3 / S3 Esp, Sculptor 064/078 (electric)

Who it's for

Both hand grinders are aimed at anyone who likes taking coffee into their own hands, whether this is your first grind or your tenth. There's no right or wrong here, only the question of which idea of craft speaks to you more.

If you're drawn to a single construction refined consistently over years, made in Germany, with oak wood and a burr formula that has proven itself for years, you'll probably find yourself at home in the Comandante hand grinder collection.

If you're drawn to a broad, design-award-winning model family with very fine, micrometer-specified adjustment, and you like choosing between several current models, take a look at the Timemore hand grinders and accessories. For on the go, the compact X25 Trailmaster from the Comandante collection works just as well as the foldable Chestnut S3 from Timemore.

Our opinion here is just one of many. In the end, what counts is which grinder feels right in your hand, and you'll find that out best by experiencing both live in our showrooms in Bern and Zürich. You'll find an overview of the full range of hand grinders we carry in our hand grinder collection.

What else belongs with it

A hand grinder doesn't replace an electric grinder, and it doesn't have to. Many in our community use both: the hand grinder for a quiet filter coffee in the morning or on the go, an electric grinder for everyday espresso at home.

For anyone who wants an electric grinder that's affordable and precise, the Varia VS3 from our Varia collection is an obvious next step. Anyone who wants more automation and a thought-through single-dosing experience will find it in the Weber Workshops EG-1 from our Weber Workshops collection – we're the importer of Weber Workshops in Switzerland.

Just as important as the grinder is the scale next to it, because grind size and dosing are inseparably linked. For anyone who wants a scale that's affordable and reliable, a look at our Normcore collection is enough. Anyone who also values app connectivity and a flow-rate display will find it in our Acaia collection. We import both brands directly and have carried them in our showrooms in Bern and Zürich for years.

Frequently asked questions

What's the fundamental difference between Comandante and Timemore hand grinders?

Comandante builds a single, consistently refined line in Germany centered on the C40 MK4 with its own purpose-built Nitro Blade burr set. Timemore is a Chinese company that has won multiple design awards, with a whole model family ranging from the Chestnut line to single electric grinders. Both achieve fine, even adjustment; the difference lies mainly in origin, design language and range of models, not in quality.

Are Comandante and Timemore hand grinders also suitable for espresso?

Yes. The manufacturer explicitly positions the Comandante C40 MK4 for a range from espresso to French press. With Timemore, the role split is different: in the S3 line, the S3 and S3 Esp share the same 0.015-millimeter adjustment, and the difference lies solely in the burr set – the Esp variant is ground for espresso. In the C5 line, the Esp Pro with 0.015 millimeters per step actually resolves finer than the regular C5 Pro with 0.031 millimeters.

Does Timemore also make electric grinders?

Yes, with the Sculptor 064 and 078 series. These are single electric grinders with 64 and 78-millimeter burr discs and a brushless motor, a segment of their own and not a hand grinder.

Do I also need an electric grinder?

No, that's a matter of taste. Some in our community grind exclusively by hand every day, others combine a hand grinder for on the go with an electric grinder for everyday use at home. Both are valid paths.

Can I see the hand grinders before buying?

Yes, in our showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zürich (Hagenholzstrasse 50b) you can experience Comandante and Timemore hand grinders live and hold them in your hand during regular business hours.

How quickly will my hand grinder be delivered?

Within Switzerland and to Liechtenstein, your order typically arrives after 2 to 4 working days.