One of the first-hand grinders to bridge the gap between entry-level and high-end models is the Timemore Chestnut C2. This stunning machine has 38mm conical steel burrs that swiftly and consistently grind coffee beans. All of this comes with a relatively low price tag.
This review will deeply dive into the Timemore Chestnut C2 to see how it performs and who should consider investing in one. The Timemore Chestnut C2 provides high-quality grind results for such a popular budget-friendly hand grinder.
While not perfect, the C2 is a great starter grinder and well deserving of its popularity with even the most seasoned home baristas.
Time more Chestnut C2 Review
Build Quality
The TimeMore Chestnut C2 is quite expensive. Still, they make it work by incorporating some plastic components into the design (whereas other premium hand grinders are made entirely of metal). The C2’s lid, crank pommel, adjustment knob, and stabilizers are all plastic.
This being said, the hand crank and burrs, two essential parts, are constructed of stainless steel. The hand grinder’s burrs are stable and deliver a consistent grind size thanks to the meticulous design. Due to the handle’s dual-bearing mounting, it spins smoothly.
To guarantee the consistency of grind sizes, the inner burr is further spring-loaded. The TimeMore Chestnut C2 feels less expensive than burr grinders, which cost more money.
| Specs | |
| Dimensions: | 160mm x 60mm |
| Weight: | 465g |
| Burr Material: | Stainless steel |
| Burr Shape: | Conical |
| Used for: | Manual brewing |
| Hopper capacity: | 25g |
Design
The Timemore C2 offers a sleek, contemporary look. Various neutral colors are available for the main body, composed of aluminum alloy. The body’s textured exterior is fascinating and makes it simple to hold. It is a visually appealing hand grinder that takes first place.
The TimeMore Chestnut C2 is available in a standard size of 160mm by 60mm. The hopper can store 25 grams of coffee, which is more than enough for a single serving and works with most brewing techniques.
The C2 could be readily transported on trips even though it is too large to fit inside an Aeropress. And a free travel bag is included when you buy one.
Burr Quality
The 38mm stainless steel conical burrs in the Timemore Chestnut C2 are packed. The burrs are much higher quality than those found in this price tag. On the other hand, grinders at this price point were created by TimeMore themselves. The burr set quickly consumes your coffee beans because it is sharp and forceful. Twenty grams of beans are ground at setting 15 for Pour Over in around 38 seconds.
Timemore C2 Grind Settings
The TimeMore Chestnut C2 grinder uses the click adjustment system. The C2 offers a wide range of grind sizes with 36 clicks or adjustment settings. The C2’s grind adjustment must be “zeroed out” each Time by rotating the dial to the left and counting the number of clicks required to achieve the desired grind level as you turn.
The grind adjustment knob has no numbers to help you, and you can’t ensure the dial is still positioned correctly before using it. This requires you to remember your favorite grind setting and perform some math each morning before drinking coffee.
TimeMore does not indicate the microns for each click size, indicating that it is probably not fine enough to take pride in. Let’s say that the C2 is fantastic for brewing techniques that need coarser to medium settings, such as the French press.
Grind Consistency
Considering the price, Timemore Chestnut C2 offers great grind consistency. It provides a full grind range, allowing you to grind fine for Moka Pot up to the coarser settings for French press or Chemex. It excels at the medium and coarse settings, producing a uniform grind size.
It still does have a modest amount of fines, which translates to less clarity in your cup. But given the price, the Timemore C2 will truly blow its competitors out of the water.
This hand grinder works wonderfully for manual brewing techniques like Pour Over, Aeropress, French Press, or Moka Pot. While the Timemore Chestnut C2 has the ability to grind espresso finely, it isn’t designed for this. It takes a while to grind a single dose of coffee beans finely, and there aren’t sufficient grind settings to dial the beans in perfectly.
Cleaning
The Timemore Chestnut C2 is simple to clean. It comes with a cleaning brush to help wipe out residual ground coffee. You need to disassemble the burrs every few months and do a deeper cleaning. You accomplish this by loosening the grind adjustment knob until it falls out. For a thorough clean, you can remove the burrs.
Here’s a review video for TIMEMORE C2:
Customer Reviews
Great hand grinder!
This review is for the “TIMEMORE Chestnut C2 Manual Coffee Grinder Capacity 25g…”. The one difference between what’s shown in the photos and what I received was that the grinder has a metal dial for the grind adjustment (which is a plus) instead of the black plastic shown.
Exceeded expectations. We experienced no issues at all so far because it’s easy to use. Consistent and good build quality at a fair price. I probably would not recommend it for people constantly changing between brewing methods since changing the grind settings is rather inconvenient.
Customer Reviews from Amazon
Some Drawbacks Of The Timemore C2?
There are a few drawbacks in the Timemore C2 stated below:
- Beans bouncing out: The biggest issue with the C2 is that the beans tend to bounce off the bracing inside the grinder body and out of the grinder. This happens regularly; nobody likes to lose beans when filling their grinder.
- Catch cup thread: The next most significant problem is the thread that screws the catch cup onto the main body of the grinder. The lines tend to cross the line, and since the aluminum used is quite soft, this could easily damage the threads.
- Plastic bracing: The aluminum outside the body is entirely CNC-machined. To maintain the shaft’s stability, there is bracing on the interior. Plastic was used to make these braces. There are some concerns that this might become brittle and crack with Time. I don’t think it will be an issue for long because the plastic seems sturdy, thick, and of excellent quality.
- For espresso only: Although it is not suited for this, the handbook states that you can grind for espresso. Although it can grind finely enough to produce espresso, there isn’t enough adjustment to make it as strong as you’d like. However, for a machine with a pressurized basket or a manual espresso machine like the flair, the C2 will do fine.
- When screwing on the cup, it also seems a little “odd.” However, the screwing feels a little smoother and less “gritty” after a few weeks of consistent use. The cup tends to feel loose when grinding unless you screw it on tightly. But it won’t come off because there are enough threads.
The Final Verdict
- The Timemore Chestnut C2 is an excellent manual grinder for beginners who want solid results across a broad range of grind settings without a premium price tag.
- With the Titanium burr update, this hand crank grinder may be able to operate more consistently at fine settings while still meeting your needs for medium to coarse grind sizes.
- It is pretty simple to operate, sleek, and lightweight. The Timemore Chestnut C2 is the one for novice manual grinders. This hand grinder still merits a place in your collection, semi-pros.
- The only drawback is that it lacks the accuracy required to make an excellent espresso grinder.
- But for those who use other coffee makers, it’s a fantastic, reasonably priced option that looks wonderful and is portable enough to carry in a bag.
Related Articles
Coffee Grinders For Moka Pot (The Best Ones)
Coffee Grinder With Jar – A Detailed Guide
Coffee Grinder Brush Reviews-The Best
Hamilton Coffee Grinder Reviews-All You Need To Know