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Phillip L.
September 22, 2023
Great Grinder! Annoying Bag...
I bought the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 Pro during a brief sale/discount period for $71.20. At this price it was the same as the sale on their C2 Fold model and the reviews I watched only put the C3 slightly ahead (the C2 can grind faster with the previous set of burrs so it had some trade-offs between the two). So, at that price, it seems to be fantastic!As I write this review it is at $89.99... and I think that probably makes a comparative view against other grinders a good idea. I like the grinder, but at this price point it's worth looking at the competition just to see if you can get something equivalent slightly cheaper or something better at about the same price.Ok, so, moving away from the "value for money against competition" consideration, do I like the grinder? Yes! I am very pleased with it. Build quality is good and it feels like a very solid construction. The grind action is smooth, pleasant, and easy. It grinds quickly, too. I haven't timed it, but I assume it takes about 20 seconds to grind 11-12 grams for my morning coffee.I really like the folding handle because it allows me to keep it as a single piece rather than removing the top and leaving the grind chamber open. HOWEVER, I find it indescribably annoying that they give you a carrying bag that is just slightly too small to fit the grinder in! I think I saw this on reviews for previous versions of TIMEMORE products and it drives me bonkers. I was so irritated that I almost gave this a 4 star review. But, then I thought about how I'd feel if I just threw the bag away... and then I realized that the grinder was still with 5 stars. I'll just use the bag for something else, I guess. You can fit the grinder and handle in the bag if you put them in as two separate items... but then why buy the pro model at all? Just get the cheaper non-folding version.In regards to ground coffee consistency and quality... well... I'm just really getting into specialty coffee so I'm no expert. It seems to do a great job, though, and all the reviews I watched by knowledgeable people suggest it's really good.So, overall, I'm very happy with my purchase and think it's great. They could perfect with just a smidgen more attention to detail, but I've gotten over it. I think I got a good deal at $71, but I'd probably recommend it at higher prices as well. I feel that $90 may be pushing it... but prices on competition/alternatives fluctuate, so I would just suggest doing a little research and considering for yourself if that's too much for you!
✔ Verified Purchase
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David Ancell
November 16, 2025
Great grinder at a great price
For the price, this is a very nice coffee bean grinder. Time will tell how durable it is, it it feels very well made. It’s very quiet so that I can grind beans without waking up my wife and kids. The handle is easy to turn even if grinding at a fine espresso level. It’s pretty fast - grinding about 13-14 grams of beans at espresso size in about 45 seconds. It’s pretty easy to clean also - just use the included brush. I was really concerned about a hand grinder not working as well as an electric one, but now I’m not sure I will even want a better electric grinder.
✔ Verified Purchase
T
Thomas J. Zuzack
May 27, 2025
Very smooth cranking
I have only had my TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 MAX PRO Manual Coffee Grinder for a couple of days but 1. It is a very nice looking grinder, 2. it is hefty and feels good in my hand, 3. I did not expect to care about the folding handle but I like it. It fits better on my shelf, 4. grinding is much faster and smoother than my previous manual grinder, 5. the silicone padded bottom makes setting it down quieter and less likely to scratch the countertop than a metal bottom, 6. putting the lid and handle on and taking it off feels secure, 7. everything about this grinder loos and feels solid and high quality, and 8. adjusting the grind coarseness is easy but is trial and error. I have mine set at 8 click now and still don't feel it is fine enough. I can set it at 7 clicks and see if that's fine enough but the instructions tell you not to go lower than that. Bottom line: this is a high quality grinder that feels good in your hand, grinds quietly and easily, and was a great purchase. I highly recommend it.
✔ Verified Purchase
Awesome grinder, but some mixed feelings from a C2 owner
I bought the C2 last year and have been beyond thrilled with its high quality construction, speed, and smooth grinding action. I wanted to have another grinder for car camping, so I decided to pick up the C3 pro when it went on sale.The C3 pro improves on the C2 in subtle and elegant ways. The pro's foldable handle is the biggest obvious difference--it's super sleek and well constructed and makes it easier to travel with. But they also modified the threads on the collection chamber in such a way that it is much easier to thread it onto the body without cross-threading it. I saw one review complain that this change made it more likely for the base to unscrew while in operation, but that has not been my experience at all. If anything, it feels more secure to me. Another difference is that the grinding shaft is held in the middle of the grinding chamber by a sturdy metal framework, whereas it is held by sturdy plastic in the C2. Finally, the burr is a different design, but I haven't noticed any big change one way or the other in ease of grinding or consistency of grind. I did feel like the adjustment knob was easier to turn on the C3, however.The size of the chamber is just right for grinding the right amount of beans for an 8 ounce cup, so I wouldn't bother getting the max version. If you want to grind more than one cup, it's easier just to refill and grind again. Then you don't have to do any measuring.I didn't think that I'd like the black finish as much as the grey, but it really looks top notch. And the grip is excellent just like the C2.The ONLY thing I don't love is that the cover attached to the handle is plastic. I dropped the handle on my C2 and the cover cracked :( I wish there was a way to replace just the plastic cover (you can get a complete replacement handle from the company).UPDATE: Now for the bad news. After a few months of daily use, the C3 has started a high pitch squeaking while grinding. I assume this is due to the metal shaft rubbing against the metal interior components, which are plastic on the C2. The other thing I've noticed is that the C3 does feel heavier than the C2 (due to those metal components), and the feel of grinding with it just isn't quite as easy or fun as the C2.While the folding handle is cool, the grinder actually still doesn't fit in the carrying bag with the handle on, making it less useful.All this to say, the C3 is great, but I would save a few bucks and go with the regular C2 if I were making the decision again.UPDATE 2: I was wrong—the high pitch squeaking was coming from the knob end of the handle and was resolved by dropping a little oil into the bottom of the knob (I used clipper oil). The manufacturer advised me on this.
✔ Verified Purchase
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bklyn74
December 31, 2025
Quality and Versatile
I use an aeropress and like to make different styles of coffee from "espresso" to pour over and this is perfect for me. Easy to adjust and grind, capacity works for solo use, probably up to 2 cups I'm guessing. Well made, lots of metal, minimal plastic.
✔ Verified Purchase
