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Comandante C40 MK3

Buying guide · Conical burrs

Comandante C40 MK3

Buy a used MK3 if you brew filter by hand and want Comandante's burrs for less; espresso drinkers who dial in often should choose a finer-stepped grinder.

No longer sold new. This guide is for anyone looking at a used one.

Best for
Pour-over, AeroPress, French press, Cold brew
Skip it for
Frequent espresso dialing
Settings chart →

BrewMark hasn't tested this grinder in person. This guide compiles the maker's specs and published reviews, listed under Sources. As an Amazon Associate, BrewMark earns from qualifying purchases.

In brief

The C40 MK3 is discontinued. Comandante's own store now lists only C40 MK4 models, and its FAQ offers only the MK4 manual. Prima Coffee presents the MK4 as the revision of the MKIII.

It is still worth knowing, because many are sold used. Prima Coffee wrote that the MKIII "has been the gold standard for hand coffee grinding" for five years. It covers everything from Turkish coffee to cold brew.

The trade-off is espresso. Its clicks are coarse for fine shot adjustments, and the dial carries no numbers. For filter brewing, those limits matter much less.

What it does well

  • Prima Coffee called the MKIII the gold standard for hand grinding for five years
  • Same burr set as the current MK4, per BrewCoffeeHome
  • MKIII parts are backwards compatible with the MK4, per Prima Coffee
  • Stepped clicks make it easy to return to a setting, per Prima Coffee

Where it falls short

  • No numbers on the dial; you count clicks from zero (BrewCoffeeHome)
  • BrewCoffeeHome found limited room to dial in espresso without the Red Clix upgrade
  • Wide body may not suit small hands, per BrewCoffeeHome
  • Heavier than the MK4, per BrewCoffeeHome

Specs

Type
Conical burrs
Burrs
39 mm conical, high-nitrogen stainless steel
Adjustment
Stepped dial under the burr, 30 microns per click (Prima Coffee)
Capacity
40–45 g
Size
2.4 in wide, 6.3 in tall
Weight
1.63 lb
Grounds jars
Two glass jars, one clear and one brown
Power
Hand

Where to start on the dial

Pour-over 27 clicksAeroPress 21 clicksFrench press 35 clicksCold brew 39 clicks

Every method on the settings chart →
On this page · 5 sections
  1. What it does well
  2. Where it falls short
  3. Who should buy it, and who shouldn't
  4. How it compares
  5. Owning it

What it does well

Grind quality is the reason people buy it. BrewCoffeeHome credits the C40 with "an excellent reputation, thanks to its reliability and grind quality." It found the grind consistent enough to balance flavour, sweetness and clarity.

The burrs are the same as the current model. BrewCoffeeHome states the MK3 and MK4 "have identical burr sets," and found the grind quality identical. Prima Coffee describes them as high-nitrogen martensitic steel, highly resistant to pitting.

The build is simple and robust. Prima lists a stainless steel body under a wood veneer, a stainless axle and crank, and two sealed ball bearings. Stepped clicks let you count back to a known setting after zeroing the burrs.

Where it falls short

There are no numbers to read. BrewCoffeeHome calls this a drawback: "there aren't any numbers to track its grind current setting." You count clicks from the closed position, the zero point, instead.

Espresso is tight. Prima Coffee puts the standard dial at 30 microns per click. BrewCoffeeHome found "limited scope for dialing in for espresso," with about five usable settings.

Comandante's Red Clix accessory halves the step to 15 microns, per Prima.

The body is wide. BrewCoffeeHome warns it "might not be the ideal grinder if you have small hands." It also notes the MK4 is lighter than the MK3.

Who should buy it, and who shouldn't

Buy a used MK3 if you brew pour-over, AeroPress or French press by hand. You get the C40's burrs, and the settings chart on this page covers each method.

Skip it if you pull espresso daily and change grind often. A grinder with finer clicks and a numbered dial will be easier to live with. Skip it too if you want a warranty, which a used grinder rarely carries.

How it compares

The Comandante C40 MK4 is the current model. BrewCoffeeHome says the MK4 has a redesigned bracket, drops the red O-ring, and swaps one glass jar for polymer. Grind quality is the same, so the choice is price against a new unit.

The 1Zpresso X-Ultra moves 12.5 microns per click, according to 1Zpresso. That gives more room for espresso, and you adjust it from outside without opening the grinder.

The 1Zpresso ZP6 Special is another filter-first hand grinder, still sold new. If you are weighing value instead, see Comandante C40 MK3 vs KINGrinder K6.

Owning it

Cleaning is dry. Comandante recommends brushing the burr and interior, or blowing out dust with a lens blower. It advises against the dishwasher, which can damage the veneer and bearings.

Our guide to cleaning a hand grinder covers the routine.

Do not undo the three screws around the burr. Comandante says they are hand-tightened for calibration, and removing them can damage the grinder and void the warranty. The cone, spring, washers and axle come out for cleaning.

Parts are not a worry. Prima Coffee says all MKIII parts are backwards compatible with the MK4, and Comandante still sells axles, bearings, springs and jars. When buying used, check the burrs for chips and the axle for play.

Also worth a look

Sources

  1. Prima Coffee: Comandante C40 MKIII Hand Grinder (archived 2020)
  2. Prima Coffee: Comandante C40 MK4 Hand Grinder (the MKIII listing now leads here)
  3. BrewCoffeeHome: Comandante C40 Coffee Grinder Review, also compare MK3 vs MK4
  4. Prima Coffee: Comandante Red Clix RX-35
  5. 1Zpresso: X-Ultra
  6. Comandante: FAQ
  7. Comandante: C40 grinders

By Jeff Gluck · Checked 2026-10-21