Mahlkönig · Dial-in chart
Mahlkönig X54 grind settings
Where to set the Mahlkönig X54 for every common brew method — worked out from this grinder’s own dial curve rather than a one-size-fits-all chart.
The shape of this dial
The top line is the universal grind index every BrewMark recipe uses. The bottom line is the X54’s own dial. The connectors show how one maps onto the other.
Settings by brew method
Start at the recommended setting, brew, then move within the range by taste. Sour or weak means go finer; bitter or harsh means go coarser.
| Method | Setting | Range |
|---|---|---|
| EspressoFine. Aim for a 25–30s shot and adjust from there. | 2.7 | 2 – 3.6 |
| Moka potFiner than filter, coarser than espresso. No tamping. | 4 | 3.6 – 4.8 |
| AeroPress (short steep)For 1–2 minute recipes. Go coarser for longer steeps. | 5.6 | 4.8 – 6.7 |
| Pour over — V60 / coneThe reference point for most published pour-over recipes. | 7.7 | 6.9 – 8.5 |
| Pour over — flat bottomKalita, Orea and similar. Slightly coarser than a cone. | 8.5 | 8 – 9.2 |
| Drip / batch brewAutomatic brewers. Coarser to suit the longer contact time. | 9 | 8.5 – 9.8 |
| ChemexThe thick filter needs a coarser grind to avoid stalling. | 9.8 | 9.2 – 10.6 |
| French pressCoarse. Too fine here is the usual cause of a muddy cup. | 11.2 | 10.5 – 12 |
| Cold brewCoarsest setting you have. 12–18 hours of contact. | 12.8 | 12 – 14 |
How much room you have to adjust
That is the resolution you actually have to work with on the X54. Where the number is small, a single step moves the cup more than you would expect — so change one at a time and taste before moving again.
Dialing in the X54
Mahlkönig's home grinder, and much more conventional than the EK that shares its badge. Genuinely all-purpose with a usable espresso end, though the resolution down there is nothing like a dedicated espresso grinder's.
Coming from another grinder?
Convert any recipe’s grind setting to your X54
If a recipe quotes a setting for a different grinder, our converter maps it onto the X54’s dial using the same curve this chart is built from. 80+ models supported.
Open the grind converter →How these numbers were worked out
Every grinder gets mapped onto a shared 0–100 grind index, where 0 is espresso-fine and 100 is the coarsest useful setting. Five reference points on the X54 are measured against that scale — espresso, moka, filter, French press and coarse — and the settings in between are interpolated.
The X54’s dial is interpolated linearly between those reference points, which is the right model for its burr geometry.
The result is that “medium-fine” resolves to a real number on this grinder rather than a vague instruction. It is a starting point, not a guarantee — burr wear, bean density and roast level all move the target, which is why every row above gives a range as well as a number.
Take this chart with you
Every setting on this page, on your phone at the grinder — plus a note of what actually worked last time on your X54. Free on iOS.
Get the iOS appGrinders that dial in like this one
Similar burrs, scale or dial range — which means settings translate between them more predictably than across the whole catalog.