In brief
The Normcore Manual V2 is a compact aluminum hand grinder. The core version uses 38 mm stainless steel conical burrs and a stepped dial with 24 clicks per rotation. Normcore sells it with a carrying case and cleaning kit.
This guide covers that 38 mm V2. Normcore also sells a larger V2 with 44 mm conical, 49 mm flat or 48.6 mm Ghost burrs. Burr size changes how a dial setting grinds, so check which version a recipe was written for.
It suits someone brewing one or two cups of filter coffee, at home or away. The trade-off is that Normcore's own newer V3 claims to improve on it, and independent testing of the V2 is thin.
What it does well
- Unibody aluminum with a wider chamber opening, per Normcore
- Ships with a carrying case, blower and brush, per Normcore
- Choice of stainless or titanium-coated burrs, per Normcore
- Coffeeness says the V2 has earned a devoted following
Where it falls short
- Coffeeness says the newer V3 grinds more consistently and loads more easily
- 25 g capacity: one large cup or two small ones
- Normcore's product and shipping pages state no warranty term
- Few independent reviews of the V2 itself
Specs
- Type
- Hand grinder, Conical burrs
- Burrs
- 38 mm conical, SS420 stainless steel, HRC58; titanium-coated option
- Adjustment
- Stepped, 24 clicks per rotation
- Capacity
- 25 g
- Weight
- 423 g, 497 g with crank arm
- Size
- 50 mm diameter, 152 mm tall (182 mm with crank)
- Included
- EVA carrying case, air blower, cleaning brush, silicone band
- Power
- Hand
Where to start on the dial
Pour-over 29 clicksAeroPress 22 clicksFrench press 41 clicksCold brew 47 clicks
Every method on the settings chart →On this page · 5 sections
What it does well
The body is simple and solid. Normcore describes a unibody aluminum shell, a wider chamber opening for loading beans, and a silicone grip band. Weight is 423 g, or 497 g with the crank fitted.
You get a full kit in the box. Normcore includes an EVA carrying case, an air blower, a cleaning brush and a silicone band. That makes it a ready-made travel grinder.
There is a burr choice. Normcore offers stainless steel burrs for all-round use, or titanium burrs it says give "sharper edges and long-term consistency." Both are 38 mm and fit the same body.
It has a following. Coffeeness says the V2 "has earned a devoted following among coffee enthusiasts" and calls it "still very popular."
Where it falls short
Its successor claims to do better. Coffeeness says the Normcore V3 "apparently offers better grind consistency, easier bean loading and a wider range of grind settings." Coffeeness had not yet tested the V3 when it wrote that.
Capacity is modest. Normcore lists 25 g, so a large pour-over or two small cups is the limit per fill. Coffeeness lists the same 25 g in its chart.
Independent reviews are scarce. No lab-style test of the V2's grind distribution turned up in published sources. Treat its cup quality as unproven against better-reviewed grinders.
Warranty terms are vague. Normcore's product and shipping pages state no warranty term. Its shipping page does offer free 30-day returns, requested by email.
Delivery can be slow. Normcore ships from the USA, Germany and China. It says orders sent from China take 15 to 20 days to reach US buyers.
Who should buy it, and who shouldn't
Consider it if you brew pour-over, AeroPress or French press and want a case included. It suits a desk drawer or a travel bag.
Skip it if you want espresso, or want a grinder with a deep body of published testing. Skip it too if you brew for three or more people at once.
How it compares
The Timemore C3 is the budget hand grinder most often recommended. Coffeeness's comparison chart lists the V2 and Timemore's C3 Pro with 38 mm stainless conical burrs and 20 to 25 g capacity. See the dials in Manual V2 vs C3.
The KINGrinder K6 adjusts from outside the body, and BrewMark's grinder finder scores it for espresso. Compare them in K6 vs Manual V2.
The Timemore C3S is an all-metal 38 mm grinder at a similar price. It has more published reviews behind it.
Owning it
On its V2 product page, Normcore says the grinder assembles quickly and all parts are easy to wash. It asks owners to clean it thoroughly after each use. Our guide to cleaning a hand grinder covers the steps.
The dial counts clicks from closed, so find your zero point first. Our guide to calibrating a grinder walks through it.
The settings chart on this page gives a starting point for each method. From there, dial in the grinder, or use the grind converter for recipes written for other grinders.
Also worth a look
Sources
- Normcore: Manual Coffee Grinder V2 with Carrying Case (38 mm)
- Normcore: Manual Coffee Grinder V2 (44 mm, 49 mm flat and 48.6 mm Ghost burr options)
- Coffeeness: Normcore V3 grinder review, better than the V2? (archived May 2026)
- KINGrinder: Comparison of the KINGrinder models
- Timemore: Chestnut C3S
- Normcore: Shipping and returns
By Jeff Gluck · Checked 2026-10-21