Timemore C3

What it does well

The grind is consistent. Home Coffee Expert rates it 8 out of 10 for consistency and calls it excellent for the price. The Coffee Chronicler sifted its grounds and found a slightly more even spread than the Timemore Slim Plus, though the gap was "relatively tiny."

It makes good filter coffee. Home Coffee Expert describes a medium roast Yirgacheffe as "bright, sweet, and complex." The Coffee Chronicler found sweet cups with medium clarity and muted acidity.

It is pleasant to use. Home Coffee Expert credits a new bearing system with making the handle easier to turn. It calls the C3 "a truly lightweight, compact grinder." Timemore lists dual bearings for stability.

Where it falls short

Espresso is a fallback at best. The Coffee Chronicler expects most owners to be limited to one setting that works. Home Coffee Expert found only one click worked, and only with dark roasts.

It is slower than the C2. The Coffee Chronicler estimates about 0.5 g per second at a pour-over setting, against roughly 0.8 to 1 g per second for the C2. Home Coffee Expert agrees it is "a good bit slower."

Some parts feel budget. Home Coffee Expert says the plastic handle looks a little cheap, and the dial has no numbers. Timemore confirms the standard C3 uses plastic internal components.

Who should buy it, and who shouldn't

Buy it if you brew pour-over, AeroPress or French press and want a capable first hand grinder. It suits someone moving up from pre-ground or a blade grinder on a modest budget.

Skip it if you pull espresso every day. Timemore's ESP models, or a grinder with finer steps, suit that better. Skip it too if you brew for several people at once, as the capacity is small. Home Coffee Expert also found the coarsest clicks too coarse for a good French press or cold brew.

How it compares

The 1Zpresso Q2 is the closest rival. Home Coffee Expert rates both 8 out of 10 and prefers the Q2 for everything except espresso. See 1Zpresso Q2 vs Timemore C3.

The KINGrinder K6 costs a little more and steps up to 48 mm burrs with an external dial. Brew Coffee Home found it good for espresso and filter. Compare dials in KINGrinder K6 vs Timemore C3.

The Timemore C3s is the same design in an all-metal build. Timemore lists it alongside the C3 for a little more. See Timemore C3 vs Timemore C3S.

If you already own a C2, read Timemore C2 vs Timemore C3 first.

Owning it

Home Coffee Expert says the C3 is quick and easy to clean. It suggests taking it apart once a week to brush the inside and burrs, and warns against using water. The hand grinder cleaning guide walks through it.

Timemore makes several C3 variants, so check which one you are buying before ordering parts. Capacity varies by version: Timemore lists 20 g for the standard model and 30 g for the Max. For burr wear, see the burr replacement guide.

The settings chart on this page counts clicks from the zero point, where the burrs just touch. To bring a recipe over from another grinder, use the grind converter. The travel setup guide helps if you pack it for trips.