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Timemore C3S

Buying guide · Hand · Conical burrs

Timemore C3S

A strong first hand grinder for pour-over and AeroPress brewers who want an all-metal body; espresso drinkers should look at an external-dial grinder instead.

Best for
Pour-over, AeroPress, French press, Cold brew
List price
About $89
Check price — Amazon →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 C3S is the all-metal version of Timemore's C3 hand grinder. CoffeeGeek explains the naming: the S adds a metal inner frame and a silicone base. The burrs, 38 mm S2C 660 conical burrs, are the same as the C3's.

It is built mainly for filter coffee. Brew Coffee Home calls it "versatile but mainly designed for filter coffee," and found its cups clear and well rounded. It can get close to espresso, but Brew Coffee Home found its steps too large at that end.

The main trade-off is the dial. It sits inside the grinder, under the burrs, and each click is a sizeable jump. That is fine for pour-over and awkward for espresso.

What it does well

  • Brew Coffee Home found "beautiful filter coffee with great clarity"
  • All-metal build that Brew Coffee Home calls excellent for the price
  • Same S2C burrs as the C3, in a sturdier aluminum body
  • The fold-handle version is "easy to stow," per Timemore

Where it falls short

  • Coarse steps for espresso: Brew Coffee Home found one click too fine and the next too fast
  • Internal dial is less convenient than an external one, per Brew Coffee Home
  • Brew Coffee Home timed it slower than the C2
  • Feels less robust than Timemore's Chestnut models, per Brew Coffee Home

Specs

Type
Hand grinder, Conical burrs
Burrs
38 mm S2C 660 conical, hardened stainless steel (Brew Coffee Home)
Adjustment
Internal click dial, 12 clicks per rotation, about 83 microns per click (Brew Coffee Home)
Capacity
20 g catch cup as standard (Timemore); 25 g per Brew Coffee Home
Weight
About 530 g (Slow Pour Supply, C3S Pro)
Body
Aluminum and stainless steel, no plastic parts, silicone base (Brew Coffee Home)
Power
Hand

Where to start on the dial

Pour-over 15 clicksAeroPress 13 clicksFrench press 22 clicksCold brew 25 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

The cup is the reason to buy it. Brew Coffee Home describes "beautiful filter coffee with great clarity and a well-rounded flavor." It rates grind quality above average for hand grinders at this price.

The S2C burrs are Timemore's spike-to-cut design. Brew Coffee Home says the flavor difference over older burrs is "clear" in its opinion. CoffeeGeek found the S2C set made grinding "near effortless" on the C3 range.

The build is solid. Brew Coffee Home says it is made of aluminum and stainless steel with no plastic parts, and calls the build "excellent, too, particularly considering the price."

It travels well. Timemore calls the fold-handle version "easy to stow." Timemore lists a 20 g catch cup as standard, while Brew Coffee Home puts capacity at 25 g.

Where it falls short

Espresso is a stretch. Brew Coffee Home found one click "too fine for espresso" and the next so coarse that "the shot pours too rapidly." With about 83 microns per click, there is no setting in between.

The dial is internal, so you count clicks from closed rather than reading a number. Brew Coffee Home compares it unfavourably with an external dial. Asked whether it is as convenient, its answer is "Frankly, no."

It is not the fastest. Brew Coffee Home timed 10 g at 25 seconds, against 21 seconds for the older C2. It still found the C3S felt "more seamless" to turn.

Brew Coffee Home also says the materials "feel less robust" than Timemore's higher-end X Lite and Chestnut X. That is a comparison upward, not a flaw at this price.

Who should buy it, and who shouldn't

Buy it if you brew pour-over, AeroPress or French press and want a metal-bodied first grinder. It also suits a travel kit.

Skip it if you plan to make espresso regularly. Brew Coffee Home points to the C3 ESP, whose 30-click dial it calls "necessary for espresso." Skip it too if you already own a C2; Brew Coffee Home says the upgrade is not worth it.

How it compares

The Timemore C3 uses the same burrs and dial with a plastic inner frame. Brew Coffee Home recommends the C3S if you want an all-metal grinder. The C3 vs C3S page shows both dials.

The KINGrinder K6 adjusts from outside the body, and BrewMark's grinder finder scores it for espresso. Compare them in K6 vs C3S.

The 1Zpresso JX-Pro also adjusts externally and sits higher in price, with the same espresso score in the finder. See JX-Pro vs C3S for the dial conversion.

Owning it

Brush the burrs and catch cup after use. Our guide to cleaning a hand grinder covers taking the burr out.

Because the dial counts from closed, find your zero point before following any recipe. 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 on your own coffee, or use the grind converter for a recipe written for another grinder.

Also worth a look

Sources

  1. Timemore: Chestnut C3s, Jet Black
  2. Brew Coffee Home: Timemore C3 coffee grinder review, the C3S and C3 ESP
  3. Slow Pour Supply: Timemore Chestnut C series model comparison
  4. CoffeeGeek: Timemore grinders on the move in 2023

By Jeff Gluck · Checked 2026-10-21