In brief
The C3S Pro is the folding-handle version of Timemore's Chestnut C3S, a small filter-first hand grinder. It uses 38 mm stainless steel conical burrs in an aluminum alloy unibody, and Slow Pour Supply, which sells the line, lists the dial at 12 clicks per rotation, about 83 microns per click.
Timemore's page for the C3S range lists three versions, with the Pro adding the pull-to-fold handle and a larger-capacity variant adding an XL catch cup.
Brew Coffee Home, the review that covers the C3S directly, recommends it for filter coffee and says to pick the Pro only for the folding crank. Independent reviews of the C3S Pro as sold are scarce, so most of what follows is from that review, a review of the C3 and the maker's spec sheets.
What it does well
- Brew Coffee Home says it gives clear, well-balanced filter coffee and a consistent grind
- Brew Coffee Home calls the build quality 'excellent, too, particularly considering the price'
- Slow Pour Supply lists an aluminum alloy body with stainless steel burrs and a 25 g maximum capacity
- Pull-to-fold handle for packing, per Timemore and Brew Coffee Home
Where it falls short
- At about 83 microns a click, the dial is too coarse for espresso dialing, per Slow Pour Supply's specs
- Brew Coffee Home says adjusting means removing the bin and holding the handle
- Brew Coffee Home found the materials less robust than Timemore's Chestnut X
- Brew Coffee Home says the Pro version is only worth it for the foldable handle
Specs
- Type
- Hand grinder, Conical burrs
- Burrs
- 38 mm stainless steel conical (S2C660), per Slow Pour Supply
- Adjustment
- Classic stepped dial, 12 clicks per rotation, about 83 microns per click
- Capacity
- 25 g maximum
- Weight
- About 530 g
- Size
- 147 × 52 × 159 mm
- Body
- Aluminum alloy unibody, stainless steel burrs and shaft
- Power
- Hand, pull-to-fold handle
Where to start on the dial
Pour-over 15 clicksAeroPress 13 clicksDrip 17 clicksFrench press 22 clicks
Every method on the settings chart →On this page · 5 sections
What it does well
Filter coffee is its job, and Brew Coffee Home says it does it well. The reviewer found the S2C burrs gave a consistent grind and describes the C3S as producing clear, well-balanced filter coffee. Home Coffee Expert, reviewing the C3, says its grind consistency is excellent for the price, especially at coarser settings, and describes bright, sweet cups at pour-over settings.
The build is better than the price implies. Brew Coffee Home calls the build quality "excellent, too, particularly considering the price," and chooses the C3S for buyers who want a fully metal build without plastic parts. Timemore describes a single piece of aluminum alloy finished for grip.
It is easy to pack. Slow Pour Supply gives the body as 147 × 52 × 159 mm at about 530 g, and the handle folds. Home Coffee Expert, reviewing the C3, calls the family compact and lightweight.
It is easy to start with. Slow Pour Supply gives suggested starting points for this model: 13 to 16 clicks for pour-over, 17 to 20 for French press and 7 to 8 for espresso or moka. Home Coffee Expert's own advice for the C3 puts 9 to 11 clicks at AeroPress, moka and drip. Treat those as starting points, not gospel; the two sources do not agree exactly.
Where it falls short
The dial is coarse for espresso. At about 83 microns a click, each step is large relative to what espresso demands. Brew Coffee Home says espresso on the C3S starts around 7 clicks and that 8 clicks makes the shot run too fast, so the usable window is one click wide. That is why the finder rates the C3S Pro at 0 for espresso, and why Timemore sells a separate C3 ESP Pro dial.
Adjustment is awkward. Brew Coffee Home says changing the setting means removing the bin and securing the handle, which is less convenient than an external dial. Home Coffee Expert notes the C3 dial has no numbers.
Materials are mid-range. Brew Coffee Home found them less robust than Timemore's higher-end X Lite and Chestnut X.
The Pro upcharge is for the handle only. Brew Coffee Home says to skip the Pro versions unless you want the foldable crank. If you will not travel with it, the plain Timemore C3S is the better value.
Who should buy it, and who shouldn't
Buy it if you brew pour-over, AeroPress or French press, want a metal hand grinder that fits in a bag, and will use the folding handle.
Skip it if you pull espresso as your main brew. Skip it too if you switch methods daily and hate counting clicks; an external-dial grinder is quicker to move around.
How it compares
The Timemore C3S is the same grinder with a fixed handle. Brew Coffee Home chose the C3S for filter coffee and noted the folding handle is the reason to spend more.
The C3 Max offers a larger 30 g capacity, per Timemore. The Timemore Chestnut S3 is the usual upgrade for cup quality; Coffee Chronicler's blind tasting of the C5 put it above that grinder on one coffee.
The KINGrinder K6 has an external dial and finer clicks, so it handles both filter and espresso with less counting.
Owning it
Keep it dry. Slow Pour Supply's care note for Timemore's C5 series is to use a dry brush and not wash the grinder, and the same rule is the safe one for the C3S. Our guide to cleaning a hand grinder covers the routine.
Find your zero point after any strip-down; our calibration guide explains how. Timemore's page does not state a warranty for the C3S, so check the retailer's terms when you buy.
Also worth a look
Timemore C3SSame burr and dial with a fixed handle; cheaper if you don't need to fold it
Timemore Chestnut C3 MaxRoomier 30 g capacity from the same line
Timemore Chestnut S3Timemore's step up in cup quality, with an external dial
KINGrinder K6External dial and finer clicks; the better pick if you want espresso too
Sources
- Timemore: Chestnut C3s Jet Black (store page)
- Slow Pour Supply: Timemore Chestnut C Series model comparison
- Brew Coffee Home: Timemore C3 Coffee Grinder Review, The C3S and C3 ESP
- Home Coffee Expert: Timemore C3 Review, Quality Hand Grinder on a Budget
By Jeff · Checked 2026-10-22