A C40, a K-Ultra and an S5, and a Poster Deciding What to Sell

5 sources researched

u/prphilipC40 vs K-Ultra vs Timemore S5 ComandanteC40 Nitro Blade BLACK 1ZpressoK-Ultra Manual Coffee Grinder 1ZpressoK-Ultra Manual Coffee Grinder — shop listing TimemoreTIMEMORE Manual Coffee Grinder Chestnut S5 Pro

The same washed Ethiopian went through all three hand grinders, and the cups came out close: what held up were texture and workflow. One owner's second comparison of the Comandante C40, the 1Zpresso K-Ultra and the Timemore S5 — one recipe, grind sizes matched by burr math, eye and drawdown — ends with him keeping two and selling the Comandante. The replies argue over the grind matching, and over whether the C40's charm still counts.

Quotes

“My current conclusion: I’d probably keep the K-Ultra and S5 and sell the C40.”
u/prphilip

“Probably my favorite texture of the three.”
u/prphilip

“I turn to the K-Ultra more because of the ease of use (particularly the grind size markings but also the catch cup cleanliness).”
u/crimscrem

“I was gifted one a few months ago and I freaking love the damn thing, the consistency and profile are just so damn comforting and it does sweetness better than any other grinder I tried.”
u/SplinterMD

“The ergonomics of the K-Ultra are really the difference-maker to me.”
u/Quarkonium2925

Background

prphilip's second comparison — The poster runs the test as a sell decision on his own grinders, after an earlier round on a lighter coffee, and mentions owning other hand grinders including a ZP6, a Pietro, a Millab M01 and an A4Z (post).

Facts

Two dials and one click ring — The C40 MK4 adjusts by counting clicks on an internal ring and ships with two 40 g bean jars (Comandante, post); the K-Ultra's external dial moves 20 µm per click across 100 clicks a turn on a heptagonal burr (1Zpresso); the S5 Pro's 48 mm burr sits behind a 90-step dial at 15 µm a step (Timemore).
€259, US$259, US$179 — As listed by each maker's own store: the C40 MK4 at €259 (US$291), the K-Ultra at US$259 (€231) and the Chestnut S5 Pro at US$179 (€160) (Comandante, 1Zpresso, Timemore).

Voices

Verdict · Reddit · r/pourover — Texture separated them, not flavour — All three cups were similar and none was bad, so the poster's ranking came from mouthfeel: the S5's was his favourite, softer and silkier; the K-Ultra gave livelier acidity and hid the roast; the C40 stayed rounded and blended while keeping more bitterness and a rougher texture (post).
Verdict · Reddit · r/pourover — Eight seconds a dose — Grinding 10 g took the K-Ultra 13 seconds against 21 for the C40 and 22 for the S5, and the poster found the K-Ultra the most comfortable in the hand, the C40 the least because of its wide body, and the S5 the most solid, if the heaviest (post).
Objection · Reddit · r/pourover — Grind matching is the hard part — One reply calls grind size the big factor and asks how closely three grinders can realistically be matched; the poster answers that he matched them by burr math, visual inspection and drawdown times (reply, answer).
Verdict · Reddit · r/pourover — The C40's faults are workflow — Grounds collect around the catch cup and the setting has to be counted from zero with no mark of where you already are, two annoyances the poster says his other hand grinders have solved and which now outweigh the charm (post).
Reaction · Reddit · r/pourover — A long-time critic changed his mind — One commenter spent years telling friends the C40 was overpriced, having owned a ZP6, X-Pro, Q2, K-Ultra, Kinu, King K6 and a Timemore 078, then was gifted one and now rates its sweetness and comfort above every grinder he has tried (comment).
Reaction · Reddit · r/pourover — Ergonomics against ritual — The replies split on what pays: one commenter calls the K-Ultra's ergonomics the real difference and the rest of the comparison close to splitting hairs, while another switches to the K-Ultra for its markings and clean catch cup yet still prefers the C40's grinding sound and the aroma it throws (one, two).