A compact manual coffee grinder that goes from espresso to French press, the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3S is TIMEMORE's travel-sized hand grinder with 38 mm stainless steel burrs, a 30 g load and a body cut from a single piece of aluminum alloy. It is the lower-priced sibling of the brand's bigger Chestnut grinders, and TIMEMORE sells it with an optional pull-to-fold handle. This page covers what the maker publishes, how it compares with the Chestnut C2 and the 1Zpresso K-Ultra, and who it suits.
What is the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3S manual coffee grinder?
The Chestnut C3S, written C3s on TIMEMORE's site, belongs to the C3 series of hand grinders. TIMEMORE describes it with four highlights: an all-metal unibody built from a single piece of aluminum alloy, 38 mm stainless steel burrs that are CNC-cut with dual-bearing stability, a compact, travel-ready size that grinds up to 30 g, and a range built for espresso through French press.
It is a single-dose hand grinder. You load up to 30 g of beans, turn the crank and the grounds drop into the catch cup underneath. TIMEMORE sells the C3s in Jet Black and Stone White, and in three configurations: the standard model, a version with the pull-to-fold handle, and a version with an XL catch cup plus the pull-to-fold handle. TIMEMORE's site also lists a plain C3, which carries the same four highlights word for word.
TIMEMORE Chestnut C3S specs
| Type | Manual, single dose |
|---|---|
| Burrs | 38 mm stainless steel, CNC-cut |
| Bearings | Dual-bearing stability |
| Body | Single piece of aluminum alloy, all-metal unibody |
| Load | Up to 30 g |
| Adjustment range | 0 to 90 clicks |
| Uses | Espresso to French press |
| Colors | Jet Black and Stone White |
| Price on TIMEMORE's site | $89.00 standard, $99.00 with pull-to-fold handle, $119.00 with XL catch cup and pull-to-fold handle |
TIMEMORE does not publish the weight, the dimensions, the warranty length or a retention figure on this product page, and it does not say whether the adjustment is internal or external.
How does the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3S grind and adjust?
The 38 mm burr set is the main spec to know. TIMEMORE says it is CNC-cut from stainless steel and mounted with dual-bearing stability, with the aim of a clean, consistent grind for every brew method. The maker does not publish a burr geometry, a hardness figure or a particle distribution for it, so its consistency claim is the maker's own.
The adjustment runs from 0 to 90 clicks. TIMEMORE says the finest settings are fine enough for espresso and the coarsest are coarse enough for immersion brews such as French press. It does not publish which click numbers it recommends for each method on the product page, so expect to dial in by taste, starting from the middle for filter coffee and the finer end for espresso.
The 30 g load is the practical limit. A single espresso dose is well inside it, and so is a one-cup pour over, but a larger batch for a full French press or a pot of filter coffee may take two rounds.
TIMEMORE Chestnut C3S vs TIMEMORE Chestnut C2
The TIMEMORE Chestnut C2 is the family model to compare against. It is listed at $79.99 on this site with a conical 420 stainless steel burr hardened to 55 to 58 HRC, a 25 g capacity, a double bearing center axis and a weight of 0.59 kg. Its grind is set with an internal knob. The C3S has a larger 38 mm burr set, a 30 g load and 0 to 90 clicks of range, and it costs $10 to $40 more depending on the configuration.
The difference on paper is the capacity and the burr size TIMEMORE advertises. The C2 page publishes a burr hardness and a weight, which the C3S page does not, so the C2 is the better documented of the two.
TIMEMORE Chestnut C3S vs 1Zpresso K-Ultra
The 1Zpresso K-Ultra is a different tier at $259.00. It has an external dial that covers over 100 clicks at 20 microns each, an aluminum body, a weight of 0.68 kg and a carrying case with a foldable handle and magnetic catch cup in the box. For that money you get a fast, external adjustment and a fuller accessory set.
The C3S costs roughly a third of the K-Ultra with the pull-to-fold handle, and TIMEMORE publishes much less about it. Both are manual, single-dose grinders in aluminum bodies. If you grind one dose a day and rarely change the setting, the lower price is hard to argue with. If you dial in often for espresso, the external dial on the K-Ultra is the reason to pay more.
Is the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3S worth it?
At $89 to $119 it sits just above the entry level of the grinders category and well below the premium hand grinders. On the published spec you get metal construction, a 38 mm stainless burr set, bearings and a 30 g load. Those are real features for the price.
The caveats are the usual ones for a thin product page. There is no weight, no warranty length, no retention number and no stated way to adjust it. The standard model also showed as sold out on TIMEMORE's site when this page was written, with the pull-to-fold versions available. Nobody here has tested the grinder.
Who should buy the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3S (and who should not)
It suits someone who wants a small metal hand grinder for one or two cups a day, takes it travelling or to the office, and wants range from espresso to French press without paying for a premium model. The optional pull-to-fold handle is the version to look at if bag space matters.
It is a weaker match if you want to change the grind quickly between brew methods, since TIMEMORE does not mention an external adjustment ring on this model, or if you need a documented warranty and weight before you buy. Anyone grinding for more than two people at once should expect to grind in two batches.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much coffee can the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3S grind at once?
TIMEMORE says it grinds up to 30 g.
Can the Chestnut C3S make espresso?
TIMEMORE says the 0 to 90 click range is fine enough for espresso and coarse enough for immersion brews.
What are the burrs made of?
TIMEMORE lists 38 mm stainless steel burrs that are CNC-cut with dual-bearing stability.
What is the body made of?
The body is an all-metal unibody built from a single piece of aluminum alloy.
What is the difference between the C3 and C3S?
TIMEMORE lists both with the same four highlights. The sites differ in configurations and price: the C3s starts at $89 standard, and the C3 lists a $79 standard version alongside espresso dial options.
Does the Chestnut C3S come in other colors?
TIMEMORE sells the C3s in Jet Black and Stone White.
