The TIMEMORE Chestnut C5 Pro is a hand grinder built around a 42 mm conical burr set and a dial that covers every setting in a single turn. TIMEMORE sells it for $110.00 and points it at pour over drinkers who want speed and simplicity, with the occasional espresso as a bonus.
What is the TIMEMORE Chestnut C5 Pro?
It is the pour over version of TIMEMORE's C5 series, the maker's newest step up in the Chestnut line. TIMEMORE describes the C5 Pro as an all-metal grinder with coarser settings, well suited for pour over and the occasional espresso. A second model in the series, the C5 ESP Pro, swaps in a finer dial for espresso, and our TIMEMORE Chestnut C5 ESP Pro page covers that one. This page is about the standard dial.
The headline change from the older C3 is the burr. TIMEMORE moved from a 38 mm set to a new 42 mm seven-blade burr called the S2C-042-III, and says that by re-engineering the inner structure and widening the body slightly it made room for the larger burr while keeping the grinder compact and travel-friendly. The body measures 53 mm across, which TIMEMORE offers as the reason it is easy to grip.
TIMEMORE Chestnut C5 Pro specs
| Type | Manual hand grinder |
|---|---|
| Burr set | S2C-042-III, 42 mm seven-blade multipurpose conical burr |
| Adjustment | 16 macro steps per rotation, 48 total clicks |
| Adjustment accuracy | 0.031 mm per click |
| Finest grind setting | 3 |
| Grind chamber | 30 g |
| Catch cup | 25 g |
| Materials | Stainless steel, aluminum |
| Body size | 53 mm diameter by 172 mm tall; 167 mm with the handle extended |
| Weight | Approx. 640 g |
| Colors | Black, White |
| In the box | Grinder, pull-to-fold handle, cleaning brush, manual |
| Price | $110.00 on TIMEMORE's US store |
TIMEMORE offers a 1-year warranty and 7-day returns on its own store, with free shipping on orders of $49 and up. The maker gives no retention figure and does not describe the bearings.
How does the C5 Pro grind adjustment work?
This is where the C5 Pro is meant to stand apart. TIMEMORE calls it a completely redesigned adjustment dial, with 16 macro steps in each rotation and 48 total clicks, so one rotation covers all the settings. Each click moves the burrs by 0.031 mm. For a pour over drinker that means a short, quick trip between a coarser grind for a big batch and a finer one for a single cup, without counting through several turns of the dial.
TIMEMORE claims 400 percent more grind settings than the C3S, and says the clicks are sharper and more satisfying. Those are the maker's statements about feel, and nobody here has turned the dial to check them. What can be read off the spec table is the practical range: the finest grind setting is 3, and TIMEMORE adds that a 3-click buffer serves as the practical zero point, which protects the burrs from accidental damage if the dial is wound all the way in.
The same page lists a Standard dial and an Espresso dial across the series. The C5 Pro ships with the Standard one, which is the coarser of the two, so anyone planning to grind mostly for espresso should read the ESP Pro page before choosing.
What do the 42 mm burrs change?
TIMEMORE puts numbers on the upgrade over the C3S: a burr 19 percent larger, a grinding path 16.23 percent longer, and grinding that is 5 percent more consistent. It also credits the larger set with a sharper grind profile, more clarity, and more consistent flavor as the cup cools. All of these are the maker's own comparisons against its own earlier grinder, not independent measurements, so treat them as direction rather than proof.
TIMEMORE Chestnut C5 Pro vs TIMEMORE Chestnut C3S
The TIMEMORE Chestnut C3S Manual Coffee Grinder is the obvious comparison, since the C5 is its replacement in the range. The C3S is listed at $89.00 with 38 mm stainless steel burrs, a 90 click dial, a 30 g capacity and an aluminum alloy unibody, and it is described as fine enough for espresso and coarse enough for immersion brews.
The C5 Pro costs $21.00 more, adds 4 mm of burr diameter, and swaps the 90 click dial for 48 clicks that fit in one rotation. If your main grinder job is filter coffee and you value a quicker dial, that is the trade on offer. If you want the lowest price from the same brand, the C3S is still there.
TIMEMORE Chestnut C5 Pro vs 1Zpresso K-Ultra
The 1Zpresso K-Ultra Manual Coffee Grinder sits in a different price tier at $259.00. It is aluminum, weighs 0.68 kg, and offers over 100 clicks at 20 microns per click on an external dial that covers the full range in one smooth rotation. That is a finer step than the C5 Pro's 0.031 mm, which is 31 microns. The K-Ultra also comes with a carrying case, foldable handle and magnetic catch cup.
So the choice is mostly budget. The C5 Pro costs $149.00 less and still gives you a single-rotation dial and a 42 mm burr.
Is the TIMEMORE Chestnut C5 Pro worth it?
At $110.00 the C5 Pro is priced as a mid-range hand grinder, not a budget one. What you are paying for, according to TIMEMORE, is the larger burr, an all-metal body that does not flex, a silicone base for stability, a fold-away handle and a dial that is quick to move.
What the maker's page does not tell you is how it performs in the cup, how loud it is, or how it wears over time. Nobody here has tested it, so there is no verdict on grind quality. Judge it on the specifications, the price gap to the C3S, and the fact that TIMEMORE backs it with a 1-year warranty.
Who should buy the TIMEMORE Chestnut C5 Pro (and who should not)?
Buy it if you make pour over, AeroPress or other filter coffee, want a hand grinder small enough for a bag, and prefer a dial where one turn covers everything. It also suits someone upgrading from a C3S who wants the bigger burr.
Skip it if espresso is your main use. TIMEMORE sells the C5 ESP Pro for that, with finer 0.015 mm clicks and a dial that needs three rotations to cover its range. Skip it too if you grind for a large group, since a 30 g chamber is a single-dose size, or if you want to spend as little as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size are the burrs in the C5 Pro?
The burr set is the S2C-042-III, a 42 mm seven-blade multipurpose conical burr, up from the 38 mm set in the C3.
How many clicks does the C5 Pro have?
It has 48 total clicks, arranged as 16 macro steps per rotation, so one full turn covers all settings. Each click moves the burrs 0.031 mm.
How much coffee does it hold?
The grind chamber holds 30 g and the catch cup holds 25 g, which TIMEMORE describes as generous enough for two full cups.
Is the C5 Pro good for espresso?
TIMEMORE calls it well suited for pour over and the occasional espresso. For regular espresso grinding, the maker offers the C5 ESP Pro, which has finer settings.
What is it made of and how heavy is it?
The materials are stainless steel and aluminum, and the grinder weighs approximately 640 g. The body is 53 mm in diameter and 172 mm tall.
What colors does it come in?
The C5 Pro comes in Black and White, which TIMEMORE names Etched Black and Matte White. It comes with a pull-to-fold handle, a cleaning brush and a manual.
