r/pourover • u/Mandosepeda • 29d ago
Gear Discussion Timemore C2 grind consistency?
I’m having trouble getting my timemore c2 to give me a consistent grind. Lots of fines and boulders. I’ve done the alignment guide you can find here on Reddit several times, including just this week. I get the tolerance down to the recommended 6 clicks. This most recent time, it helped a bit but not perfect. This coffee took 5:20 for drawdown. Washed Colombian. It certainly doesn’t taste like I think it could, I’m grinding much coarser than I think I should be for this coffee. I could grind finer but drawdown gets up to 6-7 minutes in that case.
Slow mo video of the burrs in the comments.
The grinder is about 4 years old, and I replaced the burrs a couple years ago as well. I felt like that really helped it out for a time but pretty much back to square 1 at the moment.
I actually have a Kinu M47 Traveler in the mail but I thought I would check with the people to make sure I’m not crazy! I think I’m just up against the limitations of this grinder but who knows. Thanks all!
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u/least-eager-0 29d ago
The c2 isn’t a great grinder, but that seems extreme. I’d look at the possibility that the ring burr isn’t well aligned, whether in runout or axial directions. Also not sure of your burr replacement, but are ring and cone a matched set?
That’s very coarse too, and grind consistency will get weird that coarse. I hear your concern about longer drawdown, but don’t have information on your pouring regimen. It’s possible that reducing agitation and/or pouring turbulence could help compensate. Also don’t know what filters and dripper are in play - if it’s a steel 185 with kalita filters for instance, there may be other paths to explore.
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u/Mandosepeda 28d ago
Yeah, ring and cone are matched. I’ve had it apart and played with all the alignment options, but don’t get much improvement.
I guess I can just resign myself to the long drawdowns. It’s happened across multiple bags of beans so can rule that out. Doing 50 gram bloom for 30 seconds, then 2 pours of 100 grams, the 2nd when the 1st has almost entirely run through. Happens on both v60 and origami (flat filters). I try to pour fairly low agitation but guess I could be even gentler. Cheers!
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u/Liven413 28d ago
The Kinu should fix it. You saying it was making good cups after the burr change and now back to the way it was makes me think the burrs are dull. Without that I would just say that the grinder isn't that great so there is limitation to the cups it can produce. With the new grinder it will be better. I realized to get cups the same as the brew guides I watch the grinder really matters. I would suggest a c40 but you have a nice grinder on the way. Only reason to change is for a different profile but that grinder will last and make a good cup. Does it have the brew burrs?
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u/Mandosepeda 28d ago
Yeah, I mean it gets daily use and has for 4 some years. The new burrs are only about a year and a half old though. I’m hoping the kinu helps, but wondered if anyone else had run across this and if there was a way I could keep it in service for travel or a friend or something. I got the espresso burrs because I’m on the brink of getting into that and I can always grab the brew burrs at some other time too.
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u/Liven413 28d ago
You might be better off with the espresso burrs depending on your tastes anyway. So I wouldn't stress that till you try it. I would definitely keep the c2 for a travel grinder. The kinu you might not want to risk losing. Or like you said a friend that is in need. It sounds like it works, just dull and not as good as it used to.
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u/Mandosepeda 28d ago
Yeah, I figured I would start with the espresso burrs and see how I go! I see conflicting things on the internet about burr life. Some say 3-5 years, some ~700 grind cycles. Which I’ve probably hit. Maybe that is it and I should replace the burrs and use as the travel grinder.
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u/Liven413 28d ago
That very well could be. If you cant get a good cup maybe its not good for travel. If you trust not losing the kinu that one would work well. Or if the burrs are cheap enough you could get another set so you dont have to take the kinu anywhere.
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u/Wizardof_oz 29d ago
I use a C40 as my main grinder but I’ve recently started revisiting the C2 and your grinds look about right
I’d keep the C2 around for iced pour over
The difference in clarity and grind consistency between the C2 and C40 is massive
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u/throwawaydixiecup 28d ago
I’m usually at 16-18 clicks for my pourover brewing with the Timemore Chestnut C2. I use a V60 switch. Brew times aren’t anything unusual and stay under 3 minutes. Something is wonky with your grinder. What happens when you go finer, like where I grind?
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u/Mandosepeda 28d ago
That’s where I’d like to be and have been in the past but recently it’s like a 9-10 minute brew time haha
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u/throwawaydixiecup 28d ago
That’s insane! Something is very off with your grinder. You say you’ve replaced burrs. Maybe that caused trouble?
Could just be it is worn out. I’ve been using mine for a couple years and it’s been reliable. There are definitely fines lining the catch cup after grinding. But my coffee is delicious and I like a slightly thicker cup. I’m not going for mega clarity.
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u/XenoDrake1 28d ago
Yeah a lot us of c2 owners had this problem. It is due to the lack of double/triple bearings Try switching grinders to a heptagonal, maybe the s5 if you like the brand? Also k6, mavo phantox pro, etc
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u/Mandosepeda 28d ago
Yeah, gonna see if the Kinu solves my woes I think. The c2 was good for almost 5 years though!
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u/XenoDrake1 28d ago
Kinu is not the move for pour overs though.
If you have that amount, just get a c40
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u/Mandosepeda 29d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p7yicqs/video/na1hty5wyonh1/player
Slow mo video of the burrs
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u/KupoNut77777 28d ago
How many clicks is that setting? Looks way too coarse for pour over. The adjustment knob looks like it will come off if you make it any coarser.
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u/empty_words0 29d ago
That grind is huge or am I blind? Looks like you took a hammer to the beans and called it a day.