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  • Comandante C40 Hand Grinder

    So it's been a few weeks since the first production units of these grinders hit our shores and got some real use. I'm wondering what folks think of them.

    It's no secret that the C40 has received some scathing reviews on another coffee forum and that the US distributor has withdrawn them from sale while awaiting further advice / replacements / who-knows-what from Comandante based on the feedback that they've had from their customers.

    I would love to hear some feedback from users here in Australia.

  • #2
    Been using mine exclusively for filter brewing instead of my Baratza Preciso lately.

    I have a number of hand grinders, so have some experience with designs, use, etc. I take coffee everywhere, so carry a hand grinder most of the time.

    I took an interest in the Comandante's when I met the guys at MICE this year and tried out their prototypes. They were in the Proud Marys booth brewing filter and espresso on the C40 and also demo'ing the C20 (which is smaller and can fit inside an aeropress).

    My C40 arrived while I was away on holidays, camping in the bush. I took my Porlex, clever dripper, hario stove kettle and a variety of coffee with me. It was a joy pulling over on the trip, firing up the gas stove and brewing a coffee while the kids stretched their legs. After a few days of camping I became frustrated with the porlex. Camping with friends, I'd often be brewing 2x cup brews two or three times a day. Grinding 24'ish gm in a porlex is a real chore, but better than pre-ground!

    When I got home, I unpacked the C40 and ground over 150gm through it at various settings. Checking the grinds, I was very happy with what I saw. The next morning I brewed some v60's and aeropress'es and was blown away by the results in the cup. I brewed the same coffee I'd been enjoying whilst camping. Basically a side-by-side comparo with the porlex. It was like drinking different coffee. Lovely extraction, more body, great flavour. Incredible.

    At 'fine' settings, you can get some burr-burr rubbing depending how you are holding and operating the C40. This is where the thread on the other forum goes in to detail. Could be because there is a very small amount of "slop" in the bearings. I don't know exactly.

    Fact is, when loaded, this grinder is pretty accurate and grinds like a boss. It's amazingly fast too (at least compared to the Porlex). I can grind around a gram a second without straining.

    The unit screams quality, the parts are lovely, it looks lovely and it's nice to hold. Although at around 600gm unloaded, it's heavy for travel (depending on type of travel).

    One of my snob mates in Melb has been comparing his to the OE Pharos with good results... remember, we're talking results in the cup. I'm not interested in sieves or microscopes here.

    Nolan (proud mary) recently did an EK43 vs C40 and his staff blind cupped the brews. The C40 somehow beat the EK43. Interesting, this opens debate on grind consistency and relation to results in the cup, big time. Some may perceive this as bias, considering he is retailing the C40. I don't know.

    Like me, guys I know that are using the C40 are getting really excellent brews from it. I think this is what really matters.

    I like the build of it, the parts are nice, it packs down nicely. Really impressive features are things like the way the handle fits on the shaft (reverse to most hand grinders, NEVER comes off when grinding), the magnetic wood handle grip, glass grinds jar, brilliant adjustment mech.

    The only thing annoying me at the moment is the grinds retention sitting statically on burr adjustment collar after grinding, I've been carrying a small paint brush to free and clean. You don't get this prob with Ceramic. They will be offering Titanium and Ceramic soon.

    There is something very special about brewing coffee with a hand grinder. The feel and the sound I think. There's something grand about listening to those beans getting 'cut' without the motor sound ruining it.

    A few days ago I took the grinder in to a mates roastery, we brewed some of his current filter offering on the Chemex (with kone) and the cup just blew him away. I brewed him another at my place a couple of days later (v60) and again he was surprised. He's very familiar with this coffee, so it was a great little test.

    My experiences are real life. I have nothing to gain by praising or bashing any products. I consider myself experienced enough to offer an opinion which will almost always be based on the results in the cup.

    I'm keen to see how this line of grinders develops. I try to chat regularly with the guys from Comandante. They are very passionate and very keen to stick around for the long haul.

    You're in Perth, how about we meet up and I brew you some coffees?

    Cheers

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    • #3
      In regard to hand grinders, has anyone had experience with the Zassenhauss Panama? A limited description is at commercial link removed per site posting policy

      This seems to be very similar to the Comandante C20 (would fit in Aeropress piston), with steel burrs and appears to have ball bearings top and bottom which should deliver a very consistent grind.

      Its only limitation might be a small capacity. The collection bowl seems very small.

      Have only had chance to have fleeting look at one in a Hobart coffee shop.

      Any comments on practical experience would be helpful. In meanwhile will wait for the C20, the prototype of which I was fortunate to see and handle at MICE.

      Thanks in anticipation.
      Last edited by Javaphile; 23 October 2013, 08:50 PM. Reason: Commercial link removed

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      • #4
        Our Comandante C40 Nitro stock arrived today and it's on demo.

        A week old espresso roast of CS PNG Wahgi Valley made for a ripper shot per favour of the Linea Mini. Love the easy grind action on this one. You really could give it to a child to use. It's one impressive compact conical grinder- worlds ahead of the little cheapies. Here you have precision kit.

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        • #5
          Would love to own one of these.

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          • #6
            Ha. I don't have a spare $300 Paul :P that went on machine service at Jetblack and filter upgrade from Bombora my wife considers me to have spent plenty enough on coffee for the next few months.

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            • #7
              Offer rescinded.
              Last edited by TC; 20 October 2016, 02:45 PM. Reason: updated

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              • #8
                Both great offers! Can't go wrong really.

                Do you know the burr size on these Chris? Not that it's an important statistic to know given the burr geometry is likely far more important... but I'm curious if the burrs were compared to a conical electric grinder, what would the ballpark be?

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                • #9
                  So who has used one of the new Mk3 units for filter? I'd love to hear from someone that had a Mk1, or even a Mk2.

                  I returned my Mk1 and got a full refund. The build quality was not good. The adjustment mechanism on mine came apart, turning it into a "stepless" adjustment. That wouldn't have been a bad thing, although it meant that during a grind session (even as little as 14g), the grind got coarser and coarser with each turn.

                  I also found the particle variance to be very significant when grinding for filter brewing. That said, I currently use a Rocky Doserless for my filter brew and can't claim that it has superb particle distribution. I will also add that, while your brain (and probably science) tells you that particle size should be even to achieve even extraction etc. I found that the Comandante Mk1 made a bloody good brew...easy as good or better than my Rocky. Nevertheless I returned mine and was using my Rocky happily for a long time. But I still lust after a great little hand grinder...maybe the Mk3 is the ticket.

                  I found one reviewer online that put a bunch of cheap hand grinders, a Mk1 and a Mk2, and two budget friendly electric grinders into a showdown. The Mk2 produced results well ahead of the Mk1, and was pretty much at the top of the results even compared to the electric grinders.

                  Can't wait to hear what people (especially those who have had experience with the previous models) think of the new units.

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by readeral View Post
                    Do you know the burr size on these Chris?
                    Not so sure Al. Definitely smaller than that of the Lido gear and you can feel that in the effort and see it in the grind rate. Lower volume than the Lido as well. I think you might just get 2 x standardish doubles from a full jar dose.

                    Bloody huuuuge (long) carton which I doubt will fit into a 5kg satchel to ship so post will be a nuisance .

                    Looking forward to receiving my Kruve set so I can look over distribution. Fines were mentioned as an issue in early variants but by eye and feel, I think they have been worked out.

                    Regardless, the result in the cup was excellent. I'll try it on manual methods tomorrow.
                    Last edited by TC; 20 October 2016, 05:40 AM. Reason: typo

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                    • #11
                      Hi Chris, will it handle day to day espresso well given it's stepped? Also, does it give anything like EK43-style shot (read something somewhere that suggests it's similar to EK), or was it closer to a good conventional espresso grinder? Curious little grinder especially regarding their 'improved' burrs design...

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by samuellaw178 View Post
                        Hi Chris, will it handle day to day espresso well given it's stepped?
                        Dunno Samuel. Today is day one and I'm unlikely to use it every day- so perhaps it may be best to search for someone who uses one every day. The engineering is top notch though, so there is no reason to assume it wont.

                        Also, does it give anything like EK43-style shot (read something somewhere that suggests it's similar to EK), or was it closer to a good conventional espresso grinder?
                        Not in my opinion. Flavour profile has more in common with conicals to my palate.

                        Curious little grinder especially regarding their 'improved' burrs design...
                        I wouldn't call it curious. Love the design and and presentation. I think I'd actually use it as a traveller over the Lido if it was going in luggage rather than in the car boot.

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Talk_Coffee View Post
                          We only supply freebie single origin coffee to anyone who wants to buy one.
                          Love your coffee mate....
                          Some of the best I've ever had.

                          Mal.

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Talk_Coffee View Post
                            Bloody huuuuge (long) carton which I doubt will fit into a 5kg satchel to ship so post will be a nuisance .
                            Perhaps the contents could removed and bubble-wrapped (or similar) and the carton broken down into a 'flat-pack'...

                            Might help...

                            Mal.

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                            • #15
                              Thanks for your kind words on the coffee Mal. Much appreciated.

                              We won't break up the product as the glassware component is well protected by it. Pack is 53 x 12 x 8 cm.

                              We actually have the item in stock for immediate delivery.
                              Last edited by TC; 20 October 2016, 10:16 AM.

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