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TIMEMORE Chestnut S3 Review

TIMEMORE New Flagship Manual Coffee Grinder

The TIMEMORE Chestnut S3 is a flagship manual coffee grinder that has quickly gained attention for its premium build, innovative features, and exceptional performance in filter coffee brewing.

Launched as a successor to the Chestnut X series, the S3 introduces TIMEMORE’s first external adjustment ring, advanced S2C890 conical burrs, and a full-metal unibody design. It is consistently fast, precise and delivers exceptional grind uniformity. Chestnut S3 has been proof-tested to unlock the full flavor potential of your coffee beans.

Priced between US$99 (sold here)to US$159, it competes with high-end grinders like the 1Zpresso K-Ultra and Comandante C40 while offering superior value for pour-over, AeroPress, and French press enthusiasts.

However, its limitations for espresso grinding have sparked some debate among users. This 1000-word review explores the Chestnut S3’s design, technical specifications, performance, comparisons, and overall value.

Design and Build Quality

A Design Masterpiece: Engineered for Excellence, Designed for Elegance.

The TIMEMORE Chestnut S3 is a masterpiece of design and engineering, combining aesthetics with functionality. Weighing 700g and standing approximately 18cm tall with a 5.2cm diameter, it is heavier and larger than the Chestnut C3 (423g) but lighter than the 1Zpresso K-Ultra (800g).

The grinder’s full-metal unibody, crafted from high-quality aluminium and stainless steel, eliminates plastic components, offering a premium feel and enhanced durability. Available in black, rose-gold and army-green, its textured body provides a secure grip, though its larger circumference requires more grip strength compared to slimmer models like the TIMEMORE Slim Plus.

A standout feature is the patented spring-assisted foldable handle, which snaps into place with a satisfying click, enhancing portability for travel and preventing tipping during storage. The handle’s straight, elongated design applies force unevenly, requiring slight stabilization from the non-grinding hand, but the triple-bearing system ensures smooth, wobble-free operation.

The external adjustment ring, a first for TIMEMORE, offers 90 settings with 15-micron (0.015mm) increments, making grind adjustments intuitive and visible without disassembling the grinder, such a convenience design!

The screw-on aluminium catch cup, with a 30g capacity, features a rubber base to protect countertops and facilitate easy transfer of grounds.

Technical Specifications

The S3 is equipped with 42mm S2C890 conical burrs, made from SUS420 high-carbon stainless steel with a 58 HRC hardness rating. These burrs, an evolution of the S2C880 used in the Chestnut X, are designed to reduce fines in the 200-250 μm range while increasing particles in the 250-400 μm range, peaking at 375 μm. This results in cleaner, enhanced body, sweeter coffee flavors thanks to the enhanced grind uniformity and extracting nuanced taste profiles.

The grinder’s custom bearing system, with a 5-micron tolerance, improves centricity and grind consistency, achieving a burr gap of just 0.075mm at the factory. This has resulted in the increase of precision by 20% and 2x improvement in the dimensional stability.

The external adjustment ring offers 90 settings (9 numbers with 10 clicks each), providing 0.015mm/grid ultra-fine adjustment precision for fine-tuning across brewing methods:

• Espresso: 0-1 (0-10 clicks)
• Moka Pot: 1-2
• Pour-over: 5-8 (V60: 22-28 clicks)
• French Press: 8-9

Grinding speed is impressive, with 20g for pour-over taking 25-27 seconds and 15g for espresso taking 30-45 seconds, a significant improvement over the slower Chestnut X and X Lite. The S3’s design minimizes static buildup, though some users report minor ground retention, which can be addressed with a cleaning brush or blower.

TIMEMORE Chestnut S3 Real Performance

Based on feedback from various forums and platforms, the TIMEMORE Chestnut S3 is highly praised for its performance in filter coffee brewing, consistently delivering clean, sweet, and well-balanced cups with minimal fines.

CoffeeChronicler notes its grind distribution enhances flavor clarity, making it ideal for pour-over (V60, Kalita Wave), AeroPress, and French press. Users on Reddit praise its ability to produce vibrant, full-bodied brews with medium roasts, achieving brew times of 2.5-3 minutes for V60 at settings around 2.5-5.0, though some report faster drawdowns (1.5-2 minutes) at coarser settings, indicating a need for finer adjustments with certain beans.

For espresso, the S3’s performance is less consistent. The burrs, even at the zero setting, are often too far apart to produce the fine grinds needed for high-pressure espresso machines, resulting in fast extractions (e.g., 18g in, 36g out in 15 seconds). Some users have achieved usable espresso grinds at settings 0.5-0.6 with medium-dark roasts or by adding shims to reduce the burr gap, but light roasts remain challenging. CoffeeGeek and Reddit discussions suggest that early production runs may have had tolerance issues, with burrs not touching at zero, though later models (e.g., burr code 202404) show improvements.

The S3 produces more chaff than some competitors, but its large size makes it easy to remove with a blower, resulting in cleaner cups.

For filter coffee, the grinder’s consistency rivals higher-end models like the 1Zpresso K-Ultra, though it falls short of the Comandante C40’s clarity. Its speed and ease of use make it a joy for daily brewing, particularly for medium to dark roasts.

Comparison with Other Grinders

The S3 outperforms the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 and C2 in build quality, capacity (30g vs. 20-25g), and grind consistency, thanks to its larger 42mm burrs and external adjustment system.

Compared to the Chestnut X, the S3 is faster and more user-friendly, though it lacks the X’s dual micro/macro adjustment dial.

Against the 1Zpresso K-Ultra ($250), the S3 ($199) offers similar build quality but falls short in espresso performance.

The Kingrinder K6 ($99) is often preferred for espresso due to its finer grind range, while the S3 excels in filter coffee.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Premium full-metal unibody and high-quality materials
• External adjustment ring with 15-micron precision
• Fast grinding for pour-over (25-27s for 20g)
• Excellent grind consistency for filter coffee
• Portable with patented foldable handle and travel bag
• Competitive price for premium features

Cons:

• Espresso performance required careful adjustment, especially for light roasts
• Larger and heavier than other travel grinders

Conclusion and Recommendation

The TIMEMORE Chestnut S3 is a top-tier manual coffee grinder that excels in filter coffee brewing, offering clarity, sweetness, and consistency that rival more expensive models. Its full-metal construction, external adjustment system, and fast grinding make it a joy to use for pour-over, AeroPress, and French press. However, its espresso performance is limited, requiring modifications like shims for finer grinds, making it less ideal for espresso enthusiasts compared to alternatives like the Kingrinder K6 or 1Zpresso K-Ultra.

Priced between US$99 (sold here) and $159 (MSRP), the S3 offers exceptional value for filter coffee lovers seeking a premium grinder without a premium price tag. Its portability, though slightly compromised by its 700g weight, makes it suitable for home use or travel. For those prioritizing filter coffee and occasional espresso with dark roasts, the S3 is a stellar choice. Espresso-focused users may want to explore other options or consider shimming the S3 for improved performance.