ConsFirst / Coffee grinders / Compare
Timemore Chestnut C5 Pro Manual Hand Grinder vs Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Timemore Chestnut C5 Pro Manual Hand Grinder ranks higher (#1 vs #2 of 8) and scores better on grind range, noise & speed, durability.
The biggest complaint about the Timemore Chestnut C5 Pro Manual Hand Grinder is small batches, slow at fine settings; for the Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder it's very loud. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Timemore Chestnut C5 Pro Manual Hand Grinder | Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in coffee grinders | #1 | #2 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$ |
| Type | Hand grinder | Electric burr |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 8% | 9% |
| Overall score | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Grind consistency | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Grind range | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Static & mess | — | 3.5 |
| Noise & speed | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Durability | 4.5 | 4.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $100 · $$ $100–250 · $$$ over $250. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Timemore Chestnut C5 Pro Manual Hand Grinder
- Small batches, slow at fine settings
Wirecutter says it grinds enough for only one or two cups. It took about a minute for 20 g at medium and under 3 minutes at fine settings, and dialing in espresso gets tiring.
Source: Wirecutter - Grind adjustment can be tricky
Grind adjustment is the one mixed aspect on Amazon, with some owners finding it hard to use. Wirecutter had to go coarser than the dial's suggested pour-over setting.
- Not cheap; not for serious espresso
Wirecutter says it can't be called inexpensive and lacks the espresso range of the ESP Pro.
Source: Wirecutter
Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
- Very loud
Food & Wine measured 88 dB and says it will likely wake every sleeper in the house. Noise level is mixed on Amazon.
- Fiddly hopper assembly and chute chaff
Serious Eats' biggest gripe is that the gasket, ring and hopper aren't intuitive to assemble. Chaff builds in the chute and falls out when you remove the bin, and static takes about 40 seconds to dissipate. Good Housekeeping also notes extra setup steps.
Source: Serious Eats, Good Housekeeping - Weaker at the extremes; pricey
Food & Wine found the grind got motley at the coarsest end and couldn't dial in top espresso at the fine end. Value and durability are mixed on Amazon, with some units breaking in under two months.
Who should pick which
Pick the Timemore Chestnut C5 Pro Manual Hand Grinder if
Small kitchens, travel and silent mornings
One or two cups of pour-over
Occasional espresso without a second grinder
Skip it if: You brew a full pot; You want to grind in seconds; You'll dial in espresso often
Pick the Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder if
Big batches of drip coffee
Tinkerers who try many brew methods
A timer for repeatable doses
Skip it if: Noise would wake the house; You want precise espresso; You'd rather not wrestle with hopper assembly
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