But theres one con its $300 price tag may make it unattainable for many.
The Comandante C40 MK4 is one of the most renowned hand-powered coffee grinders in the world.
This absolute engineering beauty will cost you upwards of $277.
This is what happens when you fill to max capacity — not ideal.
The model I tested is a whopping $323.
However, I can see why its so pricey.
The build quality is off-the-charts.
Every aspect of the grinder is clever, considered, and purposeful, and it works a charm.
So is the ~$300 price justified?
Find out in this Comandante C40 MK4 review.
If you thought the $277 C40 was pricey, wait until you see the $649 C60 Baracuda.
At the bottom of the grinder body is the catch jar, which is made from glass.
The C40 also comes with a second jar and lid for carrying grounds on the go.
If you remove the catch jar, you might dive into the grind adjustment dial.
This is a three-pronged star, with indents that my fingertips fit in perfectly.
To adjust grind, you press down and twist to the left or right.
For burr cleaning, you would click completely counterclockwise and get a little brush inside.
I tested the walnut colorway, which wouldve been my choice had I been purchasing this for myself.
I will mention that it scratches quite easily, which is annoying, but these scratches are very superficial.
you might purchase Comandantes grind extender,Red Clix, for $49.
I appreciate the graphic that reminds you which direction to turn in.
Comandante C40 MK4 review: Performance
There are four main parameters by which I evaluate coffee grinders.
One, ease of use.
Ill discuss all three in depth here.
Simply dose your beans, dial your grind, and youre good to go.
Take what Im about to say with a pinch of salt Im embarrassingly weak.
I cant even lift a 10kg weight with one hand.
Grinding a brittle, hard roast bean to anything finer than about 20 clicks wasreally hard.
This is what happens when you fill to max capacity — not ideal.
I had to use my torso to get enough torque to turn the crank.
However, when I gave the grinder to my coworker, he ground it without breaking a sweat.
If youre weak like me, itll be a workout.
Hand grinders are inherently hard work thats why motorized ones were invented.
Different beans will require a different level of exertion.
Dark roast beans will be easier to grind, and unwashed beans harder.
Its difficult to quantify how hard each person will find each throw in of bean to grind.
However, grinding above 20 clicks was a breeze.
The physical exertion was actually quite cathartic.
Uniformity
One of the most important features of a grinder is uniformity.
This is what you want to see when testing particle consistency: big jumps from 0-90.
This consistent grind means the Comandante C40 MK4 will reliably grind beans to your chosen size.
I used myWacaco Exagram Pro scalefor testing.
Here are my results.
However, there is still some retention.
I wouldnt recommend filling the hopper to max capacity, as the catcher cant hold it all.
Colombian beans tend to be quite big, so youll be able to fit less.
Comandante C40 MK4 review: Extra features
Given the premium price, youd expect some premium features.
While most of these features lie in aesthetics and customer experience rather than tangible coffeemaking, its still appreciated.
Not all of us have room for a 10-inch grinder to occupy an entire countertop.
The compact 6-inch height means the grinder will fit perfectly into cupboards or drawers between uses.
For consistency, reliability, and minimal retention, theres nothing like the Comandante C40 MK4.
If I could choose any hand grinder, and price wasnt an issue, Id choose this one.
