Kinu m47 Phoenix - Stepless Manual Coffee Grinder review
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If you’re into specialty coffee, it’s better to invest in a proper grinder. To maximize the enjoyment not only of the quality of the beverage but in the overall consumption process.
And in this article I’m going to talk about the all-around grinder with the stepless adjustment - Kinu m47 Phoenix. Which I've been using for 6 months now with zero regrets.
And right away, the Phoenix model is just a stripped down version of the original, fully metal m47 Classic. Meaning, there are more plastic parts, but the heart and the soul are the same (which are the alignment and the burr). So it will have the same grinding quality as more expensive Simplicity and Classic models.
What is stepless adjustment
Do we actually need a stepless adjustment? Is it practical? In short - yes, it’s a game changer.
Usually, coffee grinders have clicks in order to know what your grind size is and to be able to replicate it. You’re getting used to the fact that your, let’s say, pour over coffee will be within 16-20 clicks range.
And sometimes, for some coffee grinders the best setting is located between the clicks. Which is especially frustrating when you’re adjusting the grind size for Espresso.
With the stepless adjustment we have only marks for the reference. So we still know what is the range for a pour over coffee, but we have an unlimited amount of settings. But it actually offers something more than just that. It is silent and smooth.
While in some electric coffee grinders, like Eureka Specialite Mignon we have the stepless adjustment, I personally can’t set it to the exact setting and be sure that it will work. The dial doesn’t have a great reference. While here - there are plenty of them. Rotations, 10 numbers and 5 divisions between the numbers.
This system allows me personally to switch between Turkish coffee grind size and Pour Over without “mental pain”, which I experienced when using the grinder with the clicks and without any reference which setting is currently set (yes, I’m talking about Comandante C40).
Hey, why you switched from Comandante?!
I still respect them, but with time you realize that it’s not that universal (which I needed because of Turkish coffee and espresso brewing). And the grinding process is exhaustingly slow when you need to make a couple of cups in a row. Especially when filming a video or doing research.
And it was impossible to dial in Espresso without the Red Clix axle (which I don’t want to use since there will be even more clicks, which I don’t like to count). So I ended up brewing Turkish coffee less and less often. And completely ditched the espresso from my routine.
That’s why I decided to get what I wanted to try for years at this point - Kinu.
What is Kinu?
Usually you hear about them as a German made coffee grinder. Which I don’t care about, but I want to be precise when making videos so I started digging. And it appears to be a Romanian company after all. At least, it’s manufactured there.
I could sound suspicious, since “Made in Germany” sounds like a renowned BMW, Mercedes. And some people expect the highest possible quality from the products which are made there. Don’t worry, today’s world is pretty advanced in terms of technologies and mostly uses the machines to build the machines. And the machines could be placed in various regions ;)
Update: They use Japanese machines for manufacturing parts.
Anyway, it’s probably Romania, which has a great coffee culture. But we don’t even need to think about the culture at all. Why? Because the intention is way more important.
The body
What a smooth transition. When we talk about the product which has a stainless steel body - you expect it to have longevity. And what’s the point of having an average grinding quality but for a long time? Zero. That’s an indicator that the product should have a decent performance. Otherwise you will simply make it like every other company - from Aluminum.
Being just 52 mm in diameter it is easy to grab and hold even with the small hands. And widening at the top is just priceless. It allows you to grab it with the proper position right away and have a wide funnel to pour in the coffee beans.
It also has a silicone anti slip band which unlike other grinders looks perfect here (you can argue in the comments). Which is a useful addition especially when making espresso or Turkish coffee.
The grinder is tall which is a downside for the balance (mine never flipped, but if you shake the table enough - it could potentially happen). Though, the grinder fell from 78 cm on a carpet when I shot it with the rotating handle on a narrow surface). But this height of the body gives plenty of room for the grip. Which is useful because of the next chapter.
CATCH-CUP
At the bottom we have a catch cup which is made out of ABS plastic. And it is not screwed on, but “pressed in”. It has an o-ring or alternatively you can get the version with the magnets (which I currently use).
And because of the height, you don’t touch this container when grinding. So that you can squeeze it however you want - it’ll feel solid.
Anyways, there are 3 options of the jars you can choose from: ABS plastic (standard) with the o-ring, Aluminum with the o-ring (actually great one and has a stainless steel bottom with the rubber at the bottom to not create a sound when placing on table), Magnetic (with some solid magnets which prevents from falling out of the grinder).
Magnetic has slightly less space since it’s narrower, but it’s magnets. Who doesn’t love them?
And this solution has another hidden benefit.
Static
You probably know about the static in coffee. When it sticks to the burr and everything around it. Here we have little to none of it. Especially when not using an ABS plastic jar. Few taps from the side and the bottom before detaching the catch-cup with the ground coffee and the grinder stays relatively clean.
And because there is no thread nor regulating knob - you can easily clean it with a couple of strokes of a brush. Priceless.
If you use RDT (a couple of drops of water or spraying the water on the beans before grinding) - it’ll be even less static. But I stopped using it here, it’s not needed. I clean it once a week or even less often and that’s enough.
THE HANDLE
The handle is fixed to the axle when assembled. You can detach it for packing into a travel case which is included. And that gives it that rigidity which is present throughout the whole unit - it is solid. No wiggling or rattling sound of the knob. I actually lift the grinder by grabbing the handle most of the time. But here lies the small, but important thing about this concept - it doesn’t have a lid.
Originally it doesn't, of course. There are countless options of inserts which will reduce the “pop-corn” effect. Though, I designed and produced a proper lid right after starting using the grinder. It looks better and feels nicer to use than an “insert” style ones.
Back to the handle. It is pretty long to make the grinding process easier. And the knob seems to have bearings. This is the first grinder that comes with the knob that I don’t want to change. It’s pretty ergonomic right away. And because it’s not wooden - it will not break or start to squeak with time (or right away like in some grinders).
THE BURRS
Oh, here is my favorite part, because I specifically wanted this grinder mostly to have this burr. It’s made of hard steel. Unlike stainless steel, the hardness is 63 HRC and possibly will stay sharp for longer. Which is important if you intend to use it for Espresso or Turkish coffee and not have a degradation in pour over with time. Initial sharpness is possibly higher. To not rust they have a black fusion treatment.
The axle which holds the burr is massive. Because you need to apply force to slice the beans, especially for Turkish coffee. So it screams “reliable”.
The performance of standard burr is well rounded. In a pour over it gives a complex cup with medium punch. For espresso and Turkish coffee - absolutely perfect.
THE BURRS - Pour Over option
And you can get a special burr for Pour Over. Even though the standard one is great, pour over will give a cleaner, more delicate flavor, smooth. With better balance. But it takes 40s to grind 14g. Though it’s worth it. I replace it when brewing some rare coffee. And makes it easier to rotate the handle even with the super dense coffee beans. Switching the burr takes time but it is effortless.
Standard burr at the top, Pour Over burr at the bottom
When I want a cleaner flavor, light cup - I’m switching to a Pour Over burr. But some people even use it for making Espresso.
The Speed
It is fast. The grinding never reaches the point when you think “ahh, how long will it take??”. But it is comfortably fast, so that you don’t apply too much force. In fact, before buying it, I looked at Comandante C60 which has very aggressive burrs. But the plastic cup stopped me. And it’s really physically hard to grind. So, Kinu m47 is somewhere between c40 and c60 in terms of the speed and the force required to grind. I would call it perfect (at least for me).
At some point I realized that the thumb stopper should be a great thing after all. If you’re looking for an easier grinding - get the version which has it (Classic, Simplicity). Just reduces the need to squeeze it that hard.
GRIND SIZE ADJUSTMENT
The grind size starts from zero which is usable. You can’t lock the burrs here. It’s made to save them so they don’t rub. Because the harder the metal the more brittle it’ll become. But on zero setting you’ll get a powder, because the alignment is great.
To change the grind size, you’ll need to unscrew the top knob. I prefer to do 3-4 rotations and lift the handle. Because there is an o-ring which will rub and create friction if you don’t lift the handle. While the handle is lifted it can be rotated with one finger without any force.
But if you change the grind size from Turkish coffee to Pour over (which is 3 rotations) - loosen up the top screw even more, like 6 rotations.
GRIND SIZE CHART
Brewing method |
Grind size (starting point) 1.3 meaning 1 rotation and 3 numbers |
Range |
Turkish coffee |
1.0 |
0.7 - 1.0 |
Espresso 18g 51 mm |
1.3 |
|
Pour Over standard burr 15 g dose |
3.0 |
2.6 - 3.5 |
Pour Over burr 14g dose |
2.8 |
2.4 - 3.3 |
Chemex standard 36g dose |
3.6 |
That’s probably all that you need to know about it. The grinder with high longevity, good warranty and high performance.
Shop for Kinu m47 Phoenix
Videos about Kinu m47
Kinu m47 review
Standard vs Pour Over Burr for Kinu m47
Searching the grind size for Turkish coffee. And first impressions.
Comandante c40 vs Kinu m47 (overall impressions)
Comandante c40 vs Kinu m47 (Pour over coffee)
Turkish coffee grinder comparison - Kinu m47 vs Comandante c40 vs Sozen
Kinu m47 - Espresso brewing