Arco 2 in 1 Grinder: Goat Story's Electric-Manual Hybrid
The Goat Story Arco 2-in-1 is a coffee grinder that works both as a hand grinder and an electric grinder. You grind manually by attaching the handle and cranking, or you drop the grinding unit into the electric base and press a button. Same burrs, same grind quality, two different ways to use it. At around $250-300, it's an unusual product that solves a real problem for people who want manual grinding at home and on the road without owning two separate grinders.
I backed the Arco on its original crowdfunding campaign because the concept was too interesting to ignore. After using it for several months, I can say it delivers on its core promise with a few caveats worth knowing about. Here's the full breakdown.
How the 2-in-1 Design Works
The Arco consists of three pieces: the grinding cylinder, the hand crank, and the electric base.
The grinding cylinder is the core unit. It holds the burrs, the adjustment mechanism, and the bean chamber. This piece is always the same whether you're using manual or electric mode.
Manual Mode
Attach the crank handle to the top of the cylinder and grind by hand, just like any other hand grinder. The cylinder is about the size of a tall thermos and comfortable to grip. Grinding 18 grams at a medium setting takes about 40-50 seconds of steady cranking.
The manual mode feels good. The bearing is smooth, resistance is moderate, and the handle length provides decent torque. It's not as refined as a Comandante or 1Zpresso in hand feel, but it's perfectly workable.
Electric Mode
Drop the cylinder into the electric base, which has a motor that engages with the top of the burr shaft. Press the button, and the motor spins the burrs for you. The base plugs into a wall outlet, so this mode is strictly for home or office use.
The electric motor runs at a controlled speed to minimize heat buildup. Grinding 18 grams takes about 10-15 seconds in electric mode. It's quiet for an electric grinder, roughly the volume of a quiet conversation.
Switching Between Modes
Swapping from manual to electric takes about 3 seconds. Pull off the crank handle, drop the cylinder into the base, and you're grinding electrically. There's no calibration needed when switching. Your grind setting stays exactly where you set it.
This is the real magic of the Arco. Monday through Friday, I use the electric base for convenience. On weekend camping trips, I pack just the cylinder and hand crank. Same grinder, same grind quality, different power source.
Grind Quality
The Arco uses 48mm conical burrs made from stainless steel. Grind quality is good across the range, competitive with standalone hand grinders in the $150-200 range.
For Pour-Over
Medium grind settings produce clean, uniform particles. My V60 brews have good clarity and consistent brew times. The cup quality is similar to what I get from my 1Zpresso JX, which is high praise for a hybrid device.
Light roast single origins show good flavor separation. I can pick out individual tasting notes without muddiness or bitterness, which tells me the extraction is happening evenly.
For Espresso
The Arco handles espresso better than I expected. The adjustment system has enough precision to dial in shots within a reasonable window. I found my sweet spot between settings 3-5 for most espresso roasts.
The particle distribution at fine settings is tight enough for balanced shots with good crema. It's not going to match a dedicated flat burr espresso grinder, but for a hybrid device that also does filter coffee and travels with you, the espresso performance is impressive.
For French Press and Cold Brew
Coarse settings work well. French press cups are clean with minimal silt. Nothing special to report here, since coarse grinding is relatively easy for any decent burr grinder.
Build Quality and Materials
The Arco is well-built with aluminum alloy for the grinding cylinder and a combination of metal and high-quality plastic for the electric base. The overall fit and finish are good, with tight tolerances and no rattling or looseness.
Weight and Portability
The grinding cylinder alone weighs about 450 grams. With the hand crank, it's around 550 grams. That's comparable to most mid-range hand grinders.
The electric base adds significant weight and bulk, but you leave that at home. For travel, you're carrying the same size and weight as any other hand grinder.
Capacity
The bean chamber holds about 35 grams, which is enough for most single-serve brewing. For larger batches (drip coffee pot), you'll need to grind in two rounds.
The Catch Cup and Dosing
The Arco comes with a magnetic catch cup that attaches to the bottom of the grinding cylinder. Grounds fall directly into the cup, and you pour them into your brewer.
The catch cup is clear glass, which looks nice but is breakable. I handle it carefully, especially when traveling. An aftermarket silicone or stainless steel catch cup would be a welcome accessory.
Retention is low at about 0.3-0.5 grams. This makes the Arco a solid single dose grinder, which makes sense given its design.
Arco vs. Buying Two Separate Grinders
The obvious alternative to the Arco is owning a dedicated electric grinder for home and a hand grinder for travel. A Baratza Encore ($170) plus a Timemore C2 ($60) gives you both capabilities for about $230, similar to the Arco's price.
But two grinders means learning two different grind settings, maintaining two burr sets, and storing two devices. The Arco simplifies this into one system with one set of settings to remember.
The Arco also produces better grind quality than either of those budget options individually. So you're getting a quality upgrade alongside the convenience factor.
For a broader view of what's available, check the best coffee grinder roundup for options at every price point.
Who Should Buy the Arco?
The Arco makes the most sense for people who:
- Travel regularly and want to grind fresh coffee on the road
- Have limited kitchen space and can't justify two grinders
- Brew multiple methods (espresso, pour-over, French press) and want one device that covers all of them
- Value the ritual of hand grinding on weekends but want electric convenience on busy mornings
It's not the best choice if you only brew at home (just buy a dedicated electric grinder) or only need a travel grinder (just buy a dedicated hand grinder). The 2-in-1 premium makes sense only if you'll actually use both modes.
Goat Story as a Company
Goat Story is a Slovenian company that started with the Goat Mug (a coffee mug shaped like a goat horn). They've since moved into more serious coffee gear. The Arco was their first grinder, and it launched through crowdfunding before becoming a regular retail product.
Their customer support has been responsive in my experience. Replacement parts are available through their website. The company is small but established enough that I'm not worried about long-term parts availability.
FAQ
Does the electric base come with the grinder, or is it sold separately?
It depends on which package you buy. The Arco is sold as a manual-only version (cylinder plus hand crank) and a 2-in-1 version (cylinder, hand crank, plus electric base). Make sure you're buying the 2-in-1 if you want both modes. The manual-only version costs about $80-100 less.
How does the Arco compare to the Comandante C40 for hand grinding?
The Comandante has better grind quality in manual mode, particularly for pour-over clarity. The C40's Nitro Blade burrs are among the best in any hand grinder. But the Comandante can't go electric. If you only ever hand grind, the Comandante is the better grinder. If you want the option of electric grinding, the Arco offers something the Comandante simply can't.
Is the electric motor powerful enough?
Yes. It grinds 18 grams in about 10-15 seconds at espresso fineness and even faster at coarser settings. The motor doesn't struggle or stall with medium to light roasts. Very dark, oily beans might cause slightly more resistance, but I've had no issues with any roast level I've tried.
Can I charge the electric base for portable use?
No. The electric base requires a wall outlet. There's no battery option. For portable grinding, you use the hand crank. Some users have connected the base to portable power banks with AC outlets for camping, but that's a DIY solution, not an official feature.
Is It Worth It?
The Arco 2-in-1 is a grinder that solves a specific problem well. If you need both manual and electric grinding in one package, nothing else on the market does it this cleanly. The grind quality is good, not best-in-class, but competitive with grinders at the same price. If you're buying it purely as an electric grinder or purely as a hand grinder, there are better options for the money. The value is in the dual functionality. Check the top coffee grinder roundup to compare it against dedicated alternatives before deciding.