Timemore Chestnut Slim: The Sleekest Hand Grinder in the Lineup

The Timemore Chestnut Slim is the thinnest, lightest grinder in Timemore's lineup, and it looks more like a flashlight than a coffee grinder. At roughly $80-90, it sits between the budget C2 and the premium Chestnut X, offering a slimmer profile with similar internals. If you've been eyeing it as a travel companion or a space-saving daily grinder, here's everything I've found after putting it through its paces.

I'll cover the build, the grind quality, how it compares to the more popular Chestnut C2, and who this grinder actually makes sense for. Spoiler: it's a specific type of person, and if that's you, you'll love it.

Design and Build: Slim Is the Right Word

The Chestnut Slim lives up to its name. The body diameter is noticeably narrower than the C2, roughly 45mm compared to the C2's 53mm. That might not sound like much, but in your hand the difference is obvious. The Slim feels like holding a thick marker pen rather than a soup can.

The body is CNC-machined aluminum with a matte anodized finish. Build quality is solid. No rattles, no flex, no cheap-feeling parts. The handle folds flat just like the C2, and the whole package weighs about 380 grams (13.4 ounces). That's roughly 50 grams lighter than the C2, which adds up when you're packing for a trip.

The E&B Burr Design

Here's where the Slim gets interesting. Instead of the standard S2C burrs found in the C2, some versions of the Slim ship with Timemore's E&B (Espresso & Brew) burr set. The E&B burrs have a different cutting geometry designed to produce a more bimodal particle distribution, meaning you get two distinct peaks of particle sizes rather than one broad distribution.

In practical terms, the E&B burrs produce espresso shots with more body and a rounder mouthfeel compared to the S2C burrs. For filter coffee, the difference is subtler but still present, with slightly more sweetness and less bright acidity. Whether this is "better" depends entirely on your taste preferences.

Note: Check which burr version you're buying, as Timemore has shipped the Slim with different burr configurations depending on the batch and market. The S2C version performs more like the C2. The E&B version has a different flavor profile.

Grind Quality Across Brew Methods

Espresso

The Slim can handle espresso, and it does a better job than the C2 in this department. The click resolution is finer in the espresso range, giving you more steps between "too coarse" and "too fine." I counted roughly 8-10 usable clicks in the espresso range on the Slim compared to 4-5 on the C2.

That said, it's still a stepped grinder. A stepless grinder like the 1Zpresso JX-Pro gives you infinite adjustment in the espresso zone. If you're pulling shots on a proper espresso machine daily, the Slim works but isn't ideal. For a pressurized portafilter or a Flair manual machine, the Slim's resolution is plenty.

Pour-Over and Drip

This is comfortable territory for the Slim. Medium-fine grinds come out consistent and even. My V60 brews with the Slim have been clean and sweet, with drawdown times landing in a tight window. The Slim handles medium to medium-fine grinding about as well as the C2, which means it's quite good for the price.

French Press

At coarser settings, the Slim produces slightly more fines than I'd like. The narrower burr chamber seems to create a bit more bypass at the coarse end of the range, where some beans pass the burrs without being fully cut. The result is a bit more sediment in your French press than the C2 produces. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's worth noting if French press is your primary method.

Grinding Speed and Physical Comfort

Here's where the Slim's design creates a genuine trade-off. The narrower body means a smaller bean chamber (holds about 18-20 grams max) and slightly less hand surface area to grip while cranking.

Grinding 18 grams for espresso takes about 50-60 seconds, which is noticeably slower than the C2's 45-second pace. The Slim's burrs are the same 38mm diameter, but the narrower throat seems to feed beans less efficiently.

For a single dose, that extra 10-15 seconds isn't a big deal. But if you're grinding back-to-back doses or a larger 30-gram batch for pour-over, the slower speed and the slimmer grip can tire your hand faster. My pinky finger tends to slide off the bottom of the body during vigorous cranking because there's just less surface to hold onto.

The Handle

The folding handle is identical in design to the C2's. It's a metal arm with a wooden knob at the end that folds flat for storage. The handle length provides decent mechanical advantage, but I wish it were about half an inch longer. On the slim body, a longer handle would help compensate for the reduced grip area.

Chestnut Slim vs. Chestnut C2: Which One?

This is the question most people are really asking. Here's the honest breakdown:

Choose the Slim if: - Travel is your primary use case and every gram and millimeter matters - You want espresso capability with finer click resolution - You prefer the E&B burr flavor profile (more body, less brightness) - You want the sleekest-looking grinder on your counter

Choose the C2 if: - You grind 20+ grams regularly (bigger bean chamber) - French press is a frequent brew method (better coarse grind) - Grinding speed matters to you - You want to save $15-20

The grind quality difference between the two is small in the pour-over range. The Slim has a slight edge for espresso thanks to finer click resolution. The C2 has a slight edge for coarse grinding. If I had to pick one as my only grinder, I'd take the C2 for its larger capacity and faster grinding. As a travel grinder specifically, I'd take the Slim.

For a wider comparison across price ranges, the best coffee grinder roundup covers both manual and electric options.

Maintenance and Durability

The Slim is just as easy to maintain as any Timemore grinder. The inner burr lifts out after removing the adjustment mechanism, and you can brush all surfaces clean with a stiff brush. I do this every couple of weeks and give the exterior a wipe with a damp cloth.

The anodized finish holds up well. After a year of travel use, mine has a few scratches on the bottom from being set on rough surfaces, but the body itself is structurally perfect.

One thing to watch: the slim body makes the grinder slightly more prone to tipping over when it's standing upright on a counter. The C2 has a wider base and is more stable. I've knocked my Slim over twice by brushing it with my elbow. Nothing broke, but it's annoying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Chestnut Slim come with a carrying case?

Some retailers include a fabric or leather carrying case, but it depends on the seller and the version. Check the listing carefully. If yours doesn't come with one, a basic neoprene case or even a thick sock works fine for travel protection.

How many clicks for pour-over on the Chestnut Slim?

On my unit, I use 18-22 clicks from fully tight for V60 pour-over, depending on the coffee. This is a starting point since individual units can vary slightly in calibration. Start at 20, brew, and adjust based on taste and drawdown time.

Can I use the Chestnut Slim for cold brew?

You can, but the coarse grind performance isn't the Slim's strength. The bean chamber also only holds about 18-20 grams, and most cold brew recipes call for 50-80 grams. You'd need to grind in multiple batches. If cold brew is a regular thing for you, a larger grinder makes more sense.

Is the Slim Plus worth the extra money over the standard Slim?

The Slim Plus typically adds a nicer finish and sometimes upgraded internals (better bearings, different burr coating). Whether the $20-30 premium is worth it depends on how much you value the cosmetic upgrades. The core grind performance is very similar. Check the top coffee grinder list for current pricing and version comparisons.

The Takeaway

The Timemore Chestnut Slim is a well-made, good-looking hand grinder that does exactly what its name suggests: it's slim. If portability and counter footprint are top priorities, and you mostly brew pour-over or light espresso, the Slim delivers solid grind quality in a compact package. It's not the best at any single brew method, but it's good enough at all of them to serve as a reliable single grinder, especially on the go.