Timemore Go: The Electric Travel Grinder That Actually Works
The Timemore Go is a portable electric coffee grinder that runs on a rechargeable battery. It weighs about 700 grams, fits in one hand, and grinds a dose of coffee in under a minute without you having to crank anything. If you've been looking for a way to have freshly ground coffee on the road without the arm workout of a hand grinder, the Timemore Go is one of the first products in this category that actually delivers on the promise.
I've taken the Timemore Go on three trips now, including a week-long road trip where it was my only grinder. It surprised me. The grind quality is genuinely good for a battery-powered device this small, and the convenience factor is hard to overstate. Let me walk through what works, what doesn't, and whether it's worth adding to your travel kit.
How It Works
The Timemore Go is deceptively simple. It's a cylinder about the size of a large flashlight, with a hopper on top, a burr set in the middle, and a catch cup on the bottom. You charge it via USB-C, pour in your beans, press the power button, and it grinds automatically. No cranking, no manual effort.
The motor is small but capable. It drives a set of steel conical burrs at a consistent speed, producing a grind that's surprisingly uniform for a portable device. A single charge handles about 20-25 grinds of 15 grams each, which means you can go a couple of weeks of daily use before needing to plug it in. Charging from empty to full takes about 2-3 hours.
Capacity
The hopper holds about 20 grams of beans, and the catch cup matches. That's enough for a single AeroPress, a small pour-over, or a generous cup of immersion-brewed coffee. If you're making coffee for two people, you'll need to grind twice, which takes about two minutes total. Not a huge inconvenience for travel.
Grind Quality
This is where the Timemore Go genuinely impresses. The steel conical burrs produce a grind that's tighter and more consistent than any hand grinder under $80 that I've tried. For medium and medium-coarse settings (AeroPress, pour-over, French press), the particle distribution is good enough that I can taste clean flavors and reasonable complexity in the cup.
To be clear, it doesn't match a Timemore Chestnut X or a Comandante C40 in grind quality. Those are premium hand grinders with larger, more precisely machined burrs. But the Timemore Go sits comfortably in the "very good for its size and purpose" category. On a trip where I'm brewing with an AeroPress in a hotel room, the difference between the Go and my home grinder matters a lot less than the difference between the Go and pre-ground coffee.
Where It Falls Short
Espresso is not the Timemore Go's strength. The finest settings are borderline usable for a pressurized portafilter, but you won't get the particle consistency needed for a proper unpressurized espresso basket. If you're traveling with a portable espresso maker like a Nanopresso, the Go can work, but set your expectations accordingly. For filter brewing methods, it performs much better.
The motor also slows down noticeably with lighter roast beans, which are denser and harder to grind. It still gets through them, but grinding time increases from about 40 seconds to over a minute for a 15-gram dose. Dark roasts fly through in 30-35 seconds.
Grind Adjustment
The Timemore Go uses a click-based adjustment system accessible by removing the catch cup and turning the inner burr mechanism. Each click is distinct and easy to count. There are roughly 36 click positions covering the full range from fine to coarse.
My Recommended Settings
- AeroPress: 15-18 clicks from fully closed
- Pour-over (V60): 20-23 clicks
- French press: 26-30 clicks
- Moka pot: 10-13 clicks
These are starting points. Every batch of beans is different, so adjust to taste. The nice thing about click-based adjustment is repeatability. Once you find your setting for a particular bean, you can return to it exactly.
Noise Level
The Timemore Go is not quiet. The small motor running at high RPM produces a buzzing whir that's clearly audible in a hotel room or office. It's not as loud as a full-size electric grinder, but it's louder than I expected. If you're grinding in a shared space, people will notice.
For reference, I measured it at roughly 70 decibels, which is similar to a loud conversation or a running dishwasher. The grinding only lasts 30-60 seconds, so it's a brief noise, but something to be aware of. Grinding at 6 AM in a quiet hotel room next to sleeping family members? They'll probably wake up.
Build Quality and Portability
Timemore built the Go from a combination of aluminum and high-quality plastic. It feels solid in the hand without being unnecessarily heavy. The USB-C charging port is covered by a small rubber flap, and the overall construction feels like it can handle being tossed in a bag without damage.
The catch cup attaches magnetically and has a silicone lid, which means you can grind and then transport the grounds without spilling. This is a thoughtful design choice for travel. I've ground coffee in the car (as a passenger), at a campsite, and in an airport lounge, all without making a mess.
What to Pack With It
My travel coffee kit with the Timemore Go includes:
- The grinder (fully charged)
- An AeroPress Go or Origami dripper
- A small digital scale
- A bag of beans
- A USB-C cable for charging
The whole kit fits in a small packing cube and weighs under 2 pounds. It's a fraction of the space my old setup (hand grinder + accessories) took, and the convenience of electric grinding on the road is a genuine quality-of-life improvement.
Battery Life and Charging
The internal battery is rated for about 25 grinds per charge, assuming 15-gram doses at a medium setting. In my experience, this estimate is accurate for medium and dark roasts. Light roasts drain the battery faster because the motor works harder, so expect 18-20 grinds per charge with dense light-roast beans.
Charging is via USB-C, the same cable you use for most modern phones and laptops. From completely dead, it takes 2-3 hours to fully charge. A small LED indicator shows charging status. I typically top it off every few days, and I've never run out of battery mid-trip.
How It Compares
The Timemore Go competes with the 1Zpresso Q2 (a compact hand grinder at a similar price), the Porlex Mini (another travel hand grinder), and the growing category of portable electric grinders from brands like Varia and Kingrinder.
Against hand grinders, the Go trades grind quality for convenience. The 1Zpresso Q2 produces a tighter grind, but you have to crank it by hand for a minute. The Timemore Go does the work for you in roughly the same time, with slightly less precise results.
Against other portable electric grinders, the Go is one of the most refined options available. Its build quality, battery life, and grind consistency are competitive with anything else in this emerging category.
For a broader look at manual options, see our best coffee grinder guide. If you want to compare across categories, our top coffee grinder roundup covers both electric and manual picks.
FAQ
Can the Timemore Go grind for espresso?
It can reach espresso-fine settings, but the grind consistency isn't tight enough for unpressurized espresso baskets. With a pressurized portafilter or a portable espresso maker like the Wacaco Nanopresso, the Go produces acceptable results. For serious espresso, you'll want a dedicated espresso grinder.
How do I clean the Timemore Go?
Remove the catch cup and the outer burr ring. Use the included brush to sweep out retained grounds from the burr chamber. A quick blow of air clears fine particles. Do this once a week with regular use. The burrs come apart without tools, making deep cleaning simple.
Is the Timemore Go worth the price?
At around $80-100, it costs more than most budget hand grinders but less than premium ones. If you value the convenience of electric grinding during travel and you brew filter coffee (not espresso), the Go is a worthwhile investment. The time and effort it saves over a hand grinder adds up quickly over multiple trips.
How long do the burrs last?
The steel conical burrs are rated for several years of regular home use. Since most people use the Go as a travel grinder rather than a daily driver, the burrs should last even longer. Replacement burr sets are available from Timemore if you do eventually need them.
Who This Grinder Is For
The Timemore Go is built for travelers who want fresh coffee without the manual labor of hand grinding. It's for the person who takes an AeroPress on business trips, the road tripper who stops at scenic overlooks for a brew, and the camper who refuses to drink instant coffee. If you currently travel with a hand grinder and wish it was easier, the Timemore Go is the answer. If you're looking for a primary home grinder, keep shopping. The Go is a fantastic travel tool, but it's not a replacement for a dedicated countertop grinder.