Timemore Slim: A Hand Grinder That Punches Above Its Weight
The Timemore Slim is a compact manual coffee grinder built for people who want good grind quality without spending $200+ on a hand grinder. Priced around $60 to $80, it comes with stainless steel burrs, an aluminum body, and a grind adjustment system that handles everything from pour-over to Aeropress. If you're looking for a portable grinder that fits in a travel bag or a small kitchen, the Slim is one of the best values out there.
I've been using a Timemore Slim as my travel grinder for over a year now, and I've also kept it on my desk for afternoon pour-overs at work. I'll walk you through the build quality, how the burrs perform across different brew methods, the adjustment system, and some honest downsides you should know about before buying.
Build Quality and Portability
The Timemore Slim lives up to its name. It's about 7 inches tall and less than 2 inches in diameter. The body is CNC-machined aluminum with a matte black or silver finish, and it feels solid in your hand without being heavy. At around 400 grams (just under a pound), it disappears into a backpack or carry-on.
The grinding handle folds flat against the body for storage, which is a small detail that makes a big difference for travel. No awkward handle sticking out in your bag. The catch cup threads onto the bottom and holds about 20 grams of ground coffee, enough for a single pour-over or Aeropress dose.
What I Don't Love About the Design
The capacity is limited. You can fit about 20 to 22 grams of beans in the top chamber, which means one dose at a time. If you're grinding for two people, you'll need to refill and grind twice. That's fine for solo use, but it slows things down when I'm making coffee for my wife and me on a camping trip.
The catch cup also doesn't have a great seal. Finely ground coffee can puff out from the threads if you shake the grinder too aggressively. I've learned to be gentle when tapping out the last grounds.
Grind Quality Across Brew Methods
For the price, the Timemore Slim produces surprisingly consistent grounds. The stainless steel burrs are the E&B style (a conical design that Timemore has iterated on over several versions), and they handle medium to coarse grinds very well.
Pour-Over and Aeropress
This is where the Slim shines. Medium grind settings produce uniform particles that brew a clean, balanced cup through a V60 or Kalita Wave. I've compared it side-by-side with my electric grinder at home, and the pour-over results are close enough that I can't consistently tell them apart in a blind taste test.
Aeropress grinds are even better because the Aeropress is forgiving. A medium-fine setting on the Slim gives me a concentrated, flavorful brew in about 90 seconds of steep time.
Espresso
Here's where I have to be honest. The Slim can grind fine enough for espresso, technically. But the consistency at very fine settings drops off. You'll see more variation in particle size, which leads to uneven extraction and channeling. If espresso is your primary brew method, you'll want to spend more on a grinder with tighter tolerances.
For a broader look at hand grinders that handle multiple brew styles, check out the best coffee grinders roundup.
French Press
Coarse grinding is acceptable but not the Slim's strong suit. At the coarsest settings, you'll still get some fines mixed in, which can make French press coffee slightly silty. It's drinkable but not as clean as what a larger burr grinder produces at coarse settings.
The Adjustment System
The Timemore Slim uses a click-based adjustment system. You remove the handle, then twist the adjustment knob at the top of the burr shaft. Each click moves the burrs a small increment finer or coarser.
Here are the ranges I've settled on through testing:
- Espresso: 8 to 12 clicks from fully closed
- Aeropress: 14 to 18 clicks
- Pour-over: 18 to 24 clicks
- French press: 26 to 30 clicks
The clicks are tactile and easy to count, but here's the thing: the numbers can vary between individual units. My Slim's "18 clicks" might be your "16 clicks" depending on manufacturing tolerances. Use these as starting points and adjust based on your brew results.
One annoyance: there's no external reference marker. You have to count clicks from the fully closed position every time you change brew methods. If you only make pour-over, this doesn't matter. If you switch between Aeropress and pour-over daily, the counting gets tedious.
Grinding Effort and Speed
Hand grinding isn't for everyone, and the Timemore Slim requires real effort at finer settings. Here's a realistic breakdown:
- 20g at pour-over setting: About 45 to 60 seconds of steady cranking
- 18g at espresso setting: About 90 seconds, and your arm will feel it
- 20g at French press: About 30 to 40 seconds
The Slim is easier to grind than cheaper hand grinders because the burrs are sharp and well-aligned from the factory. But compared to larger hand grinders with bigger burrs (like the Commandante or 1Zpresso K-series), it takes more effort per gram because of the smaller burr size.
My advice: if you're grinding more than 25 grams at a time, or if you grind espresso daily, consider a hand grinder with larger burrs or just get an electric grinder. The Slim is best suited for single doses of medium to coarse grounds.
Cleaning and Maintenance
The Timemore Slim is easy to disassemble. The outer burr pops off, the inner burr lifts out, and you can brush everything clean in about 3 minutes. I do this once a week, and I've never had stale coffee oil buildup affect the taste.
The burrs themselves don't need much care. A dry brush after each disassembly is enough. Don't use water on the burrs, as they can develop surface rust even though they're stainless steel (the term "stainless" is misleading since they resist rust but aren't immune).
Burr Longevity
Stainless steel burrs last a long time with home use. I'd estimate 3 to 5 years before you notice a decrease in grind quality, and Timemore sells replacement burr sets for about $20 to $30. Some users upgrade to the Timemore S2C burr set, which is a coated steel version that grinds faster and produces less fines. It's a $30 to $40 upgrade that makes a noticeable difference, especially for pour-over.
Who Should Buy the Timemore Slim
The Timemore Slim is ideal if you want a portable, affordable hand grinder for pour-over, Aeropress, or drip coffee. It's small enough for travel, well-built for the price, and produces grind quality that beats anything else under $80.
It's not the right choice if you need espresso-grade precision, if you grind for multiple people daily, or if you don't want to deal with the physical effort of hand grinding. For those situations, an electric grinder makes more sense. Check our top coffee grinders guide for electric options across all budgets.
FAQ
Is the Timemore Slim good for espresso?
It can technically grind fine enough, but the particle consistency isn't tight enough for reliable espresso extraction. Stick to pour-over, Aeropress, and drip for the best results.
What's the difference between the Timemore Slim and the Timemore Chestnut?
The Chestnut is wider and holds more beans (about 25 to 30 grams vs. 20 grams for the Slim). The Slim is narrower and more portable. Both use similar burr designs, but the Chestnut has more leverage due to its wider body, making it slightly easier to grind.
How do you clean the Timemore Slim?
Disassemble the burrs by removing the handle, unscrewing the adjustment knob, and lifting out the inner burr. Brush all parts with a dry brush. Reassemble in reverse order. Takes about 3 minutes.
Can you take the Timemore Slim on an airplane?
Yes. It's small enough for carry-on luggage, and I've never had TSA question it. The folding handle keeps the profile compact. Just make sure the bean chamber is empty.
My Takeaway
The Timemore Slim is the hand grinder I recommend to anyone getting into specialty coffee on a budget. It won't replace a $150+ electric grinder for daily home use, but for travel, desk coffee, and single-serve brewing, it's hard to beat at this price. Buy it, learn to count your clicks, and enjoy coffee that's miles better than pre-ground.