Best Coffee Grinders · head-to-head

Comandante C40 MK4 Nitro Blade vs Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP Pro

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP Pro is cheaper at $79. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the Comandante C40 MK4 Nitro Blade or Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP Pro?

The Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP Pro wins 2 of the 2 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP Pro is the cheaper at $79. The Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP Pro both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.

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Full spec sheet

marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.

Spec Comandante C40 MK4 Nitro Blade Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP Pro
US price $325 $79
BrandComandanteTimemore
Released20212022
Type manual manual
Burr type conical conical
Burr size (mm) 39 38
Grind settings ~40 clicks per rotation 30 clicks per rotation (23.3 µm/click)
Hopper capacity (g) 40 25
Best for all all
Weight (lb) 1.63 1.17
Release 2021 2022

Sources — Comandante C40 MK4 Nitro Blade: prima-coffee.com (verified 2026-09-21). Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP Pro: slowpoursupply.co (verified 2026-06-19).

What's the difference between the Comandante C40 MK4 Nitro Blade and Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP Pro?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.

  • Burr size (mm): Comandante C40 MK4 Nitro Blade 39 vs Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP Pro 38
  • Grind settings: Comandante C40 MK4 Nitro Blade ~40 clicks per rotation vs Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP Pro 30 clicks per rotation (23.3 µm/click)
  • Hopper capacity (g): Comandante C40 MK4 Nitro Blade 40 vs Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP Pro 25
  • Weight (lb): Comandante C40 MK4 Nitro Blade 1.63 vs Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP Pro 1.17

What reviewers say

Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.

Comandante C40 MK4 Nitro Blade

Only one whitelisted hands-on reviewer survived verification: Tom's Guide, which lab-measured grind uniformity (Kruve sieves), retention (scale, before/after) and grind speed, and named the Comandante C40 MK4 Editor's Choice. Every quote and measured value in this entry was confirmed verbatim against the fetched article. Verdict: best-in-class hand grinder for consistency and low retention, but slow to crank at fine settings and very expensive. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)

Praised: Consistent, uniform grind across the full range (verified via Kruve sifter test); Low grind retention, averaging 2.75%; Exceptional build quality and ergonomic body/handle.

Flagged: Very expensive (~$277-$323); Hard and slow to crank at finer settings (below ~20 clicks); No indicator showing the current click/grind setting.

Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP Pro

Across 2 testing outlets (CoffeeGeek.co and Brew Coffee Home), the Timemore C3 ESP Pro earns a uniformly positive verdict as a compact, precise manual espresso grinder. Both reviewers highlight its patented, fine-grained click adjustment (23-23.3 micrometers per click, 30 clicks per rotation) and 38mm burr as delivering genuinely consistent grinds and rich, full-bodied espresso that one outlet compares favorably to electric grinders. Both also praise the grinding experience itself as fast and effortless, with no negative points raised by either source. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)

Praised: Grind consistency and resulting espresso quality (rich texture/body, comparable to electric grinders); Solid build quality and precise, patented click-adjustment mechanism; Fast, effortless grinding process well suited for travel/on-the-go espresso prep.

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