Timemore Slim Plus Review – Is This Compact Grinder Any Good?

If you’re passionate about your coffee, you know that each step in brewing unlocks a whole world of its own. Just grinding your beans, for example, could make or break your cup, so having a reliable grinder is a must. One such grinder is the Timemore Slim Plus.

I’ve been using mine for some time now, and I could say that it’s one of my favorites especially when going out. However, you might wonder: Is it still worth it in 2024? After all, 1Zpresso is giving the entire grinder market a running.

Here’s my in-depth review of the Timemore Slim Plus to help you answer that.

Timemore Slim Plus Review

The Timemore Chestnut Slim Plus is an impressive coffee grinder that really shines in portability and affordability while delivering great performance and precision in your grinds. For me, this grinder’s value really lies in its compact size that you can even put inside your AeroPress.

Its aluminum alloy body has decent durability while the 38mm titanium-coated burr set isn’t the fastest in the grinding market, but still promises long-term sharpness for consistent accuracy for medium-fine to coarser grinds. For espresso fine grinding, you need to upgrade to the E&B burrs.

I think that for its price point, the Timemore Slim Plus is one of the best lower cost grinders in 2024. It isn’t on par with the big guns of manual grinding, but it isn’t priced as such either.

Timemore Slim Plus – The Key Features

Now let’s take a closer look at the main features of the Timemore Slim Plus:

Decent Design & Build Quality

Timemore Slim Plus has a sleek design and decent construction. It sports an aluminum alloy body that isn’t as strong as stainless steel but feels sturdy enough to survive frequent use for years. I really like how the diamond-shaped patterns on its black body provide an excellent grip as I grind.

The handle is also pretty comfortable to hold and rotate plus it adds a nice chestnut wood accent to the overall aesthetic of the Timemore Slim Plus.

I also appreciate the narrow design which avoids the bulkiness I often see in other grinders. The body would even fit in smaller hands, and hands of ladies, which is a huge plus compared to thicker manual grinders.

Small Size for Portability

As its name suggests, the Slim Plus shines in terms of size and portability. The grinder body is 17.5 mm by 4.5 cm, with its slim diameter making it easy to hold comfortably even if you have smaller hands. It’s also quite lightweight weighing 435g so portability-wise, this grinder is a strong contender in the market.

Actually, I’ve gone hiking with my AeroPress where I removed the handle of my Slim Plus and slip it inside the brewer. It’s really convenient.

As for the capacity, it can hold up to 25 grams of coffee beans, which isn’t much. But if you’re brewing a single or a double cup, it’ll do.

Great Burr Quality and Performance

The burrs that grinders use are considered the benchmark for grinding performance. The Slim Plus comes with titanium-coated stainless steel burrs that are conical in shape and 38mm in diameter. This isn’t as fast as 48mm burrs in terms of grinding speed, but it still offers great precision in grinding coffee for different brewing methods, which brings us to the next feature.

Grind Settings Versatility

The Timemore Slim Plus manual coffee grinder offers a stepped grind adjustment system, ensuring that you can easily lock in your desired setting. Its dial has over 25 clicks to fine-tune your coffee with added stability through its dual-bearing central axis.

While the grind sizes for brewing methods like pour over, Aeropress, or French press are easy to achieve, finer grinds for espresso shots are not feasible. This grinder now offers an upgraded burr set called E&B (Espresso & Brew) burrs that overcome this limitation, but it’s a bit silly I think. If you want to grind espresso, this should not be your first choice.

Affordable Price

Another advantage of this grinder is its great value for money. Compared to other premium-grade hand grinders on the market, its affordable price point makes it an attractive option without making a significant compromise in quality.

With its impressive features coupled with its reasonable cost, investing in the Timemore Chestnut Slim Plus allows you to enjoy freshly ground coffee at home without breaking the bank.

Keep in mind though, that if you want to grind for espresso, you need to get another burr, which costs between $40-50. If that is the case, I would just recommend another grinder.

Brand Reputation

Timemore has been around since 2012 and is now an established brand in the coffee equipment industry. Their lineup of products includes grinders, scales, kettles, drippers, and more. Their product designs have also won accolades from the Good Design Awards and Red Dot Awards.

Exploring Alternatives

As with any purchasing decision, it’s always a good idea to explore alternative options before making your final choice. While the Slim Plus is an impressive coffee grinder, there are other models on the market that you’d want to check out as well:

Timemore C2 Max vs Timemore Slim Plus

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option without sacrificing quality, then you don’t have to look far. The Timemore C2 Max also features stainless steel 38mm conical burrs but it’s a little less versatile with 23 adjustment steps compared to the 25 steps of the Slim Plus.

The C2 Max also has a slightly larger capacity of 30g compared to the Slim Plus’s 25g, but it’s bigger and heavier. When it comes to visual appeal, the C2 Max comes in black, white, or gray bearing either a smooth finish or the same checkered pattern on the Slim Plus. You can read my Timemore C2 Max review to know more about this grinder.

1Zpresso Q2 vs Timemore Slim Plus

If you love the portability of this Timemore grinder, then 1Zpresso Q2 is also worth checking out. They’re close in size and weight, and each can fit inside an AeroPress plunger. While the Q2 is more affordable and has a wider range of 30 clicks, however, its 20g capacity is even smaller than its Timemore counterpart. Click here to read more about the features of this grinder.

1Zpresso J-Max vs Timemore Slim Plus

Going for precision, a good alternative is another popular pick from the 1Zpresso lineup: the 1Zpresso J-Max. It’s more expensive, but the adjustability is quite superb with its settings having 9 numbers / 90 clicks per rotation that shift by 8.8 microns. It also has bigger 48mm titanium-coated burrs for fast grinding.

The J-Max is not as portable since it’s bigger in size and heavier in weight compared to the Timemore grinder, but it can also hold more coffee grounds if you’re expecting to brew multiple cups in one go.

Each alternative offers unique features that may better suit your specific needs and preferences, but what they lack may also confirm that the Timemore Chestnut Slim Plus is your better choice. Discover more options by reading my in-depth comparison of the best manual burr grinders.

Conclusion

So do I recommend the Timemore Chestnut Slim Plus? It’s a good choice for a coffee grinder but I believe it really depends on your needs. I’ll surely recommend it if you’re leaning toward portability and affordability for pour overs, but if you want the highest quality in performance and durability, then you might want to spend more on a different grinder.

I do not recommend it at all for espresso, as you would need to get a separate burr for it.

Still, it’s quite a feat for the Slim Plus to have impressive specs while maintaining a lower price. So if it’s about cost-efficiency, then the Chestnut Slim Plus is really one of your best picks among the many manual grinders available today.