Now that camping season is upon us in the northern hemisphere, I figured it was the perfect time to write this Comandante X25 Trailmaster review.
Now that camping season is upon us in the northern hemisphere, I figured it was the perfect time to write this Comandante X25 Trailmaster review.
As it happens, the X25 Trailmaster is a durable and lightweight manual coffee grinder from perhaps the most beloved hand grinder manufacturer out there.
I’ll put this travel-friendly grinder through its paces as soon as I can get my hands on one! Heck, maybe I’ll even use it as an excuse to schedule a weekend getaway.
In the meantime, read along for my initial Comandante X25 Trailmaster review.
Basically Indestructible
Comandante X25 Trailmaster
High-performance travel coffee grinder
Rugged materials
Easy to use
Travel-friendly
Outstanding performance
Limited capacity
Overview: Comandante X25 Trailmaster Review
If you’re already a Comandante fan, you likely won’t need any convincing that the Comandante X25 Trailmaster is a superb grinder. After all, the German brand is renowned for its high quality hand grinders with durable builds and uber-sharp stainless steel burrs.
The Comandante X25 Trailmaster offers all of that in a small and lightweight package. Plus, costing $269.70, it’s significantly more affordable than other Comandante grinders.
The slim build and feather-weight design of the X25 Trailmaster make it the ideal travel companion. It helps that it looks and feels quite rugged, too. Pair this grinder with a camping-friendly travel mug to make your camping buddies extra jealous!
What’s more, durable technopolymer construction means this hand grinder is strong enough to withstand any bumps and bruises from being tossed around in a backpack or suitcase. Even better, a rubber lid attaches to the hopper for storage, making the grinder water-resistant. Really, Comandante has thought about pretty much everything when it comes to making the X25 Trailmaster travel-ready.
That said, the biggest cons in my book are the grinder’s small capacity and that it lacks a travel case. Still, you’re getting a premium burr design in a relatively affordable (for Comandante grinders, anyway) package, so it makes sense that the X25 Trailmaster is missing some perks.
Besides, the X25 Trailmaster really is a well-built grinder that’ll last you for years, whether you bring it on a backpacking trip or simply use it to make coffee in your own backyard.
Comandante X25 Trailmaster Features
Now that you know the basics of this Comandante X25 Trailmaster review, let’s break it down further!
Size and Design
From its looks alone, the Comandante X25 Trailmaster looks like it belongs on the trail. After all, it’s got a rugged look with the polygonal design on the body. Plus, the Dune colorway with an oak handle brings pleasing earth tones into the design.
What’s more, the stainless steel drivetrain and burrs ensure stability and durability while grinding. I’ll talk more about the burr design later on in this Comandante X25 Trailmaster review.
Moving on, a big part of the X25 Trailmaster’s appeal is its durable and lightweight design. Thanks to the technopolymer housing, this travel-ready grinder weighs only 14.8 ounces (420 grams). It’s also slim enough to slip into a small backpack pocket alongside your trusty AeroPress or other camping coffee maker.
The one downside of the X25 Trailmaster’s design is its fairly small capacity of only 25-28 grams of whole bean coffee. If you’re traveling or living alone, that may not be a problem. However, it means that this grinder isn’t quite versatile enough for home use or traveling with several coffee drinkers.
Technopolymer Housing
Normally, a key design element in Comandante grinders is a very limited quantity of plastic. However, that isn’t so with the X25 Trailmaster. Rather, this hand grinder features Comandante’s trademarked QTP technopolymer housing.
Regular Coffeeness readers know that I tend to gripe about plastic in home coffee gear like burr grinders and drip coffee makers. That said, I don’t plan to complain this time around! After all, Comandante put a lot of time and resources towards developing this material, and it shows.
The technopolymer housing is a mix of plastic and quartz, which makes it look and feel like ceramic. That said, it’s much more durable and lightweight than the real deal, making the X25 Trailmaster ideal for rough-and-tumble traveling.
In fact, similar materials are used in the automotive and mechanical engineering industries. If it’s strong enough to be used in a car’s gearbox, it’s gotta be strong enough to grind coffee!
Plus, the technopolymer housing is food and water safe, so you don’t need to worry about corrosion or contamination.
Stainless Steel Conical Burrs
Comandante grinders have long been celebrated for their signature Nitro Blade stainless steel burrs. Fortunately, Comandante did not skimp on burrs for their affordable travel-friendly grinder, the X25 Trailmaster.
Rather, the X25 Trailmaster has the same burr set as the flagship Comandante C40 model. The heptagonal conical burrs have durable high-nitrogen stainless steel blades. In fact, each blade has its own microblades, lending an extra air of significance to the term “precision burrs.”
If you already have the Comandante C40, you can even swap your old burrs into the new X25 Trailmaster body in order to keep your grind settings the same.
That said, I’d recommend that any Comandante C40 owners really consider whether they truly need a dedicated travel grinder, seeing as the C40 is already a great travel buddy. I’ll dig into this topic again towards the end of my Comandante X25 Trailmaster review.
Grind Settings
Like Comandante’s other burr sets, the X25 Trailmaster features around three dozen stepless grind adjustments. This covers a wide range of grind sizes, so you can use the grinder for a variety of brewing methods.
Even better, the grind is super easy to adjust using the dial at the base of the burr set. All you need to do is attach the crank handle and hold it still, then turn the dial. Intuitively, you turn clockwise for finer grinds and counterclockwise to go coarser.
That said, Comandante unfortunately doesn’t include any markings on the adjustment dial or the body of the grinder. This makes it difficult to keep track of where your grind is, especially if you’re using the X25 only for traveling and go a few months at a time without using it.
Honestly, one of the reasons I love the 1Zpresso J-Max so much is precisely because the labeled adjustment ring makes it so much easier to keep track of your grind size.
However, if need be it’s easy to bring the X25 Trailmaster back to zero and count up from the clicks. Plus, if you regularly stick with the same brew method you can just keep the grind size consistent.
Finally, if you plan to use this grinder as an espresso grinder, it’d be a good idea to get the Red Clix mod. With that accessory, the X25 Trailmaster would be great to pair with a portable espresso maker for shots on the go.
Crank Handle
This may seem like a small thing, but the X25 Trailmaster’s magnetic crank handle adds an extra level of security to your coffee grinding experience. The oak handle appears comfortable to hold and the magnetic attachment is durable and secure.
For what it’s worth, I’d recommend removing the handle when not in use to make it easier to pack the X25 Trailmaster into your bag. Otherwise, the handle could get snagged on other objects.
Catch Cup
Other Comandante grinders tend to have a transparent glass or plastic catch up, but the X25 Trailmaster is in a class of its own. Instead, the catch cup is the same technopolymer material as the rest of the grinder, so it blends seamlessly into the body.
I happen to like the look of this, and the plastic-and-quartz material is likely more durable than the glass catch cups of other Comandante grinders.
What’s more, the catch cup easily screws on and off, but is a tight enough fit that it won’t detach in your bag.
Accessories
The accessory kit for the X25 Trailmaster is quite slim, but it does come with a nifty silicone “plop” lid to cover the hopper for storage. This is great for a few different reasons. For example, this means you can take the handle off to make the grinder more packable without exposing the internal components to the elements.
Even better, the silicone lid is water-resistant so you can keep both dust and rain away from the precious stainless steel burrs. Plus, the lid enables you to store a dose of coffee beans in the hopper, saving you from having to bring a separate storage canister on an overnight trip.
Along with the silicone lid, the X25 Trailmaster also comes with an array of Comandante stickers. Honestly, I see this as quite wasteful – not everyone wants stickers! That said, stickers are cheap to produce and make for free marketing, so I get the appeal.
Finally, the X25 Trailmaster loses several brownie points for not including a travel case. Personally, I think an included travel case should be a no-brainer, seeing as this hand grinder is intended for travel. That would make sense, right? Comandante, take note!
How to Use the Comandante X25 Trailmaster
A hand grinder is one of the most user-friendly tools you can have in your coffee gear arsenal. Really, all you need to do is take the handle off, dump some beans in the top, then put the handle back on. After that, simply turn the handle until you can tell that the hopper is empty.
Beyond that, the only other thing you need to know to operate the Comandante X25 Trailmaster is how to change the grind. But again, this is a very simple process.
To adjust the grind, attach the crank handle and remove the catch cup. Then, holding the handle in place, turn the three-leg dial clockwise for a finer grind and counterclockwise for a coarser grind. You can refer to the user manual for tips on where to start for each brewing method, then further dial in the grind according to your own preferences.
Comandante X25 Trailmaster Cleaning
Again, operating the X25 Trailmaster is super easy, and this includes the cleaning process. It’d be extra easy if Comandante would include a cleaning brush in the accessory kit, but alas; you’ll have to purchase your own.
So, to clean the X25 Trailmaster all you need to do is remove the crank handle and gently brush the burrs with a cleaning brush to loosen up any coffee grounds. Then, you can stick a narrow vacuum hose into the top to vacuum away the loose grounds.
Comandante X25 Trailmaster Technical Specifications
Comandante X25 Trailmaster | |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Comandante |
Name | X25 Trailmaster |
Type | Hand Coffee Grinder |
Burrs | 39mm stainless steel conical |
Capacity | 28 g |
Grind adjustment levels | 40 |
Weight | 14.8 oz / 420 g |
Color options | Dune |
Height | 7.9 in / 20.0 cm |
Current price on Amazon | $269.70 |
Comandante X25 Trailmaster vs C40 MK4
I can’t finish up this Comandante X25 Trailmaster review without first comparing it to the legendary Comandante C40 MK4.
As it happens, these two grinders offer many of the same features, including Comandante’s signature stainless steel Nitro Blade burrs. Plus, they are both durable and great for travel.
That said, with a $369.50 price tag, the C40 is significantly more expensive than the X25. Why is that so?
For starters, the C40 has a higher quality stainless steel construction and stylish glass catch cup. Plus, it’s a bit larger with a 40-gram capacity, compared to the X25 Trailmaster’s 28-gram capacity. For this reason, the C40 would likely be a better fit for those who are primarily looking for a home grinder than can grind enough coffee for 3-4 servings at once.
That being said, the C40 is still a great travel grinder. Sure, it’s a bit heavier and bigger than the X25 Trailmaster, but not by much. What’s more, if you’re the car-camping or hotel-dweller kind of traveler you don’t necessarily need a featherweight grinder.
So, I think the Comandante C40 is a better choice as a versatile home and travel grinder. And if you already have the C40, I don’t see a point in buying a whole ‘nother grinder exclusively for travel.
However, if you are a serious ultralight backpacker and every gram counts, the X25 Trailmaster could make more sense. In that case, a regular traveler who only brews coffee for one could also reliably use the X25 Trailmaster as a home grinder.
Of course, it also helps that the X25 Trailmaster is cheaper than the C40 but still boasts a premium build and feel.
See Also: Comandante C40 MK4 Review
Comandante X25 Trailmaster vs C40 MK4 Comparison Chart
Comandante X25 Trailmaster | Comandante C40 MK4 | |
---|---|---|
Manufacturer | Comandante | Comandante |
Name | X25 Trailmaster | C40 MK4 |
Type | Hand Coffee Grinder | Hand Coffee Grinder |
Burrs | 39mm stainless steel conical | 39mm stainless steel conical |
Capacity | 28 g | 40 g |
Grind adjustment levels | 40 | 40 |
Weight | 14.8 oz / 420 g | 1.6 lb / 725.7 g |
Color options | Dune | Alpine Lagoon, American Cherry, Black, Copper Mountain, Liquid Amber, Racing Green, Virginia Walnut, Snow White, Sunset |
Height | 7.9 in / 20.0 cm | 6.3 in / 16.0 cm |
Current price on Amazon | $269.70 | $369.50 |
Verdict: Comandante X25 Trailmaster Review
Basically Indestructible
Comandante X25 Trailmaster
High-performance travel coffee grinder
Rugged materials
Easy to use
Travel-friendly
Outstanding performance
Limited capacity
Overall, it seems like the Comandante X25 Trailmaster is a great travel grinder. After all, it’s durable, lightweight and produces consistent grinds thanks to Comandante’s signature burrs. What more could you want in a travel grinder?
Well, a travel case would be a nice addition. Maybe next time, Comandante? Anyway, if you’re interested in purchasing this grinder, be sure to check back for my hands-on Comandante X25 Trailmaster review. I’m super excited to test this grinder out!
Have you tried the Comandante X25 Trailmaster? Do you have any questions you want me to consider for my next review of this travel-friendly hand grinder? Let’s chat in the comments section below!