Kinu M47 Hand Grinder Review: Simply the Best for Espresso

Having recently bestowed the Kinu M47 with the title of “Best for Espresso” in my manual coffee grinder guide 2024, I’ve decided it’s high time to take a closer look.

In today’s Kinu M47 grinder review I’ll be shining a light on this sleek, high-performance hand grinder. I’ll be focusing on the Kinu M47 Simplicity, but I’ll make sure you know about the other M47 models too.

To be honest, I can’t wait to get my hands on the Kinu M47 Simplicity, and I’ll be sure to update this initial review once I have a test report ready. In the meantime, let’s start delving into what’s so exciting about this hand grinder.

Overview: Kinu M47 Review

If you’ve never heard of Kinu coffee grinders, you’re not alone. As it happens, these guys tend to fly under the radar somewhat. Plus, it doesn’t help that manufacturers like Timemore, 1Zpresso and Comandante have been stealing all the manual grinder limelight recently.

Still, you should know that Kinu is a family-owned German business that’s been in the grinder game for more than 25 years. Oh, and all the manufacturer’s products are still built in Germany, too.

At this point, I have to draw attention to the price tag attached to the Kinu M47 Simplicity. At $339.50, this is a very expensive hand grinder and I would understand if you’re hesitant to spend that much. Especially seeing as there are plenty of very good manual coffee grinders out there for a fraction of the price.

However, I also need to point out that Kinu is known for its attention to detail, producing grinders with outstanding build quality and exceptional performance. In that regard, the M47 Simplicity is in the same league as the equally pricey Comandante C4.

As you know, the Comandante is the undisputed king, in my opinion. In fact, I seem to remember referring to it as the “Swiss army knife” of manual grinders. While the Kinu M47 Simplicity might not be as versatile across the grind size spectrum, it’s been designed with espresso preparation in mind. And that makes it way more effective at the finer end of things.

I’ll get into more detail later in this Kinu grinder review. However, for now I’ll whet your appetite with the prospect of 47mm coated burrs, stainless steel construction and a unique stepless adjustment system. Sounds pretty exciting, right?!

Kinu M47 Models

As promised, I’m going to clear up any confusion about the different Kinu models. Aside from the Simplicity, the manufacturer produces the Kinu M47 Classic and the Kinu M47 Phoenix.

For the most part, all three grinders have the same internal systems in place and all are equipped with the same burrs. However, the top-of-the-range Classic has a stainless steel bean funnel and a stainless steel magnetic catch cup.

At the other end of the spectrum, the M47 Phoenix lacks the auto-centering technology found in the other two and doesn’t have an easy-hold thumb stopper. Otherwise, there are small differences in weight, materials and capacity across the range. The Kinu M47 Classic will set you back $500.00 on Amazon right now. On the flip side, the Kinu M47 Phoenix costs an altogether less eye-watering $189.00.

Kinu M47 Simplicity Features

Now that I’ve cleared up the differences between models, let’s get back on track by turning our attention to the Kinu M47 Simplicity. Coming up, I’ll take a closer look at the grinder’s most notable features.

Size and Design

Remember earlier when I talked about Kinu’s dedication to quality and performance? Well, I wasn’t kidding. In fact, I’d say one look at the Kinu M47 Simplicity is all it takes to see how well-designed the thing is.

The grinder body features solid stainless steel construction, which extends to the crank arm. Plus, there’s no denying the M47 Simplicity is beautiful to behold – it’s slim, sleek silhouette offers a masterclass in restrained elegance.

With that said, the Kinu M47 grinder is no lightweight. In fact, it clocks in at a hefty 2.1 pounds (953 grams), making it one of the beefier hand grinders I’ve reviewed.

Inside, the manufacturer has really thought out the design of the M47 Simplicity. Aside from the very special burrs, there are two pairs of ball bearings to make grinding as smooth as possible. What’s more, the internal design is such that the burrs are kept centered at all times. Now that’s something you don’t see on many manual coffee grinders.

Stainless Steel Conical Burrs

All Kinu coffee grinders are equipped with 47mm stainless steel conical burrs. What’s more, the burrs are Black-Fusion treated, meaning they have a proprietary coating to make them even stronger.

The end result is a burr set that’ll last for a very long time. Not only that, you’re guaranteed the kind of precision grinding that may come as a shock if you’ve only used inexpensive burr coffee grinders. Seriously, you can expect incredible levels of particle consistency when you’re grinding with the Kinu M47, especially at the finer end of the grind size spectrum.

Kinu M47 Grind Settings

Here’s where things get really exciting, especially for home baristas. You see, the Kinu M47 Simplicity offers stepless grinding, meaning you can easily make micro-adjustments to your grind size.

Changing the grind setting is a piece of cake. You simply unscrew the top nut and turn the dial. Speaking of the dial, it’s clearly marked with both macro and micro settings, although you’ll have to invest in the Classic model if you want to feel any kind of click when you move it.

As for its resolution, the Kinu M47’s burrs move approximately 10 microns with each micro setting. In other words, a very small distance. That’s why this hand grinder is so effective for making the perfect espresso – you can make an enormous number of really tiny changes to your grind size as you’re dialing in your shots. Best of all, it’s quick and easy to make those adjustments.

Crank Handle

The Kinu M47 crank handle doesn’t just look cool, its design helps facilitate quick and painless grinding. Lemme tell ya, if you’re accustomed to a budget-friendly hand grinder like the Hario Skerton, the Kinu M47 Simplicity will blow your mind!

In combination with the stainless steel drive shaft and multiple ball bearings, the long stainless steel crank handle feels like it’s doing all the work for you.

Then again, seeing as this grinder will most likely be used in tandem with a home espresso machine, that’ll be a huge relief! After all, making espresso with a manual grinder does take more time and effort than with an electric model.

Catch Cup

In an effort to make the M47 Simplicity a little more affordable than the Classic, the manufacturer used some plastic in the construction. Both the bean funnel up top and the catch cup are made of food safe ABS plastic.

Although that isn’t ideal, I get why Kinu did this and the plastic components do make the thing lighter than its more expensive sibling. Anyway, the catch cup fits snugly to the grinder’s body via a silicone O-ring and has a generous capacity of up to 50 grams of coffee. 

How to Use the Kinu M47 Grinder

As I mentioned at the start of this review, I plan on giving you a full report on this hand grinder’s performance once I’ve had time to test it out. In the meantime, I’ll offer a quick rundown on how to use the thing.

Whichever brewing method you’re using, the first thing you’ll need to do is weigh out your coffee beans using a good coffee scale. After all, it wouldn’t do to eyeball your dose with such an expensive grinder!

To set up your grinder, unscrew the counter-screw at the top, mount the handle, then replace the counter-screw. Of course, it’ll take a little trial and error to find your ideal grind size, but making changes is really easy. You just have to loosen the counter-screw and turn the adjustment wheel to your desired setting.

You’ll notice there’s no lid on this grinder. Instead, the bean funnel has an outer lip to keep coffee beans from spilling. Anyway, seeing as the Kinu M47 includes an ingenious thumb stopper, you’ll have no problems keeping it stable as you’re grinding.

Finally, from everything I’ve heard, the Kinu burrs will require some amount of seasoning before they truly settle in. With that in mind, I’d recommend starting out with cheap coffee beans before moving on to the good stuff.

Kinu M47 Cleaning

Thanks to its simple design, keeping the Kinu grinder in good working order shouldn’t require too much work. I’d recommend removing the outer burr and giving it a good brushing every couple of weeks, but remember to never use water to clean metal burrs.

Aside from that, rinse the plastic catch cup if you start to notice coffee oil building up inside. Just remember to let it dry fully before grinding into it again. Don’t say you weren’t warned!

Kinu M47 Coffee Grinder Specifications

	Kinu M47 Simplicity
Manufacturer	Kinu
Name	M47 Simplicity
Type	Hand Coffee Grinder
Burrs	47mm stainless steel conical
Capacity	40-50 g
Grind adjustment levels	Stepless
Weight	2.1 lb / 950.0 g
Color options	Silver
Height	10.0 in / 25.5 cm
Current price on Amazon	$339.50

Kinu M47 vs Other Manual Coffee Grinders

Thus far, we’ve established that the Kinu M47 Simplicity is no ordinary hand grinder. We’ve also established that it has a lot of competition. Let’s see how the best manual grinder for espresso measures up in comparison to a couple of other exceptional models.

Kinu M47 vs 1Zpresso J Max

I think it’s fair to say that 1Zpresso has changed the manual coffee grinder game in a big way. Seriously, the Taiwanese manufacturer just won’t stop releasing affordable and high-performing grinders.

If you’ve read my review of the 1Zpresso J Max you’ll know how much I love the thing. In fact, I haven’t been able to stop recommending it to just about everyone I know.

And for just $N/A, the J Max represents insanely good value for money.

From its sturdy design and awesome grind adjustment system to its 48mm titanium-coated burrs, the J Max has everything you could want in a coffee grinder. Still, I have to say that the Kinu M47 Simplicity has the edge in terms of design, materials and sheer quality.

Still, there isn’t a whole lot to separate these two, and the 1Zpresso is certainly way more affordable than the Kinu.

See Also: 1Zpresso J Max Review 2024

Kinu M47 vs Comandante C40 MK4

I recently updated my Comandante review by testing out the Comandante C40 MK4. To be honest, I was a little worried that my beloved Comandante wouldn’t seem as cool as it used to

However, it wasn’t long before all my doubts were laid to rest. Like the Kinu hand grinder, the Comandante represents the best of German engineering and design. Let’s just say this manufacturer is obsessed with perfection and it shows.

Sure, the Comandante C40 MK4 is way more limited in the grind settings department. However, the Nitro Blade burrs are not to be sniffed at. Rather, I’d say the pour-over coffee I make using the Comandante is unmatched in its depth and complexity.

Costing $369.50, the Comandante is in the same ballpark as the M47 Simplicity, price-wise. Still, if you’re stuck between the two, I’d recommend the Kinu for espresso nerds and the Comandante for pour-over freaks.

See Also: Comandante Grinder Review 2024

Kinu M47 vs Others Comparison Chart

	Kinu M47 Simplicity	1Zpresso J Max	Comandante C40 MK4
Manufacturer	Kinu	1Zpresso	Comandante
Name	M47 Simplicity	J-Max S Manual Coffee Grinder	C40 MK4 Nitro Blade
Type	Hand Coffee Grinder	Hand Coffee Grinder	Hand Coffee Grinder
Burrs	47mm stainless steel conical	48mm stainless steel conical	39mm stainless steel conical
Capacity	40-50 g	35-40 g	40 g
Grind adjustment levels	Stepless	400+	40
Weight	2.1 lb / 950.0 g	1.7 lb / 771.1 g	1.6 lb / 725.7 g
Color options	Silver	Iron Gray, Silver	Alpine Lagoon, American Cherry, Black, Copper Mountain, Liquid Amber, Racing Green, Virginia Walnut, Snow White, Sunset
Height	10.0 in / 25.5 cm	7.7 in / 19.6 cm	6.3 in / 16.0 cm
Current price on Amazon	$339.50	$N/A	$369.50

Verdict: Kinu M47 Grinder Review

Having taken the time to examine the Kinu M47 Simplicity in more detail, I can confidently say it’s still the best hand grinder for espresso.

Sure, there are other, more affordable grinders hot on its heels. However, the Kinu grinder has them all beat in terms of performance and quality engineering.

I understand that the grinder’s price tag will be hard to swallow for lots of people. But I’m also aware that plenty of you are getting more serious about espresso preparation at home. And when you consider how much you’ll have to spend on a comparable electric burr grinder, the Kinu’s asking price might seem a lot more reasonable.