Technivorm Grinder Review: Looks Aren’t Everything!

Hi! My name is Arne. Having spent years working as a barista I'm now on a mission to bring more good coffee to the people. To that end, my team and I provide you with a broad knowledge base on the subject of coffee.

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I can’t believe the Moccamaster KM5 burr grinder has been out for over a year now and I’m just sitting down to write this Technivorm grinder review. Time really flies when you’re drinking coffee all day, every day, doesn’t it?

I can’t believe the Moccamaster KM5 burr grinder has been out for over a year now and I’m just sitting down to write this Technivorm grinder review. Time really flies when you’re drinking coffee all day, every day, doesn’t it?

Anyway, I’m eagerly waiting for this grinder to arrive on my doorstep so I can put it through some tests. In the meantime, I’ve decided to write my initial review and take a look at its features. So, feel free to join me for my initial Technivorm grinder review!

Bare-bones Burr grinder

Technivorm Moccamaster KM5 Burr Grinder

Simple and effective

Sturdy build

Compact footprint

Easy to use

High-quality flat burrs

Stepless grind adjustment

No timed grinding feature

Rather expensive

Overview: Technivorm Grinder Review

If you’re not yet familiar with the Technivorm brand, let me bring you up to speed. The Dutch manufacturer has been around since the 1960s, dutifully slinging its beloved Technivorm Moccamaster brewer to fans around the world. In fact, this brewer has been among the top home drip coffee makers for decades now.

With that context, it’s no wonder the coffee world was beside itself when the Technivorm Moccamaster KM5 Burr Grinder was released.

Technivorm Grinder Overview

Like other Technivorm products, the Moccamaster KM5 grinder has a generous five-year warranty and is repairable for life. Plus, all models are handmade in the Netherlands and are certified by the European Coffee Brewing Centre (ECBC), so you know you’re getting a good product for the $332.70 price tag.

This burr grinder features 50-millimeter stainless steel flat burrs, sturdy aluminum housing and anti-static technology in the grinds chute. It’s not the most stylish grinder in the world, but hey – looks aren’t everything! The grinder is well-built and seems to perform beautifully, so that’s all that matters. Well, almost.

What’s more, a simple user interface and stepless grind adjustments make it easy to dial in even the trickiest single origin coffee. Incidentally, the Moccamaster KM5 grinder is ideal for drip and immersion brewing methods. That said, those of you with home espresso machines will need to look elsewhere.

But again, the Moccamaster grinder is intended as the perfect partner for the Moccamaster brewer. Needless to say, if you adore your Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV brewer, why not get it a buddy?

Technivorm Moccamaster KM5 Burr Grinder Features

Now that we’ve gone over the bird’s eye view of this Technivorm Grinder review, let’s look a little closer at what we’re dealing with.

Size and Design

As far as looks go, I’ll admit that I don’t find the Moccamaster KM5 to be that attractive. 

Sure, I’ll concede that the grinder matches the slimmed-down and industrial aesthetic of the Moccamaster brewer. And I love how the brewer looks! At the same time, the grinder somehow doesn’t pull off the vibe quite as well.

For starters, the grinder only comes in three colors: Polished Silver, Matte Black and Matte White. This is all well and good, but one of the things I love about the brewer is its array of color options. There’s something about Yellow Pepper or Juniper housing that softens the industrial vibe just enough that it fits into a home kitchen.

Technivorm Grinder Size

On that note, the silhouette of the Technivorm grinder is boxy and kinda boring. I wouldn’t mind this so much if it belonged behind a diner counter, but it doesn’t look so chic on a kitchen counter. Meanwhile, I would never say as much about the Moccamaster brewer; that thing is a real beauty.

Maybe I’m being a little harsh here, but I really think Technivorm could’ve done better in terms of aesthetic design. On the other hand, the Dutch brand is a big proponent of going back to the basics. In that sense, I understand why their grinder design is so simple and avoids any flashiness.

Fortunately, I can’t complain about the functional design of the grinder. It’s built like a tank, with aluminum metal housing that makes the grinder feel sturdy and reliable. Plus, it’s quite compact, with a height of just 12.8 inches (32 centimeters).

User Interface

Like the no-fuss Moccamaster brewer, the user interface for the Technivorm Moccamaster KM5 grinder is remarkably simple. At this point, a slimmed-down interface is pretty much Technivorm’s signature.

In other words, this grinder doesn’t have any fancy flashing lights or built-in scales, timers or sensors. Nope, it only has the necessities: a dial for adjusting the grind and a basic on/off switch for grinding.

While I’m normally enamored with Technivorm’s interface designs, I’m a bit annoyed by the on/off switch. Incidentally, you have to press and hold the switch for the duration of the grind – so if you’re grinding coffee for a whole pot, expect to be standing there for roughly thirty seconds. I mean, this thing might as well be a manual coffee grinder.

I’m no machinist, but it seems to me that it would be just as easy to install a switch that doesn’t require constant pressure. Needless to say, I don’t quite understand the thought process behind this design choice.

Stainless Steel Flat Burrs

It’s time for the flat burr fan club to stand up and give the Technivorm Moccamaster KM5 grinder a round of applause. That’s right, this home grinder features 50-millimeter stainless steel precision flat burrs.

For the record, I don’t pick favorites when it comes to burr design; I love ‘em all. I disagree with the notion that only flat burrs can achieve precise and consistent grind size. As it happens, all but one of my best espresso grinder picks feature conical burrs – and precision and consistency are key when it comes to espresso preparation.

Still, I understand the excitement over a home grinder that features flat burrs. After all, it’s not all that common, so people tend to get a little giddy.

Stepless Grind Size Adjustment

One of the KM5’s best features is its stepless grind adjustment. The grind is easy to adjust with a simple turn of a knob. What’s more, the knob has markers from 1 to 9 as a guide, 1 being medium-fine and 9 being coarse.

Again, the Technivorm grinder can’t grind fine enough for espresso, so you’ll need a designated espresso grinder. Beyond espresso, though, the KM5 is basically an all-rounder. 

As it happens, the finest setting is ideal for AeroPress or moka pot, while the coarsest setting is meant for cold brew. Between these two extremes, you’ve got plenty of room to dial in your grind for drip coffee makers, pour over and other brewing methods.

Incidentally, Technivorm claims that its stepless adjustment leads to an “infinite” number of grind sizes. I don’t know about that, but it’s certainly nice to make precise micro-adjustments when dialing in a pour-over recipe.

Finally, one last note: make sure you only adjust the grind while the motor is running. Doing so reduces wear on the burrs and motor, and prevents any haphazard crunching of beans that are stuck between the burrs.

Static-Reducing Dispensing Spout

Anti-static technology is becoming more and more common in new coffee grinders, and I couldn’t be more thankful. After all, coffee grounds are notoriously sneaky in that they end up pretty much everywhere. So, when a manufacturer claims that its grinder doesn’t spray coffee grounds all over the counter, I’m all ears.

In the case of the Technivorm grinder, it’s got a static-reducing dispensing spout. Plus, a rubber lid on the catch cup helps contain any pesky grounds to the cup itself.

Despite these measures, the Moccamaster KM5 grinder still seems to produce quite a bit of static. Of course, you could spray your beans with a little water before grinding. Still, if a grinder claims to be anti-static, you’d expect things to be a bit cleaner.

Direct-Drive Motor

Thanks to the Moccamaster KM5’s powerful direct-drive motor, it has an impressive grind performance. It’s very fast, grinding 60 grams of coffee in less than 30 seconds.

I’ll admit that professional baristas who have worked with commercial coffee grinders may scoff at this. I mean, the heavy-duty Mahlkonig EK43 is lightning-fast in comparison.

That said, the Technivorm grinder is very fast for a home grinder. And trust me – when you know how much commercial grinders cost, you’ll have more than enough patience for the Moccamaster KM5!

Bean Hopper

Technivorm Grinder Bean Hopper

There’s not much to say about the KM5’s bean hopper, but there’s not much to complain about, either. It’s made of BPA-free plastic with a sturdy plastic lid. Plus, it’s got a reasonable capacity of 9 ounces (255 grams).

Still, that isn’t enough to hold a whole bag of coffee. Either way, I always recommend investing in a storage canister to keep your coffee fresh until you’re ready to brew.

Finally, an exposed Phillips screw in the hopper makes it easy to remove the thing and access the burrs. I’ll talk more about how to clean the burrs a bit later in my Technivorm grinder review.

Catch Cup

I already mentioned the catch cup earlier in my Technivorm grinder review, but I’ll touch on it a little more.

So, the glass catch up has a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) capacity. Incidentally, volumetric lines on the cup are purportedly for dosing your grinds, but they don’t seem that useful to me. What’s more, it’s got a storage lid to cover any leftover coffee grounds.

Now, you know what I’m going to say here. In my opinion, you should only grind exactly what you need for each serving of coffee. No more, no less. Otherwise, you’ll wind up with one of two scenarios: stale-tasting coffee or a pile of wasted grounds in your compost bin.

How to Use the Technivorm Grinder

As I mentioned earlier in this Technivorm Grinder review, using pretty much all Technivorm products as easy-as-pie. This grinder is no exception.

First, before first use make sure to hand-wash and dry all removable parts, including the bean hopper and catch cup. Plus, it’s a good idea to season the burrs by purging a pound or so of cheap coffee through the grinder. That said, it’s likely that this machine comes factory pre-seasoned, so you can skip this step if you’d prefer.

Technivorm Grinder How to Use

Next, choose your grind size according to your preferred brew method. Here’s a quick guide to the grind size, courtesy of the manufacturer:

  • 1-2 for AeroPress or Moka Pot 

  • 3-6 for pour over

  • 4-6 for drip machine

  • 6-8 for plunged French press

  • 7-9 for cold brew

Keep in mind that every coffee is different, so you’ll need to further dial in your grind. Still, these are good starting points.

Once you’ve chosen your grind and you’re ready to start brewing, weigh out your desired dose on a coffee scale. Then, take the lid off the bean hopper, press the on/off switch and dump the coffee beans into the hopper. Release the switch when the coffee is done grinding.

Technivorm Grinder Cleaning

Again, cleaning the Technivorm grinder is super easy. The simplest way is to just grind some grinder cleaning tablets through the grinder, then purge a few beans and call it a day. But if you’d like to feel a little more pro, read along.

To clean your burrs, all you’ll need is a Phillips screwdriver, a cleaning brush and a vacuum. Oh, and a dry microfiber cloth for wiping out the hopper.

First, unplug the grinder, then empty the bean hopper and catch cup of all coffee beans and grounds. To remove the hopper, unscrew the exposed Phillips screw inside it. Beneath the hopper you’ll find a plastic burr shield; pull up on the clips to remove that piece, too.

Finally, unscrew the three screws to remove the top burr for cleaning. Importantly, take note of the top burr’s position, because you’ll need to replace it in the same orientation. Otherwise, your burr position may not be calibrated with the adjustment knob.

At this point, use your cleaning tools to clear away any stubborn coffee grounds or residue. When you’re done, replace the top burr in the same orientation, tighten the screws, replace the burr shield and screw the hopper back on.

Technivorm Moccamaster KM5 Burr Grinder Technical Specifications

Technivorm Moccamaster Grinder
ManufacturerTechnivorm
NameMoccamaster KM5 Burr Grinder
TypeElectric coffee grinder
Grinder50 mm stainless steel flat burrs
Grind levelsStepless
Power310 watt
Voltage120 volt
Weight10.1 lb / 4.6 kg
Dimensions12.8 x 5.0 x 8.3 in / 32.5 x 12.7 x 21.1 cm
Suitable forPour-over, Chemex, drip machines, French press, cold brew
AccessoriesUser manual, catch cup
Current price on Amazon$332.70

Technivorm Grinder vs Fellow Ode

Fellow Ode Gen 2 Overview

Before finishing off this Technivorm grinder review, I first need to compare it to one of my favorite burr grinders: the Fellow Gen 2 Ode

As it happens, I am practically head-over-heels for all Fellow products. This one has a particularly special place in my heart, so let’s get into it.

For starters, I find the Ode to be much more attractive than the Technivorm grinder. It has a slimmer profile with a modern look and Fellow’s classic Matte Black aesthetic. I know I said looks don’t matter … but they kind of do. Sorry, Technivorm.

I also prefer the Ode grinder by a few other measures. For example, it has larger 62-millimeter flat burrs, a more streamlined grinding function (no need to press and hold for 30 seconds) and an auto-stop sensor. What’s more, it’s got a generous 31 grind settings.

On the other hand, it’s a stepped grinder, which could be a pro or a con, depending on your preferences. Plus, it’s a single dose coffee grinder, while the Technivorm grinder can be both single-dose and hopper-fed.

Beyond these features, these two grinders fit a similar niche. The Ode’s $345.00 price tag is almost identical to that of the Technivorm grinder. Plus, they both feature flat burrs and anti-static technology. Most importantly, neither grinder can grind fine enough for espresso. Rather, they perform well for drip and immersion methods.

Ultimately, these grinders seem pretty well-matched in terms of performance. However, if user experience is of the utmost importance to you, the Fellow Ode grinder is probably your best bet. And did I mention it’s quite a bit prettier?

See Also: Fellow Ode Review

Technivorm Grinder vs Fellow Ode Comparison Chart

Technivorm Moccamaster GrinderFellow Gen 2 Ode Grinder
ManufacturerTechnivormFellow
NameMoccamaster KM5 Burr GrinderGen 2 Ode Brew Grinder
TypeElectric coffee grinderElectric coffee grinder
Grinder50 mm stainless steel flat burrs64 mm stainless steel flat burrs
Grind levelsStepless31
Power310 watt140 watt
Voltage120 volt120 volt
Weight10.1 lb / 4.6 kg10.1 lb / 4.6 kg
Dimensions12.8 x 5.0 x 8.3 in / 32.5 x 12.7 x 21.1 cm9.4 x 9.5 x 5.7 in / 24.8 x 24.0 x 10.5 cm
Suitable forPour-over, Chemex, drip machines, French press, cold brewPour-over, Chemex, drip machines, French press, cold brew
AccessoriesUser manual, catch cupUser manual, catch cup, cleaning brush
Current price on Amazon$332.70$345.00

Verdict: Technivorm Grinder Review

Bare-bones Burr grinder

Technivorm Moccamaster KM5 Burr Grinder

Simple and effective

Sturdy build

Compact footprint

Easy to use

High-quality flat burrs

Stepless grind adjustment

No timed grinding feature

Rather expensive

There you have it, my initial Technivorm grinder review. The Moccamaster KM5 Burr Grinder seems like a great drip coffee grinder, albeit on the expensive side. I’m super excited to test this baby out and see for myself!

You ca be sure I’ll update this review as soon as I’ve put the KM5 through its paces, so keep checkjing back if you’re interested to find out what I think.

What do you think of the Technivorm KM5? Give me a shout in the comments section if you have any burning questions about this no-frills, reliable burr grinder!

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Arne Preuss

Hi! My name is Arne. Having spent years working as a barista I'm now on a mission to bring more good coffee to the people. To that end, my team and I provide you with a broad knowledge base on the subject of coffee.

More about Arne Preuss

Hi! My name is Arne. Having spent years working as a barista I'm now on a mission to bring more good coffee to the people. To that end, my team and I provide you with a broad knowledge base on the subject of coffee.

More about Arne Preuss

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