How It Fared

See what buyers in China learned first.

Reviews & Guides · Kitchen & Dining

How I Rank the MAVO Phantox Pro, TIMEMORE Chestnut S3 and KINGrinder K6

Reviewed: MAVO Phantox Pro, KINGrinder K6, TIMEMORE Chestnut S3Regional reference: MAVO Phantox Pro (United States and Europe); KINGrinder K6 (United Kingdom); TIMEMORE Chestnut S3 (United States)

I rank the Phantox Pro, Chestnut S3 and K6 for pour-over-focused use and for one grinder to cover both pour-over and espresso.

Three manual coffee grinders stand side by side on a countertop, each with a different handle design. Their detached catch cups sit in front, above three piles of ground coffee arranged in spiral patterns.
The base of a detached TIMEMORE Chestnut S3 catch cup, marked “CHESTNUT S3 SERIES,” above coffee grounds arranged in a spiral.
A detached KINGrinder catch cup with its branded base visible above coffee grounds arranged in a spiral on a white surface.
The MAVO-branded base of a detached catch cup above coffee grounds arranged in a spiral on a white surface.

Last year, I shared a post comparing grind-size images from the MAVO Phantox, KINGrinder K6 and TIMEMORE Chestnut S3. I didn’t expect people to keep asking which one to choose, so ahead of the 618 shopping festival, here’s my take on what to pick.

Prices ahead of the 2024 618 shopping festival (which may fluctuate): MAVO Phantox Pro, 798; TIMEMORE Chestnut S3, 699; KINGrinder K6, 580.

  1. Value for money: KINGrinder K6 > MAVO Phantox Pro > TIMEMORE Chestnut S3
  2. Pour-over focus: TIMEMORE Chestnut S3 > MAVO Phantox Pro > KINGrinder K6
  3. For both pour-over and espresso: MAVO Phantox Pro > KINGrinder K6 > TIMEMORE Chestnut S3

My personal ranking: MAVO Phantox Pro, TIMEMORE Chestnut S3, KINGrinder K6.

Food and drink are what I talk about; I’m an optimist about life.
#凍美的飛水 — I speak my mind bluntly.

Source: 凍美的飛水 · Xiaohongshu · 2024-05-13 · 國產上調式手搖磨豆機三巨頭該怎麼選？. Search this Chinese title in Xiaohongshu to find the original post.

Before You Buy

Models in your region

Regional references for the three pictured grinders are listed below.

Model in this review Related regional model What to know
MAVO Phantox Pro MAVO Phantox Pro (United States and Europe) MAVO’s international store identifies Phantox Pro and serves US and European markets.
KINGrinder K6 KINGrinder K6 (United Kingdom) A UK seller lists the same-name KINGrinder K6, corroborated by the manufacturer’s model catalog.
TIMEMORE Chestnut S3 TIMEMORE Chestnut S3 (United States) The US reference is Chestnut S3, rather than S3 ESP; the source cup is also marked CHESTNUT S3 SERIES.
Model in this review
MAVO Phantox Pro
Related regional model
MAVO Phantox Pro (United States and Europe)
What to know
MAVO’s international store identifies Phantox Pro and serves US and European markets.
Model in this review
KINGrinder K6
Related regional model
KINGrinder K6 (United Kingdom)
What to know
A UK seller lists the same-name KINGrinder K6, corroborated by the manufacturer’s model catalog.
Model in this review
TIMEMORE Chestnut S3
Related regional model
TIMEMORE Chestnut S3 (United States)
What to know
The US reference is Chestnut S3, rather than S3 ESP; the source cup is also marked CHESTNUT S3 SERIES.

The rankings depend on your brewing priorities

For a pour-over-focused choice, the author puts the S3 first, followed by the Phantox Pro and K6. For one grinder covering both pour-over and espresso, the order changes to Phantox Pro, K6, then S3.

The author’s overall recommendation is Phantox Pro, S3, then K6. These are personal rankings without a disclosed brewing recipe or measured particle-distribution results.

Related Reading