Timemore Chestnut C2: Grind Settings for Every Brew Method

21 clicks on a Timemore C2 for a V60 with a light roast. 16 clicks for an AeroPress with a medium roast. 27 for a French Press with a dark roast. Those numbers are more useful than any "medium-fine" label you'll find online.

The Timemore Chestnut C2 is one of the best entry-level hand grinders for specialty coffee. Conical CNC stainless steel burrs, 12 clicks per turn, and a price that doesn't sting. It's not the Comandante C40 and doesn't pretend to be, but the adjustment logic is the same and for filter coffee the difference in the cup is smaller than the price tag would suggest.

This guide gives you the click settings for every brew method, organized by roast level. These are starting points. Every coffee is different, so you'll want to adjust based on the profile. But a concrete number is always better than a vague description.

Quick Reference Table

Starting points are for a light-roast washed coffee. Going from light to medium usually means 0 to 1 extra click; from light to dark, 1 to 2 extra clicks. Check each method below for exact numbers.

How the Clicks Work

Same adjustment logic as the Comandante or the 1Zpresso JX, just with more affordable materials.

• 12 clicks per full turn of the adjustment ring.
• Fewer clicks = finer grind.
• More clicks = coarser grind.
• Each click changes the grind by about 33 microns.

To find zero: turn the ring clockwise until the burrs touch and the handle no longer spins freely. That's click 0. Count up from there by turning counterclockwise to go coarser.

V60

This is where the C2 does its best work. The conical burrs produce a reasonably uniform grind for filter, enough for a clean V60 with well-defined flavors.

• Light roast: 21 clicks.
• Medium roast: 21 clicks.
• Dark roast: 22 clicks.

Yes, light and medium land on the same click. That's a side effect of the C2's resolution: because each click changes the grind by ~33 microns and the per-roast adjustment is 30 microns, rounding sometimes sends them to the same setting. If your medium-roast cup tastes sour, bump the water temperature 1–2°C before jumping to 22 clicks.

Target brew time: 2:30 to 3:30 for a 15g dose with 250ml water. If it drains too fast and tastes sour, go 1 click finer. If it stalls and tastes bitter, go coarser.

AeroPress

The AeroPress accepts a wide grind range, so it's great for getting comfortable with your C2 without obsessing over precision.

• Standard method: 15–17 clicks, 1:30 to 2:00 steep.
• Inverted method: 13–15 clicks, 2:00 to 2:30 steep.
• Fine grind, short steep: 12–13 clicks, 1:00 steep. More body, closer to espresso character.

Chemex

The Chemex filter is thicker than a V60 filter, so it absorbs more oils and slows down the brew. You need to grind a little coarser to compensate.

• Light roast: 23 clicks.
• Medium roast: 24 clicks.
• Dark roast: 25 clicks.

Target brew time: 3:30 to 4:30 for a 30g dose with 500ml water. If the drawdown takes more than 5 minutes, go 1–2 clicks coarser.

French Press

Coarse grind. The metal mesh filter lets fine particles through, and those particles keep extracting while you drink. Too fine and you'll get a muddy, over-extracted cup.

• Light roast: 26 clicks, 4:00 steep.
• Medium roast: 26 clicks.
• Dark roast: 27 clicks.
• Lighter body: go up to 29 clicks.

Espresso

The C2 is a filter grinder. It can grind fine enough for espresso (3–9 clicks), but each click is a huge jump at that end of the range. One click can change your shot time by 8–12 seconds, which makes dialing in frustrating.

• Range: 3–9 clicks.
• Light roast: 4 clicks.
• Medium roast: 5 clicks.
• Dark roast: 7 clicks.

Target shot: 25–30 seconds for 18g in and 36g out. If the shot runs too fast and tastes sour, go 1 click finer. If it drips slowly and tastes bitter, go coarser.

If you pull the occasional shot at home, the C2 works in a pinch. But if espresso is your main method, the 1Zpresso JX-Pro with 40 clicks per turn or the Timemore C3 ESP PRO with 30 clicks per turn will give you far more control.

Moka Pot

• Range: 11–14 clicks.
• Light roast: 12 clicks.
• Medium roast: 12 clicks.
• Dark roast: 13 clicks.

Start at 12 and adjust from there. If the brew sputters and hisses, it's too fine. If it comes out pale and watery, it's too coarse.

How Roast Level Changes Your Setting

Same grinder, same method, same dose, and yet a light roast and a dark roast can be 1 to 2 clicks apart. Light roasts are denser and harder, so the water needs more time and more surface area to extract the good stuff, and that's why you grind finer. Dark roasts are softer and more soluble, they give up their flavors faster, and you grind coarser to avoid pulling harsh, ashy notes.

The C2 has a quirk: because each click changes the grind by ~33 microns and the difference between light and medium is about 30 microns, both often land on the same click. It's the grinder's resolution, not a flaw. When a single click isn't enough to differentiate, adjust water temperature instead (raise 1–2°C for lighter roasts, lower for darker) or change brew time.

How to Dial In

The table gives you a starting point. Here's how to find your ideal setting from there:

1. Pick the starting point for your method and roast level.
2. Brew and taste. Brew time is a clue, but taste is what matters.
3. Adjust 1 click at a time. With the C2's resolution, a single click already makes a noticeable difference. Sour and thin? Go finer. Bitter and heavy? Go coarser.
4. Change one thing at a time. Don't adjust grind and dose at the same time.
5. Write it down. Or use Coffee Master to log your brews automatically.

Most coffees land within 1–2 clicks of the starting point. If you're way off, check your water temperature or dose before going further.

Maintenance

The C2 is built well, but the burrs and adjustment mechanism need a periodic clean to stay consistent.

Monthly with regular use. Weekly if you grind daily. Remove the handle (it's magnetic, just pull it off), unscrew the adjustment ring, take out the burr assembly, and brush everything with a dry natural-bristle brush. A clean paintbrush works great.

A few things to keep in mind:

• No water on the burrs. Brush only. The burrs are stainless steel, but moisture and coffee oils accelerate oxidation.
• The handle has a fold for compact storage. Useful for travel, but constant folding can loosen the shaft screw. Tighten every few weeks.
• The C2 body mixes aluminum with plastic parts in the hopper area and base. Don't force anything when reassembling, plastic threads strip more easily than metal ones.
• New burrs need a break-in period. The first 500g or so may grind a bit unevenly while the edges polish themselves. Use whatever beans you have on hand, not your freshly bought specialty coffee.

Common Issues