# Timemore Chestnut C2 Grind Settings: Clicks by Method 19 clicks for V60, 16 for AeroPress, 30 for French Press. Timemore Chestnut C2 settings by roast, and how it compares to a Comandante C40 click for click. Source: https://coffeemaster.app/guides/timemore-c2-grind-settings Updated: 2026-07-29 --- 19 clicks on a Timemore C2 for a V60 with a light roast. 17 clicks for an AeroPress with a medium roast. 32 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](https://coffeemaster.app/guides/comandante-c40-grind-settings) 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. Within the Timemore line, the [Timemore Chestnut C3S Pro](https://coffeemaster.app/guides/timemore-chestnut-c3s-pro-grind-settings) is the step up, with a calibrated dial and higher resolution. 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 | Brew Method | Click Range | Starting Point | Grind Size | | ------------ | ----------- | -------------- | ------------- | | Espresso | 6–13 | 8 | Fine | | Moka Pot | 14–18 | 15 | Medium Fine | | AeroPress | 13–19 | 16 | Medium Fine | | V60 | 16–22 | 19 | Medium | | Chemex | 21–25 | 23 | Medium Coarse | | French Press | 28–33 | 30 | Coarse | Starting points are for a light-roast washed coffee. Going from light to medium means 1 extra click; from light to dark, 2 extra clicks. Check each method below for exact numbers. One caveat on the coarse end: Timemore publishes the C2's range as 0–950 microns across the useful dial, which lands at click 30. The mechanism keeps clicking past that, so 31–33 are reachable, but you're grinding beyond the range the grinder is specified for and the numbers get less predictable. If a French Press at 30 already tastes right, stay there. ## 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 32 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. > **Pro tip** > > The C2 doesn't have a numbered dial, so count your clicks from zero every time you switch methods. If you lose track, just re-zero and start over. Takes 10 seconds. ## 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**: 19 clicks. - **Medium roast**: 20 clicks. - **Dark roast**: 21 clicks. That's one click per roast level. If your medium-roast cup tastes sour, bump the water temperature 1–2°C before jumping finer. The C2's resolution is coarse enough that a single click already shifts the cup noticeably, so move deliberately. **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**: 16–18 clicks, 1:30 to 2:00 steep. - **Inverted method**: 14–16 clicks, 2:00 to 2:30 steep. - **Fine grind, short steep**: 13–14 clicks, 1:00 steep. More body, closer to espresso character. > **Pro tip** > > Not sure where to start? 17 clicks, medium water temp, 2 minutes steep. Adjust from there. ## 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 (don't go past 25). ## 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**: 30 clicks, 4:00 steep. - **Medium roast**: 31 clicks. - **Dark roast**: 32 clicks. - **Lighter body**: go up to 33 clicks. Click 30 is where Timemore's published range ends, so medium and dark roasts push you just past it. The clicks are there and the grinder handles them, but that's the extrapolated end of the dial: if you'd rather stay inside spec, brew all three roasts at 30 and adjust steep time instead. > **Pro tip** > > A light-roast washed coffee in a French Press can work well at a slightly finer grind (29 clicks) with a shorter steep (3:00). The mesh lets enough body through to complement the brightness. Worth a try. ## Espresso The C2 is a filter grinder. It can grind fine enough for espresso (6–13 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**: 6–13 clicks. - **Light roast**: 8 clicks. - **Medium roast**: 9 clicks. - **Dark roast**: 10 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](https://coffeemaster.app/guides/1zpresso-jx-pro-grind-settings) 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**: 14–18 clicks. - **Light roast**: 15 clicks. - **Medium roast**: 16 clicks. - **Dark roast**: 17 clicks. Start at 15 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. When the coffee doesn't come up at all, the grind is the third suspect, behind a worn gasket and a pot that isn't screwed down tight. The [guide to Moka Pot grind size](https://coffeemaster.app/guides/moka-pot-grind-settings) works through the rest. ## How Roast Level Changes Your Setting Same grinder, same method, same dose, and yet a light roast and a dark roast sit 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: each click changes the grind by ~32 microns, slightly more than the ~30 microns separating one roast level from the next, so the light→medium jump is always exactly 1 click and you can't fine-tune below that. When one click lands you in between, 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 lid with the handle (they're one piece, 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 is attached to the lid: for compact storage, pull the lid-and-handle set off. The shaft screw can loosen with use; tighten it 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 ### Coffee tastes sour or acidic Under-extraction. Grind 1 click finer, brew longer, or use hotter water. Light roasts are especially prone to this. If you're already at the fine end, try water at 96–98°C. ### Coffee tastes bitter or harsh Over-extraction. Grind 1 click coarser, shorten your brew time, or lower the water temperature. Dark roasts tip into bitterness easily. ### Brew drains too fast The grind is too coarse. Go 1 click finer and try again. Also check your dose: less coffee means less resistance and a faster drain. ### Grind looks uneven Take the burr out and clean it. Remove the adjustment ring, pull out the inner burr, brush off any retained grounds, and put it back. Make sure the spring sits properly. If cleaning doesn't fix it, the burrs may be worn (after roughly 200kg of coffee) or still breaking in (within the first 500g). ### The adjustment ring shifts on its own while grinding This is a known issue on some C2 units. Older versions had a weaker retention system. If it happens to you, give the ring an extra click at the end of each session and verify before the next grind. If it's frequent, contact Timemore support, they cover replacements of the mechanism. ### Handle sounds loose while grinding Check the screw on the handle shaft. The connection is metal-to-metal but can loosen with heavy use. Tighten with a small Allen key (usually included with the grinder). If the noise comes from the lid's fit against the body, that's normal.