Timemore CHESTNUT S5 PRO REVIEW

Grind Quality (Filter): ★★★★☆ 4.5/5

Grind Quality (Espresso): ★★★★☆ 4/5

Build Quality & Finish: ★★★★★ 5/5

Workflow & Ergonomics: ★★★★☆ 4.5/5

Speed & Motion: ★★★★☆ 4.5/5

Value for Money: ★★★★☆ 4.5/5

THE VERDICT — ★★★★☆ 4.5/5

Best For: Home coffee enthusiasts who want a high-end handgrinder, but are not wanting to breach the $200 mark.

Not For: Light-packing travellers, this thing is hefty.

Price: ~€180-200

Bottom Line: One of the best new handgrinders to be released by Timemore in a long while. A massive upgrade on their previous grinders, not counting the Millab series of course.

INTRODUCTION

Timemore have done a remarkable balancing act of keeping their premium, demanding customers happy, whilst not excluding beginners looking for their first foray into specialty coffee. With every passing year, their entry level grinders get better, without a massive jump in price, and their top-tier offerings give the undisputed kings of the community a real run for their money.

Go back just five years and mention specialty coffee and handgrinder to anyone, and the Comandante C40, or the 1Zpresso ZP6 were sure to be mentioned. With both commanding a price over $300, and a reputation for great cup quality, they became the default for competitors chasing a burr set they could rely on.

Fast forward a few years and Timemore (or more exactly their premium off-shoot Millab) released both the M01 and the E01. Grinders that could compete on cup-quality with some of the more established giants. However, the price was not as compelling. They needed to do something to bridge the gap between beginners looking for an upgrade, but not feeling confident enough to reach for the established premium grinders yet.

In doing so, they may have actually given their competitors one hell of a headache to deal with, because the S5 Pro is not an inferior clone, it is a bonafide challenger to the throne.

Who IS Timemore?

Timemore have become an absolute force across the international specialty coffee landscape. Starting with precision hand grinders, the brand expanded into electric equipment with its flagship Sculptor flat-burr series.

Their engineering ethos rests on combining premium materials, sleek outlines, and functional workflow improvements. Timemore have hit that sweet spot between being championed by coffee professionals, yet never appearing out of reach to a person starting their journey. Their range can appeal to a customer purchasing their first handgrinder, and evolve with them until they drop a few $$$ on an 078 Sculptor for their home set-up.

WHAT IS THE CHESTNUT S5 PRO?

The Timemore S5 Pro is a premium manual hand grinder featuring massive 48mm conical burrs housed in an anodized, camera-lens-inspired aluminum chassis. Designed to handle both filter brews and espresso, it boasts an external dial offering 90 micro-stepped clicks per turn, with each click adjusting burr spacing by 15 microns.

Unlike smaller 38mm or 42mm hand grinders, the S5 Pro uses a two-stage "pre-crush and cut" burr architecture. It compresses beans before shearing them, allowing for ultra-fast grinding cycles with minimal effort. If you have used the 1zpresso Q Air before, you'll find this a walk in the park.

USING THE TIMEMORE CHESTNUT S5 PRO

As with most handgrinders, the learning curve is minimal. Click off the top, load your beans, turn the external dial to your prefered grind size, and crank the handle. The body is wide enough to avoid tricky loading, the handle sturdy and weighty, and the screw-on base means you won't be worrying about knocking off a magnetic cup mid-grind.

All that remains is to figure out a grind size that suits your style of brewing and play around with it. The weight feels premium, and the chassis is achingly stylish, making it a prominent feature on your coffee corner.

Cleaning is a breeze, with the included brush for daily maintenence. If you want a weekly or monthly deep-dive, then removing the burr and getting access to the internals is also very straight-forward.

Calibration & Burr Seasoning Guidelines

Out of the box, the S5 Pro needs nothing but to dial in your grind size and throw in some beans. It is good to go.

I'd recommend putting about 1-2kg of coffee through it to season the burrs before it really shines. You will definitely notice the amount of fines getting less and less the more beans you put through the grinder.

Timemore have made it super simple for beginners with a dial-guide on the underside of the handle crank lid. The numbers are pretty spot-on, and great as a starting point. You'll just have to adjust the dial to your specific beans and style of brewing, but you'll have no problems doing that.

S5 PRO v 1ZPRESSO zp6

The ZP6 has long been the go-to for all filter coffee professionals seeking ultra clean, flavour seperation in their light-roast coffee. It has remained unchallenged for years, with brewers looking for more body tending to head for the Comandante, and those seeking superb flavour seperation spending their hard-earned dollars on the 1zpresso or Pietro.

Nobody has really taken on the ZP6. Until now.

The S5 Pro elbows into that arena. In head-to-head pour-over testing, the S5 Pro achieves remarkable flavor separation and bright, crisp acidity. While the ZP6 leans heavily into a stripped-back, high-clarity profile, the S5 Pro pairs that clarity with slightly more body and pronounced sweetness. For light-roast, high-elevation washed coffees, it presents vibrant floral notes and distinct fruit definition without harsh astringency. Offering this level of particle uniformity and clarity around the €180 mark makes it one of the strongest value propositions in specialty coffee today.

Millab released the "pineapple burr" M01 to great acclaim, but with it came a heft and a pricetag that alienated a certain portion of the population. You could get a decent enough electric grinder for that price, so you really had to want it.

The S5 is less of a calculated purchase at under $200.

The Positives Of the S5 PRO

• Exceptional pour-over clarity and flavor separation competing with flagship grinders at double the price.

• Massive 48mm 12-pointed steel burrs make quick work of hard, dense light roasts.

• Top-mounted adjustment ring with tactile 15-micron micro-clicks. Dialing this in feels incredibly satisfying.

• Heavy-duty, camera-lens style aluminum chassis with a secure folding handle. Having the handle fold down not only lowers the silhouette, but also makes the S5 more stable when not in use sitting on your counter. It won't tip over accidentally.

• Excellent 30g capacity suited for larger brews.

• Screw-in, threaded cup which relieves the fear of knocking off your magnetic catch-cup mid way through grinding. We definitely prefer it this way.

The Negatives

• Substantial weight (approx. 910g) makes it less ideal for minimalist travel packing compared to compact travel units.

• Wide body diameter can feel large in smaller hands.



• While fine enough for espresso, manual grinding at 15-micron increments takes noticeable effort compared to electric options.
  

Final Thoughts

Whether you are an avid participant in the rising cult of specialty coffee, or a gear-nerd who cannot resist buying the newest shiny toy, the S5 is not just a grinder to leave on your shelf as part of a collection. Timemore have built a true competitor to the ZP5 and C40, depending on what profile you are seeking in your cup.

For people who value flavour clarity but are not intensely romanced by tea-like clarity at the expense of body or sweetness, the S5 offers a happy medium. You'll get your delicate florals from a Gesha, you'll find those beautiful citrus notes from an Ethiopian heirloom, and you'll definitely not sacrifice the punchy redcurrant and berry-like joy from a Kenyan coffee. However, you will notice an underlying sweetness that you perhaps didn't find in your coffee beforehand. A sweetness that acts as an orchestra behind the soloist, delivering a more rounded, pleasant, and satisfying cup.

We really think this is a homerun from Timemore, and could quite possibly be mentioned as one of the holy trinity in the years to come.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can the Timemore S5 Pro grind for espresso?

Yes. With 90 settings at 15 microns per click, the S5 Pro provides enough resolution to dial in espresso. However, its primary strengths shine brightest in pour-over and immersion filter brewing.

How does the S5 Pro compare to the S3?



The S5 Pro steps up from a 42mm burr to a 48mm pre-crushing burr set, features an enlarged handle grip, offers tighter click resistance on the adjustment collar, and delivers higher cup clarity with deeper sweetness.

Is it easy to clean?

Yes. The S5 Pro strips down without requiring special tools, allowing easy access to the central shaft, bearings, and 48mm burr chamber for routine brush cleaning.