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Please read my full review of the KINGrinder K6, an affordable manual grinder that delivers fantastic grinding results for ANY brewing method.
Unlike other coffee brewing methods, starting with espresso requires a substantial budget to get a machine and a grinder that will deliver satisfying results. The sad reality is that no coffee grinders under $600 can grind fine and consistently enough for a good shot of espresso. Now that is for electric grinders; fortunately, a manual grinder can get great results for under $150. Enters the KINGrinder K6!
Best Value Options to Get Started With Espresso at Home
Best Value Burr Grinder in 2022
To be perfectly transparent, KINGrinder reached out to me and proposed to ship a K6 grinder free of charge in exchange for an honest review, as we did with their K1 several months ago. There is no expectation from them of a biased review. I reviewed this grinder as if I had purchased it myself.
An Affordable Manual Coffee Grinder That Can Do Everything: The KINGrinder K1
Review of the KINGrinder K6: Manual Coffee Grinder Made for Espresso
KINGrinder is a Taiwanese company that started in 2020. They strive to offer high-quality grinders at an affordable price; please read my review of their K1 model.
I found KINGrinder on Amazon. I was intrigued by the great reviews of their products, given the affordable prices. At the time, I wanted to find the best value for a high-quality manual grinder to recommend to anyone on a budget. I was intrigued by what the little K1 offered for less than $100. After testing it, I realized I kept using it for French press and pour-over. Although it could technically grind fine enough for espresso and produce a delicious shot, I found the workflow less than satisfying for daily use. You have to grind manually for over a minute, and changing the adjustments to dial in your espresso is less than ideal on that design.
KINGrinder claims that their K4 and K6 grinders are better suited for that use thanks to their external adjustment ring and the bigger burr set that allows you to handle finer grind much faster. Both devices are nearly identical. The burrs of the K4 are optimized for espresso. In contrast, the K6 is designed for versatility for every brew method, from French press to espresso.
Construction and Features of the KINGrinder K6
The external adjustment ring makes it very easy to adjust any setting with a satisfying click. The degree of adjustment between each click is only 16 μm. So it’s possible to make tiny and precise adjustments when you dial your espresso. Thanks to the visible marks on the grinder’s housing, it is easy to return to the ideal settings for different brew methods. This is perfect for someone like me, who constantly switches between espresso, pour-over, and French press. So I can change instantly and always find my preferred grinding position for each method.
The KINGrinder K6 feels like a high-quality object. The body is made of beautiful dark anodized aluminum, and the wooden knob is a nice touch. Everything seems well assembled, with tight tolerances, and it feels like it will last for decades.
Living with the KINGrinder K6; Review of this Manual Coffee Grinder
If you typically like to brew a cup at the time, the K6 is perfect for any method. Thanks to the high-quality burrs, it grinds evenly for coarse or very fine settings. Thanks to the numerous positions and the fine adjustment (60 per round), you can find the perfect setting for your preference.
The external adjustment is truly a blessing. You can adjust from the coarse grind needed for a French press to the super fine, almost dust-like that you want for espresso. The large dial at the top with legible white marks makes it easy to find your favorite setting for each brewing method.
I enjoy using it daily for my V60 pour-over or preparing a small French press. It completely replaced my electric Mazzer grinder that I now only use for my espresso.
Like any manual grinder, the K6 can only handle a batch of 20-ish grams at the time. It may be frustrating if you typically brew a pot for 3 or more people at a time. I still recommend opting for an electric grinder such as the Capresso Infiniti if you brew several cups at once.
Now let us talk about espresso.
Where the KINGrinder K6 impressed me is how it can handle espresso. It takes about 35-45 seconds to finely grind the dose needed for a double shot (17g in my case). The adjustment dial makes it effortless to adjust the optimum grind level needed for pulling your perfect shots. It is a little manual labor, mainly if you use light roast coffee, which tends to be denser, but it is easy and quick enough to satisfy your daily needs.
After having the K6 for a few weeks, I realized I started using it more often for espresso when trying new beans, leaving the electric grinder for my regular espresso beans. Since a manual grinder does not retain any coffee ground, it works much better when I alternate between coffee beans in each cup. It is easier to set up than my Mazzer electric grinder.
The K1 is an excellent grinder for most coffee methods, but I did not find it practical for daily use with espresso, given the needed effort. On the other hand, the K6 required a reasonable effort and time for each shot of espresso.
With a price slightly under $150, the K6 is a realistic option for someone on a budget looking for a grinder that can do everything well. To produce similar results with an electric grinder, you would need to invest at least into a Eureka Mignon (about $500). And you would not get the same flexibility to alternate between espresso and other brewing methods.
Combine it with a manual espresso maker such as the Flair Classic, and you will have a complete setup under $300 that can produce a perfect shot of espresso. About three to four times less than what you would need for a similar result with a decent semi-automatic machine and a good grinder such as the Eureka.
The Bottom Line
Under $150, the KINGrinder K6 is a very convincing manual grinder. It is incredibly flexible and satisfying and delivers fantastic grinding results for ANY brewing method. It replaced my electric grinder for many applications when I only needed to grind coffee for a single cup. Regardless of the attractive price, I like the workflow so much.
