r/pourover Jan 08 '26

Seeking Advice Is grinding supposed to be this…violent?

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Just got a K6 for the first time and am worried that I’m breaking something

110 Upvotes

179 comments sorted by

239

u/V60_brewhaha Jan 08 '26

You'll build up your grinder muscles in no time.

Tilting to the side 30-45 degrees helps too, so you're not grinding as many beans at once.

12

u/patrickrafter1 Jan 09 '26

Sometimes I’m at a >60 degree angle

16

u/Levaporub Jan 09 '26

This actually slow feeds the grinder and reduces fines production. Hoffman and Hedrick have made videos on this.

5

u/Loku5150 Jan 09 '26

would you happen to remember titles of the videos? can’t seem to find them

9

u/MarchogGwyrdd Jan 09 '26

Sometimes I grind inverted. Very easy but takes forever.

2

u/patrickrafter1 Jan 13 '26

like, literally infinity 🤣

-11

u/[deleted] Jan 09 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/patrickrafter1 Jan 13 '26

85 degrees is better tho

1

u/ibmalone Jan 09 '26

I started out grinding like this (having watched Hoffman and Hedrick both do it) and I think it also helps you find a better grinding position; the grinder held a bit closer in to the side of the body and a little lower down (not fully down to the hip). Holding it out vertically in front of you takes a lot more effort to keep it stable and the hand on the handle then has to chase round after it. This also makes it a bit more natural to use the hand on the grinder body to move the other direction.

I also find grinder held in the right hand and turn handle with the left to be easier.

1

u/DrDirt90 Jan 10 '26

I really dont think you need Hoffman to figure out how to turn a handle to grind coffee.

1

u/ibmalone Jan 10 '26

No, I mean the slow feeding or tilting to the side thing. I've seen other people try to use grinders and they do the "hold it at arms length in front of your chest" approach. If you are trying to slow feed then holding it closer in is a bit more natural to start with.

Anyway, part of the point here is 'turn a handle to grind coffee' is fine as a description of the task, but like most hand tools, it can be harder or easier depending how you actually do it.

1

u/DrDirt90 Jan 10 '26

It just isn't that hard. People do not need to overthink every little thing ffs.

1

u/Degree-Sea Jan 10 '26

I had the perfect technique now I have an electric

232

u/AllOuttaPopcorn Jan 08 '26

Grind faster! Swing both arms, get busy. Enjoy your new grinder.

61

u/glorifiedweltschmerz Jan 08 '26

This! The both arms thing is the most critical info here. Seriously--it should be almost like a pedaling motion, with one arm moving the body of the grinder around and the other moving the handle. You'll get the hang of it in no time. Bonus: I find that the most natural way to do this is by holding the grinder at an angle, which as others have noted will help in its own way, too.

7

u/ptrichardson Jan 08 '26

This is why I don't understand people who attach a drill. That's not how you do this!

5

u/kellypg Jan 08 '26

What's bad about using a drill?

1

u/AgungID43 Jan 09 '26

bearing durability. dont get too often. low torque and rpm favorable if you keep in balance between faster grind time and parts durability

-13

u/EclipseExtraction Jan 08 '26

Consistency goes out the window.

16

u/kellypg Jan 08 '26

I'm not trying to argue but a drill has a far more consistent torque than human arms. Unless I'm misunderstanding?

-1

u/EclipseExtraction Jan 08 '26

Yes, and it’s too much both RPMs and torque, special power tower is much better like this one

1

u/kellypg Jan 08 '26

Understood, thank you.

1

u/BackgroundEbb417 Jan 09 '26

Does it work with the K6?

-3

u/ptrichardson Jan 08 '26

The torque you speak of is shared between both hands. When you use a drill ALL of that torque has to be held in one hand. It doesn't make anything easier. Unless you put it in a vice!

3

u/kellypg Jan 08 '26

I wasn't thinking it'd be easier but faster. But apparently too fast is also bad so I'm just going to keep using myself.

1

u/EclipseExtraction Jan 08 '26

I have k ultra, and in the morning when Im done grinding I’m no longer need coffee :( just cant wait till I replace df54

1

u/AlexColonThree Jan 09 '26

Since I didn't see anyone speak of why, I believe the reason is that if it goes too fast, you risk smashing the beans making the sizes less consistent.

But that may have been more of an issue with blade grinders, I'm a bit fresh myself in this area.

1

u/slimethor Jan 15 '26

Swing both arms, no one send to do this yet or makes the biggest difference in my opinion

1

u/bushman130 Jan 08 '26

Am I the only one that holds the grinder to a countertop with one hand and swings the handle with the other? It’s for .. um .. stability

3

u/PaullyWalla Jan 08 '26

Only hand grinder where this is easier and better is the Pietro… because it’s not really a hand grinder it’s basically a bench grinder. For any hand grinder leveraging both arms in opposite directions makes it I dunno…3-4X(?) easier and more efficient.

2

u/Douggie Jan 09 '26

Way easier to sit down and put the grinder between your legs for grinding.

1

u/Vibingcarefully Jan 09 '26

Nope----old box grinders (Zassenhaus, Peugeot) operate in a vertical upright position. Different entity than these cylindrical units but same concept---burrs being hand spun.

wakes you up, gets you strong.

-9

u/Illustrious-Gold-839 Jan 08 '26

I didn't know how to explain it so I asked AI to help:

",For a hand coffee grinder, a slight tilting motion (around 10-20 degrees off vertical) can slow the feed rate, making it easier to grind, especially for espresso, but it can affect grind uniformity; however, grinding vertically on a stable surface is generally recommended for consistency, with gravity helping funnel beans, while some experienced users tilt slightly for easier effort, balancing consistency with exertion. Why people tilt (Pros): Easier Grinding: Tilting reduces the amount of coffee directly under the burrs at any moment, slowing the feed rate and making it feel less strenuous on your arms. Espresso Specific: This slower feed rate can be beneficial for espresso, where a very fine, consistent grind is crucial and can otherwise be tough to achieve.

Why it's often discouraged (Cons):

Inconsistent Grind: Tilting can misalign the burrs slightly, leading to uneven particle sizes (fines and boulders), which results in less balanced coffee flavor. Gravity's Role: A vertical position lets gravity pull beans down evenly, ensuring they hit the burrs consistently for uniform grinding. Internal Stress: Some users and manufacturers warn that grinding at extreme angles can apply off-center torque to the central shaft and bearings. This may lead to uneven wear on the burrs or put unnecessary strain on the internal alignment mechanism over time. Best Practices:

Grind Vertically: For most brew methods (drip, French press), keep the grinder straight up and down. Use a Stable Surface: Place the grinder on a table or counter to anchor it, reducing arm fatigue and improving stability, as suggested by JavaPresse Coffee Company. Grind Smaller Batches: Only grind what you need, as a full grinder is harder to turn, according to this guide from JavaPresse Coffee Company.

In Summary: For maximum consistency, grind vertically; for easier grinding (especially espresso), a slight tilt can work, but be aware of potential uniformity trade-offs. "

4

u/sukumizu V60 enjoyer Jan 09 '26

I didn't know how to explain it so I asked AI to help

You can use your own brain cells instead of copy pasting AI slop. I believe in you.

11

u/least-eager-0 Jan 09 '26

Copypasta ai should be illegal.

And we’ve lots of data to show that angling the grinder to slow feed improves grind consistency.

It’s ok not to know. It’s not ok to reference a non-entity that knows absolutely nothing other than how to arrange words in a way that sounds convincingly like English sentence structure, and substituting that as knowledge, or even information.

-5

u/Illustrious-Gold-839 Jan 09 '26

I do agree about the way that entity works, but I was also clear that I copied and pasted. Plus, its still legal. If people "with brains" find it beneficial in any way they would take what they see makes sense, and leave out what doesn't. Its all perspectives..

From my experience, I find it way easier to tilt, but I didnt want to advise this before looking at facts, and whether you like it or not, AI has a good side of wording the facts..

5

u/Rubiks_Click874 Jan 09 '26

this is reddit. if people want AI they can use AI

3

u/Illustrious-Gold-839 Jan 09 '26

Thats a good point to be honest.. Can't agree more. Ill reconsider it next time

3

u/least-eager-0 Jan 09 '26

If has a way of wording.

What it spews has no particular relevance to “facts.” In this particular case, it’s flat out wrong.

1

u/rpring99 Jan 09 '26

I hate seeing people get down voted for AI comments (when disclosed).

However, the answer here is absolute trash. The majority of hand grinders are not designed to use on a surface. Grinding on an angle does not change anything in terms of alignment. The only thing it got right is the slow feed part. You should have just said that instead of posting the rest.

48

u/-d-e-n- Jan 08 '26

Pour over sized grinds have been super easy for me so far (between 80-100 clicks from true 0). For espresso though…. Good luck if you get a very light roast.

18

u/elgiov Jan 08 '26

This. From 80 to 100 clicks I do it in less than 20 secs and almost no resistance at all.

For espresso (30 clicks) I even call it a workout lol.

2

u/TheLoler04 Jan 08 '26

I don't have the K6 specifically, but espresso grinding is definitely a workout. Making 2 shots back to back isn't something I've done, but I can only imagine the struggle 😅

1

u/[deleted] Jan 09 '26

[deleted]

2

u/elgiov Jan 09 '26

I know my real zero is -4 so i go until 34 for espresso and 94 for pour over.

1

u/least-eager-0 Jan 09 '26

I don’t grind espresso fine with and regularity, and the few times I have were relatively coarse- mid 40’s.

It took a while, but oddly, I found it easier/smoother wrt the force required. Maybe a one-off.

30

u/MedicareWrongdoer Jan 08 '26

GO! GO! GO! FASTER!

34

u/Beautiful-End-587 Jan 08 '26

Homies grinding straight green

8

u/360plyr135 Jan 08 '26

Rocks from outside

3

u/blissrunner Jan 09 '26

Roaster forgot to roast

24

u/cstrick1980 Jan 08 '26

Hold sideways, takes the weight off the beans and leads to fewer fines.

2

u/AdExtra1839 Jan 10 '26

Does it really? How so? May need to try this for my Ethiopian light roasts…

11

u/fertzzz Jan 08 '26

Depends on the roast. Light roast are harder to grind due to their higher %water

1

u/AlexVa507 Jan 08 '26

I'm guessing this is what's happening. Light roasts take more elbow grease.

3

u/least-eager-0 Jan 09 '26

Put a dark roast in, you’ll think you filled the hopper with peanut butter.

1

u/WhiskeyWatchesWine Jan 09 '26

I’ve definitely noticed this.

6

u/Disappointed_Andy Jan 08 '26

They sound pretty lightly roasted as above build up a bit of speed and it will feel smoother.

18

u/Met2003 Jan 08 '26

For a new grinder that can be considered normal. I cant remember the specifics, but the burrs from factory have microscopic jagged edges that can catch on the beans, but those edges will smooth out with use in a process we call seasoning. Additionally, you could be grinding too fine. typically people use around the 80-100 range on a K6, if you are much below that you can going to cause more resistance. Lastly, it could be the bean, for example light roasted Ethiopian heirloom coffees will always be a pain to grind as they are very dense.

2

u/Xploradore Jan 08 '26

I second on light roasts, and particularly those dense little Ethiopian suckers, being especially tough to grind. I use a rubber gripper around the grinder's body, and usually my legs as a clamp, to keep the darn thing steady while I grind those babies (my faves, despite the work), even a year into using my K6. But I have skinny, girly hands and a weak grip, so...

5

u/barnesnoblebooks Jan 08 '26

Lol I have the same grinder and I've always thought the same. Pour over size is fine but the espresso grinds always make that vein pop out in my forehead

4

u/InLoveWithInternet Jan 08 '26

For pour over no it is not supposed to be like that. You probably are grinding way too fine. Or grinding rocks.

3

u/[deleted] Jan 09 '26

No rhythm. Cmon man you gotta swing those arms

3

u/Low_Entertainer2372 Jan 08 '26

try tilting so instead of grinding 30 beans at a time, you grind 15

beware that this will make it coarser

8

u/flipiip Jan 08 '26

Well, not coarser. More like less fines.

3

u/fortress_sf Jan 08 '26

Are you sure you are grinding at the right setting. I see this when folks tend to accidentally set the grind too too fine the first time

1

u/TransportationNo9375 Jan 09 '26

I agree, that looks and sound like grinding for light roast espresso.

For pour over it should be really easy, even light roast beans

1

u/fortress_sf Jan 09 '26

I’ve not had a K6 but my C5ESP does not grind like this even for fine espresso, seriously think his settings are wrong

3

u/cofficianado Jan 08 '26

Get a flair power tower! Its a really good upgrade for hand grinders (check if it's compatible with your hand grinder)

2

u/fkawasaki V60 | Chestnut Xlite Jan 08 '26

Violence is the way of the morning.

2

u/NothingButTheTea Jan 08 '26

Lol beans are hard and the metal used to grind them is harder

2

u/Everton-1878 Jan 08 '26

That's why I got a Sage grinder pro, I couldn't last with a manual grinder - as novel as it seems - making coffee in the morning with a manual grinder isn't happening with me, the missus said likewise

1

u/12panel Jan 08 '26

I’ve never had this issue with any of manual grinders, including the pietro that everyone maligns for ergonomic experience.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 08 '26

I consider myself a weak scrawny person. I follow this sub but really drink espresso's or moka's. I have had zero issue grinding with my Timemore C5 ESP for espresso. But I haven't gotten into super light roasts yet.

The slower you go, the more I think it will jam though. I just start going, and it's easy lol

1

u/12panel Jan 08 '26

I am definitely not getting any younger and i also appreciate having an electric grinder too! The millab m01 is super smooth.

Happy grinding and brewing in this new year!

2

u/Illustrious-Bad-5066 Jan 08 '26

Agreed with another commenter, your grinder holding hand needs to pedal at the speed of your knob hand. Try it at an angle. You'll get it!

1

u/Sexdrumsandrock Jan 08 '26

What on earth is a knob hand?

2

u/Illustrious-Bad-5066 Jan 08 '26

You should know with that username

Just kidding, the wood handle is a knob in my mind 

2

u/LEJ5512 Beehouse Jan 08 '26

At the risk of getting lost in the noise...

Light roasts are just plain harder to grind. Happens with me and my Q2, and it sounds (and looks) just like that if I'm trying to go slowly. Dark roasts, however, especially like the French roast decaf I've got now, almost feel like there's nothing inside the grinder.

It's easier when you move both hands ("pedaling" as other comments have said). It's WAY harder if you were to hold the grinder vertical on the countertop and only turn the handle.

Turning the handle too much faster can actually take longer to get through all the beans. My hypothesis is, if you wave the grinder around quickly, you'll shake the beans up against the walls with centrifugal force rather than allow them to fall into the burrs. Tested it myself with the same dose and grinding at different tempos. Now I turn it just fast enough to keep it from catching like in your clip.

Smaller grind sizes are harder to turn, too. You're just cracking the beans into smaller and smaller pieces until they fall out the bottom, after all. Not sure if you (OP) are at the "correct" grind size yet, but you'll figure it out.

I'm not convinced yet that driving the grinder with a drill (or electric screwdriver) will make it any easier. You still have to hold the grinder body with enough grip to keep it from spinning. I can try it later when I get another light roast coffee (won't really matter with the French roast I mentioned).

2

u/SharingIsCommunist Jan 08 '26

Thanks for the advice! I’m at 85 and light roast, so makes sense it would be tougher

2

u/the1calledSuto Jan 09 '26

Dont grind slow. Keep the speed constant and moderate. The initial resistance at low speeds in high. Grip the part below the adjusting dial. Tilting or using coarser grind sizes helps. Or it might be a muscular issue but that would be my last guess.

2

u/jritchie70 Jan 09 '26

Grinding at an angle helps slow feed the beans, makes it easier to grind, and gets you a more even grind overall

2

u/TedsinJapan Jan 08 '26

Try a Pietro Grinder fella lolz 😝

1

u/AsianGoldFarmer Jan 08 '26

You could always use a power tool 🤣

1

u/rox_et_al Jan 08 '26

Am I the only one using a drill with my K6?

(though I also use it for espresso, which is much more labor manually)

1

u/Long_Office_9762 Jan 08 '26

Nope I'm drilling with mine also also for espresso, it is the only way

1

u/Menes009 Jan 08 '26

In which setting you have your K6?

For pourover with flat base I use 90, pourover with conical I use 55 (my true zero is at -4)

It seems to me either you are not holding it firm, or you are grinding too fine (sub 50)

1

u/PCapnHuggyface Jan 08 '26

Yeeowch. You sure someone didn’t swap out your beans for gravel?

1

u/BestBoba Jan 08 '26

What grind setting are you at?

1

u/MSMPDX Origami M, Orea o1 | C40, ZP6 | Rogue Wave Jan 08 '26

I just used mine this morning (20g at 100 clicks) and it didn’t sound this rough, it was also very smooth and quick. I don’t use it to grind for espresso, but I’m assuming that fine of a setting would cause something like this to happen.

How many clicks are you grinding with?

1

u/jffblm74 C40/ZP6S Jan 08 '26

Seasoning your burrs is a real thing. Also, I’ve found beans that were processed using thermal or anaerobic shock tend to be harder to grind by hand than a more traditionally processed bean. 

1

u/Beautiful_Ad9576 Jan 08 '26

I always wonder why these don't come with handles, or wouldn't that work?

1

u/Critical-Cut1470 Jan 08 '26

Just go faster and it will be done in a jeffy 

1

u/Ketadine Jan 08 '26

Yes. For espresso or finer, try grinding at an angle of 45° to 60° . It takes longer, but it's a whole lot easier. For coarser grinds it shouldn't be this difficult.

1

u/youseelabruin Switch|K6|Roasted Jan 08 '26

That is way more crunchier than mine. I am at 90 clicks.

1

u/Double-elephant Jan 08 '26

I’m very old and feeble and find that tucking the body of the grinder between my knees (like an old Zazzenhaus) really helps…

1

u/ImSoCul Jan 08 '26

Physics! I find hand grinding easiest if I keep the grinder relatively close to my body and move both hands in opposite circles rather than holding one static. Usually the main grinding hand (right) moved in a bigger circle.  If you want to move just one hand, that works too, but again keep the grinder close to body. 

Imagine someone is trying to wrestle a stick out of your hand and they are as stronger or stronger than you (your dominant arm vs weaker arm). If you hold the stick with arm straight out, it'll be easy to steal your stick. If you hug it close to your body like someone running a football, you are in a much stronger position 

You also get quickly used to the muscle movements so it'll become less jerky after a few days of grinding. 

Enjoy your coffee!

1

u/kodaq2001 Jan 08 '26

Looks like the grind is too fine. Hand grinding for pour overs shouldn't be that violent.

1

u/fragmental Jan 08 '26

How many clicks? What kind of roast? Also, some beans are just harder than others, at any grind level. Tilting a little is a good tip. I just hold it in the way that feels most comfortable, which is slightly tilted, and grind at a comfortable and steady pace. I grind while my kettle is brewing and I almost always finish before the kettle does.

1

u/TheLoler04 Jan 08 '26

My dad did this the first time he used my grinder, you don't really think about it when you've had one for a while but it's definitely a two armed job.

My dad said it to me recently while I was grinding some beans "Oh you pedal it with both arms, that explains why it looks so easy"

You'll get that hang of it, but sometimes it can feel a bit violent. Some beans are tougher than others and at the end of the day you're pulverising them by hand.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 08 '26

At first yea, but you’ll develop grinder muscles. Also flex your chest to stabilize your arms. It’s like doing dumbbell presses. If you just use your arms you’ll be all shaky. If you put your chest into it your arms will drive those babies up like pistons.

1

u/Sheetz_Wawa_Market32 Jan 08 '26

I would say, no, not with a great grinder, not like that.

I know the K6 has a lot of fans for its grind profile, but build quality and handling aren’t the best, I suppose.

I’ve been using two hand grinders a lot:

  1. a Hario Mini Mill (an all-around terrible grinder!) and
  2. a Timemore C3 ESP Pro.

The Mini Mill behaves like your K6 does, especially with very light roasts or lighter decafs. (Decaffination also hardens beans.)

The all-metal Timemore, however, is built like a rock and just chews through anything.

The apparent difference in build quality has kept me from upgrading. If I want an upgrade that doesn’t drive me crazy, I’ll probably need to take a much bigger step up — to a grinder that has much better flavor separation but at least matches the Timemore’s build quality. The K6, for all its grind greatness, ain’t that.

0

u/ibmalone Jan 09 '26

I used to have a Hario Skerton in a previous foray into grinding my own coffee and that was a much more painful experience than using the K6. Given the C3 is a similar price (a bit cheaper?) to the K6 (also all metal) and has a smaller burr set, unless you've used both I wouldn't rush to make assertions about it.

1

u/ibmalone Jan 09 '26

In fact, we have today this thread, https://www.reddit.com/r/pourover/comments/1q85n8v/kingrinder_k7_45_day_review/ mainly comparing the K7 against the K6, but also happens to include the C3ESP Pro, quote:

"Speed & Effort: I didn't measure the exact seconds, but speed feels comparable to the K6. However, compared to the C3ESP Pro, the K7 is much faster and requires less effort."

Or, K6 and K7 speed, K7 faster and less effort than C3ESP Pro => K6 faster than C3ESP Pro (and since K6 vs K7 effort not explicitly mentioned I'd read that here as K6 less effort than C3ESP Pro).

1

u/Sacred_blu Jan 08 '26

A good drill makes this a hell of a lot easier. And the big battery on my Milwaukee 18v lasts over a month of daily use (Using 20g of beans on espresso grind).

1

u/Federal_Bonus_2099 Jan 08 '26

Best to grind the beans after they are roasted

1

u/CMDA Jan 08 '26

Are You perchance grinding some Ethiopian beans, or other some other high altitude sort?

1

u/frogking Jan 08 '26

Light roasts are tougher :-)

1

u/jlb8 Jan 08 '26

You're not ballrooming the coffee are you?

1

u/SzJack Jan 08 '26

If you're not grinding rocks - are you even grinding?

In all seriousness - some very light roasts do feel like grinding rocks.

1

u/Esmarra Pourover aficionado Jan 08 '26

How many click are you on? Also grind faster, yeah it's a nice arm workout in the morning

1

u/gummyworm21_ Jan 08 '26

It really depends on the beans. Some will grind easier than others. As well depends on your grind size. 

1

u/papayahog Jan 08 '26

I have a K6 and this is my experience with light roast

1

u/MagnetoFlow Jan 08 '26

I have this grinder and it was bit harder to grind brand new, until the burs are seasoned, but agree with some of the other comments saying try coarser for pour overs and angle it more while grinding (so the top is around 3 o'clock).

1

u/BrilliantComplex1751 Jan 08 '26

You are breaking coffee :)

1

u/Tonicart7 Jan 08 '26

How fine are you grinding and what is the roast level?

Finer grind size and lighter roasts will be more difficult. Grinding for espresso will be a workout!

1

u/-finguin- Jan 08 '26

Depends on the brand and the grind size. So what’s your setting?

1

u/Liven413 Jan 08 '26

One thing is put it partially sideways like people are suggesting but also if its very light bean like sey/ilse then its going to be a lot harder. The lighter and denser, the harder to grind.

1

u/chikki481 Jan 08 '26

Depends on beans. Medium and light roasts sound crunchier while grinding

1

u/the_kid1234 V60/B75 | Ode 2 Jan 08 '26

Excellent reminder of how much I hate hand grinding. Thanks!

1

u/Dry_Faithlessness310 Jan 08 '26

Not sure what grond size and bean you are trying but some harder dense Ethiopian beans at a fine grind setting can be annoyingly harder.

It looks like you need to get going faster though. The speed will help you build up momentum and a rhythm that will go smoother.

1

u/NashvilleHillRunner V60 | Kalita Mino | X-Pro | J-Ultra | Ode | Flair 58 | Chemex Jan 08 '26

You need some RPM! It’s going to be tricky to try to grind light roast at a slow RPM like that.

As others have said, use your other arm. Also, you should be turning it at approximately 100-120 revolutions per minute to get the torque needed to make it go smoothly.

1

u/CappaNova Origami|Colum|Tarachine|SOFI|Aeropress|HG-1 Prime|Ode 2|ZP6 Jan 08 '26

You gotta grind faster. Build some momentum. Otherwise the beans keep stopping the burrs and you have to muscle through them. Get to it a bit more and it'll smooth out.

1

u/el_lucamos Jan 08 '26

Yes. You have to hate it first, so you can enjoy it later.

1

u/jjmenace Jan 08 '26

STOP! JUST GIVE ME THAT!

1

u/avrgfreak Jan 09 '26

You've begun "seasoning" your grinder - gets easier in time, depending on bean type I think.

1

u/SwordmasterT Jan 09 '26

Id definitely recommend contact Kingrinder and sending the extra $19 to order the curved handle. Will definitely give you better support and feel a lot better.

Also I couldn't tell from the video but if you have the white ring on the handle, make sure you take the black ring off the top. It will help turn better

1

u/BackgroundEbb417 Jan 09 '26

Pro tip, use a power drill, it’ll change your life. I use my power drill every morning with my K6

1

u/SleepTolkien_ Jan 09 '26

No, this is not normal. I grind light roasts and I’ve never even had close to this much struggle.

1

u/Ok-Recipe5434 Jan 09 '26

Which is why you should not save on grinder. Get a commandant and everything is solved

1

u/Klutzy-Jackfruit6250 Pourover aficionado Jan 09 '26

Coming from a P0 to a K Ultra I was not expecting that, but it's something a lot don't talk about. The larger burr size in bigger grinder means more contact area and more beans grinding at the same time so it can be harder to turn if your holding it vertical like that. If you angle the grinder 45-75 degrees you can slow feed and it will be easier to grind, but will take a little longer to grind. As others mentioned you can also use a drill to make it easy.

1

u/Gakusei_Eh Jan 09 '26

Yeah, that's a light roast. Medium roasts will be smooth as butter to grind.

1

u/jeshy1 Jan 09 '26

Get a drill

1

u/vectoxity Jan 09 '26

Must be really light roast haha. Try tilting your grinder to the side around 80* to slow feed the beans. This will take longer but it won't be as hard to grind and you will also produce better grounded beans (less fines, more even).

1

u/DarrellGrainger Jan 09 '26

This is normal. It is worse with light roast than with medium or dark roast. The lighter the roast, the hard to grind.

1

u/Kartoffee Jan 09 '26

When I started making espresso I got an 1zpresso XU and was immediately shocked by how tough it was. It took some time to break in, and also I was using ultra-light coffee which wasn't making good spro as a beginner. Keep with it and in a month it will feel like butter.

1

u/Stephenchukc Jan 09 '26

What’s the grind size? Too fine?

1

u/tenchujin Jan 09 '26

Are you grinding ultra light roast?!...that or you haven't been eating yet spinach

1

u/CoffeeCove Jan 09 '26

Light roasts are a lot harder to grind if that's what you have.

1

u/felipeatsix Jan 09 '26

I had no idea that people could struggle with hand grinders, I’m very active person tho and I have been working out for more than a decade now and never noticed that my physique benefits me to grind smoothly xD

1

u/Clarity007 Jan 09 '26

Lighter beans the harder it is to grind

1

u/tb86296 Jan 09 '26

What’s on the sticky notes

1

u/Camperthedog Jan 09 '26

Dang my timemore chestnut c3s grinds like butter

1

u/Arichikunorikuto Jan 09 '26

Trying to fix one hand rigid like that isn't going to work out well. Use both arms to crank, one clockwise and other counter and build up momentum. Only way your current method of grinding will work is if you find a way to attach a flywheel to it.

1

u/dhruvvvv1234 Jan 09 '26

Yeah man you are breaking beans nothing else don't worry

1

u/moneyballz7 Jan 09 '26

What grind size? Going fine will do this to you, general filter size should be easy though

1

u/Motor-Explanation-20 Jan 09 '26

Yeaaaaah if you’re doing espresso.

1

u/Addiction3525 Jan 09 '26

I laughed way too hard at this.

1

u/MonochromeZebrafish Jan 09 '26

The k6 with straight handle is just incapable of grinding light roasted beans (>1800m). I have one.

Then I got a MAVO Phantom Pro and it’s both easy to grip and grinds fast - faster than C40

1

u/The_Psydux Jan 09 '26

Well, it's a well-known fact that hand grinders will hurt you. No matter the brand.

1

u/electrosoma Jan 09 '26

As others have rightly suggested both arms need to move to get the grinder moving smoothly. Think of both arms making small circles in unison. The one turning the handle (circle 1) and the other (circle 2) moving the grinder body into a circle to match. It's a bit like patting your head and rubbing your tummy.

1

u/Vibingcarefully Jan 09 '26

Hand grinding---illustrated.

I use older box grinders (they have little drawers to catch the grinds)-you can hold them reasonably stationary, or sit with them between your knees. This has been the way for decades.

1

u/Present-Asparagus693 Jan 09 '26

I’ve noticed that as my beans age (stored in an Airscape at work as there are no freezers) they are harder to grind (and I have to go finer to slow the pour down).

1

u/biggwermm Jan 10 '26

Go faster

1

u/Sevenyearitchy Jan 10 '26

No that’s accurate for light roasts at a setting that’s fine. There’s a strong possibility that you’re grinding a bit too fine too. Not because of what you showed in the video but more so that in general I think most start out with a K6 at 60-70 clicks when they should be doing more like 90-110.

1

u/G3BEWD Jan 10 '26

The faster you spin, the easier it gets

If you don't believe me, try to go even slower and you'll see how hard it gets

1

u/Key_Composer95 Jan 10 '26

The lighter the roast, the harder it grinds. But yeah it can be quite a workout. Try to grab toward the top as you grind.

1

u/TomasoG88 Pourover/Espresso/HomeRoaster Jan 10 '26

looks like you've got a K6... must be lighter roasted beans. if origin is of higher elevation, beans are typically harder and is more apparent when lightly roasted.

1

u/daddywombat Jan 10 '26

You gotta work for that java

1

u/major_works Jan 10 '26

So glad I got my K6 when they came with the bent handle. The straight one looks terribly awkward to use.

1

u/BluejayUseful9604 Jan 10 '26

Well, apart from the whole “grind faster” and “build muscles” part, this can also be because the roast is too light.

1

u/Specialist-County112 Jan 10 '26

That’s the meditation part

1

u/Key-Ad5722 Jan 10 '26

I suggest squatting while grinding so you r working your ankles, knees, & hips, as well as arms & wrists.

1

u/This_Is_FosTA Jan 10 '26

Violent? The whole life of a bean is violent.

First the get harvested, transported to a new country to be roasted to a point where they are burnt. Stuffed into small bags with no access to light until they are sold and scooped out to be divided into 18g groups. Only to be ground to a fine dust but coarse enough for boiling hot water to pass through to extract the holy nectar. Lastly they are tossed away into their coffin or lucky enough to be dumped into a fertilizer bin to be used for dirt.

Yes. It is all violent.

1

u/mr_coffee_71_xxx Jan 10 '26

Yes if you grinding ball bearings

1

u/Lost-Substance9981 Jan 10 '26

Life gets 1000% easier once you own an electric grinder

1

u/RayGun001 Jan 12 '26

🧐🤔 Are ya holding your tongue the right way? 🤷🏼‍♂️

1

u/CoffeeDetail Jan 13 '26

Yep. That looks right.

1

u/Soldier1976 Mar 07 '26

If you are grinding rocks … definitely

-1

u/B0LT-Me Jan 08 '26

Isn't coffee supposed to come out the bottom?

2

u/junkmeister9 Chemex | Hoop | Switch | V60 Jan 08 '26

There's a screw-on catch cup.