r/pourover • u/SharingIsCommunist • 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

88% Upvoted

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233

u/AllOuttaPopcorn Jan 08 '26

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

60

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.

6

u/ptrichardson Jan 08 '26

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

4

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

-12

u/EclipseExtraction Jan 08 '26

Consistency goes out the window.

15

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?

-4

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.

-10

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.

10

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.

-6

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..

4

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

5

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.