How the Pineapple burr works

Most conical burrs get more consistent by getting wider. The M01’s burr gets taller instead: the 44 mm burr has a vertically extended profile that spreads the grinding over five stages before the coffee leaves the burrs. Timemore says the cutting surface is 50% taller than its own S2C-042-III burr, giving an effective cutting path of about 60 mm, and that particle consistency is around 10% better in its lab tests. The burr is milled on a 5-axis CNC machine from SUS420 stainless steel hardened to 58 HRC.

Independent reviewers who have measured the grounds found a particle distribution closer to a flat burr grinder than a typical conical, with fewer fines and boulders.

Grind adjustment and catch cup

Grind size is set on an external dial at the top of the grinder. Each click moves the burr 12.5 microns, and the dial is numbered with ten clicks between each number. Timemore’s starting points are 0 to 1.5 for espresso, 1 to 3 for moka pot, 5 to 9 for pour over and 8 to 10 for French press. The shaft runs on P7 bearings, and Timemore specifies a burr gap tolerance of 0.0725 mm, the tightest of any of its grinders.

The catch cup uses a swivel lock: line it up, give it a quarter turn and it clicks into place. There are no threads to cross and no magnets, so it stays on if the grinder gets bumped. A silicone foot on the base stops it sliding on the counter. The M01 has received a Good Design Award.

Things to know before buying

The M01 is large and heavy for a hand grinder, and the handle is straight rather than cranked. Grinding 20 g for pour over takes around 35 seconds, while a 16 g espresso dose takes closer to a minute and needs noticeably more effort. The numbers on the dial are small and can be hard to read in low light. In the cup it is balanced and clear, with a bit more body than the most clarity-focused filter grinders, and it holds up well at higher extractions without turning bitter.

M01 or 1Zpresso K-Ultra?

The 1Zpresso K-Ultra is the lighter, quicker grinder and the more all-round choice if you make espresso every day. The M01 has finer steps on the dial (12.5 microns per click against 20 on the K-Ultra), a threadless catch cup and a heavier build. Reviewers who have tested the two side by side found the M01 can be pushed to higher extractions with a clean finish, where the K-Ultra loses its clarity sooner.

Specifications

What’s in the box

• M01 grinder (body, catch cup, handle and knob)
• Cleaning brush
• Commemorative coin
• User manual

The story behind the M01