Over the coming weeks, we are going to review a series of really cool hand grinders!
This week we take a closer look at the Whirly 01S, which is a really cool battery powered hand grinder from Timemore with some very practical and fun features.
It weighs less than 1kg! For a battery powered grinder, this is very weight economical.
The mini hopper that sits on top of the Whirly is a simple yet effective innovation funnelling your weighed beans neatly into the chute and then it clicks neatly back into place. No lid, much less mess and fuss.
And it seems like such a no-brainer, but the burr settings for different methods are very neatly displayed on the actual burr adjustment mechanism. No need to remember how many clicks to get you to that perfect grind size!
Ok, let’s dive in a little deeper!
The Whirly looks really sleek and feels more like owning a smart device than a coffee appliance. It charges like wearable tech with a USB charger which powers a 7.4Wh battery that charges in just three hours, and provides power for up to 20 espresso shots (20g each) or 35 pour-over servings (15g each).
Speaking of espresso shots, there are not many hand / portable grinders that can grind finely enough for espresso - but this little baby can! We tested it! The powerful 60w motor takes about 90s to grind a 20g espresso dose, and about 30s for the pourover dose.
One of my pet peeves is a loud, squeaky grinder and some of the electric portable grinders in the past have really set my 'nails on a chalkboard' senses off, but the Whirly is quiet and as previously mentioned, fast!
The hopper is very cute! In an apparently 'industry-first' design achievement, the hopper snaps into place with a click, reducing popcorning (beans popping out grinder) and bean retention, and it makes the beans go in the right place inside the chamber - no wayward beans getting things stuck in there!
We took the Whirly to the beach and made a delicious, post-surf pour over right there and then. What a pleasure!
The price point is extremely good for something of this quality. At around ±R3500 incl vat it comes in cheaper than some of the hand grinders out there, and it’s definitely a better option than some of the domestic electric grinder for the kitchen.
Remember folks - burrs for the win! A spinning stainless steel blade is for spices and nuts ONLY, not coffee! They're particularly proud of the S2C-042-EI Conical Burrs in this grinder. They're wider than your standard, which increases speed and the hardened steel is very durable.
Tips:
- When setting your grinder for the most accurate grind size start from 0 or the burrs sitting firmly together.
- 1 = 1 full revolution of the burrs, from 0-0 and then follow the numbers to their recommendation.
Wondering if a portable electric grinder is for you? MoreFlavour has a really comprehensive guide to choosing the right grinder.
