Chestnut C3
A budget aluminum-body hand grinder with CNC stainless burrs and an all-aluminum screw-on catch cup - but a plastic top lid and internal plastic stabilizers in the bean path.
Plastic-free verdict: Minimal plastic contact
The single-piece body, crank arm, and threaded catch cup are aluminum alloy, and the burrs are 38mm CNC stainless steel - so the grounds collect in a metal cup, which is the part most grinders get wrong. The plastic is the top lid that caps the hopper (beans sit under it) and internal plastic "stabilizer" parts Timemore uses in place of steel to keep the grinder lightweight; these sit in the bean/grind area. So it isn't plastic-free, but the grounds path itself is metal. Some models add a silicone base (not food contact).
Verification: Manufacturer confirmed · reviewed 2026-07-06
What it's made of
| Part | Material | Food contact |
|---|---|---|
| body single-piece aluminum alloy body and crank arm | Aluminum | No |
| burrs 38mm S2C CNC stainless steel conical burrs | Stainless Steel (304 / 18-8) | Yes |
| catch cup / grounds container threaded aluminum-alloy catch cup; grounds collect here | Aluminum | Yes |
| lid plastic (PC) lid caps the hopper; beans sit beneath it | Plastic (other / unspecified) | Yes |
| internal stabilizers / axle support plastic parts used in place of steel to reduce weight; sit in the bean/grind area | Plastic (other / unspecified) | Yes |
| base silicone base on select models; not in the food path | Silicone | No |
Timemore's budget-favorite hand grinder, built around a single-piece aluminum body and CNC stainless steel burrs at a price well below the premium competition. For the plastic-free question it gets the important part right - the threaded catch cup that grounds fall into is aluminum, not the static-prone plastic bin of most electric grinders. The compromises that keep it light and cheap are a plastic hopper lid and internal plastic stabilizer parts, which sit in the bean/grind area. A solid value, but not plastic-free.
Pros
- All-aluminum body and metal (aluminum) screw-on catch cup - grounds path is metal
- CNC stainless steel burrs; good grind for the price
- Inexpensive relative to other quality manual grinders
Cons
- Plastic hopper lid (some owners report it can crack over time)
- Internal plastic stabilizer parts in the bean/grind area
- Aluminum contact surfaces rather than steel/glass
Notes
- Shares materials with the Chestnut C2; the C3 Pro / C3S variants shift more parts to metal
- Grounds catch cup is metal, unlike most electric grinders' plastic bins
Categories: Coffee Grinders
Sources
Every material claim above is backed by these. This is the scattered info we centralized.
- manufacturer https://www.timemore.com/products/c3-series brand lists aluminum alloy body and crank arm, S2C stainless steel conical burrs, threaded catch cup, silicone base on select models
- review https://coffeechronicler.com/timemore-c3-review/ aluminum body; notes internal plastic stabilizers used in place of steel; grounds container is metal
- review https://www.coffeeness.de/en/timemore-c3-review/ describes plastic lid (can break over time) and plastic internal parts, aluminum body and metal catch cup