Timemore C2 · problems & reliability report

Timemore C2 problems: what real owners report

34% of 32 verified Timemore C2owners don't recommend it — based on real owner comments from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.

For balance: 50% recommend it. This page collects the complaints so you know what you're signing up for — read the full owner report for both sides. How we score

Most common complaints

5×Noticeable unit-to-unit quality variation, so build and performance can be a bit of a gamble
6×Burr alignment and wobble problems on some units, sometimes worsening over time
5×Plastic internal frame and parts on many units, which can feel less premium
3×Not the right tool for espresso-fine grinding; owners upgrade when they move to espresso
3×Tends to produce extra fines, giving a denser, grittier cup than higher-end grinders

In owners' own words

“there is a pungent smell inside the grinder”
— @Triquetral on YouTube

“can't help but notice how much more effort it takes to insert my grind handle compared to everyone else”
— @nunchuck735 on YouTube

“for 1 click on timemore c2 the coffee beans doesn't seem to 'grind' as in i put 2 grams in, nothing comes out.”
— @whoami724y on YouTube

“I've got older Chestnut C2 with a plastic knob that's breaking.”
— @haganame1240 on YouTube

“NOT Smooth at all! the burr set won't come out.”
— @zgd on YouTube

“Why is my grind uneven?”
— @MrTidymark on YouTube

“Is the knob supposed to be wobbly? Mine is making a squeaking noise”
— @markvincentcocjin on YouTube

“the three grinders I bought varied pretty wildly in terms of alignment. My first one spun freely, the second one wobbled, and one of them scraped the sides. It really is a crap shoot in terms of QC.”
— ctrl-all-alts on Reddit

“I have seen most of my complaints scattered throughout a number of other posts about the C2, so I expect that this level of variation in quality is to be expected.”
— 6e23 on Reddit

“The timemore c2 was my first 'good' manual burr coffee grinder, so I did not know what to expect, but I could never get a very good cup of coffee - something just seemed off.”
— jloganr on Reddit

“The first one started to have malaligned outer burrs after a couple of years, giving me awful awful cups. Second one started doing the same thing, just months after purchased.”
— spag_eddie on Reddit

“I have a later revision that fixes some of the issues, like better anodization, better threads on the grinds cup, but the shaft is still mounted in plastic and mine is also lopsided.”
— ltimatezen on Reddit

Setup quirks & things to watch for

Not complaints — practical notes from owners that didn't affect the score.

“those parts in my unit have a rigid piece of plastic with a metallic finish matching the metal on top. Definitely an attempt to make it feel more premium.”
— chaddub on Reddit

“I've got the timemore c2 (not the slim) and my adjustment dial is not plastic - its metal.”
— ThreeRadCakes on Reddit

“C2 seems more suited for medium and dark roasts.”
— ComeWatchTV- on Reddit

Weighing it up? The full report has the other side — what 50% of owners like about it, who it's for, and every sourced quote. Full Timemore C2 owner report →