It’s rare that a new hand grinder makes me think, “I need to try this”, but that was exactly my reaction the first time I saw the brand-new Millab M01. Technically, it’s a Timemore model, but Millab represents Timemore’s luxury division, much like how Toyota has Lexus.
I had my first encounter with Millab last year when I tested their portable battery grinder, and while that model was impressive, this new hand grinder feels like they’ve elevated that luxury aesthetic even further. When I held the M01 for the first time, I was genuinely struck by its presence: a beautiful, well-crafted piece that immediately stood out from the crowd.
I’ve been using the M01 daily for just over several weeks now, since picking it up at the World of Coffee that took place in Jakarta in the middle of May.
During this time, I’ve conducted extensive side-by-side comparisons against the 1Zpresso ZP6 and the 1Zpresso K-Ultra, giving me solid ground to evaluate how it stacks up against two of the most popular manual grinders currently on the market.
There’s a lot to unpack here… impressive innovations alongside some notable drawbacks that potential buyers should understand before making the investment.
The Luxury Hand Grinder
The Millab M01 represents Timemore’s luxury vision.
It’s a grinder you’ll either love… or find unwieldy, depending on your perspective.
Design and Build Quality
The first thing that strikes you about the M01 is its substantial presence. This grinder is notably large and surprisingly heavy at 1.1 kg, making it heftier than most other manual grinders on the market. By comparison, the 1Zpresso K Ultra feels almost nimble in your hands.
✅ Pros
- Exceptional build quality with durable materials and long-lasting construction.
- Innovative lock-in catch cup adds convenience and security.
- Unique Pineapple Burr offers flat burr-like consistency and balanced flavor clarity.
❌ Cons
- Heavy and ergonomically demanding, especially for espresso grinding.
- Slower grind time compared to other modern hand grinders.
- Tight handle fit and small adjustment markings hinder usability.
- High price may outweigh benefits for the average user.
The materials here are undeniably premium. The construction relies primarily on aluminum and steel, with just a small accent of transparent plastic on the handle. The body features a textured surface that prevents sliding or spinning during use—a thoughtful detail that becomes important when you’re applying the force needed to grind.
Every component exudes solidity and durability. The steel handle feels robust and confidence-inspiring, and the overall build quality suggests this grinder is designed to last decades rather than years.
But the real standout innovation lies in the catch cup design. Rather than relying on magnets like most modern grinders, Millab has implemented a clever locking mechanism. This gives you the security of a screw-on design while maintaining the convenience you’d expect from a magnetic system. The cup won’t accidentally detach if you bump it into something, yet it’s still quick and easy to remove when needed.
Adjustment and Usability
The adjustment mechanism follows the external design approach we’ve seen on many recent grinders, making it intuitive and accessible. The range covers exactly what you need: espresso settings sit around “1” for traditional roasts and about “0.5” for lighter or medium roasts, allowing you to grind fine enough for very light coffees without any issues.
On the coarser end, I’ve found settings between 5.0-8.8 work well for filter, depending on your brewing style. The scale runs from 1 to 10 with ten distinct clicks between each number, providing excellent granularity for dialing in your preferred grind size.
The star of the technical show is Timemore’s new “Pineapple Burr”—a fresh invention from the Timemore and Millab. Unlike a standard conical burr, this design is longer and splits the grinding process into several phases using two pre-breakers instead of the typical single stage.
Timemore also has offers the so-called “spike-2-cut” burr on their regular hand grinders, as well, as the “Turbo” design on their electric models, which is basically a ghost burr. But this shows that the brand is not afraid of innovating when it comes to burrs.
The turbo burrs are of course famous for their performance, while I personally don’t think the spikes have much of a function besides being different. But what about the new pineapple design? Well, here things are getting interesting.
Performance and Grinding Experience
Before we talk about consistency and grind quality, let’s talk briefly about speed and ease of grinding, which are also important factors in any grinder review.
For pour-over, the speed falls somewhere in the middle, between, say, a Comandante and a more speedy grinder like the 1Zpresso K-Ultra.
You can grind a 20 gram dose in around 35 seconds, so totally fine in daily use.
However, the effort required is higher compared to many other popular manual grinders. Operating a 1.1 kg manual grinder with a straight handle demands work from both arms. The circumference and weight combine to create something of a workout, particularly for the hand stabilizing the grinder body.
Other brands use a crooked handle to alleviate this. But Timemore has chosen the straight path. I’m not sure if the reason is aesthetic only, or it’s connected to the long saga of a potential law suit launched by a German brand.
Espresso grinding presents an even greater challenge. A 16-gram dose takes approximately 55-60 seconds, noticeably slower than many modern grinders that can complete the same task in about 40 seconds. And if grinding for pour-over was already demanding, grinding for espresso requires significantly more effort.
Taste and Cup Quality
The most crucial aspect of any grinder evaluation is, of course, the resulting coffee quality. Through extensive blind testing against both the K-Ultra and the 1Zpresso ZP6 (what I consider the main competitors in this price range)the Millab demonstrates solid competitive performance.
In head-to-head comparisons with the K-Ultra, I’ve noticed the M01 allows you to push extraction levels higher while maintaining a clear, pleasant aftertaste. The K-Ultra tends to fall apart more easily at higher ratios (or extraction yields), while the Millab maintains its composure. The K Ultra is a tough grinder to beat, so this is impressive.
This grinding performance feels reminiscent of flat burr grinders in terms of consistency. Timemore has actually stated that this was their inspiration for the Pineapple cone burr design – attempting to translate flat burr performance characteristics into a conical format, hence, the longer grinding path and the pineapple shape.
Particle Analysis and Consistency
Particle analysis using the DI Fluid Omni reveals some interesting characteristics. The Pineapple cone burr produces remarkably consistent results, also more consistent than typical conical burr grinders. The distribution pattern resembles what I’d expect from a very consistent flat burr grinder rather than a traditional conical design.
This consistency places the M01 in the same category as grinders like the Eureka Filtro – producing fewer fines, fewer boulders, and concentrating more particles in the middle zone. However, like the Filtro, this spectacular technical performance doesn’t necessarily translate into an immediately obvious “wow factor” in the cup.
The M01 doesn’t exhibit a pronounced signature flavor in the same way as for example a Timemore 078 or grinder equipped with SSP burrs. It doesn’t specifically focus on factors like acidity enhancement, flavor separation, or sweetness amplification – characteristics we often associate with highly consistent pour over grinders. I wouldn’t say that’s a fault, but I just want to mention it so readers don’t automatically equate particle size consistency and end-game grinder performance.
Instead, the M01 delivers complexity with low bitterness, even at very high extractions, but the acidity is on the more moderate side. It’s a balanced grinder that gives a clear representation of the coffee.
A follower on YouTube asked me to compare the M01 specifically to the DF64V equipped with SSP Lab Sweets for some additional comparisons. I did a few controlled experiments side by side: Actually, the cups start out very similar, hitting all the same notes with the same intensity. But the aftertaste of the Lab Sweet is juicier, longer lasting, and more pronounced. So while the performance is excellent, you can still find better performance from flat burrs. The Lab Sweets will give you a bit more sweetness. The MPv1 will give you much more acidity and clarity.
In comparison with the ZP6, the flavor presentation is less intensely focused. The ZP6 tends to zoom in on central notes and giving them breathing room. Among audiophiles “soundstage” is a popular term. ZP6 provides “flavor stage”.
On the other hand, the Millab presents the same notes in a more conventional manner. It has a bit less intensity of the main flavor notes, but a bit more complexity compared to the ZP6.
Is this a good or a bad thing? Well, it depends on the coffee drinker. Some coffees will be more flattering on the M01, while others will stand out more with the ZP6. My gut instinct is that many light roast lovers, who adore the ZP6 will still prefer it over the M01, because that complexity can also be mistaken for “blending”.
Espresso Performance
The Millab easily grinds fine enough to generate proper resistance for espresso extraction at 9 bars of pressure, so we can call it a true multi-purpose grinder in that regard.
The espresso character mirrors the filter performance. That same consistency actually becomes even more noticeable in the concentrated format.
The minimal amount of dusty super-fines in the puck create shots that are remarkably focused and intense. You don’t get the body or sweetness typical of traditional conical grinders. Instead, the result is pure, concentrated flavor.
This profile works particularly well with some light roasts as well as medium, though it’s less pleasing with dark roasts. Darker roasts tend to benefit from the blended grind character that provides body and sweetness, and you just don’t get a lot of that here.
In terms of dialing in, you can make it work if you’re willing to play with dose and tamping pressure, but it’s also not an experience like with a stepless grinder or a super stepped one like the 1Zpresso J-Ultra, for instance. You might suddenly see a 10 second change in brew time with 1 additional click.
Areas for Improvement
Despite its many strengths, the M01 has some notable drawbacks that potential buyers also need to consider.
Ergonomic Challenges
- Handle fit issues: The handle-to-shaft fit is a bit tight, creating noticeable resistance when removing the handle
- Small adjustment numbers: The adjustment mechanism numbers are on the small side and difficult to read in low light conditions
- Physical demands: The bulky build prioritizes form over function, making extended grinding sessions more challenging than necessary
The most significant issue, especially affecting espresso UX, is the combination of a chunky circumference, straight handle, and substantial weight. While the build feels and looks premium, Millab appears to have prioritized form over function (unless you have big hands and/or the grip strength of a lumberjack).
Market Position and Value
The Millab M01 carries a premium price tag, though Timemore currently offers a 25% preorder discount that makes it more competitive.
At full retail price, the extra cost doesn’t guarantee better flavor or user experience compared to popular alternatives like the K-Ultra and ZP6, although it has them both beat in terms of looks and quality of the construction.
The K-Ultra remains more well-rounded as a multipurpose grinder, particularly due to a better UX when it comes to espresso, and also more conventional-tasting shots.
And if you already own a ZP6 specifically for pour-over brewing, you’re unlikely to see a meaningful improvement by switching to this grinder.
I’ve compared the M01 to the ZP6 and the K-Ultra because they’re among the most popular—and in my opinion, best—hand grinders on the market. But I could have just as easily compared it to other flagship models like Timemore’s own S3, the Comandante C40, or the Kinu POB. From that perspective, the M01 might come off as an even stronger contender. It really all depends on how you frame it.
There’s no question it’s a good grinder. I’m just not convinced it marches in and claims the title of apex predator in the hand grinder space.
That said, if you’re new to the premium hand grinder market and looking for a compelling option, I can absolutely see why you’d want something like this on your kitchen counter—and in your life. I’ve got a few things like that myself: they just look good, feel good, and bring a little joy every time I use them. The M4 MacBook Air is one of them. The M01 feels like it could fit right into that category.
Conclusion
The Millab M01 might just be the best-looking grinder on the market—at least in my view. It’s also arguably the most well-built hand grinder available today, introducing two truly innovative features: a screw-on catch cup mechanism and Pineapple Burr technology.
This grinder delivers on its promises of exceptional build quality and eye-catching aesthetics. It also offers a unique flavor profile that lands somewhere between the lively character of grinders like the K-Ultra and the more neutral, clinical style of options like the ZP6. For enthusiasts who value both design and performance, and who don’t mind the physical demands of manual grinding, the M01 presents a compelling choice.
That said, its premium price tag means you’ll need to consider your specific needs and priorities. Grinding, especially for espresso, requires noticeable effort. The ergonomic compromises made in favor of visual design are real and can impact daily use.
Still, despite those trade-offs, the M01 holds a solid place in today’s grinder landscape. It looks exceptional, feels premium, and produces truly enjoyable coffee. If you’re drawn to innovative design, don’t shy away from a bit of morning effort, and want to explore a flavor profile that bridges traditional conical and modern flat burrs, the Millab M01 makes a strong case for itself.
🇪🇺 Timemore EU
