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El Comandante C40 MKIV: Complete Review and Alternatives for Espresso

We offer you an in-depth analysis of the El Comandante C40 MKIV coffee grinder, a premium model combining durability and refined design. In this article, we detail its features, including the comfortable crank and included accessories, to guide you in your purchasing decision. Dive into our objective and passionate evaluation of this essential tool for all coffee enthusiasts.

For a long time, I wanted to try the El Comandante C40 MKIV coffee grinder. Although I spotted it during my research for my first high-end coffee grinder, I couldn’t buy it: it wasn’t available in Canada, where I lived at the time.

This grinder is considered by many forums as one of the most reliable on the market. But is it really the case? To find out, I finally purchased the C40 on

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This test was therefore conducted out of passion and in a completely objective manner.

The packaging of the El Comandante C40 is well-crafted and the items included in the box are as follows:

  • A crank, attached to the cap
  • A grinder, available in several finishes
  • Two glass containers (one smoked and one transparent)
  • A cap to close the unused container

Let’s examine the different parts of the coffee grinder in detail.

The crank features an ergonomic wooden knob, matching the color of the grinder body. Its shape makes turning the crank pleasant, a real asset during use.

A smoked plastic lid closes the grinder, but it prevents seeing the beans during grinding. I would have preferred a metal lid, which is more robust.
The crank handle attaches to the grinder body thanks to a powerful magnetic system, practical and reliable.

The design is clean and elegant, with a stainless steel tube available in several finishes, including some in real wood. I opted for a pearlescent black finish, offering good grip.

The grip is pleasant, although a bit wide for small hands. The grinder doesn’t slip during use, which is essential.

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The central axis is guided by precise ball bearings, but held by a plastic support. Given the price, a metal support would have been preferable. That said, the rotation fluidity is excellent.

Inside of the C40
Inside of the El Comandante C40

The C40 uses a small burr (38 mm), not very fast for espresso. The grind adjustment is done via a notched dial under the grinder, with only 12 clicks per rotation.
Even with the optional Red Clix kit, the precision remains limited, making it difficult to obtain an ideal setting for espresso.

Warning
The lack of adjustment precision is the main flaw of the C40 for espresso. Too often, the right setting is between two clicks.

The C40 comes with two glass containers (smoked and transparent). Fragile but replaceable, they add an elegant touch.
Watch out for coffee retention in the threading: simply avoid tightening too much to prevent it.

C40 with its two containers
The C40 with its two containers

Tested only for espresso. Forum feedback confirms good performance for coarser grinds (pour-over, French press).

The grind is consistent, but the too-coarse adjustment for espresso remains a real handicap.

C40 grind
Grind difficult to show in photos

Expect approximately 1 minute for 16 g for espresso. This is slower than the competition (Kinu M47, Apollo, 1Zpresso, Kingrinder). Nothing prohibitive, but at this price one could expect better.

Simple maintenance: unscrew the dial, remove the burr and brush the interior.
Avoid water. The fixed burr screws are too tight to be disassembled regularly.

The El Comandante C40 MKIV is a beautiful grinder, robust and effective for slow extractions (pour-over, V60, Chemex).
But for espresso, it is limited by its adjustment precision and its too-small burr. At over €200, this lack of evolution over the years is disappointing.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Strengths
  • Its design
  • Its build quality
  • The grip (of the handle and grinder body)
  • That the container screws on (much more durable than other systems)
  • The precise adjustment
  • The grind quality perfectly suited to a professional espresso machine
  • The ability to purchase components separately in case of breakage (containers, handle…)
Weaknesses
  • The plastic lid
  • The slightly small burr which results in a grinding time slightly longer than other grinders
  • The Red Clix as an option
  • The ideal setting often located between two clicks for espresso (without the red clix)
Alternatives to the C40

If you’re looking for an espresso grinder:

If you prefer filter methods:

  • The C40 remains a quality choice, but other less expensive grinders (50 to 150 €) are more than sufficient, such as the Timemore C3 ESP Pro
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