Kinu M47: tip to preserve your grind settings

The Kinu M47 is a high-end manual grinder recognized for its grind precision, durability, and build quality.
However, its complete disassembly can be problematic, as it results in the loss of the original grind setting.

In this article, I present a simple and effective trick to preserve your settings after maintenance, and I conclude with a comparison with the Apollo grinder to help you choose.

My experience with the Kinu M47 manual grinder

I have owned the Kinu M47 manual grinder for several months.
In daily use, it is an excellent companion for preparing precise and consistent espresso.
However, I noticed a weak point during complete cleaning: each disassembly causes the loss of the grind setting, requiring recalibration.

Update: discover my complete Kinu M47 vs Apollo coffee grinder comparison here.

The problem encountered during disassembly

When purchased, the Kinu M47 comes with a small rod essential for disassembly (see video below).
It allows you to detach the burr and remove the ball bearing.

Problem: during reassembly, it is impossible to reposition the burr at exactly the same depth as before.
A slight difference changes the grind and requires complete recalibration.

In summary: a complete disassembly, although recommended for optimal cleaning, causes the loss of the grind setting.

The trick to preserving the grind setting

Solution: make a small wooden disc that allows you to reposition the burr always at the same depth.
This way, after reassembly, the dial values remain identical and recalibration is no longer necessary.

Response from Kinu and update to the instructions

After contacting Kinu for clarification, the official response was:

It would not be necessary to completely disassemble the grinder for cleaning.

An unconvincing explanation, given that a thorough cleaning is beneficial for longevity and extraction quality.

Another surprising fact: when I made my purchase, the manual included complete disassembly. Today, this section has disappeared from the official documentation.