Timemore Whirly 01s VS Millab E01: Duel of Travel Electric Grinders

The world of portable electric coffee grinders is expanding with two interesting offerings from Timemore: the Whirly 01s and the Millab E01. These two grinders, while sharing the brand’s DNA, offer different approaches for coffee on the go.

Important note: both of these grinders were kindly sent to me by Timemore for testing. Nevertheless, my commitment remains the same: to provide you with a rigorous and impartial evaluation, highlighting both the qualities and any potential flaws.

Two philosophies for nomadic coffee

Timemore offers two distinct lines: the Timemore brand itself for accessible products, and Millab for premium products. This strategy can be compared to that of Toyota and Lexus in the automotive industry. The Whirly 01s represents the practical and affordable entry-level option, while the Millab E01 positions itself in the premium segment with high-end finishes. But make no mistake: both grinders are excellent, as we will see in this comparison.

The box contents reflect this positioning difference. The Whirly 01s comes with the essentials: a USB-C cable and a cleaning brush. The Millab E01, on the other hand, offers a much more comprehensive package: storage stand, USB-C cable, brush, blower, carrying case, and most importantly, a very high-quality RDT spray for lightly moistening the beans before grinding and avoiding retention due to static electricity.

Design and build quality

Timemore Whirly 01s

The Whirly 01s features a compact and functional design. The main body is made of aluminum, but the hopper and container are made of plastic, which partly explains its reduced weight of only 760 grams.

An interesting innovation: the rotating hopper that opens with a simple twist rather than a removable lid. This system avoids having a piece that could get lost while traveling. Coffee beans pour into it fairly easily, although the opening is somewhat smaller compared to the Millab. The hopper locks with an audible click, securing the beans during grinding.

A fun little detail: when you open the hopper, it immediately reminds me of the air intake of a military jet engine. As an aviation enthusiast, I find this aesthetic nod quite amusing!

Millab E01

The Millab E01 clearly displays its premium ambitions with an entirely machined aluminum body. At 990 grams, it is slightly heavier than the Whirly, but the build quality is superior. Every detail exudes quality, from the finishes to the adjustments.

The design is minimalist and elegant, with a modern and refined aesthetic that fits perfectly in any coffee corner. The included storage stand allows the grinder to be placed vertically, adding a practical and aesthetic touch. In fact, this is essentially the configuration in which I use the grinder at home.

The Millab E01 container is entirely made of aluminum, with a perfectly smooth interior without edges that facilitates the transfer of ground coffee. When the base is not in use, the container can be magnetically attached directly to the grinder body for compact transport.

The burrs: two S2C philosophies

Both grinders use S2C (Spike to Cut) burrs patented by Timemore, but with different characteristics.

The S2C-042-EI burrs of the Whirly are hybrid burrs, designed to offer consistent grinding across the entire range of grind sizes. These are not burrs specialized for a particular domain: burrs dedicated to pour-over will offer better consistency for pour-over, and vice versa for espresso. The objective here is to achieve very good results in all extraction methods, without aiming for absolute excellence in a specific domain. A pragmatic choice for a versatile grinder.

The S2C890 burrs of the Millab were developed exclusively for this range. They are optimized to offer better consistency on coarser grinds, ideal for pour-over and gentle methods.

These characteristics are clearly reflected in the chart below showing the particle size distribution of both grinders:

How to adjust the Millab E01 and Timemore Whirly 01s grinders?

The Millab E01 and the Whirly 01s share a spacing of 0.025 mm (25 µm) between each click. As I already pointed out during my C3 ESP Pro review which features the same spacing, espresso is entirely possible with this adjustment step, even though a truly dedicated grinder like the S3 ESP (with its 0.015 mm per click) remains preferable for espresso extractions.

That being said, both grinders allow for quality espressos. The difference in the cup will mainly depend on the burr shape which, as we have seen, each has its own specificities: the hybrid S2C-042-EI burrs of the Whirly and the pour-over oriented S2C890 burrs of the Millab.

Noise Level

The quiet operation is a major asset of these two grinders. Having tested electric conical burr models that are much noisier, the difference is striking: here, no sensation of noise aggression. You can grind your beans early in the morning in complete serenity.

Automatic Shut-off

A practical detail that I particularly appreciate: both grinders are equipped with an automatic shut-off system. As soon as all the coffee beans are ground, the grinder turns itself off. No need to monitor the grinding or manually turn off the grinder, it handles everything on its own! Combined with the low retention of these grinders, it’s a real comfort in use.

Disassembly and Cleaning

The disassembly procedure is identical for both grinders and requires no tools. Simply completely unscrew the adjustment knob to extract the upper burr. You can then easily access the inside of the grinder for a complete cleaning with the included brush. This simplicity of maintenance is appreciated for keeping your grinders in perfect condition.

My Daily Use

After several weeks of using both grinders, here’s how I’ve integrated them into my coffee routine.

The Whirly 01s: my travel companion for espresso

The Whirly 01s has become my travel grinder par excellence. Its lightness (760g) and compactness make it the ideal companion for my Wacaco Pixapresso. Together, they form a complete portable espresso kit that easily fits in a backpack.

The weight-to-performance ratio is excellent, and the hybrid burrs are well suited for travel espresso. In the cup, the S2C-042-EI burrs deliver a balanced espresso with good body and a dense crema. The aromas are well present without being overwhelming: you’ll find notes of chocolate and hazelnut on medium roasts, with a controlled acidity that remains pleasant. For a travel grinder, the result is really convincing.

However, the hybrid aspect of these burrs implies a compromise: a grinder equipped with espresso-dedicated burrs will bring out the aromas more and offer a more precise extraction. If you’re looking for maximum espresso performance, grinders like the Timemore S3 ESP or the 1Zpresso J-Ultra will be more suitable. But for versatile nomadic use, the Whirly 01s remains an excellent choice.

Find the Timemore Whirly 01s on Amazon

Find the Timemore Whirly 01s on the official Timemore website.

The Whirly 01s: what about travel pour-over?

For nomadic pour-over, I use the Whirly 01s with my Wacaco Pipamoka. The S2C-042-EI hybrid burrs offer a really good result in the cup, with a balanced extraction and aromas that are very present.

However, the hybrid aspect of these burrs implies a compromise: for high pour-over requirements, the Millab E01 with its optimized burrs remains slightly superior in this area. Alternatively, a dedicated hand grinder like the Timemore S3 or the C3 ESP Pro will offer optimal consistency for this method.

The Millab E01: the king of pour-over at home

The Millab E01 has found its perfect place in my home, right next to my Xbloom. Its battery life allows me to set it up without electrical power, an extremely practical freedom for organizing my pour-over corner.

I personally opted for the gray model rather than the black one, as it pairs ideally with the aesthetics of my coffee space. Finally, I find it very appreciable to have the possibility of placing the Millab on a stand, which perfectly complements its ergonomics.

I particularly appreciate:

• The freedom of placement without cable constraint
• The silent operation that doesn’t disturb in the morning
• The grind quality optimized for pour-over
• The record battery life that makes me forget the charger exists

The Millab E01: what about espresso?

With its S2C890 burrs optimized for pour-over, the Millab E01 delivers espresso aromas that lean slightly towards acidity. Personally, I appreciate this profile, and just like with the Millab M01, I find myself using this grinder from time to time for espresso.

However, to fully develop espresso aromas, there are truly dedicated grinders like the 1Zpresso J-Ultra or the Timemore S3 ESP that will offer more precise extraction and more developed aromas.

Find the Millab E01 on Timemore’s official website.

Conclusion

The Timemore Whirly 01s and the Millab E01 meet different needs despite belonging to the same family. The Whirly excels as a lightweight and affordable travel companion, while the Millab is in my opinion rather intended for occasional travel or to be placed at home in your coffee corner, elegantly positioned on its base.

In my daily use, I naturally assigned each one its domain: the Whirly accompanies my Pixapresso on the go, the Millab sits beside my Xbloom at home. This complementarity clearly shows that Timemore has managed to create two distinct products that don’t cannibalize each other.

I really appreciated both grinders for their quiet operation, the aromas obtained in the cup, the ability to easily clean the grinders by disassembling the burrs, the build quality, and the value for money of each. I also greatly appreciate the low retention and the fact that the grinders are capable of automatically shutting off when all the coffee beans are ground.

Personally, I secretly hope that the Millab E01 will evolve one day by adopting the pineapple burr from the Millab M01 released more recently. That would be a perfect combination!

• My Whirly 01s rating: ★★★★★
• My Millab E01 rating: ★★★★★

Find the Timemore Whirly 01s on Amazon or on the official Timemore website.

Find the Millab E01 on the official Timemore website.

Technical specifications Whirly 01s VS Millab E01