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

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

Introduction to the El Comandante C40 MKIV

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

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 grinder body

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.

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.

The burr and its adjustment

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.

Burr

The containers

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.

Test in Use

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.

Grinding Time

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.

Cleaning

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.

Conclusion

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: ★★★★☆