Travel Light, Savor Strong: Wacaco Exagrind Coffee Grinder Review

Explore the Wacaco Exagrind portable coffee grinder, a perfect solution for coffee enthusiasts on the go. This accessory, subjected to impartial testing to ensure an objective evaluation, stands out for its foldable crank and compact design, allowing you to enjoy freshly ground coffee wherever you are. Discover the unique features of this grinder and how it can enhance your tasting experience.

As part of my exchanges with Wacaco, I expressed my interest in the Wacaco Exagrind travel coffee grinder, which they agreed to send me. I want to clarify that this review is completely independent, without any directive or influence on their part. As a coffee enthusiast and after having evaluated numerous grinders, I see an excellent opportunity to share my expertise with you once again.

Design of the Wacaco Exagrind travel grinder

Box contents

The Wacaco coffee grinder comes with a small carrying case, a cleaning brush, and a multilingual user manual.

The crank

A few weeks before receiving this grinder, I had purchased the Timemore C3 ESP Pro because I was looking for a compact grinder to prepare coffee on the go. I can assure you that the Wacaco Exagrind is much more compact than the Timemore. Indeed, one of the special features of this grinder is its handle which folds down completely, allowing for considerable space savings.

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When the handle is folded, a rubber stopper prevents the metal part of the handle from coming into contact with the grinder body.

During use, one might think that the shape of the grip would make the handle uncomfortable. On the contrary, the grip is very comfortable, which makes grinding coffee easier.

To facilitate storage, Wacaco has integrated a small magnet into the crank handle. When it is placed on top of the grinder, a slight magnetic attraction keeps everything in place. Additionally, Wacaco has provided an elastic band to prevent the crank from moving around in all directions when stored, ensuring an even more secure attachment.

Another important point to highlight is the handle attachment system with a ball bearing, ensuring smooth rotation and preventing its removal by simply pulling on it. Unlike the clip systems used by some competing brands, this attachment is much more solid. Clip models present an increased risk of the handle detaching, forcing some users to contact after-sales service. Wacaco therefore stands out for the robustness of its system, an excellent point in its favor.

The grinder body

The grinder body is made of aluminum covered with silicone, which makes the grip pleasant and prevents slipping during use. Additionally, Wacaco has opted for a dodecagon design (12 sides), reminiscent of the Pipamoka style, rather than a classic round body.

Personally, I find the grip very comfortable. During use, the grinder remains stable and does not spin on itself, thanks to the materials used and its ergonomic shape.

The adjustment dial

The adjustment wheel is located at the base of the grinder, directly at the burr level. It offers 30 clicks per rotation, with a spacing of 33 µm per click. Wacaco has added indicators to guide the user on the direction of rotation of the wheel, to obtain a finer or coarser grind. However, it is regrettable that the manufacturer has not included graduations. This forces the user to count the clicks starting from zero (zero corresponding to the moment when the burrs touch) to find the desired setting.

Here are the recommended settings according to the type of extraction (manufacturer data) :

• Espresso: 10 to 20 clicks from zero
• Filter coffee: 20 to 26 clicks from zero
• Pour over: 34 to 42 clicks from zero
• French press: 42 to 46 clicks from zero

The burr

The grinder’s burr measures 38 mm, which is a standard for grinders with bottom adjustment. In comparison with my other conical burr coffee grinders (Timemore S3, C3 ESP Pro, Apollo by Bplus, to name only the manual ones), the Wacaco Exagrind affiliate linkburr stands out for its ability to produce a coarse and very consistent grind. I believe that Wacaco designed this grinder specifically for extractions requiring a coarse grind and optimized the burr design for this purpose.

The Container

In my experience, the quality of the container often reveals the overall design of a grinder. For example, the Kinu Phoenix is equipped with a plastic container that is too light, which unbalances the grinder when placed on a countertop. The C40, on the other hand, has an internal rim that retains coffee, making it difficult to pour into the filter.

The Wacaco Exagrind container, on the other hand, is free of any internal rim, thus avoiding coffee retention. Its well-balanced weight lowers the center of gravity, ensuring good stability. Unlike 1Zpresso models, the threaded attachment reinforces the overall robustness.

Additionally, the base of the container is equipped with a rubber coating to protect the countertop, a detail that demonstrates the care taken in the design.

Extracting an espresso with the Wacaco Exagrind

Extracting an espresso with a semi-professional machine like my Lelit Mara X V2 proves complex with the Wacaco Exagrind affiliate link. Although it has 30 clicks per rotation, like the Timemore C3 ESP Pro, the spacing per click is 33 µm for the Wacaco, compared to 23.5 µm for the Timemore.

This difference of 9.5 µm is explained by a steeper thread angle on the Wacaco, which results in greater spacing at each click. This makes the adjustment for espresso less precise, as the gap between two clicks is sometimes too large to find the ideal setting. I often had the impression that the perfect setting was between two clicks.

It is possible to compensate by adjusting other parameters, such as the amount of coffee used, but this remains a significant limitation for use dedicated to espresso. If you are looking for a grinder fully optimized for espresso, I recommend turning to the 1Zpresso J-Ultra or the Kingrinder K6.

As I explained when discussing the burr, in my opinion, Wacaco designed this travel grinder not for professional espresso, but rather for preparations requiring a coarse grind.

Espresso made with a Lelit Mara X V2

Here is a demonstration of an espresso made with my Lelit Mara X V2 and the Wacaco Exagrind.

As the images show, extracting an espresso is entirely possible. In terms of aromas, the coffee is softer, with less acidity compared to what I get with my Varia VS3 electric grinder.

Espresso extracted using the Wacaco Minipresso GR2

Wacaco had also sent me the small coffee machine Wacaco Minipresso GR2, with which I made extractions. In this case, the Wacaco Exagrind proves to be well suited.

You can find the detailed review of the Wacaco Minipresso GR2 here. Honestly, the Exagrind / GR2 combination is ideal for traveling. The GR2 requires less demanding adjustment than my semi-professional espresso machine to achieve successful extractions.

What about filter coffee extracted with the Exagrind?

As expected, using the Wacaco Exagrind for extractions with V60, Aeropress or French Press is very effective. The grind obtained is consistent and allows the coffee aromas to develop well.

This is the category where the Wacaco Exagrind truly excels. When traveling, I mainly use my Aeropress Go or my Wacaco Pipamoka, as these methods are less complex for achieving a successful extraction. Thanks to the quality of its grind and its compact format, I have completely adopted this grinder for my travels.

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Extraction with an Aeropress Go

To learn more about coffee extraction with my Aeropress Go, you can check out my dedicated article here.

I used 15 g of ground coffee with a setting of 19 clicks on the Wacaco Exagrind. For the infusion, I followed one of the Aeropress world champion recipes.

V60 Infusion

I brew my coffee in a V60 following James Hoffmann’s recommendations: I ground 15 g of coffee with a setting of 26 clicks on the Wacaco Exagrind.

Little tip: as a server, I use the Kinto Unitea teapot. By removing the tea strainer, it becomes perfectly compatible with a V60.

The result is really interesting. The grind is perfectly suited to extractions requiring a coarse grind.

Disassembling and cleaning the Wacaco Exagrind

To reassemble and clean the grinder, it’s very simple. Here are the detailed steps:

1. Completely unscrew the adjustment dial to release the burr.
2. Remove the central rod, which allows access to the inside of the grinder.
3. Clean the inside of the grinder with a brush or dry cloth to remove coffee residue.
4. Reassemble the grinder following the reverse order: replace the central rod, reinstall the burr, then screw the adjustment dial back on.

These steps ensure easy and quick maintenance of the grinder, thus guaranteeing its durability and performance.

Conclusion

The Wacaco Exagrind perfectly fulfills its role as a compact travel grinder thanks to its fully retractable crank. You can feel that Wacaco has paid great attention to detail to offer an optimal quality product. In use, you benefit from a pleasant grip, a feeling of sturdiness, and an excellent grind.

Unlike some manufacturers who opt for “hybrid” burrs, Wacaco has designed its grinder to excel specifically in producing coarse grinds. In the coffee world, there are specialized burrs, such as those in the 1Zpresso J-Ultra, optimized for espresso. The Wacaco Exagrind follows the same logic, but for coarse grinds. “Hybrid” burrs, while suitable for various types of grinds, don’t excel in any particular area. They offer an acceptable result, whether for espresso or pour-over, but without reaching the performance of specialized burrs.

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My rating: ★★★★★