The Timemore Bricks 01S quickly established itself as one of the most talked-about single-dose electric grinders on the specialty coffee scene. Compact, understated, and carved from aluminum, it promises the quality of Timemore's conical burrs in a minimalist countertop format. But does it live up to expectations?
This grinder was sent to me by Timemore. This article was written completely independently: my assessment is based solely on my real-world experience as a user, with no commercial influence.
Who Is This Grinder For?
Before getting to the heart of the matter, let's place the Bricks 01S within the electric grinder landscape. Timemore's electric range is organized into several tiers:
| Range | Grinder | Burrs | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | Bricks 01S | 40 mm conical | Espresso, pour-over, moka pot |
| Portable / travel | Whirly 01s | 42 mm hybrid | Espresso, pour-over |
| Portable / travel | Millab E01 | 40 mm conical | Pour-over |
| High-end | Sculptor 064S / 078S | 64 / 78 mm flat | Espresso |
| High-end | Sculptor 064 / 078 | 64 / 78 mm flat | Pour-over |
So the Bricks 01S holds an unusual position: a countertop grinder at an affordable price, built for versatile everyday use, with no compromise on build quality.
Unboxing and What's in the Box
Open it up and it's clear Timemore doesn't do things halfway. The box includes:
- The Bricks 01S grinder
- The 40 g bean hopper with lid
- The catch cup
- A power cable
- A cleaning brush
- An RDT spray (to lightly mist the beans and reduce static electricity)
- An air blower for cleaning the burrs
It's a complete kit: the RDT spray, brush, and blower are included from the start, so there's nothing to buy separately to keep the grinder properly maintained.
Design and Build Quality
A Clean Block of Aluminum
The Bricks 01S doesn't try to do too much. Its very name, Bricks, sums up its look perfectly: a rectangular cuboid. The body is made entirely of anodized aluminum, available in black or white. In hand, the grinder inspires confidence: no play, no stray vibration while grinding. Worth noting: the hopper is plastic, in the same white as the grinder's body, a discreet compromise that doesn't detract from the overall design.
Far from bulky, the Bricks 01S is in fact remarkably compact. Its footprint on the countertop is about the same as a smartphone's. Its width is also identical to that of the Timemore scale (on Amazon, the Timemore Black Mirror Basic Mini), a real plus if you want to set the two devices side by side.
Its dimensions (102 × 150 × 286 mm) let it take up less space than a Eureka Mignon while still sitting stably on the countertop.
The Good Design Award 2024 (Best 100 products) recognized the Bricks 01S for its design and engineering.
The Hopper: Single-Dose by Nature
The Bricks 01S hopper is designed for single-dose use. Its 40 g capacity lets you dose bean by bean without ever storing coffee in it. The lid goes on and comes off in one motion, with no thread to screw.
The hopper opening is wide enough to pour in the beans without losing any, even when you're transferring them straight from the scale.
The hopper itself doubles as the adjustment dial. It's what you turn to adjust the grind, giving you 150 adjustment positions, a system that simplifies the design while remaining very precise.
Another plus: very little popcorning. The beans are drawn into the burrs quickly, without bouncing all over the place, a problem I've regularly seen on the Sculptor 064 and 078. Once grinding is done, the hopper is clean: not a single leftover bean remains.
The Catch Cup
The included catch cup is simple and functional. It fits under the grinder with a magnetic hold that keeps it steady during grinding. Its opening is narrow, and that's exactly what I find practical about it: it lets you transfer the grounds precisely, straight into a small filter like the one on the xBloom, without spilling.
Use the RDT technique with the included spray to reduce static electricity and minimize grounds scattering outside the catch cup.
The On/Off Button
Operation is deliberately minimalist: a single button. Press it, and the grinder runs. Press it again, and it stops. No screen, no automatic timer, no programming. That's by design: the Bricks 01S is designed for people who weigh their beans before pouring them in and who are in full control of their workflow.
The Burrs: The Heart of the Bricks 01S
40 mm Conical Burrs: S2C040
Timemore has fitted the Bricks 01S with its proprietary 40 mm S2C040 conical burrs, milled from stainless steel by 5-axis CNC with a hardness of 55 to 58 HRC. These horizontally mounted conical burrs reduce the grinder's vertical bulk, a clever solution for such a compact machine.
The conical design produces a smooth, full-bodied cup profile, with less punchy acidity. It's a choice that suits fans of traditional espresso and moka pot coffee well, but it can slightly limit clarity of flavor on very bright specialty filter coffees.
At Timemore, some burrs are optimized for a single method: those of the Millab E01, for example, are built for pour-over. The Bricks 01S's S2C040 burrs, on the other hand, are hybrid: they cover the full range (espresso, moka pot, pour-over, French press) without excelling in any one area. A pragmatic choice for a versatile grinder.
The particle size profiles below illustrate how the S2C040 burrs behave differently depending on the setting: a pronounced peak of fines for espresso, a wide, even distribution for filter.
The S2C-040-EI burrs release an impressive quantity of fine particles for a rich, full-bodied espresso.
- Timemore
Opt for manual filter brewing, and these fine particles practically disappear, giving a clear and nuanced cup.
- Timemore
These charts were rebuilt from the particle size data Timemore provides on its official website. The curves are faithful to the original profiles but are not an exact pixel-for-pixel reproduction.
150 Grind Settings
The adjustment system offers 150 steps of 0.01 mm each, giving a fine and continuous adjustment range. The adjustment dial also serves as the hopper (it's the same part), which simplifies the design but means any change of setting has to be made before pouring in the beans.
Recommended setting ranges:
These settings are indicative and may vary depending on your coffee and preferences.
I'm really pleased with the adjustment range the Bricks 01S offers. Whatever the brewing method (espresso, moka pot, pour-over, French press), I had no trouble finding the right setting. No compromise, no frustration: the grinder delivers for every use.
The Fines Knocker: Zero Retention
One of the most remarkable features of the Bricks 01S is its Fines Knocker system, a built-in rotary percussion mechanism. A simple twist of the catch cup is enough to knock out the last particles of grounds stuck in the coffee path. The result: retention measured at just 0.1 – 0.2 g.
This is one of the best retention rates in its category, comparable to what you get on far more expensive grinders. For everyday single-dose use, it's a decisive advantage: every gram of coffee ends up in your cup, not in the grinder.
Disassembly and Maintenance
The Bricks 01S can be disassembled for cleaning without any special tools:
- Remove the catch cup
- Take off the hopper (simple locking system)
- Access the burrs through the grinding chamber
- Clean with the included brush and blower
I recommend a full monthly cleaning for daily users.
Performance in the Cup
Espresso and Moka Pot
For espresso with a standard extraction (medium to dark roasts, pressurized portafilter or 9-bar machine), the Bricks 01S is very convincing. The grind is even and consistent, with few stray fines. Grinding time for an 18 g dose is about 15 to 20 seconds, fast for a precision grinder in this range. As for noise, it's noticeably quieter than most electric grinders in this range.
In the cup, the espresso reveals a smooth, full-bodied profile, characteristic of conical burrs. You get a lovely intensity, a generous crema, and a pleasantly round mouthfeel. Roasts with a chocolatey or nutty character are especially at home here.
Pour-Over and Filter Coffee
This may be where the Bricks 01S surprises the most. With its 150 adjustment steps, it offers a very usable filter grind range. In a V60 or Chemex, the resulting grind is consistent and stable, for clear, well-balanced cups.
Here's the recipe I used for this review, with the coffee that served as my reference throughout this evaluation:
On filter, the Bricks 01S produces cups with good body and welcome sweetness. The conical nature of the burrs brings more texture than absolute clarity: if you favor very fruity, acidic coffees, a grinder with burrs dedicated to pour-over, like the Millab E01, will be a better fit. For medium roasts, the Bricks 01S is an excellent option.
Final Verdict
The Timemore Bricks 01S is a remarkably well-thought-out electric grinder. It perfectly embodies the Timemore philosophy: serious build quality, a clean workflow, and performance that delivers. It grinds fast and stays quiet, two rare qualities in this segment. In its price range, the competition will struggle to do better.
If you're looking for a quality first electric grinder for versatile home use, or if you want to upgrade from an entry-level grinder, the Bricks 01S is a safe bet. You'll find it on Amazon or on Aliexpress.
The Timemore Bricks 01S is an excellent compact electric grinder for everyday single-dose use. Its ultra-low retention (0.1–0.2 g), quality 40 mm conical burrs, and refined aluminum design make it one of the best options in its price range. It excels at espresso with medium to dark roasts and at filter, with respectable performance across the whole range.
- Exceptional retention (~0.1–0.2 g) thanks to the Fines Knocker
- All-aluminum body: solid, durable construction
- 150 ultra-fine adjustment steps (0.01 mm per step)
- Full set of accessories included (RDT spray, brush, blower)
- Compact and attractive on a countertop
- Grinds coffee quickly
- Low noise level for an electric grinder
- Reaches its limits for espresso on very light roasts
- Fixed, non-detachable power cable
- No automatic stop at the end of grinding
