Mahlkönig vs. Mazzer Coffee Grinders Compared

This guide will compare grinders from the brands Mahlkönig and Mazzer. Keep reading to learn more.

I’ve been searching for a great coffee grinder to use at home and for a coffee shop. This guide will compare grinders that the Mazzer and Mahlkönig offer.

I’ll talk about popular home, semi-professional, and business coffee grinders these brands offer to help you determine which is better. You’ll find specifications for each grinder, who they’re best for, and a summary of noteworthy features.

Here is an overview:

Here we go.

Key Takeaways

• Mazzer grinders usually cost less than Mahlkönig ones.
• Mahlkönig typically uses more durable steel for their burrs.
• Neither brand offers home coffee makers—for the most part.
• Mazzer doesn’t offer industrial coffee grinders, Mahlkönig does.

Home Mahlkönig vs. Mazzer Grinders

The following sections will compare the following coffee grinders for home use:

• Mahlkönig X54: Most affordable
• Mazzer Mini: Most affordable grinder for entertaining guests
• Mahlkönig K30: Fantastic durability, but hard to find
• Mazzer Super Jolly V Up Timer: Balances affordability and durability

I’ll compare the grinders in pairs. First, you’ll find their specifications. Then we’ll see who each grinder is best for, any cool features, and whether each grinder is better.

Read this first:

Home coffee grinders aren’t meant to grind large amounts of beans in a sitting. They’re best for home baristas who don’t want to blow a bunch of money on prosumer models. I’ll talk about what prosumer means in a bit.

Let’s dive into our comparisons.

1. Mahlkönig X54 vs. Mazzer Mini

Mahlkönig X54

Mazzer Mini

The Mazzer Mini is best for homes who want to entertain many guests. And for small coffee shops. The Mahlkönig X54 works better for actual home grinding.

I’m going to repeat this a million times, but Mazzer doesn’t have any home-focused grinders. The Mini has a doser chamber, which is used for high-traffic cafés and coffee shops. Since these chambers store pre-ground coffee for later use.

The special steel burrs on the X54 are much more durable than the Mini. Saving you money over time and resulting in better-tasting drinks since they use sharper burrs.

Both grinders have around the same weight and burr size. Nothing significant. They both also use flat burrs, which makes them optimal for multiple brewing methods.

There’s no reason to consider the Mini for home use. You save more money in the short- and long-term with the X54. It’s also great for multiple brewing methods, like cold brew. And it’s shorter, which will make it fit better in smaller kitchens.

Which One’s Better?

The Mahlkönig X54 is better because it costs less, has more durable burrs, and isn’t meant to use for cafés and coffee shops. However, if you frequently entertain many guests, you’ll want the Mazzer Mini.

2. Mahlkönig K30 vs. Mazzer Super Jolly V Up Timer

Mahlkönig K30

Mazzer Super Jolly V Up Timer

The Mazzer Super Jolly works best for households that want to entertain guests. And the K30 works better in other scenarios. However, both coffee grinders also function as commercial grinders.

Mazzer doesn’t make many home-use grinders. And the same goes for Mahlkönig. However, both of these devices don’t cost too much and are accessible to many home users.

The Mahlkönig K30 is also a legacy model, which means it’s not for sale anymore. But I placed it in this guide in case you’re considering a second-hand one.

I wouldn’t recommend the Super Jolly for most applications at home unless you’re frequently entertaining guests. That’s because it uses a doser, which stores pre-ground coffee in a chamber for rapid dispensing.

When else would you use that at home? Likely never.

If you do use these machines in a café or coffee shop, these stores shouldn’t have that much foot traffic. Both machines have fairly small burrs, which means they can’t grind that quickly.

The special steel burrs on the K30 are thicker, more durable, and do a better job at retaining flavor than hardened steel. That’s because they’re sharper and grind beans more efficiently.

There’s not much of a weight difference between these models. Making either fine for carrying around your home or coffee house.

Otherwise, both devices provide semi-prosumer features without paying thousands of dollars.

Which One’s Better?

The Mazzer Super Jolly V Up timer is a better choice for home use since it costs less and is actually available for purchase. It also includes features to make it good enough for small coffee houses.

You’ll want to keep reading if you want better features.

Commercial/High Volume Mahlkönig vs. Mazzer Grinders

If you’re looking for industrial coffee grinders for roasteries or wholesale operations, don’t bother with Mazzer. They mostly have doser grinders and a couple of on-demand models. But none of them can grind beans on an “industrial” scale.

Opt for Mahlkönig if you’re looking to go big with your business. I recommend the DK27 LVH for small- or medium-scale roasteries. If you’re going bigger—by opening a factory—neither brand will meet your needs.

If you didn’t read through the sections above, I compared doser and doserless grinders. The former is obsolete nowadays due to electronic dosing in home and commercial grinders. Thus, it doesn’t matter whether you use doserless or doser grinders for your business.

The following sections will compare various aspects of the following grinders:

• Mahlkönig PEAK: Most durable burrs
• Mazzer Robur S Electronic: Rich with features
• Mahlkönig E80S GBW: Most precise
• Mazzer Major V Electronic: Most affordable
• Mahlkönig EK43: Affordable and robust
• Mazzer ZM: Great for multiple brewing methods

I’ll also explain who each grinder is best for. Then I’ll explain whether each is a clear winner.

1. Mahlkönig PEAK vs. Mazzer Robur S Electronic

Mahlkönig PEAK

Mazzer Robur S Electronic

The Mahlkönig PEAK works better for anyone who wants to save money and to get a faster, more consistent grind. The Robur S Electronic works better for high-traffic businesses who want profiles for different grind consistencies.

Before I continue—

The PEAK is a legacy model, though. It’s not available to buy new. But if you’re considering a second-hand grinder or a rental, you’ll want to read through this section.

The PEAK’s flat burrs are superior to the Robur’s conical ones because your resulting drinks will have more flavor definition. Better flavor means happier (and returning) customers. But they’re not ideal for new baristas.

That’s because you’ll need to be on point with your espresso puck preparations. For instance, you’ll need to do an amazing job at tamping it. Otherwise, you risk espresso channeling. A phenomenon which will cause over- and under-extraction in different areas of your shot.

Leading to a sour and/or bitter drink. If you’re concerned about tamping correctly, consider an automatic tamping machine. They’re a great investment and will improve productivity.

Let’s talk about the burrs.

80 mm is bigger than 71 mm. The larger the burrs, the quicker the machine will grind beans. You’ll also have potentially less heat generation and a more consistent grind due to the shallower grinding angles and larger size.

The PEAK also weighs almost half that of the Robur. Making it easier for team members to carry around your café. It’s also more ideal for coffee carts since you’ll need to move your machine more frequently.

Unless you want a workout when unloading and loading your grinder.

Does the Robur win in any areas over the PEAK?

Yes, kind of. If you’re tech-savvy and want data on your grinder’s output, use the internet of things (IoT) add-on. It’ll show you whether your machine needs maintenance and the amount it grinds daily.

Such information could prove helpful to prevent guesswork on knowing when to repair your machine.

It also supports 19 languages as well. But none of their product specs tell us what languages they support. That would have given the Robur an edge in non-English markets. What’s the point in advertising the feature if you won’t specify what languages it supports?

Which One’s Better?

The PEAK is a superior grinder if you can find one. It has larger burrs for better grinds. The flat shape of these burrs will make your drinks taste better. And the cast steel burrs will last much longer before requiring a replacement.

Let’s compare our other commercial models.

2. Mahlkönig E80S GBW vs. Mazzer Major V Electronic

Mahlkönig E80S GBW

Mazzer Major V Electronic

The Mahlkönig E80S works best for businesses that want precise dosing, minimal waste, and grind consistency with their grinds. The Mazzer Major V works better for businesses that value speed.

If you’re on a budget, the Major V is a better choice. But there’s a good reason why the E80S is priced more.

Special steel burrs generally outperform high carbon steel due to their superior hardness, edge retention, and resistance to rust and oxidation. Leading to a more consistent grind and better flavor extraction. Making the E80S a better option in this area.

Otherwise, the higher price of the E80S comes from it being a niche grind by weight (GBW) device. These machines are more precise than timed dosing grinders (like the Major V). But they cost more.

The GBW devices don’t matter as much when you’re brewing (e.g., grind consistency), then a timed grinder will work better. Since you’ll still get a consistent taste.

When you remove the top burr of the Major V your grinder’s settings will remain the same. You won’t need to calibrate it. The E80S doesn’t offer the same luxury. Plus, the top burrs aren’t as easy to remove as with the Major V.

Mazzer’s grinder only requires removing several hex screws. You’ll need to remove many layers of screws with the GBW.

Such a design choice matters a lot when it comes to speed in machine maintenance. If you’re not fast enough, it could hinder your team’s ability to serve customers quickly.

The Major V Electronic, like the Robur, has an IoT add-on. It’s nice if you want to know when to replace parts like the burrs. Otherwise, it’s not optimal for businesses that don’t want more complexity with their machine.

There’s also the Major V Manual device. It’s a grinder with a doser, which could help in reducing grind waste. It’s also great for high-traffic environments since you can store different grind sizes in your dose chamber.

Afterward, you release the doses in bursts to quickly make drinks.

Which One’s Better?

The Mazzer Major V is more affordable and easier to clean. Making it a more accessible option for most businesses. Anyone who cares about longevity and precise(ness) will want the E80S GBW, though.

You can’t beat the accuracy of grinding by weight with timed dose grinders.

Let’s move onto more machines for businesses.

3. Mahlkönig EK43 vs. Mazzer ZM

Mahlkönig EK43

Mazzer ZM

The Mahlkönig EK43 is a fantastic choice for high-volume cafés and coffee shops, along with smaller roasteries. The Mazzer ZM works better for smaller coffee shops that use multiple brewing methods.

The EK 43 is also a fantastic choice for home use since it’s more affordable and supports various grinding methods.

Compare the hopper capacities of both grinders. I wouldn’t want to use the ZM in a busy coffee shop because I’d need to refill the hopper often. Meanwhile, it still has 83 mm burrs, which’ll make it grind quickly in a low traffic environment.

This is the most “home(ish)” grinder that Mazzer offers. Because most of their grinders are for commercial use. Or they’re low-end home grinders. The EK43 is overkill for non-enthusiast home baristas, but optimal for hobbyists.

That’s because it uses cast steel burrs. This material is much more durable than regular steel. And it does a better job at retaining your beans’ flavor since they’re hardened. Special steel is thicker and sharper, making it optimal for flavor extraction.

The use of special steel over cast steel is one of the main reasons for the huge price difference between the EK43 and the ZM. 

Otherwise, the EK43 weighs less, which makes it more ideal for coffee carts. Since you’ll need to move it around a lot.

The EK43 also has much bigger burrs, which means that due to the larger surface, your machine will less likely heat up. You’ll also have more consistent grinds.

And then there are the brewing methods each grinder is suitable for. The ZM works better for coarse brewing methods such as filter coffee due to having lower revolutions per minute (RPM). The slower the motor, the more coarse of grinds you’ll have.

The higher RPM makes the EK43 more suitable for finer grinds for Turkish coffee and espresso. However, it’ll still work for other brewing methods like cold brew.

Which One’s Better?

The ZM will work better for longevity due to the special steel burrs. And it’s better for coarse coffee grounds due to the lower RPM.  However, the EK43 is better for shop owners on a budget.

That’s all for comparisons. Let’s check out each company’s history.

Each Company’s History

I’ll compare the histories of Mahlkönig and Mazzer throughout the following sections. While it may not sound practical to learn their history, it can prove helpful if you want a brand that’s knowledgeable about grinders.

Read on to learn more.

1. Mahlkönig Company History

Mahlkönig’s roots can be traced back to 1924 when it was founded in Hamburg, Germany, by the Hemro Group [1]. Initially, the company focused on the production of electric motors.

While details about the motors’ intended use are scarce, it laid the groundwork for Mahlkönig’s future success.

Between 1950 and 1960, Mahlkönig introduced the W1BN grinder model, marking a significant shift in their focus. This move allowed them to leverage their expertise in motor technology and apply it to the burgeoning coffee grinder market.

While the success of the W1BN is undocumented, it seemingly paved the way for Mahlkönig’s continued commitment to coffee grinding excellence.

Today, nearly a century after its inception, Mahlkönig remains a leading name in coffee grinders, catering to home, prosumer, and commercial markets.

And here’s Mazzer’s history.

2. Mazzer Company History

In the bustling industrial heart of 1930s Italy, Mazzer began its journey as a family-run business crafting essential metal components for heavy machinery [2].

By 1948, a visionary named Luigi Mazzer, based in Venice, steered the company towards a new horizon: professional-grade coffee burrs and grinders.

This bold shift solidified Mazzer’s path in the 1950s, as they meticulously refined the art of grinding.

The 1970s marked a period of international expansion, with Mazzer’s machines crossing the Atlantic to the United States and reaching France. In 1976, the iconic Jolly model was born. Followed 5 years later by the Super Jolly.

Luigi Mazzer passed the baton down to Giovanni Mazzer in 1988, who ushered in a new era of growth. A year later, Mazzer relocated to a sprawling 7,000-square-meter factory in Gardigiano, equipped with 20 robotic manufacturing stations.

Today, Mazzer stands as a titan in the world of coffee grinding, exporting more than 80% of their production to more than 100 countries across 5 continents.

That’s all, folks. Thanks for reading.

Conclusion

Mazzer only offers commercial coffee grinders and typically offers mostly doser grinders. Mahlkönig provides industrial and home models—more variety. And Mahlkönig typically uses special steel on their burrs, which makes them last longer than regular steel.

Don’t like any of these grinders? No worries. Both brands offer a much larger selection of grinders. Check out our Mahlkönig and Mazzer grinders to see more options.