Comandante C40 Grind Settings for Every Brew Method

26 clicks on a Comandante C40 for a V60 with a light-roast Ethiopian. 20 clicks for an AeroPress with a medium-roast Colombian. 31 for a French Press dark roast. Those numbers are more useful than any "medium-fine" label you'll find online.

The C40 is one of the most consistent hand grinders you can buy. High-quality steel burrs, solid build, made in Germany. It's built for filter coffee, and that's where it really shines. V60, AeroPress, Chemex, French Press: this is what the C40 does best.

This guide gives you the click range for every brew method, organized by roast level. These are starting points. Every coffee is different, so you'll want to adjust based on the profile. But a concrete range is always better than a vague description.

Quick Reference Table

Starting points are for a light-roast washed coffee. For medium roasts, add 1 click. For dark roasts, add 2.

How the Clicks Work

The C40 uses a stepped adjustment system. Each click moves the burr by a fixed amount, and that's what makes it so repeatable.

• 12 clicks per full turn of the adjustment ring.
• Fewer clicks = finer grind.
• More clicks = coarser grind.

To find zero: tighten the ring until the burrs touch. You'll feel resistance and the handle won't spin freely. That's click 0. Count up from there.

One thing that surprises you the first time you use it: the handle has a bit of wobble, and you might hear a light rubbing at very fine settings when the grinder is empty. Both are normal. The handle is magnetic and designed to detach easily. The rubbing disappears once you add beans.

V60

This is where the C40 does its best work. Clean, clear, well-defined flavors.

• Light roast: 26 clicks.
• Medium roast: 27 clicks.
• Dark roast: 28 clicks.

Target brew time: 2:30 to 3:30 for a 15g dose with 250ml water. If it drains too fast and tastes sour, go 1-2 clicks finer. If it stalls and tastes bitter, go coarser.

AeroPress

The AeroPress is very forgiving, so it's great for trying new coffees without overthinking the grind.

• Standard method: 20–22 clicks, 1:30 to 2:00 steep.
• Inverted method: 18–20 clicks, 2:00 to 2:30 steep.
• Fine grind, short steep: 16–18 clicks, 1:00 steep. More body, closer to espresso character.

Chemex

The Chemex filter is thicker than a V60 filter, so it absorbs more oils and slows down the brew. You need to grind a bit coarser to compensate.

• Light roast: 29 clicks.
• Medium roast: 30 clicks.
• Dark roast: 31 clicks.

Target brew time: 3:30 to 4:30 for a 30g dose with 500ml water. If the drawdown takes more than 5 minutes, go 2 clicks coarser.

French Press

Coarse grind. The metal mesh filter lets fine particles through, and those particles keep extracting while you drink. Too fine and you'll get a muddy, over-extracted cup.

• Light roast: 31 clicks, 4:00 steep.
• Dark roast: 33–35 clicks.
• Lighter body: go up to 35 clicks.

Espresso

Let's be honest: the C40 is a filter grinder. It can grind fine enough for espresso (6-13 clicks), but each click makes a big difference at that end of the range. One click can change your shot time by 10-15 seconds, which makes dialing in really frustrating.

If you pull the occasional shot at home, it works in a pinch. But if espresso is your main method, a dedicated espresso grinder (or at least the Red Clix upgrade, which doubles the number of adjustment steps) will save you a lot of headaches.

• Range: 6–13 clicks.
• Adjust carefully, 2 clicks at a time.
• Expect slower grinding at this setting.

Moka Pot

• Range: 15–19 clicks.
• Start at 16 and adjust from there. If the brew sputters and hisses, it's too fine. If it comes out pale and watery, it's too coarse.

How Roast Level Changes Your Setting

Same grinder, same method, same dose, and yet a light roast and a dark roast can be 2 clicks apart. Light roasts are denser and harder, so the water needs more time and more surface area to extract the good stuff, and that's why you grind finer. Dark roasts are softer and more soluble, they give up their flavors faster, and you grind coarser to avoid pulling harsh, ashy notes.

The rule of thumb: light roast = base setting. Medium = +1 click. Dark = +2 clicks. That's all you need to remember.

How to Dial In

The table gives you a starting point. Here's how to find your ideal grind from there:

1. Pick the starting point for your method and roast level.
2. Brew and taste. Brew time is a clue, but taste is what matters.
3. Adjust 2 clicks at a time. Sour and thin? Go finer. Bitter and heavy? Go coarser.
4. Change one thing at a time. Don't adjust grind and dose at the same time.
5. Write it down. Or use Coffee Master to log your brews automatically.

Most coffees land within 2-3 clicks of the starting point. If you're way off, check your water temperature or dose before going further.

Maintenance

The C40 is built to last, but the burrs need a quick clean now and then.

Weekly (if you grind daily): unscrew the adjustment dial, take out the inner burr, and brush everything with a dry bristle brush. A clean paintbrush works great. Monthly is fine if you use it less often.

A few things to keep in mind:

• No water on the burrs. Brush only. Even good steel can develop surface rust with moisture.
• Don't remove the three small screws on the burr assembly. They're set at the factory and messing with them throws off the alignment.
• A light tap on your palm after grinding shakes out any grounds stuck inside. Retention is low, but not zero.
• New burrs need a break-in period. The first 500g or so might grind a bit unevenly while the edges polish themselves. Use whatever beans you have on hand.

Common Issues