Specs
| Burrs | MC1: Compak Redspeed coated 68 mm cones 0:00. MC4 and MC5: stock Mazzer-style cones or Kafatek's own 71 mm Shurikones 4:20 |
Starting settings
No one has shared grind settings for it yet.
Cup profile
- MC1: good body and texture with fair clarity. At 1:2 to 1:2.5 with medium-light roasts it's essentially the same as a Niche Zero, with a little more body at longer ratios 0:00.
- MC4 and MC5 with stock burrs: huge body and good separation on 35 to 50 s lever-style shots, but harsh when you push the flow, and poor for filter. With Shurikones the finish is cleaner, it copes with 4 to 6 ml/s flows and light roasts, and dark roasts come out sweeter with a syrupy texture. It's still too muddy to be a great filter grinder 4:20.
Strengths
- MC1: a superb build, fast, with large, forgiving cones 0:00.
- MC4 and MC5 with Shurikones: handles light to dark roasts and turbo-style shots. Brian Quan prefers it to a Niche Zero and a Lagom Mini with Moonshine burrs for espresso 4:20.
Weaknesses
- MC1: about 1.5 to 2 g goes missing each time, plus some old grounds swap with new. There's no safety guard, the wooden cap and chute are basic, and beans fly out without the cap. Run it briefly to clear grounds that settle overnight 0:00.
Verdict
In 2021 Brian Quan found the MC1 made great coffee with a dated workflow, so most buyers would be happier with a Niche. In 2022 the MC4 and MC5 with Shurikones became his favourite conical, a counterpart to his LM flat burrs 0:00 4:20.
Sources
- Brian Quan: The Kafatek Monolith Titan Conical MC1 in 2021 & Comparisons to the Niche Zero (2021-06-06)
- Brian Quan: Kafatek Shurikones: My Favorite Conical Burr! (2022-10-13)
Summarised in our own words from the creators' videos, with every point linked to the moment it comes from. Notchbook isn't affiliated with or endorsed by any of these creators, so please watch the originals for full context. Sources
Dialling in from here
- Sour, thin or fast? Grind finer. Why coffee tastes sour
- Bitter, dry or slow? Grind coarser. Why coffee tastes bitter
- Espresso: how to dial in. Filter: pour-over grind size.
Compare with other grinders in the grind size chart, or see every grinder.
Notchbook is a free app that remembers the setting that worked on your Kafatek MC1 / MC4 / MC5 for each coffee and brew method, and keeps a journal of every brew. Get it free on Google Play. The iPhone app is coming soon. More about Notchbook.