Specs
| Dial | Lance Hedrick recalibrated his so the chirp sits at 0, and reads microns of travel from there 0:00 15:52. His grinder had about 2 ticks between burr lock and chirp 20:55 |
| RPM | Three programmable positions (about 200, 400 and 750), with purge at 900 0:00 |
Where sources disagree
The creators don't all give the same figure here, so every value is listed with the person who gave it.
| Field | Value | By | Source | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Kafatek Monolith M98V | Hedrick | 0:00 | |
| Brand | Mahlkönig (EK/M98V-type) | Hedrick | 14:22 | |
| Brand | summary | The full review names the Monolith, while the 2026 beginner video credits a 98 mm M98V to Mahlkönig. |
Starting settings
These are the settings each creator gave, measured from their own grinder's zero. Use them as a starting point.
| Method | Setting | Context | Confidence | By | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pour-over | 600 (chirp = 0) | 15 g washed Kenya ground at 200 rpm, a very coarse grind | stated | Hedrick | 16:59 |
| Espresso | about 50 above chirp | His estimate for a normal dark-roast shot. At chirp a dark roast choked the machine | approx | Hedrick | 22:12 |
| Pour-over | about 300 µm | Orea Z1 brew aiming for 2:30 to 3:00 total. The grinder brand isn't named | approx | Quan | 6:10 |
Cup profile
- Juicy, sweet, clean and very forgiving. It has slightly less clarity than 98 mm Brew burrs but hides roast defects better 0:00.
- In a 2026 blind test a grinder labelled M98V gave the clearest, most tea-like cup with the fewest fines, though which brand it was isn't clear 14:22.
Strengths
- Alignment within 10 µm, no retention in Lance Hedrick's test, and quiet 0:00.
Weaknesses
- The price, a mess of chaff without RDT, and it isn't designed for conventional espresso 0:00.
Verdict
2025: the first grinder to tick every item on his wish list 0:00.
Sources
- Lance Hedrick: The Grinder I've Been Asking For: Does It Live Up To Expectations? (2025-08-20)
- Lance Hedrick: The Coffee Grinder Guide Every Beginner Needs (2026-02-04)
- Lance Hedrick: The Ultimate Guide to Grinders (2026-02-09)
- Brian Quan: HOW TO BREW PICOLOT AND LIGHT ROAST COFFEE: Orea Z1 (2026-04-02)
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 Monolith M98V 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.