Specs
| Adjustment | A lift and turn collar with steps of reportedly about 5 µm. Espresso to filter is about one full turn 0:33 |
| RPM | 30 to 150 0:33 |
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 | about one turn coarser than espresso (around 9 to 7 on the dial) | 30 to 40 g filter batches at lower rpm | unclear | Hoffmann | 19:03 |
| Espresso | dialled in at 90 RPM (grind step not given) | The baseline for his rpm test, a light Rwandan single origin | approx | Hoffmann | 12:50 |
| Espresso | middle of the rpm range, rarely the top | His preferred mix of clarity and texture | approx | Hoffmann | 16:58 |
| Espresso | 60 to 70 RPM (his preferred range) | His own taste for a balance of body and clarity | approx | DGC | 11:19 |
Cup profile
- Low rpm gives clearer, more linear espresso and high rpm softer, more textured shots. It has less texture and more clarity than a Niche Zero 13:54 18:33.
- Filter is clear and sweet, and clearer than the Niche 0:33.
Strengths
- Very low retention with RDT across about 50 tests 7:42.
- The tumbler almost matches doing WDT by hand 9:15.
Weaknesses
- It stalls at low rpm on light roasts at espresso fineness, especially when grinding back to back 11:19.
- The collar can drag finer and seize, and the long drive shaft isn't stabilised 0:33 6:39.
Verdict
James Hoffmann found it very capable in 2022. Whether it's worth $2,000 depends on how much you want its features, and the Lagom P64 is a worthy, cheaper rival 0:33.
Daddy Got Coffee's take
- 2024 (Mk2): very forgiving, with rounded, sweet espresso and 2 to 3 s per step. The Mk2's lower bearing seems to fix the Mk1's alignment, and shaking the grounds in the tumbler makes them more consistent. Like James Hoffmann, he found higher rpm ran shots faster with more body 0:00 8:46 10:17 16:24.
Kyle Rowsell's take
- 2022: low speed gives high clarity and a thin body, while 150 rpm adds body for a more traditional conical cup. Filter is juicy, between a Niche and a flat burr for clarity. It's very quiet and perfectly aligned with 5 µm marks, but stiff to adjust. It hesitated at 30 rpm on a dense light roast and still needed seasoning. It suits flow-profiling machines and black espresso, at $2,000. In a blind test his co-taster Natasha found it clearer but couldn't reliably tell it from the Niche. He sees it as a luxury rather than four times better 3:17 4:07.
Sources
- Kyle Rowsell: The Key: A $2000 Coffee Grinder | Review (2022-02-18)
- James Hoffmann: Weber Workshops Key Grinder Review (2022-04-12)
- Kyle Rowsell: $50 vs $500 vs $2000 Coffee Grinder! NICHE ZERO vs KEY vs CUISINART (2022-07-15)
- Daddy Got Coffee: Weber Key Mk2: The Best Conical Grinder?? (2024-10-05)
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 Weber Workshops Key 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.