Grinders | Specialty Coffee

Hardware

Mahlkönig ProM

The All Round Grinder

Functionality and innovative design team up in this new, 250 g grinder by Mahlkönig. The portafilter can be placed directly in the grinder. The ProM will then grind a programmed quantity. Programming the ProM is very straightforward. The well-designed knobs allow for easy control of independently programmable grinding time and grinding degree. Grinding time is not measured by seconds, but by number of rotations of the grinding burrs. Very smart, that! As a result, the grinder will process the exact same amount of coffee each time.

Muscleman

This grinder, with its powerful 450 W direct current motor and 65 mm flat burrs, is a genuine all-rounder. The ProM is suitable for espresso coffee, but also for slow coffee brewing methods like French Press, Chemex, Aeropress and filtercoffee.

With its pre-tax price tag of € 899 the Mahlkönig positions itself right in between the consumer market and the professional market. Its performance, however, is clearly on a professional level. The machine grinds no less than 8 g of coffee in 3 seconds time, without heating, even when working continuously. With its compact size it is the ideal second grinder for use at a brewbar in restaurants or pubs.

Character sketch

Grinding burrs - Flat 65 mm high grade steel

Motor - 450 W direct current

Hopper - 260 g

Type: Grind-on-demand

Options: Adjustable portafilter-bearer (hands-free) and anti-static drip tray

Details: Overload security provided by software, Red Dot Design Award 2010

Dimensions: Width 162 mm, height 370 mm, depth 270 mm

Weight: 6 kg

Frank Slegtenhorst, Head of the technical department at ESW, about the ProM

Why a ProM?

The reasoning behind this choice is probably not as well balanced as could be expected of someone in my position. I bring almost all new products at ESW to my home for a try-out. So it happened with the ProM: in March 2010 I brought it home, where it sat next to my Speedster. I then started using it, but not quite for what it was designed to do. Mahlkönig made a point of creating a multi-functional grinder, suitable not only for espresso, but also for ‘new' brewing methods, like the Chemex or Hario V-60. And here I am, just using it for brewing espresso. Tastes good, though!

How do you like the ProM?

A strong-point in the design is that the machine is so easy to adjust. Say, you were to try a different coffee in the grinder. Turns out, it's not that good. In that case, it is a piece of cake to go back to your original settings on the ProM. The scale markings on the knobs are very clear. I know, for example, that my Barbera Mago is always at the 7.25 mark. Even more, I have a whole list of grinding degrees right inside my head! Another advantage is, that the grinder is not noisy at all. It doesn't wake me up when my roommates grind their coffee at seven in the morning.

Compared?

Its price tag does not come as a surprise, considering its specifications, but it is a large sum anyhow. It would be worth considering saving up a little more and purchase its bigger sibling, the K30. This machine comes in at € 1595 (pre-tax) and on top of that, it takes up more space in your working area. Cheaper options are also available, though. For example, the Mazzer Mini Electronic, which is very good, and the Macap Digital (starting price for both: € 503 pre-tax). Ergonomically and functionally speaking, these grinders do not live up to ProM standards. The distribution of the grind is not as good in these machines and adjustability is definitely less practical.

This device is an innovation and as such takes some getting used to. Preparing a double espresso requires you to lightly tap the start-up switch twice very quickly with the portafilter. It's a nifty move, comparable to double clicking on the mouse on your computer. Once you get the hang of it, it poses no problem. But before that, it takes some getting used to.