Mahlkonig X54 Multi-purpose Home Grinder

Familiar Form Mahlkönig grinders grace the counter-tops of specialty coffee shops and cafes across the world. In fact, the Mahlkönig EK43 has become the industry standard for filter grinding. Now, the company has created a grinder that is likely to become the standard for home grinding.

The X54 has the same quality and recognizable form found in its older siblings, especially the K30 line that now includes the E65 and E80 Supreme, but in a more compact (20" x 13.5" x 10" with 54mm flat burrs) and affordable (by over a thousand dollars) package. The X54 is capable of a wide range of applications, from espresso through French Press and has a removable assemblies for espresso (a portafilter fork) and filter (a curved face that perfectly accepts the dosing /grinds-catch cup), each of which can be removed and swapped in seconds with the push of a button. Advanced Technology Mahlkönig has been making grinders since 1924, but the X54 grinder is not old-fashioned in any sense.

This grinder has a built-in WiFi unit, for example, that allows the user to read error logs and know exactly what is wrong (should anything ever go wrong, which is highly unlikely). It will also automatically monitor the wear of the burrs, too, notifying the user when a replacement is needed. In addition, the X54 has four buttons for programming shots by time (plus a manual grinding setting) and a simple and easy-to-use wheel to increase or decrease the durations; a cleverly designed hopper with few moving parts, needing only a slider to perform its three functions: open, close, and remove; and whisper-quiet operation, clocking in at a mere 70 decibels, which is no louder than the average household vacuum.

Multi-Purpose Grinding with Programming The X54 looks exactly like the grinders we have been seeing on the counters at specialty cafés for over a decade; and that is because it is made by Mahlkönig, one of the most trusted names in filter (think of the EK43) and espresso (think of the E65 and E80, which followed closely on the heels of the groundbreaking Peak) grinding. Regardless of brewing method—from espresso through cold brew—the X54 can grind consistently for it. The 54mm flat steel burr set allows for a wide grinding range of 200–1,000 μm, which is espresso through French Press.

Grind size can be easily adjusted from a stepless adjustment wheel on the side of the grinder that is etched with 35 grind indicators. The grounds tray is fitted with two magnets that connect to the base of the grinder, making it easy to attach for use or detach for cleaning.