There are so many hand grinders on the market today that it’ll make your head spin. Or crank as it were. But there aren’t a whole lot of hand grinders in the world with flat burrs. There’s the Pietro and the Normcore and that’s about it. (You can maybe also find a few rebranded Ali Expresso options but YMMV.) Enter the Molo Mill, a new manual grinder looks to expand the options for the flat burr enthusiast on the go, and it’s on Kickstarter now.
Created by industrial designer Wilson Reniers, the Molo Mill hews closer to the Pietro than the Normcore in terms of flat burr hand grinders currently on the market. Like the Pietro, it utilizes 58mm flat burrs that have been vertically aligned, which helps reduce overall grind retention. Grind size adjustments are made via a dial on the body’s exterior that “delivers haptic feedback to ensure confidence” that is “an homage to the diving-watch bezel,” per the website.
Also like the Pietro, it stretches the limits of what could reasonably considered portable (and the lengths to which one will go in order to carry around a flat burr grinder). Clocking in at a little less than 3.5 pounds, the Molo Mill stands 9.25” tall and 7.5” wide, handle included. Though large, the body was designed with ergonomics and sustainability in mind. Because of the vertical burr alignment, the crank has been moved to the side as opposed to the top. By anchoring the grinder to a surface with one hand and winding the grinder arm with the other, the Molo Mill is able to offer more stability than top-arm style, usually conical burr hand grinders. And in keeping with the watch theme of the design, the cranking mechanism features multiple gears, offsetting the axis of rotation to keep the hand from hitting the countertop while the gear ratio makes the grinding process much easier.
The Molo Mill will be made of recyclable materials like aluminum and stainless steel along with compostable wood accents. It will initially be available in three different color options: Molo Metal, with a brushed stainless steel finish and dark wood accents; Molo Blanco, a matte white with light wood finishings; and Molo Noir, an all black versions.
With 11 days left in the campaign, the Molo Mill is still $10,000 short of its $30,000 goal. Assuming the campaign makes it, would-be backers can secure a Molo Mill for themselves for $350, a 20% discount off the MSRP. Rewards are expected to being delivery in January of 2027.
I’m rooting for this one to get funded, because as an avowed flat burr enthusiast, I want to see more of them in the hand grinder space. Would I like it to be less than 3.5lb? Yeah probably. But it wouldn’t be the most absurd length I’ve ever gone to just have coffee exactly how I want it wherever I am, wilderness included. For more information or to back the campaign, visit the Molo Mill Kickstarter page.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
