We’re pretty crazy for espresso here at Home Grounds, which means we take coffee grinders very seriously. An exceptional grinder is just as important when preparing espresso as a top-notch espresso machine.
Today, we’ll look at the Compak K3 Touch Advanced grinder. Is it worth the splurge? Keep reading to find out.
Summary: The Compak K3 Coffee Grinder
- Prosumer-level coffee grinder designed for espresso
- High-quality 58mm flat steel burrs
- 10-ounce hopper capacity
- Quiet, fast, and uniform grind
Took me a couple of shots to configure the grind fineness, but it is so efficient and works well.
– Scott W
Where To Buy The Compak Grinder
The Compak K3 is a popular espresso grinder available from a number of trusted dealers. You can shop around for sale pricing, shipping options, and the best customer service. We’ve happily worked with all of these companies.
| Dealers | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Chris coffee |
| CHECK PRICE |
 | 1st in coffee |
| CHECK PRICE |
 | Majesty coffee |
| CHECK PRICE |
The Full Compak Coffee Grinder Review
We’ve reviewed many prosumer-level coffee bean grinders, and Compak’s portfolio of professional and high-quality coffee grinders is among the best. From their smooth silhouettes to their intuitive, easy-to-use interface, Compak has collaborated with some of the world’s most prestigious designers to create and bring to market coffee grinders that are sleek, functional, and produces great grind quality. Compak grinders remove the hassle and mess that can go along with grinding fresh coffee beans for our morning espresso.
Keep reading for Home Grounds’ in-depth look at Compak’s K3 Touch Advanced to see if it is the right fit for you.
How We Rated It
4.1
Who Is Compak?
Compak is a premium coffee grinder manufacturer founded by Jesus Ascaso in 1952 (1). After spending a few years as a serial entrepreneur and working with experts in the coffee world, he decided to forge his own path and create Compak coffee grinders, a coffee grinder company wholly dedicated to hand-crafting premium equipment.
Design – 4/5
The Compak K3 Touch Advanced adopts the same curved silhouette that Compak is well-known for.
Available in white or black, the sleek outline and silver accents mesh well with almost any kitchen decor.
It has a compact footprint, which takes up just 6.5” by 12” of counter space, but it is fairly tall at 19”. So there is no guarantee it will slide easily under your upper cupboards.
At the top of the unit, the bean hopper sits just above the stepless grind adjustment dial. You can grind directly into a portafilter thanks to the adjustable portafilter holder, so grinding for espresso is an ergonomic, hands-off experience.
Durability – 4.5/5
The K3 Touch Advance is built to last, making it suitable for home use and the rigors of a commercial environment. It’s no wonder you’ll find this grinder in prominent coffee houses. It weighs a hefty 17 pounds, a clear indication of the quality of the components within.
The 58-millimeter tempered flat steel burrs are treated with a pre-wear treatment to keep your burrs grinding consistently over the long run.
Ease of Use – 4.5/5
The K3 Touch Advanced doserless grinder couldn’t be easier to use. The stepless adjustment dial is clearly marked, providing limitless options for dialing in your espresso.
Grinding coffee is as simple as choosing between manual and automatic modes. In manual mode, the K3 dispenses coffee into the portafilter as long as it’s pressing against the lever. In automatic mode, the K3 grinds for a set time – typically programmed for a single shot – then stops independently. If you need a double dose, tapping the lever twice will get you twice the amount.
The hands-free coffee-grinding was a nice perk once the timing was dialed, really improving workflow and efficiency.
We found that Compak’s estimate of 7 grams per 1.5 seconds was fairly accurate.
Grinding Capability – 4/5
The K3 espresso grinder sports high-quality 58-millimeter steel burrs and a 210-Watt motor that can churn out a 20-gram dose in less than five seconds – fast enough for use in a small cafe or coffee cart. But if you’re looking for more power, consider the Compak E5 instead; it has a 650-Watt motor.
The K3 performed very well in terms of grind uniformity. We didn’t notice too many fines or boulders in our puck, a crucial parameter when preparing espresso (2).
The optimum brew time for a single shot of espresso is somewhere between 20 and 30 seconds, so you don’t have much margin for error.
Even when we pulled 10 double shots in a row, the Compak grinder performed flawlessly. A built-in fan kept the system from overheating, the grind adjustment remained consistent, and we had very little static build-up.
The Compak K3 espresso grinder is designed so that the grounds drop straight down. Gravity is your friend, ensuring less waste and mess.
To see how Compak compares to other similar grinders, check the table below.
Reviewed item |  |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Compak | Caedo | Eureka | Baratza | Mahlkonig |
| Model | K3 | E37S | Atom 75 | Sette 270 | X54 |
| Product category | Prosumer grinder | Prosumer grinder | Prosumer grinder | Prosumer grinder | Prosumer grinder |
| Housing material | Aluminum, Stainless steel | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic |
| Color options | Black, white, polished aluminum | Black, white | Black, chrome, white | Black | Black, white, polished aluminum |
| User interface | Touch and push knobs | Touchscreen | Touchscreen | Screen with buttons | Knob |
| Burr type | Steel flat burr | Steel flat burr | Steel flat burr | Steel conical burr | Steel flat burr |
| Burr size | 58mm | 88mm | 75mm | 40mm | 54mm |
| Grinding output | 7g per 1.5s | 5 g/s | 4 g/s | 3.5-5 g/s | 1-2.8 g/s |
| Number of dose settings | 2 | 3 | 2 | Automatic | No |
| Stepless grind adjustment | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (39 grind settings) | Mix of 35 steps and a stepless movement between |
| Motor speed | 1640 RPM | 1400 RPM | 1400 RPM | 450RPM | 1050RPM |
| Hopper size | 28 oz | 21oz / 56oz (upgraded) | 10 oz | 10 oz | 80 fl oz |
| Easy to clean | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Programmable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Loudness | Somewhat | Quiet | Quiet | Loud | Quiet |
| Weight | 192 oz / 5.5 kg | 432 oz / 12.2 kg | 320 oz / 9 kg | 144 oz / 4 kg | 288 oz / 8 kg |
| Dimensions | 19.5 x 6.7 x 14.37 inches | 17 x 8.3 x 12.2 inches | 10.5 x 7.2 x 17.25 inches | 5.25 x 9.5 x 15.75 inches | 20 x 13.5 x 10 inches |
| Warranty | 1 year | 3 years | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year |
| Price | $697.2 | $1785 | $1399 | $399.95 | $599-649 |
| CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
Related: Mahlkonig vs Compak: Which Makes Better Grinders?
Value for Money – 3.5/5
The price of the K3 is reasonable for an espresso grinder. Most prosumer grinders at this level fall in the $500 to $1000 range. The uniformity of the grind, ease of use, consistency, and quality justify the cost. However, we’d expect to see larger Compak grinder burrs at this price point. For example, it is comparable in cost to the Eureka Mignon Specialita, which has 65 mm burrs.
What We Liked:
- Durable and high-quality components
- Easy-to-use, intuitive design
- Fast and quiet grinding
- Mess-free and ergonomic workflow
- Can do timed dosing or continuous dosing
What We Didn’t Like:
- Small burr set for the price
- Tall
Do not Buy the Compak Grinder If:
- You prefer conical burrs: The Niche Zero grinder is a great conical burr grinder at a similar price point. It’s one of our favorite single-dose coffee grinders, featuring 63 mm burrs, a stepless grind adjustment, and a unique design to minimize grind retention.
- You’re looking for a no-frills coffee grinder: The DF64 grinder is a minimalist, single-dose coffee grinder with an exceptional 64 mm set of flat, steel burrs. If you want uniformly ground coffee without any fancy features, the DF64 is an excellent choice.
- You need a commercial coffee grinder: The K3 is suitable for light-duty commercial use but won’t keep up in a busy cafe. Turn to higher-end Compak grinders for coffee shop use, like the Compak K6 or Compak K10.
The Verdict
The Compak K3 Touch grinder is a solid choice for anyone ready to take their espresso to the next level. With a beautifullyl sleek design, curved silhouette, professional-grade flat burrs, and easy-to-use interface, the K3 delivers coffee grounds suitable for cafe-quality espresso.
References
- Compak. (2023). DNA. Retrieved from https://www.compakgrinders.com/en/dna-company
- Grant, T. (2021, May 17). Grinding for espresso at home. Retrieved from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2021/05/grinding-for-espresso-at-home/