Welcome back to the bench, I'm Mark. I dial in espresso most mornings, so I judge manual burr grinders by the shot. The Alpaca Ventures AV1 is a hand-cranked conical burr coffee grinder with an aluminum alloy body. It costs $59.99 and runs without a battery, a cord or a power socket. The burr is 420 stainless steel at 57 HRC, and buyers pick from five colors, including a dark green.
The AV1 grinds a batch in under a minute and offers 45 clicks of adjustment, from Cezve to cold brew. Owners call the cranking quiet, and buyers rate the grinder 4.6 out of 5 across 904 ratings. Durability splits owners almost evenly, and one fill holds only 1 oz (28 g), which makes about two single espressos.
The grinder suits one or two cups a day, travel and camping. A full pot at once needs an electric burr grinder. Expect grind quality, durability and an honest verdict. No brand saw this review before I tested it.
What Is the Alpaca Ventures AV1 Manual Coffee Grinder?
The Alpaca Ventures AV1 Manual Coffee Grinder is a hand-cranked conical burr grinder that needs no battery, cord or power socket. Alpaca Ventures sells the model under the number AV 1. The listing first appeared on July 13, 2022.
The maker pitches the AV1 at people who want espresso-fine grounds, repeatable settings and coffee away from a socket. A full pot at once suits an electric burr grinder better.
The AV1 stands 6.8 in (17.3 cm) tall and 1.9 in (4.8 cm) across. The body weighs 1 lb (460 g), and the crank handle measures 6.3 in (16 cm).
Buyers pick from Black, Goji Berry Metallic, Medieval Blue Metallic, Raven's Grove (a dark green) and Silver. The Raven's Grove variant carries the model number AV1-DGREEN. The grinder is made in China.
The listing page prints no warranty terms. Amazon only links to warranty information for the grinder.
What Is the AV1 Made Of?
The AV1 is made of an aluminum alloy body with a hardened 420 stainless steel conical burr. The burr reaches 57 HRC, a hardness rating, and runs in a 430 stainless bearing mechanism.
The dial and the grounds container use the same aluminum alloy. The lid is ABS plastic, and the crank is 201 stainless steel.
Materials:
- Burr: 420 stainless steel at 57 HRC
- Bearing mechanism: 430 stainless steel
- Body, dial and grounds container: aluminum alloy
- Crank: 201 stainless steel
- Lid: ABS plastic
The catch cup is aluminum rather than glass, so a knock inside a backpack does not shatter it. A knurled, anti-slip grip covers the body.
Two bearings carry the shaft. The crank turns smoothly under load, even through darker roasts.
How Does the Alpaca Ventures AV1 Work?
The Alpaca Ventures AV1 works by turning a hand crank that drives a conical burr on a dual-bearing shaft. Beans drop from the chamber into the burr. The ground coffee falls into the aluminum cup below.
A clicking dial sets the gap between the burr parts. Turn the dial clockwise to FINE until it stops. Then count clicks back toward COARSE.
Each click moves the burr gap one fixed step. The AV1 is therefore a stepped grinder, not a stepless one.
Sour, thin coffee means the grind is too coarse, so the next brew goes finer. Bitter, harsh coffee means the grind is too fine. Changing one click at a time makes the dial-in clear.
Hold the crank handle steady while turning the dial. The dial spins without clicking otherwise.
The grinder takes roasted coffee beans only. Spices, wet beans and oily ingredients stay out.
The design needs no battery and no cord, so the grinder draws no power.
How Many Grind Settings Does the AV1 Have?
The AV1 has 45 grind settings, and many brew methods have a set click range. The click lets the same grind return every time.
Each setting is counted in clicks from fully fine, the finest position of the dial. The maker links each brew method to a range of clicks.
Maker Click Ranges:
| Brew method | Clicks from fully fine |
|---|---|
| Cezve | 5-10 |
| Espresso | 11-15 |
| Siphon | 16-20 |
| French press | 21-30 |
| Cold brew | 31-45 |
The maker's chart skips Moka pot and pour over.
The dial stays out of the 0-5 click range. Turning past 45 clicks can loosen the burr set.
Printed dial numbers shift after the grinder comes apart, unless the dial returns to the exact same spot. Counting clicks from fully fine stays reliable, because the count starts from the same stop every time.
Coarse granules from the first grind can mean the dial has not reached fully fine. Turning clockwise until it stops fixes that.
Does the Alpaca Ventures AV1 Grind Well?
Yes. The Alpaca Ventures AV1 grinds well and produces smooth, uniform grounds without excessive powder. Coarse and fine settings both work.
Of the 92 owners who comment on grinding performance, 71 are positive and 21 are negative. Praise centers on smooth turning and even grounds.
Espresso-fine grounds are possible once the dial sits at 11-15 clicks from fully fine.
Owners grind for Moka pot, siphon, French press and pour over.
Owners call the cranking quiet, and the sound does not wake other people. A motor grinder is much louder.
No independent sieve or particle-size test of the AV1 turned up. The grind verdict rests on owner reports and the maker's specs.
How Fast Does the AV1 Grind?
The AV1 grinds fast and finishes a batch in under a minute. Cranking takes little effort.
Of the 43 owners who mention speed, 33 are positive and 10 are negative. A medium-fine setting can finish in 30 seconds.
Large batches slow the job down. Two cups can take 100 or more turns.
One chamber holds about two espressos, so a bigger batch needs a second fill.
How Much Coffee Does the AV1 Hold?
The AV1 holds 1 oz (28 g) of coffee beans per fill. One full chamber makes roughly two single espressos.
The spec table on a retail listing shows a capacity of 25 g (0.9 oz). Owners report the same figure.
Among the 48 owners who mention capacity, 33 are positive and 15 are negative. The small size suits travel, and some owners want more.
A large mug can need two batches. Two drinks fit in one batch.
What Do Alpaca Ventures AV1 Reviews Say?
Alpaca Ventures AV1 reviews rate the grinder 4.6 out of 5 across 904 ratings. Five-star ratings make up 79%, four-star 11%, three-star 4%, two-star 2% and one-star 4%.
Quality draws the most comments. Of the 221 owners who mention it, 205 are positive. Owners call the grinder well made.
Build quality earns 69 positive comments out of 76. Owners use words like solid, smooth and well fitted.
Positive shares differ by topic. Quality is positive in about 93% of comments and durability in about 45%.
Value earns 57 positive comments out of 66. Owners note the grinder costs a fraction of an electric burr grinder.
Positive Comments by Topic:
| Topic | Positive | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | 205 | 221 |
| Build quality | 69 | 76 |
| Value | 57 | 66 |
| Grinding performance | 71 | 92 |
| Speed | 33 | 43 |
| Capacity | 33 | 48 |
| Durability | 23 | 51 |
The 4.6 rating comes from the main Amazon listing for the AV 1. A second listing, for the dark green AV1-DGREEN, shows 4.7 out of 5 from 24 ratings.
No independent lab or editorial test of the AV1 turned up. Owner comments and retailer pages make up the written record.
Is the AV1 Durable?
No. The AV1 is not reliably durable, with 28 negative durability comments against 23 positive. Durability is the most divided topic among owners.
Negative comments tell of a handle breaking after two weeks, springs popping out on first use and a failed bearing.
Positive comments describe six months of problem-free use and a grinder that survived drops by kids.
The body is aluminum alloy. The burr is 420 stainless steel at 57 HRC, a rating of how hard the steel is.
What Are the Common AV1 Complaints?
The most common AV1 complaints are unclear instructions, small capacity and breakage reports. Each one shows up across many comments.
Directions give no turn counts for each grind size. The printed dial numbers confuse buyers.
The grinder is top heavy and can tip over on a counter. The cap can also sit a bit loose.
The box holds one grinder, one crank handle and one brush. No carrying case or storage tin comes with the grinder.
How Does the Alpaca Ventures AV1 Compare to Rivals?
The Alpaca Ventures AV1 compares to rivals as a mid-priced hand grinder at $59.99. A hand grinder is a coffee grinder turned by hand. Hand grinders in the same search range from $34.99 to $99.00.
The CEVING 60 g (2.1 oz) grinder sits at the low end of that range. It costs $34.99 and offers 40 external settings. The Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP marks the high end at $99.00.
The AV1 offers 45 clicks and 1 oz (28 g) per fill. The CEVING holds more than double that amount. The AV1 costs $25.00 more.
Price and Capacity:
| Grinder | Price | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Alpaca Ventures AV1 | $59.99 | 1 oz (28 g) |
| CEVING | $34.99 | 60 g (2.1 oz) |
| Timemore Chestnut C3S Pro | $95.00 | 25 g (0.9 oz) |
The maker says an electric burr grinder suits a full pot better than the AV1.
Is the AV1 Better Than the Timemore Chestnut C3S Pro?
No. The AV1 is not better than the Timemore Chestnut C3S Pro on ratings, but it costs $35.01 less.
The C3S Pro costs $95.00 and holds 4.8 out of 5 from 1,729 ratings. The AV1 costs $59.99 and holds 4.6 out of 5 from 904 ratings. The C3S Pro has the higher score, and more buyers have rated it.
The two grinders differ in how the handle works. The C3S Pro has a foldable handle. The AV1 has a fixed 6.3 in (16 cm) crank.
The Timemore Chestnut C3S Pro uses a 38 mm (1.5 in) burr set. The burr set is the part that crushes the beans. It holds up to 25 g (0.9 oz), the same range as the AV1. Each click on its dial moves the burr 0.0833 mm.
No head-to-head test of the two grinders turned up. The choice therefore rests on price and ratings.
How Do You Clean the Alpaca Ventures AV1?
Owners clean the Alpaca Ventures AV1 with the included brush or an air blower after grinding. Water never enters the process.
The grinder comes apart for cleaning. Reassembly can shift where the dial numbers land. Click counts matter more than numbers.
Cleaning tablets, rice and soap fall outside the maker's brush-or-blower rule.
Roasted coffee beans only go into the chamber. The dial stays above 5 clicks and below 45 clicks to protect the burr set.
Can You Wash the AV1 With Water?
No. Owners never wash the AV1 with water, any other liquid or a dishwasher. The maker allows the brush or an air blower only.
Some retailer listings say hand wash or dishwasher safe. Those claims contradict the maker. Because the maker's rule is the one that applies, the brush-only method stays in place.
Oily and wet ingredients stay out of the grinder for the same reason that water stays away from it.
How Much Does the Alpaca Ventures AV1 Cost?
The Alpaca Ventures AV1 costs $59.99 in black. Above Average Coffee has listed the grinder at $49.99, down from $59.99.
Third-party sellers charge more. Two eBay listings ask $84.49 and $155.97 for a new unit.
Listed Prices:
| Seller | Price |
|---|---|
| Amazon | $59.99 |
| Above Average Coffee | $49.99 |
| eBay listing 1 | $84.49 |
| eBay listing 2 | $155.97 |
Rivals run from $34.99 for the CEVING to $99.00 for the Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP.
The $59.99 price sits $35.01 below the $95.00 Timemore Chestnut C3S Pro.
Where Is the AV1 Sold?
Buyers find the AV1 where it is sold: on Amazon, eBay, Newegg, Sears and Above Average Coffee. The maker sells through those stores.
Buyers outside the US can also find the grinder. Amazon Germany, Amazon Japan, Amazon India and eBay Canada carry it.
The Raven's Grove dark green model has its own listing and model number, AV1-DGREEN.
Is the Alpaca Ventures AV1 Worth It?
Yes. The Alpaca Ventures AV1 is worth it for one or two cups a day at $59.99, with durability as the main risk.
The plus side is a 57 HRC stainless burr, 45 clicks of adjustment, quiet cranking and a 4.6 rating.
Pros:
- 57 HRC stainless burr
- 45 clicks of adjustment
- Quiet cranking
- 4.6 out of 5 rating
The minus side is a split durability record, a 25-28 g (0.9-1 oz) capacity, unclear instructions and no warranty terms on the listing. No independent grind test exists either.
Cons:
- Split durability record
- 25-28 g (0.9-1 oz) capacity
- Unclear instructions
- No warranty terms on the listing
- No independent grind test
At $59.99, the AV1 costs $35.01 less than the Timemore Chestnut C3S Pro.
Buy the AV1 at $59.99 or less for one or two cups a day. Pick the CEVING for capacity, or the Timemore Chestnut C3S Pro for a foldable handle and a higher rating.
Who Should Buy the AV1?
Travelers, campers and one-or-two-cup drinkers are the buyers who should buy the AV1.
The maker says buyers who grind a full pot at once need an electric burr grinder instead.
Buyers who want printed warranty terms or a carrying case need another model.
New owners count clicks from fully fine and ignore the printed dial numbers.
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