Is the Moccamaster KM5 Worth It?
Based on tests by America's Test Kitchen (Jul 2025). How we score
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Why
America's Test Kitchen rates the KM5 Recommended: it made "robust" coffee and "yielded a relatively high percentage of medium-size pieces." But beans stuck on its flat-bottomed hopper ("you'll have to shake the grinder a bit to make sure all the beans go through"), and static made grounds cling to the bin: "We had to use a pastry brush to clean out the grounds." ATK's winner, the Baratza Encore ESP, rated higher on all four of ATK's criteria and costs much less. The KM5's flat burrs aren't an edge either: ATK "didn't find discernible differences between the coffee grounds produced by the two types of burrs."
Technivorm warranty: 5-year
Cheaper alternatives, scored against the Technivorm
Encore ESP Burr Grinder
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen's winner and "one of the most consistent grinders we tested," brewing coffee tasters called "full-bodied," with "decent sweetness with minimal acidity." It has 40 settings, 20 of them for espresso; ATK recommends 40 or more for espresso, and lists 9 for the KM5. Grounds built up inside its plastic bin over time, "but it was easy to clean." ATK notes Baratza sells replacement parts on its website. The listing doesn't state a warranty; the KM5's is 5 years.
| Criterion | Technivorm | Baratza |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2.5/3 | 3/3 |
| Ease of use | 2.5/3 | 3/3 |
| Cleanup | 2/3 | 2.5/3 |
| Versatility | 2/3 | 3/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Burr Coffee Grinders (updated July 9, 2025)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Burr Coffee Grinders (updated July 9, 2025)
Opus Conical Burr Grinder
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
Rated Recommended by America's Test Kitchen, the same tier as the KM5, with the same performance stars and better ones for cleanup and versatility. Tasters liked its "fruit"-forward, "milk chocolate" notes, and its anti-static design kept grounds from spreading "a mess all over the counter." Its round-edged bin made pouring into a portafilter harder. Warranty: 2 years (3 if registered) vs the KM5's 5; ATK didn't test long-term durability.
| Criterion | Technivorm | Fellow |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2.5/3 | 2.5/3 |
| Ease of use | 2.5/3 | 2.5/3 |
| Cleanup | 2/3 | 3/3 |
| Versatility | 2/3 | 2.5/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Burr Coffee Grinders (updated July 9, 2025)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Burr Coffee Grinders (updated July 9, 2025)
Common questions
Moccamaster KM5 or Baratza Encore ESP?
America's Test Kitchen made the Baratza Encore ESP its winner and rated it higher than the KM5 for performance, ease of use, cleanup and versatility. The KM5 has flat burrs and a 5-year warranty, but ATK found no discernible difference between flat and conical burrs.
Can the Moccamaster KM5 grind for espresso?
America's Test Kitchen recommends at least 40 settings with plenty of fine options for espresso. It lists 9 settings for the KM5; the Encore ESP has 40, 20 of them for espresso.
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Burr Coffee Grinders (updated July 9, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
