Issue with Timemore Chestnut C5 ESP Pro – Hard to grind ("stone-like" feel), zero point shifted, and sudden drop in flavor quality
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some advice regarding my Timemore Chestnut C5 ESP Pro. Lately, I’ve run into a frustrating issue and I’m not sure what’s causing it.
Suddenly, grinding has become much more difficult than before. It feels different, almost as if I’m grinding small stones rather than coffee beans.
On top of that, the taste of my coffee has taken a massive hit. I primarly brew V60 pour-over, but I also make espresso. Even though my technique and skills have been consistently improving, the results in the cup are suddenly way off. I am using the exact same beans, the same dose (grams), the exact same click settings, and the same brewing workflow. Yet, the coffee tastes completely different—very sour, hollow, and just weird (though still technically drinkable).
I also noticed that my zero point has shifted. When I try to fully tighten the grinder to reset it, the actual "zero" (where the handle locks and stops moving) is now about 4 to 5 clicks past the marked zero indicator.
Has anyone experienced this with the C5 ESP Pro? Could the burrs be misaligned, or is there a specific issue with the internal spring/washer assembly after cleaning?
Any help on how to fix this or what to check would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.
