Compak Espresso Grinders | Buying Guide
I'm Ryan from Prima, and these are Compak espresso grinders.
Compak has been around for some time. These grinders are made in Barcelona, Spain, and over the last ten years, they've really stepped up their game—producing grinders that are highly competitive with others on the market, especially in the grind-by-time category. Today, I want to give you a brief overview of each grinder, talk about the ideal customer for each one, and then we’ll wrap up.
First up is the i3 Pro Mini. This is a smaller version of the i3 Pro, standing 17 inches tall to fit underneath home countertops and featuring a small-capacity hopper. Like all the grinders we’re discussing today, it’s a grind-by-time model with tenths-of-a-second adjustments and two programmable doses. It also features a pulse button—one of the most responsive I’ve felt—and a manual mode for continuous grinding, great for single dosing. Inside are Compak’s proprietary 58mm steel burrs, producing about 7 grams in 2.7 seconds. That’s more than twice the speed of grinders like the Mazzer Mini or Baratza Forte. It’s a solid choice for home, small coffee operations, or a coffee cart.
Compak i3 Pro
Compact and High Speed Grinding With Increased Hopper Capacity
Featured Product
The i3 Pro is essentially the same grinder with a larger hopper and taller form factor, making it better suited for commercial settings. They’re very similar, but the Pro gives you more capacity if height isn’t a limiting factor in your setup.
Next is the E8 OD, Compak’s mid-tier grinder. It grinds 7 grams in about 1.6 seconds, delivering a 20-gram dose in under 5 seconds—on par with grinders like the Mazzer Kony or Mahlkönig E65S. It offers three programmable doses adjustable to 1/100th of a second for high precision. The digital interface includes dose statistics, burr wear alerts, and daily dose tracking. A built-in fan draws heat away from the motor to minimize temperature transfer to the coffee, maintaining consistency during high-volume service. This grinder is ideal for coffee carts, mid-volume cafés, and even high-volume environments thanks to its performance.
Last but not least is the Bolt 83, a powerhouse grinder designed for serious volume. It uses the same 83mm flat burrs as the E8 OD but with a more powerful motor, grinding 7 grams per second. A 20-gram dose takes under 3 seconds, placing it among the fastest commercial espresso grinders available. It features stepless adjustment and a “lock and load” collar system for easy cleaning—no need to recalibrate after removal. Its standout feature is the ability to pre-dose and store coffee for the next shot. It grinds into a chamber, and when you insert your portafilter, the grounds drop instantly while it starts grinding the next dose. This efficiency allows it to outpace even a busy two-barista setup and eliminates the need for manual pre-dosing or tins. If you’re in a high-volume café where wait time is critical, the Bolt 83 could be the perfect solution.
This was a quick overview of Compak’s espresso grinder lineup at Prima. If you're looking for a grinder for your café or coffee cart, check the links in the description, ask questions in the comments, or contact us to speak with an expert. That’s all for today. Happy brewing!
