The FM Grinder in white. All images courtesy of FM Grinder.
A variable-speed grinder with vertical flat burrs for commercial coffee settings called the FM Grinder (Instagram) is finding traction in Southeast Asia, while its makers have eyes on the United States market.
From a young startup based in China’s Jiangsu province, the machine features burrs made by Korean burr manufacturer SSP, available in sizes ranging from 80 to 180 millimeters in diameter. The burrs are driven at variable speeds by a 1,000-watt servo motor made in Japan by Mitsubishi.
“The Mitsubishi servo motor we use offers lower failure rates and quieter operation compared to other motors,” FM Grinder Founder Alan Cao recently told Daily Coffee News. “It also includes a torque protection system, which automatically stops the motor if it exceeds a preset safety torque. For instance, if the grinder encounters a stone, the motor will shut off to prevent further damage to the burrs.”
While variable burr rotation speed is becoming a popular performance feature in the high-end home and “prosumer” coffee category, it remains rare among machines designed for more robust commercial use.
Using a knob on the side of the FM Grinder, baristas can adjust the rotation speed of the burrs from 500-2,000 RPM. Within this rotation speed range the machine’s torque ranges from 4.77-14.3 newton meters (Nm).
Alan Cao and Jenny Gu founded FM Grinder in May 2022, about a month after developing the first prototype machine. Cao and Gu pivoted into coffee equipment design from previous careers in video game development.
Manufacturing occurs in a factory in Suzhou, China, where the company says its high standards for burr alignment and overall tolerances are met through the use of precision CNC machining.
The company told DCN that it is planning to develop a conical burr grinder and a doser grinder in the coming years, as well as an in-house-designed line of burrs.
Sales of FM Grinders launched in May 2023 in Southeast Asia through exclusive regional distributor JWC Roastery, based in Malaysia. As of this writing, prices range from US$1,972 for the 80-millimeter burr model up to $12,299 for the 180-millimeter model (prices converted from Malaysian ringgits).
“While we don’t have a clear timeline for distribution in the U.S. yet, we are very much looking forward to collaborating with American distributors,” said Cao. “Our machines have already passed certification for the U.S. market.”
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Howard Bryman
Howard Bryman is the associate editor of Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine. He is based in Portland, Oregon.
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