Mahlkonig Guatemala vs Tanzania

We created this guide to compare the Mahlkonig Guatemala vs Tanzania in detail. We're taking a magnifying glass to these retail coffee grinders to provide you with all the necessary information to decide which is a better fit for your business.

Here's what you'll be learning...

• Which features the Mahlkonig Guatemala GUA710 and Tanzania both have.
• What makes these grinders different and what their unique features offer.
• How to pick the right grinder based on your business requirements.

Find our top picks for commercial espresso grinders over on this page...

https://majestycoffeeschool.com/best-commercial-espresso-grinder/

Similarities

Retail Coffee Grinders

If you're considering the Mahlkonig Guatemala and Tanzania, you're probably buying for a business with a retail coffee space.

These models are designed for quick and efficient on-site grinding of retail coffee bags for your customers.

But they're not limited to retail coffee grinding. You can also grind for drip coffee and a wide variety of brew methods from French press to AeroPress coffee. 

So what makes a retail coffee grinder different from an espresso grinder?

An espresso grinder is designed to accommodate all of the detailed functions and settings you would need for pulling shots of espresso. This is why espresso grinders are usually dedicated to espresso drink service.

A retail coffee grinder has finer to coarser grind options and the ability to grind large amounts of coffee in a short period of time—exactly what you would need for general coffee service.

Flat Burrs

The Guatemala and Tanzania are flat burr grinders. Coffee enthusiasts have their preferences between flat and conical burrs, but those who love flat burr models enjoy the depth of flavor provided by the flat burr shape.

Flat burr grinders crush the coffee into uniform particles, as opposed to conical burr grinders, which create a bimodal particle distribution.

Uniform particles promote even extraction and balanced flavors in the brew process while bimodal particles tend to highlight certain flavor qualities, particularly brighter notes. However, it's easier to over-extract or under-extract with the bimodal type.

In addition to balancing flavors, flat burr grinders will also accentuate deeper notes and chocolaty or nutty undertones. 

If you serve coffee roasts these characteristics, a flat burr grinder like the Guatemala or the Tanzania can take your product to the next level.

Bag Clamp and Knock-Off Device

A bag clamp will hold retail bags in place while you're grinding coffee in the Guatemala or the Tanzania.

Since you won't need to hold the bags, you can turn your attention to your customers and other pressing tasks until the grinding is complete.

The knock-off device is there to ensure that there's little to no wastage. Just tap it gently and the excess coffee grounds will fall into the bag.

Bag Shaker

Similar to the knock-off device, the bag shaker mechanism will vibrate the bag and settle the coffee.

Right after grinding, the coffee is light and fluffy and takes on a certain amount of volume.

This requires manual coffee settling, unless you have a bag shaker. It's a convenient point of automation for greater efficiency.

Key Differences

Stepped vs Stepless Grind Adjustment

Depending on your business needs, you may prefer the stepped or stepless system—both have their advantages and drawbacks.

As a stepped grinder, the Guatemala comes with ready-to-operate grind settings from coarse to fine. You can choose from 20 different settings for practical use in a coffee shop and easily switch between grind settings at any time.

The downside is that you won't be able to set the grind with pinpointed accuracy. 

This is what the Tanzania's stepless system focuses on—precise grinding. It removes the preset options and gives you the ability to move the dial in tiny increments.

However, it's more difficult to switch back to an exact setting as there are no notches that will click into place for you.

When choosing a grinder, consider not only the type of business you'll need it for, but also the skill level of your staff and the range of functions you need a grinder to perform. 

Some locations require more fine-tuned grind capacity for specialized services while others may just need the speed and reliability of automatic grind settings.

Burr Size

There are 71 mm burrs in the Guatemala and 80 mm burrs in the Tanzania, which give these grinders quite a bit of power.

Because there's more surface area to grind the coffee beans, fewer rotations are necessary, which will reduce the amount of time the motor needs to run.

The benefit is a cooler internal grinding environment, which is vital for preserving the delicate flavor compounds in the coffee.

Coarse to Fine Setting Range

Chances are, you need a grinder with a good selection of fineness settings, which both of these models provide.

However, the Tanzania offers a little more on the finer end with a Turkish-style grind setting. 

However, the Tanzania's Turkish grind setting is slightly coarser than a true Turkish setting—few grinders offer this level of fineness.

You can, however, select a fairly close espresso setting for these grinders. The Tanzania and the Guatemala can accommodate a basic home espresso grind to offer your customers for retail bags, though they can't guarantee a specific level of precision.

What both of these grinders offer is an excellent range of standard settings for filter coffee, French press, pour-overs, cold brew, and other popular brew methods seen on coffee shops menus.

Grinding Capacity

These grinders have a comparable grinding capacity as both will grind an average of 2 pounds of coffee per minute on a medium fineness setting.

There is a bit of a difference when it comes to finer settings between the Guatemala's 1.8-pound grinding capacity and the Tanzania's 1.2-pound capacity.

However, this difference is not surprising given that the finest setting on the Guatemala is still coarser than the Tanzania's. Comparing the settings on equal footing, you'll probably find the same overall grinding capacity.

Hopper Capacity

The standard and optional hoppers that come with these grinders vary quite a bit.

Equipped with a standard 1.1-pound hopper, the Guatemala can be upgraded to hoppers that hold 2.2 or 5.5 pounds of beans. This is good for businesses that need to do some serious large batch grinding.

The Tanzania comes with a standard 1.6-pound hopper and an optional 3.3-pound hopper for heavier duty grinding.

Generally, if you're grinding for retail purposes, the standard hoppers will likely meet your needs.

Mahlkonig Guatemala Vertical Grinding Discs

Whereas flat burr grinders usually have horizontal grinding discs, the Guatemala's vertical grinding disc position allows for less grind retention. 

Because the Guatemala's burrs are vertically oriented, you'll have less coffee buildup between the burrs, less to clean out, and more coffee in the bag. 

It's typical to expect some coffee retention in any grinder, but the vertical burrs in the Guatemala guarantee a low amount.

Mahlkonig Tanzania Magnetic Disc Carriers

The Tanzania's magnetic disc carrier system holds the burrs in place without the use of screws.

This accomplishes a couple of things: reduced maintenance time since the discs can be replaced quickly and a reduction of coffee residues.

This is how the Tanzania provides easier cleaning and a little less product wastage where coffee retention is concerned.

Mahlkonig Guatemala Overload Protection

Overload protection comes standard in the Guatemala, protecting the grinder in the event of electrical circuitry overload.

Power surges can damage your grinder or cause it to burn out, which is where the overload protection comes into play.

With this built-in safety feature, your machine can potentially last longer.

Mahlkonig Tanzania Motor Ventilation

A ventilation system in the Tanzania provides cool grinding even while the motor is running for longer stretches of time.

Keeping the coffee cool is essential for preserving the flavor. If there's too much heat produced in the grinder, it can make the coffee taste bland, bitter, or burned.

Especially during the busiest hours of the day, a ventilation system will ensure excellent temperature control.

Mahlkonig Guatemala Customization

What the Guatemala brings to the table is a customizable base with various features for a broad range of applications.

Here are some of the diverse options you can choose from:

• Foldable table (for a coffee lab or single-portion grinding)
• Raised outlet height
• Self-service modification
• Filter coffee basket holder

From large batch brewing to lab cuppings, the Guatemala can be tailored to different business types to suit specific needs.

Price Considerations

We're proud to carry some of the best coffee equipment for the most affordable prices at Majesty Coffee.

We offer the Mahlkonig Guatemala 710 Filter Coffee Grinder for $1,680 and the Mahlkonig Tanzania for $1,850.

So Which Should You Buy?

Any medium to higher volume business searching for a retail coffee grinder will benefit from either of these models. They're frequently seen in coffee shops, coffee labs, and businesses selling branded retail coffee.

But if you need a grinder with more flexible grind adjustment and finer settings, we recommend the Tanzania. Typically, coffee shops are more likely to utilize these features than businesses that aren't coffee-centric.

The Guatemala is excellent for basic but robust grinding, especially for the higher volume locations. Since it's so customizable, it could also fill a specific requirement that the Tanzania might not.

Cafes, hotels, office buildings, and businesses with coffee labs are some that can get a lot of functionality in the Guatemala and its various options.

Here's the short answer.

The Guatemala is a reliable model for businesses that need the customizable features but not necessarily the finer grind flexibility.

For businesses that do need more control with grind settings, the Tanzania is going to be a better fit.

For the best prices online, check out the Mahlkonig Guatemala and Tanzania here on Majesty Coffee...

• Mahlkonig Guatemala GUA710 Filter Coffee Grinder GUA710
• Mahlkonig Tanzania Filter Coffee Grinder