Perhaps the largest issue in coffee grinding today is grind retention. (We should all take a step back and appreciate the fact that home grinders have become so good in the past decade that grind size consistency is basically a given at this point, such that we have to find other things to fret over.) If I put 50 grams of coffee in the hopper, I want 50 grams out of the chute, the same 50 grams in fact. But static cling—produced when electrons are passed back and forth from coffee coming into contact with the burrs—often has other ideas.
There are two main solutions proffered to eliminate static. You can give your coffee a little spritz of water before loading it into the hopper or you can shoot some ion beams at it on the way out (see: Acaia’s Ion Beam). But what this new grinder presupposes is: why can’t it be both? Introducing the Geimori grinder, a flat burr grinder that incorporates pre-grind mist with post-grind “plasma anti-static technology,” and it’s on Kickstarter now.
The list of features for the Geimori reads like a deeply nerdy Reddit r/coffee thread. The latest piece of coffee equipment created by Wirsh, the Geimori is chockablock with 2024 buzzy grinder features. It uses flat burrs—that you can choose between the 64mm or the larger 78mm as well as if you want the burrs for all-around use or filter specific—aligned vertically to further reduce retention. It has stepless grind size adjustments, with each notch on the dial corresponding with a 5.5μm change. It also has stepless RPM adjustments between 500 and 1,500 RPMs, allowing for further control based on your preferred roast level.
But the attraction of the new Geimori grinder is the inclusion of multiple anti-static measures. It starts up top with the “Spark Spray” lid. Once the coffee has been loaded into the hopper and lid the secured, you simply press a button on the lid and it sprays a fine mist of water over to the coffee, helping to cut down on the static buildup produced during the grinding process. Then, as the coffee is passed from the burrs through the hopper, it is treated with “plasma anti-static technology” that is stated to produce ions at a density greater than “3×106pcs/cm3,” further reducing buildup.
Still, there are aspects worth considering before giving all your money Wirsh. For one, the 64mm version of the Geimori doesn’t have the Spark Spray lid. Which is odd, considering it is literally one half of the “dual anti-static” system they are touting. And the hopper capacity leaves a little to be desired. The GU78 only has a 50g capacity; the GU64 has even less, just 30g. This may or may not be a dealbreaker for you depending on how you brew (Sorry, Chemex drinkers!).
With two weeks left in the Kickstarter, the Geimori has already netted an astounding $150,000+ toward its $10,000 goal, but there are still deep discounts available for interested parties. With MSRPs at $499 and $999 for the GU64 and GU78, respectively, would-be backers can get 40% both, for the all-purpose or filter burr sets, for the low, low prices of $299 and $599. Campaign rewards are expected to begin shipping out in February 2025.
For more information, including a full list of features, or to back the campaign, visit the Geimori Kickstarter page.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
