Mahlkonig EK43 Vs Tanzania: Which is Better?

If you’ve spent time looking for a grinder, you’ve likely come across the name Mahlkonig before.

That’s because Mahlkonig is an extremely reputable manufacturer. If you’ve narrowed your search down two great Mahlkonig models, the EK43 and the Tanzania, we’ll give you the information you need to choose.

Our goal in this guide will be to compare and contrast the Mahlkonig EK43 vs Tanzania.

Here’s what we’ll go over:

• Similarities between the Malkonig EK43 and Tanzania
• Differences between these grinders and what they mean for you
• How to answer the question, which one should you get for your business?

Let’s get to it.

SIMILARITIES

RETAIL COFFEE GRINDERS

Perhaps the largest feature these grinders share is their basic application as retail grinders.

The EK43 and the Tanzania are extraordinary for grinding retail bags of coffee for your customers. Because of this, if you’re planning to sell ground coffee for your customers to take home, either one of these grinders is a wise choice.

If you’re wondering what separates these retail grinders from an espresso grinder, the answer is this:

The difference between retail and espresso grinders is that espresso grinders focus on espresso with special fineness settings, while retail grinders are a lot more versatile.

Using a retail grinder, you’ll be able to grind coffee for all kinds of brew methods like French press or drip coffee.

Basically, you can think of a retail grinder as a jack of all trades.

FLAT BURR TYPE

Central to any grinder is its burrs.

Conical and flat burrs are the typical burr types you’ll see as you look at grinders on the market. What’s the difference between them?

It’s surprisingly simple: the main difference is their shape. Flat burrs are flat grinding discs that usually sit on top of each other, and conical burrs are shaped like cones.

The shape of the burrs really does mean a lot for your coffee. Flat burrs are fantastic at producing uniform coffee particles and bringing to life chocolate and nutty flavors in coffee.

So if you offer coffee with sweeter flavors, your customers will love what the flat burrs in the EK43 and Tanzania will do for the product.

BAG CLAMP AND KNOCK-OFF DEVICE

When you’ve got a business to run, the last thing you’ll want to do is put everything else on hold to stand at your grinder and hold a bag up to it.

The way to keep multitasking while your grinder works is using the bag clamps on the EK43 and the Tanzania. These clamps will hold the bag safely in place for you while they work, so you or your employees can focus on other tasks.

If that wasn’t enough, they also come with knock-off mechanisms that make sure all the grounds get into the bag. This means less waste on your part, and that the customer gets the most for their money.

STEPLESS  GRIND ADJUSTMENT

Will your business be selling all kinds of coffee? If that’s the case, more options in your grinder’s fineness settings is better.

The EK43 and the Tanzania both use stepless grind adjustment. What this means is that you’ll be able to choose an endless amount of fineness settings from finer to coarser, rather than being constrained to pre-built options like in a stepped grinder.

And if you find that you end up using a particular setting frequently, these grinders have numbers on their dials so that returning to a previous setting is easy.

DIFFERENCES

BURR SIZE

Just like their shape is important, so is the size of the burr.

Bigger burrs don’t need to rotate as much as smaller ones to grind more coffee. This results in less heat being generated from friction as the discs turn.

How does this affect you? Essentially, it guards your beans from being singed by the heat.

At 98 mm, the EK43’s burrs are absolutely huge. With burrs that size, you can rest assured that your beans will remain unburnt.

Slightly smaller, the Tanzania’s burrs are 80 mm in diameter. Although not quite as big as in the EK43, the Tanzania is still exceptional at keeping beans cool during the grinding process, too.

GRIND CAPACITY

When there are back-to-back orders and lines of customers, your grinder will need to be fast.

Fortunately, the EK43 is blindingly fast. It’s capable of grinding up to 2.8-3.4 pounds a minute. Customers ordering a pound of coffee won’t need to wait more than 20 seconds to get their bag.

The Tanzania isn’t as fast, and can grind anywhere from 1.2-2 pounds a minute. Of course, this speed is far from slow, and your customers still won’t need to wait long for their order.

In the end, if you need a faster grinder, the EK43 will be the winner.

FINENESS SETTINGS

As stepless grinders, either the EK43 or Tanzania has a ton of settings to choose from for fineness.

But the EK43 is a little more adept at grinding both drip coffee and espresso, with the ability to even grind Turkish-fine coffee.

The Tanzania can certainly grind espresso, but not with the same degree of precision as the EK43.

Newest Mahlkonig Grinder: Mahlkonig X54 Home Grinder

HOPPER SIZE

Having to stop and refill your grinder’s hopper constantly can become a major inconvenience.

The solution to that problem is having larger hoppers so your grinders can hold more beans.

On top of the EK43, you’ll find a hopper with a 2.2-pound capacity. The Tanzania’s hopper, on the flip side, can hold up to 1.6 pounds.

In a retail setting, the sizes of both these hoppers will generally meet your needs. If you anticipate needing more room, though, then you may be drawn towards the EK43.

GRINDER SIZE

If your counters are crowded with other appliances, space will be a large factor in your grinder choice.

The Tanzania is especially small, measuring at 24.9 inches tall, 8.1 inches wide, and 11.6 inches deep.

In contrast, the EK43 is slightly bigger. It measures at 30 inches high, 9 inches wide, and 16.1 inches deep.

If you’re interested in the EK43 but are put off by its height initially, don’t worry. You can opt for a smaller hopper that will bring its height down to just below 27 inches.

It’s not as compact as the Tanzania, though, so if your space is cramped, the Tanzania should fit right in.

MALHKONIG EK43 VERTICALLY MOUNTED BURRS

Usually, in grinders that use flat burrs, the burrs rest atop each other. A drawback to this design is that it can lead to more grind retention.

Grind retention refers to grounds that are left behind in the burr chamber after use. Although there are some benefits to this, such as reduced static, there are some disadvantages such as having to purge your grinder before use so leftover stale grounds don’t get mixed in.

The EK43’s vertically mounted burrs cut down on grind retention naturally with the upward pathway created by their design. You’ll find that because less grounds get left behind, you’ll end up with just about all the coffee in the bag.

This means less waste and your customer gets more value for their money.

MAHLKONIG TANZANIA MAGNETIC DISC CARRIER

The grinding discs in the Tanzania are held in place magnetically rather than with screws.

The reason why this is so useful is because it makes them much easier to remove when the time for maintenance comes. On top of the simpler maintenance, it lowers the amount of residue left by coffee.

Cleaning is quicker when there’s less residue left behind. It also helps promote a fresher taste in each new batch you grind.

MAHLKONIG EK43 OVERLOAD PROTECTION

You won’t need to worry about power surges damaging your grinder with the Mahlkonig EK43’s overload protection.

This is an added layer of security that preserves your investment.

MAHLKONIG TANZANIA MOTOR VENTILATION

Coffee that tastes burnt can prevent your customers from becoming regulars.

The way to protect your beans from burning is making sure they stay as cool as possible during grinding. That’s why the Mahlkonig Tanzania has special motor ventilation.

This is a bit like air conditioning for your grinder. Even during continuous use, the grinder is kept at a safe temperature.

If you’re wondering what the EK43 does to guard beans from burning, there’s no need to worry. Its enormous burrs naturally don’t require as much to keep cool.

At the end of the day, both these grinders excel at providing cool grinding environments.

MAHLKONIG EK43 MULTIFUNCTIONAL GRINDING

Many businesses provide other freshly ground products for customers, such as spices or grains.

If your business is one of them, you’ll like that the EK43 isn’t restricted to grinding just coffee. You’ll be able to grind any of your other offerings.

The great thing about this flexibility is it saves you money when you won’t need to buy other grinders for different products.

MAHLKONIG TANZANIA BAG SHAKER

Once you’ve ground coffee, you need to settle the fluffy grounds by shaking the bag.

In a particularly thoughtful touch, the Tanzania does this for you by gently vibrating the bag. This saves you a little time so you can fulfill the customer’s order that much faster.

PRICING INFORMATION

Our aim at Majesty Coffee is to combine the best equipment and the best prices for our customers.

We offer the Mahlkonig Tanzania in Steel Gray for $1,850. We offer the Mahlkonig EK43 in Black, White, or Red color options for $2,700.

WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU GET?

With a better idea of what kinds of features these grinders have to offer, you’ll have also have a better idea of which one to get.

Both these grinders are exceptional choices for businesses looking to sell retail coffee. To make the choice that will be most beneficial to you, you’ll need to look at your specific situation.

Now it’s time to think about your business requirements.

Do you plan on freshly grinding other products, such as poppy seeds or spices? In that case, you’ll want the Mahlkonig EK43’s multifunctional capability.

Is daily maintenance something you’re particularly concerned about? Then the Mahlkonig Tanzania’s magnetically carried discs are the answer, since they’re simple to remove and clean.

Are you looking for a fast grinder that can speed through pounds of coffee? Look no further than the Mahlkonig EK43, which can have a pound of coffee ground and ready to go in 20 seconds.

Likewise, if you need to provide espresso to customers, then you’ll want to consider the EK43 more closely. Its fineness settings make it ideal for espresso grinding.

But if the size and price of the machine are big factors for you, the Tanzania is the more suitable choice with its compact dimensions and modest price.

This is our conclusion:

Busier commercial settings with a need to grind more than just coffee will need a grinder like the Mahlkonig EK43.

Businesses with a more moderate pace and budget will find that the Tanzania is a great match.

For more information on the Mahlkonig EK43 and Mahlkonig Tanzania, and the lowest prices online, take at them in the Majesty Coffee store here:

EK43 link: https://majestycoffee.com/products/mahlkonig-ek43-filter-grinder)

Tanzania link: https://majestycoffee.com/products/mahlkonig-tarzania-filter-grinder