The Mavo Phantox Pro is a manual coffee grinder that’s been showing up more and more in coffee discussions and comment sections.
After spending time brewing, disassembling, and testing it side by side with other grinders, I’m ready to share a hands-on review of how it performs in real-world use.
Here is my detailed hands-on review video.
Unboxing and First Impressions
Right out of the box, the Phantox Pro feels solid and thoughtfully designed. The packaging is tidy and protective, and inside you’ll find a travel bag, a cleaning brush, and a detailed instruction manual.
The grinder itself is made from aluminum with a matte finish, and the all-metal handle is topped with a smooth wooden knob.
At 610 grams including the handle, it has enough heft to feel stable on the counter without being cumbersome.
One of the first things you’ll notice is the external grind adjustment dial. It’s clearly marked, with a red dot to indicate your setting, and each click feels crisp and satisfying.
The catch cup at the bottom twists off smoothly, and there’s a soft mat below to prevent scratches on your countertop.
Inside, a silicone band helps with grip and stability.
There’s even a thoughtful touch: the top cover is designed so you can attach an electric drill if you ever want to save your arms on a big batch. I know some coffee lovers like to turn their hand grinder into an electric one. 🙂
Grind Adjustment and Range
The Phantox Pro’s adjustment system is both straightforward and precise.
It uses an external adjustment mechanism, so you don’t need to unscrew the catch cup to change settings—a big convenience over some grinders with internal dials. It’s super handy if you use it to grind for different brew methods.
The dial’s feedback is crisp, and the markings make it easy to return to your favorite setting.
There are 12 main numbers on the dial, with 10 clicks between each, giving you 120 total settings. Each click moves the burrs by 16.7 microns, which is fine enough for dialing in espresso but broad enough to cover everything up to cold brew.
One full rotation takes you from fine to coarse, which is a nice touch compared to grinders that require multiple rotations for the same range.
If you need extra-coarse grinds, you can go beyond one rotation, but for most brewing methods, a single turn is plenty.
Grind Consistency
In use, the Mavo Phantox Pro delivers consistent particle sizes, especially in the medium to coarse range, and produces noticeably fewer fines than many other hand grinders I’ve tested.
Here’s a quick reference for grind settings I use for different brew methods (you’ll want to adjust based on your beans and taste):
- Espresso: 2–4
- Moka Pot: 4–6
- Pour Over: 6–8
- French Press & Cold Brew: 8–10
Burr Design
Inside, you’ll find Mavo’s patented heptagonal “Star blade” burr set.
The first thing that stands out is the size of the inner burr—it’s surprisingly large, even compared to some grinders that claim a bigger diameter.
The outer burr is thinner, allowing for a hefty 37mm inner burr and a larger grinding surface for better efficiency.
The outer burr’s unique sawtooth pattern is reminiscent of ghost burrs and is designed to increase grinding efficiency and reduce fines.
In my tests, this design does seem to deliver on those promises, producing a cleaner cup with fewer fines.
Pour Over Performance
To see how the Phantox Pro performs in daily use, I made several pour overs using light roast Ethiopian beans.
The resulting cup had a pleasant aroma, good sweetness, and a smooth body. The clarity of flavors stood out, likely thanks to the grinder’s low fines output. Acidity was balanced and not too sharp.
For comparison, I used the 1Zpresso K-Ultra at a similar grind size. Both grinders produced clean, enjoyable cups, but the K-Ultra’s cup had slightly brighter acidity.
With the Phantox Pro being about $100 cheaper and offering similar build quality, it stands out as a high-value option.
Espresso Performance
Espresso is where many manual grinders struggle, so I was curious how the Phantox Pro would handle it.
For espresso, I mainly care about two things: grinding speed and the ability to make fine adjustments. Sixteen microns per click is sufficient for dialing in most beans, and a one-minute grind time is totally acceptable.
Using consistent puck prep and brew settings on the same espresso machine, I pulled shots at 2.1 (21 clicks) and 2.2 (22 clicks) settings.
The difference in shot time was about two seconds per click, showing the grinder’s fine adjustment capability. You can have 1-2 clicks for micro-adjustment.
The espresso had rich crema and plenty of caramel sweetness, with no harsh bitterness.
Because the Phantox Pro produces fewer fines, the body of the espresso was a bit lighter, but the flavor was clean and sweet.
After several shots, I’m convinced it can handle espresso just as well as pour over.
Grinding Experience
The Phantox Pro’s large burr design gives it above-average grinding speed.
For pour over at 75 clicks, it takes about 30 seconds to grind, even for dense light roasts. There’s some resistance at first, but the process is smooth.
For espresso at around 20 clicks, it takes about a minute—very fast for a hand grinder.
Retention is low, and even without RDT, static was minimal and very few fines remained in the burr.
The triple bearing system on the central shaft keeps everything perfectly aligned, so the handle turns smoothly without wobble. Overall, the grinding feedback and experience are excellent.
Disassembly, Cleaning, and Calibration
Taking the Phantox Pro apart for cleaning is simple. Just use the included Allen key (stored in the travel bag) to remove the catch cup and unscrew the bottom bolt, then release the burr.
For regular cleaning, you don’t need to disassemble the top section, so you won’t have to recalibrate every time.
I recommend cleaning it every few weeks, or more often if you mostly grind dark roasts.
Reassembly is just as straightforward.
The calibration process is especially easy thanks to the removable adjustment dial. To recalibrate, push up the burrs until they touch (the zero point), gently lock the thumb nut, and align the zero on the dial with the red dot. This makes it easy to replicate your previous grind settings.
Final Thoughts
The Mavo Phantox Pro is a thoughtfully engineered manual grinder that excels in both build quality and performance. Especially if you like a cleaner cup of coffee with better clarity and separation so that you can enjoy the nuanced flavor profile of your coffee beans.
Its unique burr design, smooth operation, and precise adjustment system make it a strong contender for anyone who enjoys both pour over and espresso.
The value for money is impressive, especially given its consistent grind quality and easy maintenance.
If you’re looking for a reliable, versatile manual grinder that won’t break the bank, the Phantox Pro deserves a close look.
