Ditting vs Mahlkönig is a question roasters ask often, and the answer surprises people. The two brands are siblings. Both belong to the Hemro Group, and both build flat burr grinders for specialty counters and production roasteries. The real difference is where each brand puts its focus. Mahlkönig owns the allround and espresso bench, led by the EK43. Ditting owns the shop grinder and the high-volume retail and industrial grinder.
CoffeeTec has served the coffee industry since 1972, and both brands run through our grinder catalog, new and used. Below, we compare the two brands side by side and explain why the Mahlkönig EK43 became the reference grinder for filter and cupping. Then we help you match a model to the way you actually grind.
Mahlkönig, the German "king of grinders," has made grinders in Hamburg since 1924. Ditting builds its grinders in Bachenbülach, Switzerland, and has focused on coffee grinders since 1954. The two brands joined forces under the Hemro Group, which later added Italy's Anfim and China's HeyCafé to the same family.
Shared ownership doesn't mean shared machines. Each brand keeps its own product lines, burr geometry and design habits. You can spot the family resemblance in the details, though. Both brands favor flat burrs, stepless grind adjustment and on-demand grinding over dosing chambers that hold ground coffee for later.
Why does that matter to a buyer? Parts, service know-how and burr quality sit under one roof. Neither choice is a bet on a weaker brand.
You'll find both brands at specialty coffee competitions and on cupping tables. Baristas trust them for the same reason roasters do. The grind stays consistent from the first bag of the morning to the last.
Here's how the two brands line up for roasters and specialty cafés. Model names come from each brand's current lineup and the grinders that move through CoffeeTec's marketplace.
| What you're comparing | Mahlkönig | Ditting |
|---|---|---|
| Home base | Hamburg, Germany | Bachenbülach, Switzerland |
| Best known for | Allround and espresso grinding | Shop, retail bagging and industrial grinding |
| Flagship shop or allround grinder | EK43 and EK43 S (98 mm burrs) | 807, 807 Filter and 807 Lab Sweet (80 mm burrs) |
| Retail and bulk models | Guatemala 2.0 | 1203, KR1403 and KFA1403 |
| Espresso grinders | E65 and E80 Grind-by-Sync series | Not the brand's focus |
| Production-scale grinding | DK15 industrial grinding mill | KF1800 and the 1827 Industrial |
| Strong fit for | Cupping labs, multi-method cafés, roasters grinding retail bags to order | Retail counters, filter stations, wholesale roasters grinding by the pound |
Want every model from both brands on one page? The commercial coffee grinders collection lists Mahlkönig and Ditting alongside the other grinder brands we carry.
The Mahlkönig EK43 started life as a deli grinder. Specialty baristas picked it up for its even particle spread, and it never left the bar. Today it's the grinder many roasters keep next to the cupping table, even when an espresso grinder handles the café line.
The numbers explain a lot. Mahlkönig's EK43 specifications list 98 mm cast steel burrs, mounted vertically. They turn at up to 1,760 rpm on 60 Hz power. It grinds 19 to 21 grams per second at filter settings and 10 to 12 grams per second at Turkish fine. Mahlkönig rates the burrs for roughly 6,000 kg of coffee at a median setting.
Those big burrs turn slowly for their size. That keeps heat down, and the vertical mount keeps retention low. Low retention matters more than people think. Switch from a washed Ethiopian to a dark espresso blend, and very little of the last coffee lands in the next bag.
Our take: if you cup every lot and sell bags over the counter, start with the EK43. It does more jobs than any single Ditting shop model.
Short on height? The Mahlkönig EK43 S uses the same 98 mm burrs in a shorter body. Mahlkönig lists it at 68 cm tall, against 82.8 cm for the standard EK43. The newer EK Omnia also shares the 98 mm burr size and adds a modern user interface.
Beyond the EK family, Mahlkönig splits its range into shop grinders and espresso grinders. The Guatemala 2.0 is the brand's current shop grinder, redesigned with a larger hopper and easier access for maintenance. On the espresso side, the E65 and E80 Grind-by-Sync grinders lead the current lineup.
Browse the full range in our Mahlkönig grinder collection.
Ditting designs around daily volume and bag handling. Its grinders sit at retail counters and on production floors, grinding pound after pound.
The 807 line replaced Ditting's long-running 804 series. It comes in three versions:
The Ditting 807 Filter specifications list 80 mm burrs and an average output of 7.5 grams per second. Two active fans keep it cooler through long sessions. The grind range runs from Turkish fine to very coarse cold brew.
Running single doses all day? Look at the Ditting 807 Lab Sweet first.
Above the 807, Ditting's 1203 and 1403 grinders serve roasteries grinding more than 60 pounds a day. The KR versions use a manual bag clamp with a shaker. The KFA versions use a paddle-activated system for faster, higher-volume bagging. For wholesale roasters, the Ditting KFA1403 industrial grinder is built for small to medium roasteries that need industrial speed.
See every current model in the Ditting coffee grinder collection.
When people search "Ditting Mahlkönig," they often mean this matchup. Both are premium flat burr shop grinders that do overlapping jobs, so the choice comes down to four things.
Short version: pick the EK43 for volume and versatility. Pick a Ditting 807 for a compact, quiet, single-purpose station.
Not sure which side of that line you're on? Enter your main job, daily volume and shelf height below for a model match.
Ditting or Mahlkönig
How we match: grind time uses each maker's rated average output (EK43 and EK43 S 19 to 21 g/s, Ditting 807 Filter 7.5 g/s). Heights are manufacturer figures (EK43 82.8 cm, EK43 S 68 cm, 807 Filter 53.6 cm). Above 60 lb a day we point to Ditting's 1203 and 1403 line, which CoffeeTec's listings rate for that volume.
Both brands make excellent grinders, so the right pick depends on how your business runs. Work through these five questions first.
A wholesale roaster shipping ground coffee by the case has different needs than a café grinding to order. Production roasters lean toward Ditting's 1403 line or an industrial mill. Cafés and roaster-retailers often start with an EK43 or an 807.
What do you actually grind? Espresso and Turkish orders need a grinder that stays precise at the fine end. Pour-over, French press and cold brew sit in the medium to coarse range. If your menu covers both ends, an allround grinder like the EK43 saves you a second machine.
Think in pounds per day, not drinks per hour. Larger burrs grind faster without spinning as hard, which keeps beans cooler. A roastery shipping hundreds of pounds a week needs grams per second.
Both brands use stepless adjustment, which gives an experienced barista or roaster full control. If your staff changes often, mark your common settings on the dial and write them down. The EK43's calibratable zero point helps here because everyone dials in from the same reference.
A café that grinds espresso, drip and retail bags from one machine adjusts all day. A wholesale roaster may set one grind per account and leave it. Frequent changes favor low-retention grinders with easy dials. Fixed settings favor raw throughput.
Buying or selling a used Ditting or Mahlkönig grinder? Run through this check first.
CoffeeTec is a two-sided marketplace, so this guide works for sellers too. Roasteries upgrade grinders all the time. A café moves from an 807 to an EK43, or a roaster adds a KFA1403 and retires an older shop grinder. That older grinder still has value to the next buyer.
Grinders are part of the roastery support equipment CoffeeTec lists, alongside afterburners, destoners and silos. Gather clear photos and a shot of the nameplate with the model and serial number. Add a short running video and any burr replacement records. Then list your used grinder with CoffeeTec. You set the amount you'd like to receive, and our team drafts the listing for your approval.
CoffeeTec carries new Mahlkönig and Ditting grinders with full manufacturer warranty. Used grinders also come through our marketplace as roasteries upgrade. Shopping for a roaster too? You can add a grinder to your roasting package in the same conversation with our team. Call 800-999-1600, tell us how much you grind and what you serve, and we'll point you to the right model.
They share a parent company, the Hemro Group, which also owns Anfim and HeyCafé. Mahlkönig is based in Hamburg, Germany, and Ditting in Bachenbülach, Switzerland. Each brand keeps its own product lines and design focus.
The EK43 is an allround grinder. Roasters use it for cupping, grinding retail bags to order, batch brew and pour-over, and some cafés use it for espresso. With special burrs it can also grind Turkish fine, spices and grains.
Yes. Mahlkönig rates it for espresso, filter and Turkish fine grinding, and its low retention suits single dosing. Busy espresso bars often pair it with a dedicated espresso grinder, like an E65 or E80, for faster dosing.
For high volume and many brew methods, the EK43 is faster and more versatile. For a compact, quieter counter that mostly grinds filter coffee into bags, the Ditting 807 or 807 Filter fits the space better.
Mahlkönig rates the EK43's 98 mm cast steel burrs for about 6,000 kg of coffee at a median grind setting. Fine settings and heavy daily use shorten that, so track your volume and check grind quality regularly.
Yes. If you're buying a roaster through CoffeeTec, our team can add a new Mahlkönig or Ditting grinder to your roasting package. Call 800-999-1600 to talk it through.
Yes. Shop and industrial grinders are part of the roastery equipment CoffeeTec lists. Send photos, nameplate details and a running video through the sell equipment form. Our team reviews it and drafts the listing for your approval.
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