The three EKs at a glance
| Attribute | EK43 | EK43S | EK Omnia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 32.6 in (82.8 cm) | 26.8 in (68 cm) | 26.1 in (66.3 cm) |
| Hopper | approx. 1,200 g (2.6 lb) | 250 g (0.55 lb) standard, 1,200 g and 1,800 g optional | 250 g (0.55 lb) |
| Motor | 1,300 W | 1,300 W | 750 W BLDC |
| Grinding speed | 19-21 g/s | 19-21 g/s | 11.5-13.5 g/s |
| Burrs | 98 mm cast steel flat | 98 mm cast steel flat | 98 mm cast steel flat |
| Adjustment | Stepless dial | Stepless dial | Manual, touch, or automatic, with micron-level readout |
| Saved recipes | None | None | Library Mode, up to 10 |
| Price (from) | $3,199.00 | $3,899.00 | $4,199.00 |
Height, hopper, motor, speed, and automation figures are the manufacturer's published specifications for each model.
Grind quality: identical burrs, identical cup
The EK43 earned its reputation on particle size distribution. Its 98 mm cast steel burrs produce the tight particle spread that made this grinder the reference for filter clarity and higher extraction yields, and Mahlkönig has kept the same burr set across the EK43S and the EK Omnia. The catalog copy for the EK43S says it plainly: the grinding system, burr geometry, and grind profile are identical to the standard EK43.
Because the burrs are the same, you are not choosing between cups. You are choosing between workflows. A pour-over pulled from an EK43S tastes the same as one pulled from a full-size EK43 with the same burrs at the same setting.
- the fixed gap that sets particle size
- the same cup from all three bodies
Height: the 5.8 in that decides most purchases
The full-size EK43 stands 82.8 cm (32.6 in) tall. The EK43S cuts that to 68 cm (26.8 in), and the EK Omnia is slightly shorter still at 66.3 cm (26.1 in). That is a 14.8 cm (5.8 in) difference between the EK43 and its compact sibling, and it is the reason the EK43S exists.
The practical test is simple: measure from your counter to the lowest shelf or cabinet above the grinder's spot. If you have less than 32.6 in (83 cm) of clearance, the full-size EK43 does not fit under an overhanging shelf, and you want extra room to lift the hopper on and off. The EK43S and Omnia are built exactly for those positions; the catalog describes the S as fitting under lower shelves and in tighter counter configurations without any compromise to grinding performance.
- the 5.8 in gap between the full-size and compact bodies
Hopper and workflow: 1,200 g vs 250 g
Height is not the only thing the compact bodies give up. The standard EK43 carries an approximately 1,200 g (2.6 lb) hopper and is designed with a bag holder for grinding retail bags straight into customer packaging. A cafe that pre-grinds 250 g bags of wholesale coffee through a morning service will empty a 250 g hopper on the first two bags.
The EK43S ships with a 250 g standard hopper, and Mahlkönig offers 1,200 g and 1,800 g hoppers as options, so the gap is closable if you plan for it. The EK Omnia's published specifications list the 250 g hopper; it is aimed at bars that dose per cup rather than grind by the bag.
- the optional 1,800 g hopper for the EK43S
If retail bulk grinding is your core workflow, the full-size EK43 with the large hopper is the tool built for it.
Speed and motor: 1,300 W vs 750 W BLDC
The EK43 and EK43S run a 1,300 W motor rated at 19-21 g/s, roughly a 20 g dose per second. The EK Omnia runs a 750 W brushless BLDC motor rated at 11.5-13.5 g/s. For a single-dose espresso bar, both are fast enough that the grinder is not the bottleneck. For a high-volume filter bar grinding continuously through a rush, the 1,300 W machines move meaningfully more coffee per minute.
What the Omnia buys with that speed is a quieter, cooler motor. Mahlkönig designed the BLDC with cooling ribs for heat-free grinding, which matters on a bar where the grinder runs all day next to a barista's ear.
Automation: the Omnia's Library Mode
The EK43 and EK43S are dial grinders: stepless adjustment with a calibratable zero point, set by feel and marked by hand. The Omnia keeps manual adjustment but adds a micron-level grind size readout plus touch and automatic adjustment. Library Mode stores up to 10 recipes and returns the grinder to a saved grind size automatically, so a barista switching between a washed Ethiopian for pour-over and a house blend for espresso does not re-dial by trial and error.
The Omnia also includes a magnetic, adjustable portafilter holder and Grind-by-Time dosing. None of this changes what is in the cup; it changes how many seconds it takes a trained barista, or a new hire, to get there.
Using an EK for espresso
Mahlkönig lists espresso across the grind range of all three models, so the answer to "can the EK43 grind for espresso" is yes by the manufacturer's own specification. The 98 mm burrs and low grind retention also make it a capable single-dose espresso grinder.
One honest caveat: Mahlkönig lists an alignment tool among the EK43's optional accessories and publishes an official how-to guide for using it, and the company's calibration videos cover dialing the grinder back to a true zero. If espresso is your main use, plan for an alignment check as part of setup rather than discovering drift mid-service. If you want a wider view of grinder choices for espresso before committing at this price, read our espresso grinder guide.
Dialing in grind size
Searches for an "EK43 grind size chart" are common, and the honest answer is that Mahlkönig publishes specifications, not a numeric recipe chart. The right setting depends on your burr age, your coffee, your roast, and your water. Start from your brew method and dose instead: our grind size calculator gives you a starting setting for the coffee and brewer you are using, and the stepless dial on any of the three EKs takes you from there.
Who should buy the Mahlkönig EK43
Buy the full-size EK43 if you grind retail bags, run a roastery or wholesale operation, or have the vertical clearance and want the largest hopper and the fastest continuous throughput. It is the configuration the machine was originally built for, and at DABOV it is also the least expensive way into the platform.
Who should buy the EK43S
Buy the EK43S if the EK43's grind quality is the requirement but its height is not an option. Small coffee bars, kiosks, and counters with shelves above the grinder get the identical grinding system in the shorter body. Plan for the 250 g standard hopper and add the larger optional hopper if you grind in batches.
Who should buy the EK Omnia
Buy the EK Omnia if your bar changes recipes often, runs multiple baristas, or needs repeatable settings without re-dialing. Library Mode, the micron readout, and the included portafilter holder pay for themselves in consistency across a team. Accept the slower 11.5-13.5 g/s throughput and the higher price as the cost of the automation. If you landed here looking for a home, not a bar, grinder, none of the three EKs fit that budget or footprint; see our Mahlkönig X54 vs E65S comparison instead.
Our picks
See the full grinders category for every model we carry, filter through espresso.
Mahlkönig EK43. The grinder against which specialty grinders are measured: 98 mm flat steel burrs, full-range grinding across espresso, pour-over, French press, and Turkish, from $3,199.00. Mahlkönig EK43
Mahlkönig EK43S. The identical grinding system and burr geometry in a shorter profile that fits under lower shelves, from $3,899.00. Mahlkönig EK43S
Mahlkönig EK43 OMNIA. The next generation of the EK43 platform with full-range all-purpose grinding, updated aesthetics, and refined ergonomics, from $4,199.00, currently available for preorder in Black and White. Mahlkönig EK43 OMNIA
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the EK43 and the EK43 S?
Height, hopper, and price, not grind quality. The S is 68 cm tall versus 82.8 cm, carries a 250 g standard hopper versus approximately 1,200 g, and uses the same 98 mm burrs and 1,300 W motor.
Do the EK43 and EK43 S use the same burrs?
Yes. Mahlkönig specifies 98 mm cast steel flat burrs for both, and the catalog copy for the EK43S states that the grinding system, burr geometry, and grind profile are identical.
How tall is the EK43 S compared with the EK43?
The EK43 S is 68 cm (26.8 in) tall and the EK43 is 82.8 cm (32.6 in), a difference of about 5.8 in. The EK Omnia is slightly shorter than both at 66.3 cm.
Can the EK43 grind for espresso?
Yes, the manufacturer lists espresso in its grind range. Mahlkönig also sells an alignment tool for the platform and publishes a how-to guide for it, so plan an alignment check if dedicated espresso grinding is your main use.
Is the EK43 worth it?
For a cafe, roastery, or serious home setup that values filter clarity, the 98 mm burr platform and roughly 6,000 kg burr life justify the price over years of service. For occasional home brewing, a smaller flat burr grinder is the more sensible spend.
What is the Mahlkönig EK Omnia?
It is the successor to the EK43: the same 98 mm cast steel burrs plus a 750 W BLDC motor, a micron-level grind size readout, Library Mode with up to 10 saved recipes, and a magnetic portafilter holder.
Does the EK Omnia use the same burrs as the EK43?
Yes. Mahlkönig specifies the same 98 mm cast steel burr set, so the grind quality carries over from the EK43 platform.
Is the EK Omnia faster or slower than the EK43?
Slower. The Omnia grinds at 11.5-13.5 g/s versus 19-21 g/s for the EK43 and EK43S, trading raw speed for a quieter, cooler-running BLDC motor and recipe automation.
How long do EK43 burrs last?
Mahlkönig's US specifications rate the 98 mm cast steel burrs for approximately 6,000 kg of coffee, which is years of continuous commercial service before replacement.
How big is the EK43 S hopper?
The standard hopper holds 250 g (0.55 lb). Mahlkönig offers 1,200 g and 1,800 g hoppers as optional upgrades.
Is there an EK43 grind size chart?
Mahlkönig publishes specifications rather than a numeric recipe chart, and the right setting varies with your coffee, roast, and burr wear. Use our grind size calculator for a starting point per brew method.
Which EK should a small coffee bar buy?
The EK43S in most cases: identical grinding performance to the EK43 in a 68 cm body that fits tight counters, with the option to add a larger hopper later. Choose the Omnia instead if multi-barista recipe consistency matters more than throughput.
Conclusion
The three EKs share the same 98 mm burrs and the same cup, so the decision comes down to clearance, hopper, speed, and automation rather than grind quality. Compare the full specifications on each product page and order the configuration your bar actually fits: the Mahlkönig EK43 for retail and high-volume work, the EK43S for tight counters, or the Omnia for recipe-driven bars. Once the grinder is set, stock the bar with beans that reward that clarity: browse our specialty coffee selection.