1993

Building a Reputation & Entering the Market

After a year of rigorous testing and prototyping, his first dental instruments were presented to renowned companies in Germany. The exceptional quality of his designs quickly led to widespread acknowledgment and meaningful partnerships. By 1993, Dr. Biernatek’s instruments had already become part of prominent brands’ product lines, and his ergonomic handle designs set a new industry standard—perfectly balanced instruments that felt more like holding a pencil rather than a tool.

1995

First Grinders Manufactured

The expansion beyond the medical field began in 1995, when, frustrated with the short lifespan of his own salt and pepper mills, which tended to wear out in less than two years of use, Dr. Biernatek designed and built a durable grinder for him and his wife. What started as a personal project quickly developed into a new business direction. He saw improvement possibilities in terms of build quality and design and was inspired to take on a new challenge.

Through innovative spice grinder designs and a commitment to quality, our small workshop, which had started with just five employees, quickly evolved into an industry-leading factory. By the early 2000s, we had become one of Europe's largest grinder manufacturers, supplying reputable international brands with high-precision grinding solutions.

2014

The Birth of Kinu®

By 2013, we had manufactured over 22 million grinders and were operating a 6,500-square-meter production facility with up to 180 employees. As the company approached its 25th anniversary, and Christian Biernatek, Dr. Biernatek’s son, had just completed his engineering studies, the family decided it was time to launch their own brand—one that embodied their passion for precision, innovation, and craftsmanship.

In 2014, Christian and his father sat down to sketch the contours of what could become the best manual coffee grinder in the world. Over the next two years, they refined their designs through extensive testing and collaboration with specialty coffee professionals.

2016

Launching the Brand

The year 2016 marked the official worldwide launch of Kinu®. Our first-ever model, known today as the M47 Classic, rapidly gained traction due to its unmatched precision, durability and performance. In just a few months, the first Kinu grinder became a valuable addition to the coffee setup of enthusiasts in over 25 countries around the world.

2017

A Broader Reach

In 2017, Christian attended the Specialty Coffee Expo, North America’s largest coffee trade show. He gained valuable insight into the market’s tendencies and saw great potential for expansion. Months later, Kinu Grinders LLC was established in Miami, ensuring fast and direct service for customers across the American continents.

2018

Factory Fire

Tragedy struck the Kinu® family in December 2018, as a devastating factory fire burned for 8 long hours before firefighters were finally able to bring it under control. The disaster destroyed 75% of our production facility. Not only did we lose CNC machines, essential production tools

and our entire Christmas stock of 15,000 grinders, but also a part of our history—original drawings, prototypes and dozens of grinders that were once best-selling models of brands we had collaborated with.

The pivotal event, also covered in Daily Coffee News, brought an entirely new series of challenges as we worked tirelessly to rebuild our factory and continue our mission despite the immense setback.

As the fire had ravaged much of our facility, we decided to address another pressing need in the market: a grinder that matched the precision of our existing products, yet was crafted with lighter materials, easier to manufacture, and more affordable. Rising from the ashes that the fire left behind, the M47 Phoenix was born—designed to meet market demands and help us recover from the fire's impact.

2023

The World’s First Titanium Grinder

In the years following the fire, we received tremendous support from the international community we had managed to build, support we are eternally grateful for and without which we would not be here today. While the effects of the fire are still visible at present, the support of the industry allowed us to focus both on recovery and on bringing innovations to the coffee world. As a result, in 2023, we managed to launch our first limited-edition model and the world’s first-ever titanium coffee grinder—the M47 Titan. In honor of our beginnings and long history of manufacturing precision tools, the model is limited to 1991 units worldwide.

2024

The First Kinu® Spice Grinders

In 2024, we unveiled the first spice grinders launched under our own brand—Kinu Saturn Black and Kinu Saturn Silver. This moment marked a significant milestone for us, as we combined our rich history and expertise in spice grinders with forward-thinking design to create something truly exceptional—a spice grinder that set a whole new standard in quality and built to last a lifetime. The Kinu Saturn quickly earned recognition and was awarded the 2025 German Design Award for Excellent Product Design in the Kitchen category.

Looking ahead

An important focus for us has always been constant improvement, so the future holds exciting plans. One of our top priorities is restoring our factory and bringing it back to its full potential after the unfortunate fire. We are also committed to developing new spice grinder models that combine functionality and longevity, some of which will be launched very soon. The future is bright, and we can’t wait to share what’s next with you.