Testing and Reviewing the Stache Grinder

We’re serious about Superior Smokewares here at DaySavers, and the quality of a grinder preparing your bud for consumption is paramount. Using your fingers to break down weed is a tried and true method, but it leaves you with sticky finger and large particle sizes, and while it may be fine for blunts, bongs, pipes and monster bowls, the need for a consistent grind is crucial when it comes to the burn quality of your roll or pre-roll.

Too many uneven particles will lead to hot spots, canoeing, and running, so why not turn to your trusty grinder for flower prep? Grinders are a stoner’s best friend.

Innovating the classic weed grinder took years, and until recently, the primary grinding mechanism you’d find in grinders are sharp, fat teeth that shred and tear the flower apart.

But one brand has rethought the construction of the long used sharp teeth and went in another direction: short, small, blunt pegs.

I’ve long wondered why the classic teeth grinder was used so frequently and why the grinding mechanism stayed the same for such a long time. With this in mind, we set out to explore the quality and performance of the Stache Grynder, an innovative product from a brand that has been around for 10 years.

As a small, family-owned company, Stache is very hands-on with their design, testing, and development of the highest-quality smoking accessories around. Their mission is simple: keep the industry moving forward with innovative, high-quality, user-friendly products.

Originally jumping into the dab space offering products like the Stache Pen, RiO portable dab rig, and the ConNectar, a revolutionary attachment that transforms any 510 thread battery into a portable dab device, and how sick is that?

Later came their innovative line of grinders that are extensive, lightweight, durable, and with a new grinding mechanism that I personally have never seen before and became very intrigued by: unique blunt, small, round “teeth” used to break up bud. From the 3-Piece Slim Grynder to the wildly advanced and innovative Grynder 360, the introduction of Stache grinders on the market have most surely caught the eyes of cannabis professionals and consumers alike.

Their Grynders have two patents on the technology used, similar to the Flower Mill, establishing their hold on the innovative technology.

So, without further ado, let's dive deep into Stache’s grinder offerings for an in depth look at the construction and functionality of the Stache 360 Grynder, the ultimate Stache product.

What is a Stache Grinder?

Instead of employing sharp teeth to shred and grind cannabis flower, Stache grinders use micro rounded teeth to ensure a gentle separation that preserves the integrity and flavor of your bud, due to lesser damage to the cannabinoid rich trichomes.

The upper rotor lid and the lower grinder piece get close to touching but never quite do, avoiding buildup of compacted kief in the teeth area, and there is no center post, like you’d find in traditional grinders or Flower Mills. One impressive benefit of this is that since the teeth are rounded, they don’t shred stems within your whole buds, instead trapping the stems in the grinding chamber, protecting your grind from get sharp stems that can tear papers and burn harshly.

The Stache line of Grynders are reasonably priced and something that consumers and industry professionals can agree upon. The 3-Piece Hemp Grydner comes in at $10, and their most expensive grinder, the 5-Piece Big Grynder sells for just $55. The Stache grinder that we tested, the 360 Grynder, carries a price tag of just $45. Compare that to the cost of the highest and lowest priced Flower Mills, the 2” Standard ($35) and the Next Gen Premium Stainless Flower Mill ($75 + $12 per additional Mill Plate), and it’s clear that Stache is not only innovative, but affordable.

The go-to, mod-range 4-Piece Grynder, has a price tag of just $30, so no matter what option you go with, you’ll keep some extra coinage in your pocket. Their SLIM 3-Piece Grynder for grinding on the go is just $22, so bravo Stache, you’re innovative and accessible, kudos!

To better understand the performance and functionality of these patented grinders, we performed a full review and testing of the 360 Grynder, a device with side particle holes on the wall of the lower grinding chamber piece, allowing flower building up on the edges of the grinding chamber to drop into the ground flower, keeping build up to a minimum. For the test, we ran an ounce of sticky, high quality, Washington-grown ZoZ bud through the 360 in 28 batches of 1-gram each, to identify the functionality and final product produced by the Stache.

So let’s get into it, shall we?

The Stache Grinder

Founded in 2015 by Rod Santos, the company holds more than 14 patents on their line of products ranging from dab tools to grinders to rigs. Their line of Grynders were engineered to address common issues with traditional grinders and to preserve the quality of terpene-rich cannabis flower.

With minimal friction and buildup of plant material within the grinder, the flower retains more terpenes and THC in the ground bud. Nearly effortless to operate, the Stache series comes in a variety of colors, sizes, total pieces, and unique features.

Let’s take a look at the extensive line of grinders Stache carries the:

• 3-Piece Hemp Grynder - Made from high-grade hemp plastic, the classic 3-piece retails for just $10
• 4-Piece Tiny Grynder - A miniature 5-piece grinder with an additional storage compartment in the lid
• 3-Piece SLIM Grynder - Everything you need to effortlessly grind your flower in a convenient travel-friendly compact size
• 3-Piece Grynder - The base model of the Stache line without a kief screen or chamber
• 4-Piece Grynder - Similar to the construction of the 3-Piece with the addition of a kief screen and compartment, features an ash tray on top of the lid
• 5-Piece Grynder - Similar to the construction of the 4-Piece with the addition of a storage compartment in the lid
• 5-Piece Collector’s Edition Grynder - Limited edition Collector Colors on their 5-Piece Grynder
• 3-Piece Grynder 360 - Designed with holes in the side wall that prevents build up; features an ash tray on top of the lid
• 4- and 5-Piece Big Grynder - Standing at 76mm tall and 67mm in diameter, this grinder can handle large amounts of flower at a time and features an ash tray on top of the lid

In a 2023 test performed by Stache and Orange Photonics, they set out to analyze what happens to the THC and terpene content of flower depending on the type of grinder used to break it down, using flower with the same chemical breakdown for each grinder tested. After the grinding process, Orange Photonics, a chemical testing company, conducted a series of tests for THC, THCa, cannabinoids and terpenes.

6 different grinders were tested under the same conditions:

• Each grinder was tested with 1-gram of Papaya Syrup flower in three batches of 0.3-0.33 grams of bud;
• 10 tests of the top piece in one direction followed by 10 taps on the side of the grinder;
• Each sample tested with the LightLab3 High Sensitivity Cannabis Analyzer; and
• 30ml of solvent used for each sample and moisture content was set at 10% for each test

Diamond cut, square cut, elongated crescent moon cut, blender style blades and rounded teeth grinding mechanisms were the 5 types of grinders tested, with 6 tested in total (2 rounded teeth grinders tested.

Based on the findings from this test, they were able to conclude that the Stache Grynder results in flower testing higher for THC and THCa than other leading grinding mechanisms by 2-5%, with CBCa making an appearance with the Stache while undetectable for the others.

The Stache was also the only grinder that scored a medium for terpene level detection, while the others scored low across the board. The data is limited, but based on the results, if you’re looking to keep more THC intact during the grinding process, consider a Stache grinder, you won’t be sorry – I guarantee it.

Here are the results from the Stache testing experiment:

It’s pretty interesting that the method of grinding affects the total cannabinoid content in the ground flower, but what we focused on is the functionality and performance of the Stache rounded teeth.

So let’s jump into our review and test to really understand how these grinders hold up to repeated consumer style use.

Operating the Stache Grinder

One huge benefit of the Stache grinders is related to their lack of teeth like on standard teeth grinders and a center post that is used in Flower Mills, creating a deep and wide chamber to drop your flower in, not on top of or in between teeth like in a standard grinder.

The grinding process is simple and straightforward and is much like the operation process of the classic aluminum teeth grinder; simply drop your flower of choice into the grinding chamber reservoir, place the lid on top of your whole buds, lining up the lid with the lower portion. Next, begin your grind by applying light pressure while rotating the lid back and forth, separating and grinding buds into a fluffy pile of bountiful bud without stripping any of the quality from the ganja.

While grinding, don’t apply too much pressure to the flower, so you don’t alter the proper grinding process. And make sure to keep the lid level for optimal performance. Since the lid and lower grinding piece don’t come into contact, it’ll be valuable to tap the sides of the grinder to assist ground bud in falling through the particle holes. Once ground, simply access your ground glower chamber, pack your favorite pre-roll or bowl, and punch your ticket up to the clouds.

If you’re looking for fluffy ground bud from a grinder that is smooth and actively avoids build up, the Stache Grynder line is lit and a must-have for any Stoner Kit.

One key difference between the Flower Mill and the Stache Grynders (as well as many standard grinders on the market) is the interchangeable particle screen feature. The Flower Mill carries 4 additional mill plates to adjust your grind from extra-fine to extra-course, while the Stache Grynders, like most traditional grinders, have fixed particle holes creating one consistent grind size.

Reviewing and Testing the Stache Grinder

One major driver behind these grinder reviews is the consistent underperformance of traditional grinders on the market. Without fail, teeth grinders eventually lock up, requiring removal of build up along connection points to be performed on the regular in order to keep the compacted kief from disabling the intended functionality of the grinder.

As a daily smoker, the frustration of a locked-up grinder is like yanking your headphones out of your ear when the cord catches (when electronics had cords of course). After putting Cannabis Grinders Under the Spotlight in a recent deep dive of consumer grinders, it was clear that there were 3 mechanisms leader the market: mills, sharp teeth and rounded teeth.

After setting eyes on Stache Grynder series at the Fall 2025 Champs show in Vegas, I knew I had to get my hands on these innovative grinders not only for personal use, but to put their functionality to the test against other popular grinders on the market. And that’s just what we did.

To keep things consistent throughout our grinding tests, we used 3-piece grinder set ups for each brand, featuring only a grinding chamber and ground flower chamber. For the Flower Mill test we used the 5-piece 2.5” Next Gen Premium Stainless Mill without the kief screen. For the sharp teeth variety, we went with a classic Large 3-Piece Aluminum Santa Cruz Shredder, and for the Stache, the incredible 360 Grynder with rounded small teeth and patented side particle holes.

The process included:

• A single individual operating the grinder for consistent data collection, a test manager recording and timing the experiment, and a photographer to document the process.
• Weighing out 28 1-gram batches of premium sticky, Washington-grown ZoZ Brunch Breath bud using a precision scale, weighing the bud post-grind as well.
• Documenting the test with photography after batches #8, #13, #18, #23, and #28.
• Weighing the 360 Grynder before every batch to judge how much kief or resin has built up.
• Grading the torque needed and resistance encountered during the experiment as well as particle consistency.
• Finally, smoke a big ol’ Ceramic Tipped 2-Gram Fatty Hemp Blunt using the fresh ground bud the Stache 360 prepared.

Putting the Stache Grinder to the Test

We partnered with Seattle-based Cannabis and Lifestyle brand ZoZ to put the Stache 360 Grynder to the test, putting 28-grams of skunky Brunch Breath through the ringer.

Before each batch of flower that was ground, we weighed the 360 Grynder to monitor build up over time within the grinder. Additionally, we timed each batch from start to finish to get a better sense of performance and noted any observations worthy of representation.

Outside of quantitative data like weights and time, we rated from 1-5 the torque required, jams and resistance, and grind consistency, with 1 representing low effort regarding torque and jams and a low consistency among ground particle sizes.

With an ounce of bud in hand, a brand new Stache 360 Grynder ready for action, and a crew of pre-roll smokin’ DaySavers in search of the best grinders around, we began grinding!

Let’s recap:

• 3-Piece Stache 360 Grynder with patented side particle holes tested
• 1-Ounce of ZoZ Brunch Breath used
• 28 total test batches, each 1-gram, with grind time clocked for each batch
• Photos for observation taken after batches #8, #13, #18, #23, and #28
• Grinder and flower (1g) weighed before and after grinding
• Torque required and Resistance encountered were measured on a scale from 1–5, with 1 being resistance-free, low torque milling
• Grind consistency is also measured on a 1–5 scale with 5 being a uniform particle consistency and 1 being uneven
• Operator reviewed all official Stache guides before running the test
• Flower was not broken apart unless it wouldn’t fit in the chamber or to get proper starting weights

Reviewing the Stache Grinder Test Results

To catch the eyes of industry folk, cannabis and smoking accessory products must be innovative, add value, and perform to the highest standards. And Stache has made its case with their small, rounded-bump grinder mechanism and quality craftsmanship, all at a wickedly affordable price point.

With an average grind time of just 2.8 seconds, the Stache Grynder is by far the fastest grinder that we have tested here at DaySavers. The rounded teeth break the flower down without shredding the flower, preserving the integrity of the trichomes and in turn, yielding more cannabinoids and potency. And since the rotary lid and lower grinder mechanism don’t meet when closed, compressed flower and kief is kept to a minimum, with any flower stuck in the grinding chamber falling through the lower or side particle holes with a few simple taps of the grinder.

The Flower is extremely easy to load as the Stache Grynders don’t have raised teeth like the Santa Cruz Shredder or a center post like the Flower Mill, just a deep open reservoir to pop in your flower pre-grind. This feature is practical from both an engineering aspect and convenience for the user, avoiding fallout from the initial turns like what can happen with a sharp teeth grinder as well as adding capacity to the chamber.

With fixed particle holes not only on the floor of the grinder chamber but also on the side walls, you’ll have consistently ground flower that compares to the Medium #3 Plate in the Flower Mill, and with the scale of particle holes within the chamber, you can expect minimal build up, less resistance, and a fluffy grind anytime.

One operational tip was used consistently throughout was level rotations of the rotor lid with mild pressure applied during each grind batch.

Weights and Yield

Following an ounce of dank, glorious ZoZ Brunch Breath running through the Stache 360, the buildup of kief and flower, particularly in the ground flower chamber, was a full gram, that’s 3.6% of an ounce. This is actually awesome, compared to others. Less build up in the grinding chamber means that more bud is ending up in the ground flower chamber. Plus, the buildup is easy to scape and yields high kief percentage flower.

The side holes in the grinding chamber paired with the 2 pieces of the grinder chamber that don’t connect when the grinder is closed means fluffier flower that isn’t crushed through the particle holes, but more pushed through, leaving minimal build up, a huge leap from classic shredding teeth.

The average yield per batch starting with 1-gram of pre-ground flower was 0.91-grams, with a range of 0.7- to 1.2-grams. This suggests that due to the optimal conditions of the grinder chamber, large stems remained in the grinding chamber, causing a positive drop in weight as the harsh stems are best left out of your ground smoking bud. The higher 1.2-gram yield, the only batch producing more than 1-gram, can be explained by flower remaining in the grinding chamber that then fell through during the next batch, adding 0.2-grams to the total yield in batch #16.

The consistent 0.8 to 0.9-gram yields suggest a consistent final product with about 0.15-grams either remaining atop the particle holes in the grinding chamber or most often, through build up in the ground flower chamber that stuck to the surfaces and didn’t make it on the scale post-grind.

With its blunt, small bump grinding mechanism, the abundance of particle holes in the floor and walls of the grinding chamber, and the absence of flower being compacted while grinding, the Stache 360 Grynder is one, if not the best grinder I have ever used. You can feel the absence of build up where it matters from the ease of operation through continued use.

The evolution of the grinder is catching up, with sharp teeth grinders dominating the market for decades, it’s a breath of fresh air to feel real innovation that levels up the grinding ritual with the data to back up its performance. Go Stache.

Time to Grind 1-Gram of Flower

With an average grind time of just 2.8 seconds, it seems the small round bump mechanism has a leg up on Mills and Shredders, and goodness was it easy to rotate back and forth. The range of time to grind 1-gram of bud fell between 2.1 and 4.2 seconds, with only one batch exceeding 4 seconds and only five batches exceeding 3 seconds.

It should be noted that the batch that took 4.2 seconds had a jam due to a large stem stuck in the grinding chamber without pieces being broken off, keeping the entirety of the stem separate from the ground flower, a positive reason for taking longer.

We were working with top-shelf sticky bud, so while these are incredibly fast grind times, just imagine how quickly a drier bud would pass through this innovative grinder. Yeah buddy!

Ground Flower Consistency

When we talk about grind consistency we must first talk about the elephant in the room: larger particle holes will have smaller particles falling through, affecting consistency of the grind. With smaller particle holes, large particles can’t get through, so smaller particle holes yield a more consistent grind. But regardless, the Stache yielded very consistent ground flower through the entirety of the 28 batches, with a majority of the grind coming through at a medium particle size with a consistent amount of smaller particles blended in.

The medium particle size creates a versatile consistency that works for all combustion methods of consumption, large enough particle sizes for blunts while small enough to be an effective grinder for pre-rolls and use with the Perfect Pack Machine. For an all-around consistent grind on the regular, you can’t go wrong with the 360 Grynder from Stache.

Required Torque and Resistance Met

And lastly, we look at performance, consistency and functionality through the variables of torque required to operate the grinder and resistance met through the grinding process, and while these are qualitative measurements, our Pre-Roll Experts know a thing or two about preppin’ bud.

The lack of resistance made for light torque operating, never encountering resistance from buildup, only from stems separated from bud that doesn’t pass through the particle holes, happy resistance if you will. This occurred in 4 total batches, all receiving at least a score of 2 for both torque and resistance with one large stem causing a resistance score of 3, the highest and only score above a 2.

The average torque required to grind each batch was rated at 1.5 and resistance met scored a 1.4 average, an incredible feat working with ultra sticky buds, implying that build-up is minimal, meaning far less frustration and need for cleaning that a traditional grinder that causes build up after the first few grinds. But like anything that comes in contact with sticky icky, there will eventually be a need to break out the isopropyl alcohol for a well-deserved cleaning, though make sure to clear out any build up in the ground flower chamber, that sh!t is fire.

Observations Encountered During Stache Grinder Test

Throughout the experiment, we recorded key events that arose:

• Batch 5 – Since the blunt mini teeth keep the grinder pieces from coming in contact, some ground flower remains since it is not forced down. Remedied by light taps.
• Batch 7 – Visible buildup of flower and kief in the ground flower chamber, to be expected without a kief screen.
• Batch 12 – Large thick stem caused resistance, stem remained in grind chamber.
• Batch 14 – Stems caused resistance due to not being crushed or shredded in the grind chamber.
• Batch 18 – Stem jam causing resistance when rotating both back and forth.
• Batch 24 – Hefty stem left in grind chamber greatly affected yield.
• Batch 25 – Loose flower buildup on magnets in the grind chamber.

DaySavers Stache Grinder Assessment

We’re huge cannabis fans here at DaySavers, so grinders are used very regularly; for some (myself), multiple times throughout the day. And the feedback that we hear time and time again: my grinder is jamming due to build up and I’m so frustrated I could never smoke weed again. Ok, maybe not that.

But how – throughout the many years of innovation around cultivation, extraction and consumption – how on earth did we use aluminum sharp teeth grinders for so long when their performance is extremely mid? Regardless, Stache saw the opportunity to revolutionize grinder mechanics, and revolutionize grinder mechanics they did.

Regularly, DaySavers team members working cannabis events around the country would come back raving about a new grinder they encountered, that grinder: the Stache. And for good reason, their price point is fire, the engineering is near flawless, and the fluffy stem-less bud speaks for itself.

The weight is the perfect balance between light and heavy, the outside has art deco notches for grip and a steller look. And the consistency of ease and smooth add pleasure and simplicity to any ritual, while the particle size is universal.

It’s very easy to feel when the grind is complete even though the two side of the grinding chamber don’t make contact, and the ability the grinder has in keeping stems from shredding and falling into the fluffy ground bud is incredible. No need to worry about sharp hard stems puncturing your papers or wraps, and even when grinding top-shelf sticky green, build up was minimal and resistance met was marginal at best.

This has to be the smoothest, high-performing and technically advanced grinder I have ever used. Not only do we vouch for Stache, we’re adding their most popular grinders to our line of Simply Superior Smokewares. The speed at which the sticky bud was ground was absolutely unexpected and the highlight of the test, because if the grinding is fast, torque and resistance must be low too.

The grinder produces minimal build up which means smoother grinds and less need for cleaning and the yield is fluffy and consistent.

Nearly every smoking accessory company offers a grinder, whether their design, white labeled products, or branded swag, and you’re almost sure to encounter sharp teeth as the grinding mechanism. No longer. Stache is a brand to remember as they’ve advanced a massive product category in the space without gimmicks or unnecessary features.

It is with the utmost confidence that I pass along these words: Stache grinders, in particular the 360 Grynder, will change the way you think about the ritual of breaking up buds. I used to hate grinding flower because I knew it was only a matter of time until build up locked me out, now I feel like I’m operating a product designed in the future by folks who knew every frustration I had about the standard teeth grinder and solved them.

Remember, not all heroes wear capes. Some, apparently, build grinders.