1Zpresso is a Taiwanese brand that has quickly established itself as one of the coffee industry’s foremost producers of hand grinders. It has achieved this despite being relatively new on the scene.
Nevertheless, choosing which manual coffee grinder to buy isn’t always easy, especially when you have lots of similar choices.
Why Trust Us?
We tried and tested most 1Zpresso grinders for you and figured out the differences between them.
In this article, we’ll try to remove the confusion so that you can decide which 1Zpresso hand grinder is best for your needs.
1Zpresso Coffee Grinder Overview
There are over a dozen 1Zpresso manual coffee grinders. At present, they are categorized in three ways.
- Q-Series – Q2
- X-Series – X-Pro, X-Ultra
- J-Series – JX, JX-Pro, J-Max
- K-Series – K-Pro, K-Plus, K-Max, K-Ultra
Updated in 2023: They also released two new grinders with a foldable handle to the product line: The X-Pro and K-Ultra. We are going to review them soon.
However, these aren’t the only models offered by 1Zpresso. Nevertheless, the ones listed above match a specific user expectation with the brewing style, so we suggest you focus on them.
If you consider others that have been phased out, it can lead to unnecessary confusion. Still, if you want to explore even more options, take a look at this product list.
A Quick Glance
If you’d rather not dig too far into the details, here’s an at-a-glance guide that you can refer to when considering which manual grinder to buy.
- For an ultra-compact and portable grinder – Q2
- For mainly brewing espresso – JX-Pro, J-Max (smaller adjustment for espresso)
- For mainly brewing filter coffee including pour-over, drip coffee, French press, and cold brew – Q2, JX, K-Series
- For an all-rounder for every brewing method – X-Pro, X-Ultra, JX-Pro, K Series (the X-Pro and JX-Pro are all-rounders but offer smaller adjustments for espresso, while the K-Series is optimized for filter coffee).
1Zpresso Manual Coffee Grinders Comparison
Now we have a general idea of the range of 1Zpresso hand grinders, let’s get into the specifics with a side-by-side comparison.
The following buying guide doesn’t offer an opinion on which grinder is the best. That’s because 1Zpresso has done very well at ensuring the features it offers are distributed well across the grinders depending on the brewing methods each is optimized for. Therefore, determining which grinder is best-suited to your needs depends on your brewing style and budget.
Instead, we will concentrate on the most popular and representative grinder in each series to determine which offers the combination of characteristics and features most appropriate for you.
The grinders we’ll focus on are the Q2, JX-Pro, K-Series (K-Plus and K-Max), and J-Max.
We have previously given in-depth hands-on reviews of each grinder, so feel free to refer to them for more information.
- 1Zpresso JX-Pro Review >>
- 1Zpresso Q2 Review >>
- 1Zpresso K-Plus Review >>
- 1Zpresso K-Max Review >>
- 1Zpresso X-Pro Review >>
- 1Zpresso K-Ultra Review >>
Grinding Range
One of the most significant factors separating the grinders is the precision and range of the grind setting. This factor also determines which brewing method the grinder is optimized for.
We’ll begin by concentrating on the JX-Pro and J-Max because these offer the broadest range of grind settings with the smallest adjustment between each setting.
The JX-Pro has a 12.5 microns (0.0125mm) burr movement. Meanwhile, the J-Max is even more impressive, with a burr movement of just 8.8 microns (0.0088mm). [1] These ensure the availability of hundreds of grind settings in each grinder. This means they can grind for coffee using the finest grinds, like Turkish coffee, all the way to the coarsest grinds for cold brew. Meanwhile, there are plenty of steps in between. The range is perfect for dialing in for espresso to filter coffee, offering four rotations of the dial and over 200 clicks.
Each grinder in the K Series has the same burr set, and the grind adjustment is 22 microns (0.022mm) per step – almost twice the distance of the JX-Pro and three times the distance of the J-Max. Meanwhile, the K-Pro, K-Plus, and K-Max have 90 settings in a single dial rotation. They offer excellent grind consistency for both espresso and filter coffee.
The Q2 is the most budget-friendly grinder, and it has a precision of 25 microns (0.025mm) per step, offering 90 grind settings. This is an ample number for filter coffee, but it doesn’t offer much scope for dialing in for espresso like the J-Series.
Burr Design
Every J-Series and K-Series grinder has the same 48mm stainless steel burrs, while the Q2 uses 38mm burrs.
The J-Max has titanium-coated burrs ensuring less wear and tear over time. This is particularly useful when you mainly grind fine espresso grounds.
Meanwhile, the JX-Pro uses a standard burr set. The geometry of the inner burr design lends itself to finer grinds, making them more suited to espresso.
The K-Series burrs are designed for a range of brewing methods, allowing them to grind for espresso as well as filter coffee. However, they are more suited for the latter and are at their best in the medium range.
Even though the Q2 is the most inexpensive option, its grinding performance is still excellent, even it has a smaller burr set. The 38mm steel burrs are often found in the best burr grinders in the price category and work well for any brewing method. The Q2 is also capable of grinding for espresso. However, it’s not ideal due in this range due to inefficiency and a lack of adjustment options.
Grind Adjustment Mechanism
The grind adjustment mechanism is another significant feature separating the grinders. Let’s take a closer look at the differences.
Internal Adjustment
Beneath the Q2‘s burr set is a wing nut adjustment, meaning you need to remove the catch cup and keep the handle attached to adjust the grind setting. Many manual grinders have a similar design, and the Q2 has numbers, clicks, and markers on each setting, which simplifies finding the correct setting.
Top Adjustment
Unlike the Q2, the JX-Pro‘s adjustment is inside the hopper, making it easier to access and use. Even with its incremental changes, the settings click seamlessly. When you have the setting you need, you just place the lid on and start grinding. With 200 grind settings, working out the number of rotations and the clicks per rotation can assist you in finding earlier settings.
External Adjustment
The K-Series have an adjustable collar on the exterior at the top of the grinders. This is a very well-thought-out addition because this makes it easy to use and track your grind settings.
The adjustment dial has only one-and-a-half rotations so that you can go from fine to coarse grind within seconds. The dial is also particularly beginner-friendly, as altering the grind setting is effortless and intuitive. More settings are not always a good thing, as it can be frustrating if you don’t really need to tweak for an espresso shot. For example, if you usually brew filter coffee or your espresso machine uses a more forgiving pressurized basket.
The J-Max has the same mechanism but extends it a little with extra dial rotations. This is because the increments are smaller between each step, so you track the rotations via a group of dots found beneath the adjustment ring. These track the number of rotations you’re on.
Efficiency
Grind speed is essential when it comes to hand grinding, so it’s important to determine how fast a grinder gets the job done before buying it.
Not surprisingly, hand grinders with smaller burr sets take the longest to grind. Because of that, the Q2 is the slowest of the 1Zpresso grinders as its burr set is only 38mm rather than 48mm. However, it is still efficient enough to grind to a medium size more quickly than other entry-level manual grinders. Meanwhile, it’s significantly faster than grinders that use ceramic burrs. Nevertheless, it will take longer to grind for espresso.
The other three premium hand grinders are faster than many electric grinders in the finer range. Each will take less than one minute to grind 18 grams of light roast beans for espresso. Of the three, the J-Max is the quickest, while the K-Series grinders are slightly slower and need more strength because of the burr design.
Design And Build Quality
Each grinder uses similar stainless steel, aluminum alloy, and wooden handles, and they all have a premium build quality. Not only that, but they are aesthetically beautiful and solidly built compared to other manual grinders.
The Q2 and JX-Pro each have a well-machined screw-on ground coffee catcher. In contrast, the K-Max and J-Max favor a magnetic catch cup.
All the grinders have anti-slip rubber in the center of the main body adorned with the 1Zpresso logo. The anti-slip bands look great, but the J-Max and K-Series grinders also offer iron-gray and even more stylish patterned silicone bands rather than just the rubber option.
Size And Capacity
The Q2 is an ideal coffee grinder for traveling as it’s lightweight and compact. Indeed, it will comfortably fit in a coffee travel bag or even an AeroPress plunger. Of course, this is a significant advantage if AeroPress is your brewer of choice, as you can take both the brewer and grinder with you as a one-piece.
The other grinders are all similar in size and weight. However, the J-Max and K-Series grinders are a little easier to grip. In comparison, the diameter of the JX-Pro is slightly larger, making it awkward for people with smaller hands.
The Q2 has a small capacity – it can only hold 20g of coffee beans. However, this is hardly surprising given its portability. After all, you’re bound to sacrifice some capacity when choosing a manual grinder to carry with you on the move. Meanwhile, even though the JX-Pro, J-Max, and K-Series grinders may not be as easy to carry with you, they benefit from 35g capacities.
Accessories
Each of the grinders comes with different accessories. Let’s go into detail.
The JX-Pro only has a grinder brush, which might seem a disadvantage. However, it’s one of the reasons it’s more affordable.
The Q2 is designed with portability in mind, so it has a travel bag and a grinder brush.
The J-Max has a slimline EVA carry case and a silicone sleeve for placing around the grinder’s body. It also comes with a grinder brush and blower for cleaning the machine.
The K-Pro and K-Max have similar accessories to the J-Max. However, a larger carry case with the K-Plus allows capacity for storing beans while on your travels. The K-Plus also has a grinds catcher with a different design to the other 1Zpresso models. This allows you to transfer the grounds directly from the bottom of the catch cup into your brewer of choice. This is particularly helpful with espresso portafilters and improves the workflow.
Cleaning And Maintenance
Every 1Zpresso grinder is easy to clean and maintain. Disassembling and reassembling all the parts doesn’t require any specialist tools, so giving each one a deep clean couldn’t be easier.
Our Verdict
The Q2 is the perfect grinder for taking with you on your travels. It’s also an excellent option for anyone in the market for a budget-friendly hand grinder that doesn’t compromise on grind uniformity. In short, the Q2 performs excellently and provides an extensive range of grinding options for many brewing methods. However, there is less scope for dialing in than the other models.
The JX-Pro is one of the most popular and affordable espresso grinders. When we say affordable, meaning it costs a fraction of the price of a premium espresso grinder that offers the same grind consistency and quality. Indeed, it only costs a similar price as an entry-level electric burr grinder. Overall, it’s an extremely high-performance hand grinder with great value.
The J-Max offers superb precision. 8.8 microns per step is just insane. If you’re an espresso connoisseur and don’t use any other brewing method, we’d recommend this manual grinder ahead of the JX-Pro. For a stepped hand grinder, it’s remarkably impressive and is as close as you can get to a stepless grinder without it being one.
If you predominantly brew filter coffee, the unique K-Burr set on the K-Series grinders will offer grinds perfect for a tasty filter specialty coffee. Brewing coffee with the uniform, consistent grinds it produces, you’ll get the maximum flavor clarity in your cup. Meanwhile, it’s easy to use, with just one full rotation encompassing all the brewing methods you need. However, one area where it’s lacking compared to the J-Max is it doesn’t have the same level of accuracy.
The 1Zpresso manual grinder range is extensive (and growing), and while it’s great to have the choice, it can be confusing figuring out which is the right grinder for you. Hopefully, this article has removed that confusion to offer the clarity you need to make the right choice for your needs.
References:
[1] Grind Setting Tutorial for 1Zpresso Grinders – https://1zpresso.coffee/grind-setting/
