1Zpresso is the new kid on the block when it comes to manual coffee grinders. This start-up company is quickly making a name for itself for producing affordable and top-quality grinders. So we are super excited to review the 1Zpresso J-series of hand grinders.
1Zpresso Overview
If you are on the market for a manual grinder, the 1Zpresso grinders are outstanding! These grinders are extremely well built, have excellent grind consistency, and are quick and easy to use. The 1Zpresso JX is better for pour-over, whereas the 1Zpresso JX Pro excels at both espresso and pour-over.
Why Buy A Manual Coffee Grinder?
There are several benefits to investing in a manual coffee grinder over an automatic grinder. The first of these is price. Hand grinders offer far more bang for your buck. Because there are very few parts to a hand grinder, most of your money is going into the quality and make of the burrs. Secondly, hand grinders offer portability. They tend to be far smaller and more durable than electric grinders, which makes them great for travel. Finally, the process of using a hand grinder allows you to make a hobby, a passion, an art out of brewing. You get great satisfaction in grinding your own beans by hand.
About 1Zpresso
Firstly, a lesson in pronunciation. The 1 in 1Zpresso is pronounced “eee” in Chinese, so 1Zpresso should be read as “Easypresso,” not “One-Zed-Presso”.
Now that we have cleared that up… who is 1Zpresso? These guys are pretty new to the coffee scene, launching their company in 2017. They were founded by a bunch of specialty coffee lovers with engineering backgrounds. Based in Taiwan, their coffee brand focuses on producing premium hand grinders. They have quickly gained popularity in the Asian market, and we expect they will have a bright future in the coffee industry worldwide.
What Models Are Available?
Q-Series
The 1Zpresso Q2 grinder is their smallest grinder, built for travel and designed to fit perfectly inside an Aeropress. It has 38mm stainless steel burrs, making it quick and easy to grind coffee beans. This is an impressive grinder for the price and an excellent choice if you are looking for an entry-level grinder.
J-Series
We will go into the J-Series in more depth below, but as a brief introduction, there are three grinders in this series: the JX, JX-Pro and the J-Max. All the J-Series grinders share the same burr set (although the J-Max is titanium coated) and thus grind uniformity. They have a larger capacity making them great for Pour Over, French Press, and Aeropress. All of the grinders can grind fine enough for espresso, but the JX-Pro and J-Max have the micro-adjustment required to dial in precisely.
K-Series
The K-series grinders allow you to easily set your grind size and switch between different grind settings. There are three grinders in the series, the K-Pro, K-Max and K-Plus. They all have an external adjustment system, large capacity, and 48mm stainless steel burrs. They offer exceptional grind quality. The K-Series grinders are great all-rounders, capable of both pour over and espresso. See our guide to 1Zpresso grinders for a more in-depth overview.
1Zpresso JX
1Zpresso JX Pro
1Zpresso JX and JX-Pro Review
Design
The 1Zpresso JX and JX-Pro are both excellently designed. With stainless steel bodies, dual-bearing shafts for greater stability, and 48mm stainless steel burrs, these babies are made to last. They have a sleek and modern look with a beautiful wooden knob on the handle, making them easy to hold and turn. 1Zpresso has also included a rubber band to help you grip the grinder. Another benefit of the 1Zpresso range is that all the grinders are made to be disassembled without extra tools and don’t require recalibration once put back together. This thoughtful feature makes cleaning and maintenance a breeze. Overall both these grinders simply look and feel premium; you can tell they have been well made and are going to last.
Portability
As we mentioned above, a benefit of a hand grinder is its portability. However, we must admit it would be a bit of a push to bring either of these on your travels-they are pretty substantial! The 1Zpresso JX (which is the smaller of the two) weighs 650g, and the JX-Pro is even larger weighing in at 780g. It’s safe to say they aren’t the most travel-friendly grinders. If you want a more suitable grinder, take a look at the 1Zpresso Q2.
Grind Size Adjustment
It is at this point where the two grinders divide, utilizing different systems and therefore having a different range of grind settings. We found 1Zpresso’s grind guide here an excellent guide, giving starting points for each different brewing method.
1Zpresso JX
The standard model has a simple stepped adjustment dial located under the main body of the grinder. To adjust the grind setting, you turn the dial clockwise for finer grinds and counter-clockwise for coarser- the dial clicks at each increment. There are ten numbers on the dial and an additional two clicks between each number giving you 30 clicks per full rotation. Each click moves the burr by 0.025mm. There are about 120 settings allowing you to brew anything from espresso to French press. However, it does not have the ability to fine-tune your espresso grind setting.
1Zpresso JX-Pro
The JX-Pro model has a more precise grind adjustment system allowing for the fine adjustments required to dial in an espresso shot. The grind adjustment dial is located on top of the grinder so you don’t have to take it apart to change the grind setting. Like the 1Zpresso JX, you turn the dial clockwise for finer grinds and counter-clockwise for coarser. The dial clicks at each increment. There are ten numbers on the dial and an additional three clicks between each number giving you 40 clicks per full rotation. Each click moves the burr by 0.0125mm. With over 200 stepped grind settings, you are able to make the micro-adjustments required in an espresso grinder.
Grind Speed
Anyone who has used a manual grinder will know that grind speed is a game-changer. Grinding beans by hand can be time-consuming and tedious. However, 1Zpresso has made it seem like a walk in the park. To start with, they have added bearings to the crank to make turning smooth and easy to turn. Secondly, the grind speed on both grinders is exceptional. The fast grind speed is largely due to the large 48mm stainless steel burrs, which make short work of grinding. Surprisingly the 1Zpresso JX is faster than the JX-Pro. Grinding an 18g dose for pour-over takes about 20 seconds with the JX and about 30 seconds with the JX-Pro.
Consistency
The grind consistency produced by both the 1Zpresso grinders is excellent. Both grinders perform similarly, with the main difference between them being the way you adjust the grind size and the sheer number of grind sizes available. They both produce an even grind size with few boulders or fines. This is particularly noticeable at the coarse level, which is the real test. Both these grinders outperform other entry-level grinders and are up there with models such as the Comandante C40 and Helor 101.
As a side note, some users have found the consistency is not as good when the grinder is new, creating fine dust. This is because stainless steel burrs are very sharp at the beginning and need to be broken in. The consistency becomes more uniform after a few months of use.
Ease of Cleaning
As we mentioned above, 1Zpresso has designed all of its grinders to be able to be taken apart without the need for extra tools. This is extremely helpful when it comes to cleaning your grinder. 1Zpresso recommends you do a thorough clean once a month. To do this, you take it apart and brush out any debris with a dry brush to clean (do not use water). You may use a damp cloth to help remove built-up coffee oils but leave the parts to dry completely before reassembling.
1Zpresso JX vs JX-Pro?
So which one is best for you? We recommend the JX for those looking for a manual grinder for pour-over or other manual brewing methods. It is cheaper, lighter, and faster to use and should grind sufficiently for most manual brewing methods. If you want a hand grinder for espresso, the JX-Pro is the way to go, as it allows the fine micro-adjustments required to dial in a shot.
The Final Verdict
To wrap it up, if you are in the market for a manual hand grinder, either of these grinders from 1Zpresso will serve you well. 1Zpresso really has set a new bar for manual grinders. Their products excel in every category, and they are extremely affordable (about 2-3 times cheaper than rivals). They grind consistently and quickly, are beautifully designed and built to last. What are you waiting for!
