No matter what type of coffee maker you have, you’re missing out if you don’t grind your beans. Better coffee depends on good grinding. You could invest hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars in a high-end espresso machine or coffee maker, but you’re not going to get the best results from that bag of ground coffee that you picked up at the supermarket.
The flavors, aromas, and essential oils in the coffee bean are exposed and released when you grind them. If you grind ahead of time, you lose some flavor.
A good coffee grinder isn’t usually cheap, but it will kick the quality of your brew up a notch.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Coffee Grinder
There are several types of coffee grinders, including automatic vs. manual and burr vs. blade. In this section, we describe some of the factors you should consider when purchasing a coffee grinder.
Burr or Blade?
Coffee grinders use burrs or a blade to chop up the beans. Blade grinders are similar to a blender. They have flat blades that rotate and slash the beans into smaller pieces. Blade grinders don’t actually grind the beans; they cut them.
Burr grinders perform a true grinding action. They consist of abrasive plates that rotate as they crush the coffee beans into smaller pieces.
With blade grinders, the longer you grind the beans, the finer the resulting pieces are. Burr grinders rely on the spacing between the burrs to determine the size of the grind.
Experts say that burr grinders give you more control. They result in a more uniform grind, which allows the water the make contact with the surface of each ground evenly.
Blade grinders are usually less expensive than burr grinders. But they don’t produce a uniform consistency. Burr grinders are considered to be superior.
Size
If you want something that sits on your countertop, size might not matter too much. Burr grinders come in many different sizes. The smallest ones are portable, which is convenient if you want to grind your own coffee while you’re traveling.
A manual burr grinder requires no electricity. You can use it while camping, hiking, or on a road trip. You might want a small manual grinder if you travel frequently or want an option to use at your desk in the office.
But when you’re considering the size, you also have to think about the capacity. If you want to grind lots of coffee at once, you’ll need a grinder that accommodates plenty of beans. Many portable manual grinders have a limited capacity. Fortunately, they’re about as easy to use as a pepper grinder, and you shouldn’t have much trouble refilling them to grind beans for the next cup or shot.
Conical or Flat?
Burr grinders may be conical or flat. Conical grinders direct the coffee beans vertically through cone-shaped rings. Flat burr grinders pulverize the coffee between flat discs.
Flat burr grinders give you more control. But they’re a little less forgiving than conical grinders. Most people would agree that flat burr grinders are for the experts.
Warranty
Burr grinders can wear out over time, and metal burrs become dull faster than ceramic ones. Find out if the manufacturer offers a warranty and what it covers. The company may be able to replace some parts as they wear out.
About the 1Zpresso Grinder
The 1Zpresso grinder is a manual coffee grinder that’s manufactured by a Taiwanese company. It became popular in the Asian market but is no well-known across the world. The company focuses on doing one thing well. It mainly creates coffee grinders, which allows for quality and innovation.
The grinder comes in a variety of models, including the following:
- Q Series – Compact, portable, and fits perfectly into an Aeropress plunger
- J Series – large capacity for double espresso or pour-over coffee
- E Series – Conical burr that’s easy to use
- K Series – Set your ideal grind easily for a variety of brewing methods
All of the models are manual, and they allow you to adjust the consistency to suit your needs. The Q series is smaller than the other versions, but all of them would be appropriate for travel.
These grinders use a burr to create a consistent grind. All you have to do is hold onto the cylinder and crank the handle to grind your coffee. Set the grind to the level that you would like, and it comes out perfectly ground and ready to brew.
Your grinder arrives ready to use. Simply add your beans, set the coarseness, and turn the crank.
The 1Zpresso grinder is easy to clean. You can dismantle it to dust it off without having to recalibrate the product.
Things We Like
- Small enough to use anywhere
- Burr grinder produces consistent results
- Requires no electricity
- Smooth operation
Room for Improvement
- Heavy for such a small product
- Small capacity for brewing multiple cups of coffee or entertaining guests
- Some models require more effort to crank than others
Features and Benefits
If you’re looking for a manual coffee grinder, the 1Zpresso might be ideal for you. It doesn’t require electricity, and you can use it in the kitchen or while you travel. It’s versatile and grinds coffee for any type of brew, including espresso.
Burr Grinder
All of the 1Zpresso models have a burr grinder. It’s an efficient way to produce consistent grounds. The grinder is fixed internally to the shaft, ensuring longevity and durability.
The burrs on these grinders are quite sharp when they’re new. Although that might seem ideal, it’s not. Sharp burrs create fine dust, which can compromise the consistency of your grind.
If you feel as though the burrs are too sharp upon purchasing this model, you should know that this feature will improve as you break in the grinder. Some people suggest grinding dry rice to dull the burrs. However, this could be problematic. The starches in the rice can clog the grinder and strain the parts over time.
You should see that consistency becomes more uniform within a few months of using the grinder.
One of the biggest benefits of using this grinder is that the bearings are incredibly smooth. Between the low-resistance bearings and the long handle, the product requires minimal effort to crank.
You should know that the burrs on the 1Zpresso are metal. Most commercial coffee grinders use stainless steel burrs.
Some people prefer ceramic burrs to metal ones, though, because they don’t transfer heat. Therefore, they won’t reach high temperatures that can affect the flavor and aroma of the coffee.
But ceramic burrs can also break. If you’re planning on toting your grinder around with you, metal burrs are probably preferable.
Stainless steel grinders are usually sharper than ceramic grinders at first. This can create some inconsistencies. But as they wear down, they produce a more uniform grind than ceramic burrs.
Easy Adjustment
You can adjust the grinders to specify the coarseness of the grind. Each model varies when it comes to adjusting the grind. Some of the models have a dial on the bottom of the grinder, where the coffee comes out. Others have a dial at the top, where you pour the coffee into the grinder.
The JX-Pro model seems to have the most options for adjusting the coarseness of the grind. It allows you to choose from 40 settings, making it the most versatile model if you dabble between espresso and French press (or anything in between). You don’t have to buy more than one grinder for different types of coffee.
This video shows how simple it is to adjust the grind level on this product.
Fast Grinding Times
It doesn’t take long to grind your coffee with the 1Zpresso manual grinders. Each model takes a different amount of time, from about 18 to 40 seconds. But this is comparable to a similarly sized electric model. The JX-Pro model is the quickest. It’s faster than most manual grinders out there.
Easy to Clean
Some manual grinders require tools to disassemble them for cleaning. The 1Zpresso grinders are easy to take apart with your hands. You don’t need special tools, and you don’t have to recalibrate the products if you reassemble them correctly.
The best way to clean the grinder, after you have disassembled it, is to brush off the debris using a dry brush. If you add water, you might clog up the parts. You can use a damp cloth to remove oily buildup. However, make sure that you let the pieces dry completely before reassembling the product.
Quiet
Have you ever been woken up in the morning to the sound of a blade coffee grinder whirring? Even electronic burr grinders can be loud. If you live in a cramped space or wake up earlier than everyone in your household and don’t want to shock them out of sleep, this manual grinder will come in handy.
Attractive and Compact
If you’re going to leave your grinder out on the counter, you want it to have some appeal. The 1Zpresso has a sleek design. All of the products are made out of aluminum alloy and have a streamlined profile.
The wooden bead at the end of the handle adds some warmth to the contemporary aesthetic. It attaches magnetically, which means that you can remove it if it becomes cumbersome for travel.
Some of the best environments in which to use a manual grinder like the 1Zpresso include:
- Camping
- On a boat or RV
- At the office
- In a student dormitory
- In a small apartment
Alternatives and Conclusion
If you have never enjoyed hand-grinding your coffee beans in the past, perhaps you weren’t using the right grinder. Some manual grinders are difficult to crank and result in an inconsistent grind. However, that’s not the case with the 1Zpresso.
The 1Zpresso operates relatively effortlessly. It requires more exertion than merely pressing a button, but many coffee aficionados find the process of getting hands-on with their beans appealing.
Still, you might want to look into some other manual grinders that work just as well. Ifa French press is your thing, you need the perfect grind for that brewing method. The JavaPresse manual coffee grinder is ideal for a variety of brewing methods, but it shines when it comes to the French press.
It also has an adjustable grind selector. You can adjust it to 18 different settings. Although this doesn’t have the full range of settings as the premium 1Zpresso models, it’s perfect if you don’t brew a variety of coffees and stick to drip coffee or French press. Plus, its low price makes it perfect for experimenting with.
Do you need to grind more than 30 grams of beans in one sitting? You might prefer a manual grinder that has a larger hopper. The Hario ceramic coffee mill holds up to 100 grams, which is ideal when you’re brewing coffee for the whole family every morning. It also has ceramic burrs, which don’t heat up as quickly as metal ones. The low price is also perfect for people who want to try a manual grinder without too much commitment.
Perhaps you don’t want to fuss with a manual grinder and don’t want to drop several hundred dollars for an electric one. In that case, an ideal alternative would be an entry-level electric grinder. The Baratza Encore and Capresso Infinity are two excellent options for the novice barista.
In a pinch, you can grind coffee beans without a grinder. However, most people wouldn’t want to. If your grinder kicks the dust, though, you might want to use one of these emergency methods. But keeping a manual grinder on hand will also be a great backup even if it’s not your first choice.
The 1Zpresso is a premium manual grinder. However, it’s still in the lower price range and is relatively affordable for a high-quality product like this. You can find cheaper hand grinders—some are priced below $20—but they won’t give you the precision, longevity, and ease of use that the 1Zpresso offers.
1Zpresso Manual Coffee Grinder Review: Fresh Grinds
Having the ability to use a manual coffee grinder gives you full power over the coarseness for your grounds. Check out our review of the 1Zpresso grinder.
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