Why is choosing the right coffee grinder so important?
The reason I want to share this topic is because when I opened my online store, I never imagined that so many people in Hong Kong or other regions would be looking for coffee grinders.
Most of the customers or friends I encounter often ask, I want to try pour-over coffee, which one should I choose? Is there one suitable for playing with pour-over coffee? A grinder for both pour-over coffee and espresso? I don't know how to choose, do you have any recommendations for various questions, so I want to answer everyone's questions here at once.
When choosing a coffee grinder, I originally thought most friends would directly choose the Comandante C40, because at a price point of around 2000 HKD, its excellent cleanliness, consistency in pour-over brewing, and brand effect have always been a popular choice for many coffee enthusiasts.
Comprehensive Experience of 1Zpresso Coffee Grinder Series
Choosing the Right 1Zpresso Coffee Grinder for Yourself
When choosing the most suitable coffee grinder for yourself, consider the following key factors:
- Budget: Determine how much you are willing to invest in a coffee grinder.
- Coffee Preference: Consider whether you primarily brew pour-over coffee or espresso, or if you want to try both.
- Portability: If you travel frequently, choose a model that is easy to carry.
- Grinding Speed and Feel: Consider the speed of grinding and the comfort during use.
But after opening my online store and encountering 1Zpresso, I wanted to try what the experience at other price points would be like. I found that some of their products are surprisingly humanized, with good quality in combination and pour-over results, and they grind very well. Actually, I think their whole series has a good grip (except for X-Ultra), and it's rare to have a situation where you can't hold the grinder while grinding coffee beans. Most of them grind very quickly, so in the morning when going to work, you can basically grind 15 to 20 grams of coffee in about 30-45 seconds. If you compare it with the C40, first you would use twice the effort to grind the beans, and then you would need twice the time to grind the beans, so I personally really like using it in the morning now.
Convenient Portable Design
If you have outings with friends, camping, or want to brew coffee back at work, because the handle of the new series can be folded up, I think this is worth considering. Most of the comprehensive items have been covered, next I'll talk about independent products.
Ideal Choice for Pour-Over Coffee 1Zpresso ZP6 Coffee Grinder
For pour-over coffee, you can try the ZP6 grinder, I would describe it as 50-60% of the price of C40, with 80-90% of the quality of C40. The pour-over cup has a clean flavour profile, with a simpler layering, but it is comfortable to drink. The uniformity of the grind is quite good, but if you want to make espresso, it's more difficult. I tried using it to grind Espresso but couldn't get it right. I can only say it can grind and make, but the external adjustment dial lets you change the grind size without getting your hands dirty.
If not considering the price, compared to the Timemore S3, I personally prefer the ZP6. If considering the price, the Timemore S3 is almost half the price, I would choose the Timemore S3. In terms of flavor, I feel it mainly has a clean, comfortable flavour profile but there is a gap. The grip position is not as comfortable as 1zpresso, and the weight difference is not much, but it feels more qualitative.
1ZPresso ZP6 Manual Coffee Grinder Special Edition: $1,380 (Original Price $1,580)
Details: 1zpresso zp6 special edition coffee grinder - Precision grinding for pour-over coffee | Coffee Stage – Coffee Stage (amberbrews.com)
Can the Espresso grinders: 1Zpresso JMAXS and K-Ultra grind espresso?
Personally, I think the following can only say they can grind for espresso, but there is a big gap, which is 1Zpresso JMAXS and K-Ultra. The grinding is acceptable because it's a hand-cranked coffee grinder, so your hand will be more tired, but because it also grinds fast, it's relatively easier, considering the price is acceptable.
In terms of quality, it's not as uniform as imagined, so there's not much to say. Considering if you can accept the achievable effect, for a thousand dollars, you can give it a try, because when you play coffee, you really pursue quality to grind Espresso, it is always recommended to start with Mazzer Omega or electric grinder Niche Zero as a starting level, and don't consider anything else below. So for espresso, it's truly an expensive play, but for good taste, you really can only accept it.
1ZPresso J MAXS Espresso Hand-cranked Coffee Grinder: $1,480(Original Price $1,680)
Details: 1zpresso J MAXS espresso hand-cranked coffee grinder | Coffee Stage (amberbrews.com)
Is there a grinder that can grind for both pour-over coffee and espresso?
If I had to choose, only the K-Ultra. For pour-over coffee, I think it's closer to the ZP6. I personally would prefer the 1ZPresso K-Ultra, aside from the appearance and grinding speed, it's relatively faster, and the flavor it produces I feel has more layers, but I don't know if it's because its grind for pour-over coffee is actually not as uniform, but because of this, the layers come out again. Of course, in the end, it depends on how you brew pour-over coffee.
Adding the price of a thousand dollars, but it's a machine that can be used for two purposes. Although the reasons for espresso have been mentioned, I will reiterate many times, it's only at the price of a thousand dollars. If you really want to achieve good-tasting espresso, it's always recommended to spend more money to go up a few more levels.
1ZPresso K-Ultra Hand-cranked Coffee Grinder: $1,680 (Original Price $1,980)
Details link: 1zpresso K-Ultra Hand-cranked Coffee Grinder - Precision grinding, the perfect choice for pour-over coffee – Coffee Stage (amberbrews.com)
How about 1ZPresso X-Pro and X-Ultra? Are they good choices for getting into specialty coffee?
Personally, I think in general, if you just want quality and have space issues, you should consider it. It can produce results for pour-over coffee, but it only differs from the ZP6 by a few hundred dollars. In terms of the final quality, I would choose to upgrade to the ZP6, or if you want to loosen the budget a bit, you can now consider Timemore S3 at this price point. Personally, I think the cost-effectiveness is higher than these two models. As for other things, I personally think there's nothing special; it's just a grinder, that's it!
1ZPresso X-Ultra Hand Grinder: $1,098 (Original Price $1,198)
Details: 1Zpresso X-Ultra Hand Grinder: The Perfect Companion for Office and Travel | Coffee Stage (amberbrews.com)
1ZPresso X-Pro-S Hand Grinder: $980 (Original Price $1,128)
Details: Complete 1Zpresso X-Pro-S Manual Grinder - The Perfect Start to Every Cup of Coffee | Coffee Stage (amberbrews.com)
If you want convenience for carrying or as an entry-level grinder, which one is better?
If you want to easily take it out, you can consider the 1Zpresso QS2. I remember it's more than 700 dollars, but it's really compact and easy to take out or use in the office. However, if you are looking for quality, I suggest not considering it, as it can only produce results for pour-over coffee.
For more than 700 dollars and similar prices, in 2023, I would still choose the QS2. For 2024, the dark horse will be Timemore S3, which has quality, but is slightly heavier, yet has a sense of quality. I might share more about the Timemore series in the future.
1ZPresso QS2 Hand Grinder: $748 (Original Price $780)
Details: 1zpresso Q2S Hand Grinder: Convenient to Carry, Ideal Choice for Coffee Lovers | Coffee Stage (amberbrews.com)
Conclusion
Choosing a grinder is a process that combines personal preferences and functional needs. 1Zpresso offers a variety of grinders to meet the needs of different users, whether you are someone who pursues professional pour-over coffee or a coffee master who loves espresso, or if you need a practical yet economical grinder, 1Zpresso can provide you with satisfactory choices.
Finally, if you are interested in purchasing or learning more about 1Zpresso grinders, feel free to visit the Coffee Stage online store. There are occasional surprise discounts and new product releases to add more fun to your coffee journey.
Learn more about 1ZPresso grinder series products:
