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This is our 1Zpresso JX review.

Since I started grinding coffee at home with a Hario Mini Slim, the world of hand grinders has changed. And 1Zpresso has a lot to do with that.

The 1Zpresso grinders are fast, precise, heavy, solid, and affordable. In other words, this Taiwanese company produces great gear for incredible value. Of course, their grinders aren’t perfect.

The 1Zpresso JX falls short in portability, doesn’t outperform close competitors for espresso, and is pricey compared to close competitors.

But, if you want to know if the 1Zpresso JX is for you, keep reading to learn more about its main features and how it caters to your needs.

Overview: 1Zpresso JX Coffee Grinder Review

1Zpresso JX review
The 1Zpresso JX is well built, and it’s easy to disassemble. Picture by 1Zpresso.

Pour-over coffee enthusiasts love the 1Zpresso JX because it’s a solid hand burr grinder for daily use. Most users claim that the JX outperforms the TIMEMORE C2, which many people praise because of its speed. At around 1 gram per second, it’s faster than many popular electric burr grinders.

In addition to speed, the 1Zpresso JX produces a sound grind size distribution. The uniform coffee grounds with low fines get you a vibrant cup of coffee, where the aromatic profile of your favorite coffee beans can express itself with total clarity.

As you may know, dialing the perfect grind size for espresso can be challenging if you don’t have enough adjustments available. Or the adjustment steps are too big. Some users consider it more of a pour-over coffee grinder on the downside.

Here it’s the thing. While many users praise the JX versatility, other grinders by 1Zpresso can offer superior performance at a similar price. Namely, the 1Zpresso JX-pro and, more recently, the 1Zpresso J-Max, which seem to be the top choice of hand grinders for espresso.

But, if you’re considering the 1Zpresso JX for different brewing devices, it’s still one of the best options. It’s pretty versatile, and if you have an espresso machine with a pressurized portafilter, you might not find any objections against it. We picked it as one of the best hand grinders for all these reasons.

Is 1Zpresso a good brand?

Several 1Zpresso manual grinders
1Zpresso has an impressive lineup of hand grinders. Picture by 1Zpresso.

1Zpresso -pronounced ‘easy-presso’- has become one of the most relevant manual grinder brands. And it has done it in a very short time, which is outstanding.

One of the keys to the company’s success has been specialization and high-quality standards

1Zpresso manufactures and sells coffee grinders. Nothing else. Finding such a degree of focus nowadays is impressive, and it’s the opposite of other companies trying to enter the coffee gear industry.

After entering the market, some coffee enthusiasts were wary of the price gap between 1Zpresso grinders and premium brands like Comandante and Kinu. But, after some users tried it, the word spread out fast.

I am involved in several coffee lovers communities, both online and in-person, and the opinions about 1Zpresso are positive overall. A few customers have complained about the service, but I haven’t found enough negative comments to find it problematic. On the contrary, more comments regarding product and customer service quality are on the positive end of the spectrum.

1Zpresso JX vs. 1Zpresso JX-Pro vs. 1Zpresso J-Max

1Zpresso product specialization is a good thing. But here, specialization became too much of a good thing.

The company has launched several good grinders in a short time. And these can be very confusing.

Sure, prices are different between these grinders. Additionally, they explicitly tell us which grinders are better for espresso and which ones are better for pour-over coffee. But, for most coffee lovers, that information won’t cut it. 

Thinking about more picky and curious coffee enthusiasts, I wrote a short comparison between the three most popular grinders in the J Series to clean the air a bit.

Who shouldn’t buy the 1Zpresso JX?

Typically, the 1Zpresso JX isn’t for you if:

Your budget is under 100$

If you’re on a budget, the Normcore V2 or the TIMEMORE C2 are better options for you. They’re great manual grinders and cost about half of the 1Zpresso JX. That’s not to say that the latter doesn’t worth the money, but if you’re willing to compromise on build quality, capacity, or looks to save some money, then the 1Zpresso JX isn’t your best option.

You’re looking for an espresso grinder

Versatility usually means compromising performance on one end. And for the 1Zpresso JX, that means a lower performance when grinding for espresso.

Still, most coffee enthusiasts would agree on this: the 1Zpresso JX offers decent performance for espresso, and if you’re on a budget, you will be happy with it.

Additionally, similarly to what happens with other versatile grinders, if your espresso machine comes with a pressurized portafilter, you shouldn’t need anything more advanced than the 1Zpresso JX.

However, hardcore espresso enthusiasts would be happier with a 1Zpresso J-Max, which is specifically designed for espresso.

You’re looking for a light and portable hand grinder

Performance and portability rarely go together, and for the 1Zpresso JX, this might be true. Far from lightweight, this grinder needs some room for itself in the luggage and it’s heavy -it accounts for 23 oz (650 grams).

The 1Zpresso JX performance may convince you to carry it wherever you go, but there are lighter options in the market with similar performance and prices.

In this regard, the Normcore V2 is a good alternative, because it’s smaller in size and it’s considerably lighter.

Who is the 1Zpresso JX for?

Typically, the 1Zpresso JX will make you happy if:

You want to upgrade from a blade grinder

It’s time to get rid of that blade grinder!

There is a place to start, and for many people, that’s a blade coffee grinder. If you’re serious about your coffee game, leave that thing for the spices. They’re messy and ruin your coffee taste.

If you already feel that your blade grinder isn’t serving up to your expectations, the 1Zpresso JX might be an excellent option for you.

You’re tired of your cheap burr grinder

Cheap grinders with a low-quality ceramic burr set used to be the standard. Now, they are outdated. I know for a fact that you can spend minutes grinding 15 grams of coffee with that kind of grinder. So, if you’re tired of that chore, getting a good burr grinder like the 1Zpresso JX is the solution.

This grinder is a great fit for pour-over and immersion coffee enthusiasts. The grind size distribution and consistency are excellent, and you have enough adjustments to serve both. For these reasons, we consider the 1Zpresso JX to be among the best manual grinders for French press and pour-over coffee.

So, if you’re done with your low-quality grinder, keep reading because you’ll find enough information below to decide.

Main Features: Pros and cons

Looking at its strengths, the 1Zpresso JX is nearly unbeatable on the most relevant points for a budget-friendly hand grinder.

So, let’s drill down together its main features. In this way, you can make the best of our 1Zpresso JX coffee grinder review.

Looks

The grinder, box, and accessories look premium. Picture by 1Zpresso.

The 1Zpresso JX looks neat and solid. Details are well finished, without any major compromises in terms of aesthetics or usability. Furthermore, it has a simple design, in a good way.

The brand logo and name are pretty visible. They look clean and balanced, and in terms of brand identity, all grinders have a similar design. In this regard, some people find TIMEMORE’s design more discrete and elegant, while others prefer 1Zpresso bold statement.

From my perspective, judging a product’s appearance is important. Bear in mind that you’ll be holding your hand grinder at least every morning. In my case, I grind coffee two to three times per day. When I wasn’t happy with my grinder, it became slowly but increasingly annoying. 

So, deciding if the 1Zpresso JX looks good for you, it’s a very personal opinion. I can only tell that the 1Zpresso JX quality is evident through its looks, and the company took great care in every detail.

Usability

Picture by 1Zpresso.

The 1Zpresso JX makes grinding as easy as it should be. It has a simple internal adjustment system with 30 clicks per rotation.

Many people compare the click-based adjustment system with the Comandante. However, it offers a bit more precision, so it works better for espresso.

Furthermore, the grinder’s handle, knob, and body improve the grip and make for a smoother grinding experience, although it always requires some strength.

Clean and maintenance, on the other hand, is pretty straightforward and convenient.1Zpresso made the entire construction thinking of cleaning and maintenance without re-calibrating the burrs.

Performance

Picture by 1Zpresso.

Before 1Zpresso, speed wasn’t a memorable thing about budget-friendly hand grinders. We could say that the 1Zpresso JX and the TIMEMORE C2 raised the bar for manual grinders because they made it possible to get 1 gram of coffee grounds per second with a hand grinder.

In this regard, the 1Zpresso JX is fast and precise. With a neat grind-size distribution, you can get 20 grams of ground coffee in about 20 seconds.

The heptagonal 48 mm steel burrs are responsible for the impressive 1Zpresso JX performance, both in terms of speed and consistency. But, bear in mind that the grinder as a whole makes the difference.

Here is one thing worth mentioning. The JX is a fast grinder, but it requires strength to make it work. It isn’t too easy to operate for people with less grip strength.

Durability

Most of the JX grinder parts are metallic and well built. In this regard, the aluminum alloy and steel body are light and sturdy. And the wooden knob in the handle is pretty solid as well.

Most 1Zpresso JX owners praise its construction and resilience. The entire design has proven to be long-lasting. That said, the burr set lasts at its sharpest for a long time. According to 1Zpresso, they manufactured the burrs to last for 100 to 200 kg of coffee beans. That is between 5,000 and 10,000 servings of 20 grams each.

Price

If you’re starting to look at coffee gear, you’ll be in shock when I say the 1Zpresso JX is a budget-friendly hand grinder. But, bear with me. The 1Zpresso JX offers enough features and delivers on quality standards that put it to compete against grinders that double and triple its price.

Furthermore, the 1Zpresso JX is more expensive than cheap ceramic burr grinders because it’s very superior to them. In terms of performance, speed, grind consistency and build quality.

Now, considering close competitors in quality like the Normcore V2 and the TIMEMORE C2, we can agree that the 1Zpresso JX isn’t the most affordable option for a steel burr grinder. Still, construction, design, and durability put the 1Zpresso slightly better.

In short, budget-wise, avoid getting a cheap ceramic grinder. Instead, if you’re short of cash, pick something like the Normcore V2 and the TIMEMORE C2.

1Zpresso JX Alternatives

If you’re looking for better espresso grinders or more affordable hand grinders, you can check some of these alternatives.

1Zpresso J-Max: A better grinder for espresso without breaking the bank

Most people would say that the 1Zpresso JX can offer the micro-adjustments necessary to dial an espresso. However, 1Zpresso created the J-Max as the best choice for espresso.

The 1Zpresso J-Max is a bit pricier, but it has titanium-coated steel burrs with a heptagonal design and external micro-adjustments.

If you’re after an espresso grinder, it’s hard to beat the 1Zpresso J-Max with 8.8 microns per click at this price.

Normcore v2 Manual Coffee Grinder: Portable, affordable, and sleek

This grinder comes in all-metal and wood so that you won’t be sacrificing on the aesthetics end if you get it. Additionally, it’s lighter, smaller, and more affordable. In this regard, it’s a great alternative to check before buying the 1Zpresso JX.

For more details, you can read our Normcore hand grinder v2 review.

The Verdict: 1Zpresso JX Burr Grinder Review

The 1Zpresso JX is one of the best all-purpose hand grinders. It offers enough adjustments to accommodate pour-over and immersion methods, and it performs at a decent level for espresso.

For a similar price, it’s hard to find a hand grinder with the capacity, performance, and durability of the 1Zpresso JX. So, for all these reasons, we think that most coffee enthusiasts would be happy to get a 1Zpresso JX for their home setups.

Just bear in mind that it’s worth considering the Normcore V2. The 1Zpresso JX only beats its capacity, which makes the JX a better option for daily use at home. Budget-wise the Normcore V2 is an excellent alternative, and it seems that it doesn’t fall short on any other end, comparing it in terms of consistency, weight, and portability.

If you’re still looking for options, I recommend you read our review of the best manual coffee grinders.

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AUTHOR
I fell in love with coffee before I could even read, and my passion for this elixir has shaped my entire life. Through research and learning, I honed my knowledge of specialty coffee and espresso culture by seeking the advice of the most prominent coffee experts and researchers. I have been fortunate enough to meet inspiring individuals, expand my knowledge, and cover exciting coffee-related topics in my writing. My skill in translating complex facts into a reader-friendly style caters to coffee connoisseurs and newbie enthusiasts alike, so everyone can fully appreciate the richness and diversity of the world of coffee.