Being a manual grinder, it takes more work than just pushing a button on an electric grinder. However, many coffee aficionados prefer hand grinding as they have maximum control over the process. Utilising the same trusted 48mm Stainless Steel conical K-burrs as the popular K series, this pour-over focussed setup ensures your grinds are highly consistent in the medium-fine to medium-coarse range. On the other hand, burr grinders have two plates (burrs) that rotate, crushing the coffee beans. This process gives the best grinding results with a more uniform grind size and, therefore, a better quality cup of coffee. You should take that with a grain of salt. In my opinion, the standard Jx is more suitable for manual brewing, while the ‘Pro’ is excellent for both styles of brewing. An awesome thing about manual grinders is that they are very affordable compared to what you are getting. Think about it. When you buy an electric grinder most of the manufacturing expenses cover the motor, housing, and electric parts – not the burrs themselves.

Within burr grinders, you have a further choice: conical or flat burrs. Conical burr grinders direct the coffee through two cone-like ridges whereas flat burr grinders churn the coffee between two flat plates. The 1Zpresso Mini Q ( *now it’s called 1Zpresso Q2) is the company’s smallest grinder. The size is perfect for those looking for a travel companion. The JX Pro’s adjustable grind selector is located on the top, allowing you to control how fine a grind you are looking for. You simply fill the upper chamber with your coffee beans and turn the handle to your desired grind size. The 1Zpresso Q is not the most consistent grinder in the world, but it’s also not the worst one. Overall, I’d say it’s a strong mid-level performer.

Only a travel grinder?

The Q2is 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. That said, the smoothness of the mechanism will dictate how easy and fast your hand grinding experience will be. And there is no fault there when it comes to the 1Zpresso JX Pro . Depending on how fine a grind you are after, it will take around 30 seconds. Size

Thanks to the variety of models available, you can be specific as to what you are looking for. Doing so will ensure you get your perfect coffee grinder. Just ignore most of the advice. By getting a manual grinder,you’ll be ahead of just about 98 % of the other coffee drinkers out there, and you’ll be able to make delicious coffee at home consistently. The height and the adjustment system are some of the key differences between the standard and the pro However, if money is no object, I think you should consider this grinder instead. Next-level features Overall, this grinder will serve you well when it comes to brewing methods such as the French press, pour over, Aeropress, and so on. I haven’t attempted to grind for espresso, and the company doesn’t encourage it.In my opinion, the standard Jx is actually more suitable for manual brewing, while the ‘Pro’ is great for both styles of brewing. The idea is that you grind just what you need and don’t have any beans left in the hopper. At the same time, it’s ideal to have a grinder with a chute and grind pathway that is designed to retain as few coffee particles as particles. The goal is to have “zero retention”. This is actually quite difficult for an electric grinder to achieve. But most (if not all) hand grinders will deliver when it comes to this aspect.

If the upper limit had been the 18-20 grams, I would hesitate to recommend it as the daily grinder but with up to 24 grams that should suffice for many specialty coffee geeks.It comes in at a price point where you previously only had manual ceramic burr grinders or horrible electric grinders. Size & Portability? Ifyou want to bring your grinder on a trip, size is important to consider. Also, if you have smaller hands, you don’t want something that’s difficult to hold. Since I put out this review a in 2019, the market looks slightly different, so let’s go over the value proposition and alternatives with a more up-to-date perspective. The C40 MK3 is also more expensive than most of its competitors in the hand grinders’ premier league. This price difference is probably due to it being manufactured in Germany, where production is more expensive. 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.

The Jx Pro is still a very fast grinder, but it’s not as fast as its little brother. The reason for this, as far as I can tell, is that the hopper is designed in a different way. It seems as if the beans are fed more directly into the burrs on the standard version. What if I want a grinder that can do everything? Simple, I would point you to the JX-pro in a heartbeat. It pulls the best of both worlds and gives you a larger grind chamber and a top internal adjustment - a grinder that will last years and combines extreme utility with fantastic design.

Conclusion

I have used the Hario Mini-Slim extensively over the last couple of years and used to see it as an attractive budget option. There are a bunch of nifty features on the Q2. For instance, the wooden handle knob is magnetic, so it can be taken off for more comfortable transportation. Since, the basic Jx has incremental steps, you will not be able to fine-tune your espresso shots with 100% accuracy. I have made many shots with it, and they were tasty. However, I think the grinder shines when it comes to manual brewing. Bearings?The premium models usually have bearings, which makes grinding a lot smoother and easier. If you choose a model without bearings, you’ll have to expend a lot of unnecessary energy. The extra weight does add to the feeling of the grinder being hardy and long-lasting. Many people, including us, report using their JX Pro for years with no issues whatsoever. Ultimately a manual grinder has a lot less that can go wrong than an electric one.