1Zpresso K-Max

This is my second grinder to replace my cheap grinder, the HEIHOX, which uses common burr found in many grinders like Timemore C2. The quality and ease of setting the grind level is the best as mentioned by other reviews so will focus my review on taste and if it's worth the upgrade. I have done tests between the two grinders using Aeropress and the results led me to conclude it all comes down to what you like. The cheap grinder gives sweeter and fuller body but less clarity, meaning no separation of various taste notes. K-Max tend to produce lighter body but more clarity because you can taste all the various flavors such as fruity and floral notes in fresh Ethiopian. If you like Ethiopian, then K-Max is great. I like having both grinders to be able to change things up but I enjoy both. Some have said it's easy to clean and calibrate. I'm very technical person and I can tell you it's not that simple. You need to read and follow directions precisely. I ended up locking it and had to send it to 1zpresso to unlock it. At first they weren't going to cover the cost but did so after I showed them that following their instructions caused it. They agreed and they updated their instructions since after they asked me to review it. I have to say they did a great job supporting their product and they're very friendly to work with, which you won't get with cheap grinders. Is the K-Max worth it? Definitely! Its smooth and fast operation is the best so grinding experience is more enjoyable. It's preferred for high end coffees because it is able to better extract flavor nuances from the beans while giving pleasant grinding experience.

Update: I’ve used frequently for the past 6 months and I think the grind settings are out of spec. The resistance I feel grinding at 8 and the size of the grounds from 8 now compared to when the unit was newer seem more coarse which would also explain less grind resistance. So I’m afraid it’s possibly fallen out of tolerance slightly. Could be wrong, but that’s what it seems like has happened in about 5 months. Finish is still great as I take care of it. I was hesitant about the magnetic catch cup, but i found it very functional and i am not worried about it falling off. What nothing mentions is the polarity of the magnets alternate around the ring so the twist function works very well to remove. I’m quite happy with it. Some people in videos make the grinder look very difficult to operate in terms of resistance, but coming from a hario slim, this was incredibly fast and easy to grind. Very happy with it. I would have been fine getting a JX, for ~$100 less, but sometimes i get sucked into the black hole of online research and thought it’d be nice to not worry about what I’m missing by not getting the k-max. I do wish the lid was separate from the handle to help keep debris out for travel situations as the included case is bulky. I’m looking for some sort of protective sleeve to better accommodate my field coffee kit. The turned wood knob is nice, but its also not AMAZING in quality, still very nice. Overall I really enjoy it, And lastly the blower and brush are really appreciated.

Upgrading from my Hario Skerton Pro, this is a huge step up in virtually every way that I value: 1. Super easy to to adjust the grind setting. 2. Large burrs mean it is very fast and a lot less effort to grind. 3. Magnetic catch bin is easy to dump your grinds for brewing 4. Easy enough to clean 5. Ergonomics are great. 6. Feels very solid and high quality. Should last a long time. The only knock against it really is that if you do a full clean, then you have to recalibrate the burrs, but honestly it's not that hard once you've done it a few times. That first time though is a bit confusing. I wouldn't say this is a great travel grinder though... it's pretty heavy (25oz or 700g) and not at all small, but that means you can grind more beans at once. If you're a member of the church of the Areopress, you probably want the smaller version for air travel. But if you're car camping or driving somewhere to an AirBnB, then this might be exactly what you're looking for. Or perhaps you don't want a large grinder sitting on your kitchen counter? Personally, I would use this for Areopress, pour over or French press.... if you're doing espresso you'll want to get something with more fine grain control over the grind setting.

Just received this today. Absolutely beautifully made, perfect machining, quality materials. The mainshaft is set on butter smooth ball bearings. The external grind adjustment is convenient, smooth, and positive. Everything about it looks, feels, and IS well made. I ground 30 grams of carbonic maceration processed pink bourbon from Corvus Roasters in Denver as a test using the recommended setting for siphon brewing. I was surprised how easy and quick it was to grind (I was expecting a workout as this is a very hard bean), and impressed by the excellent grind consistency. very few fines, very even grind. Brewed in a Hario siphon brewer yielded a wonderful cup, with excellent clarity of flavor, evenly extracted, equally as good if not better than what I have gotten with my Mazzer and Nuova Simonelli commercial electric grinders. Obviously this grinder requires a bit more effort, BUT... THIS one is small enough to be portable, should last a lifetime, and can be used ANYWHERE. I am impressed. Great product.

I bought this as a present for my daughter and son-in-law who are becoming coffee enthusiasts. They enjoy pour-over coffee and recently splurged on an espresso machine. I have two grinders. The manual grinder I own in a Kinu M47. It's a tank that handles espresso and Turkish coffee best. (I use my electric grinder for my other coffee brewing unless I'm traveling.) I mention this as my point of reference. Since this was meant as a present to be used for both of their brewing methods, my research led my to the K-Max. It is lighter than my Kinu but it is equally substantial in its build quality. I was also impressed with its grip size and shape. The ability to change grind settings is a breeze, and the attention to detail is top drawer. I have not had the chance to actually try it myself yet, but they are very happy with it.