If you haven’t heard about 1Zpresso, this Taiwanese company is a new kid on the block that manufactures a wide range of manual coffee grinders.
The JX Pro is in the middle of the lineup with a good performance for its price category. It’s versatile and can grind fine enough for espresso, but it’s best for filter and immersion brewing, as you can get a good grind for a French press, pour-over, and other brewing styles.
Here’s a deep dive into this manual grinder, including how it compares to the 1Zpresso grinder lineup.
1Zpresso JX Pro Product Overview
1Zpresso JX Pro manual grinder gives electric grinders a run for their money at almost one-third of the price.
1Zpresso JX Pro highlights:
- 48 mm stainless steel conical burr
- 200 grind settings
- 12.5 microns per click
- Hopper capacity 35 g
1ZPresso JX Pro can provide consistent grind and precision across different brewing methods. JX Pro has a 48 mm conical burr, and the grind settings are only 12.5 microns, which lets you customize your grind size and use the grinder for most brewing techniques. The combination of consistent grind size and granular settings make this one stand out.
However, it’s pretty heavy and the grind adjustment requires more work versus electric coffee grinders, which can be a turn-off for some users. Also, it has a fairly small hopper capacity, which means repeated grinding for larger brews.
Pros
Works with all brewing methods
200 grinds settings to fine-tune the grind
Great value for money
Cons
Requires effort to grind
Small hopper capacity
Internal grind adjustment
1Zpresso JX Pro Feature Breakdown
Design and Burr
1ZPresso JX Pro has a sleek and modern design. The silver-grey color is an aesthetic addition to most kitchens. This manual grinder is made of aluminum alloy. It has fixed dual top and bottom bearings, eliminating any wobbly parts and providing smooth spinning. I like that it has a wider-than-usual opening at the top, making it easy to add coffee beans.
All manual grinders in the JX range have a wide rubber band that goes across most of the body, which provides a good grip. This is handy, as the JX Pro’s diameter is on the larger side. I’m also a fan of the ergonomic design handle with a stylish wooden knob, which elevates the design and makes the grinding easier.
Overall, this manual grinder feels solid and high-quality. The 35 g hopper capacity is the standard for most manual coffee grinders, but it’s barely not enough if you make a pour-over for two (I usually do 25g per cup). Luckily, it’s fast, so it doesn’t take too much time to do a second grind.
The grinder weighs 800 g, which isn’t very lightweight, so it’s not perfect for traveling. Also, the catch cup doesn’t fit the 58 mm espresso basket well but does a good enough job of mess-free transfers when transferring the grounds to the portafilter.
The burr is 48 mm conical steel. Stainless steel burrs of this quality are usually found in an electric coffee grinder, and this size isn’t very common in manual grinders, so this is a nice feature. The large size gives a good surface area for coffee grinding to a high standard.
Overall, this manual coffee grinder looks and feels premium. It has an attractive look, feels well made and like it’ll last a while, and provides a smooth grind.
Grind Adjustment Settings
The grind adjustment on the 1ZPresso JX Pro manual hand grinder is as impressive as the other features described so far. It has over 200 grind sizes, which is enough to ensure you can make fine adjustments when making espresso.
Moreover, it’s easy to change the settings. The adjustment dial is located inside the hopper on the top of the espresso grinder. This differs from many other hand grinders, which have adjustment dials beneath the burrs. I prefer the location on the JX Pro because I don’t have to remove the catch cup and hold the handle and turn the knob at the same time to change the size. Instead, you only have to turn the dial to choose the desired setting.
Tracking the changes is fairly easy. There are 40 steps between 10 numbers per rotation, and you hear clicks as you turn the dial. Each click moves the burrs by 12.5 microns, and each rotation movies the distance by 0.5 mm, which is very precise. However, it’s not entirely clear which rotation you are on, which is a consistent problem with most manual grinders.
Overall, the adjustable grind selector with plenty of settings allows you to make precise adjustments. You are never stuck but can find the exact flow rate you need for both fine and coarse grounds.
Flavor Profile and Use Cases
JX Pro excels at both espresso grinding and filtered coffee, unlike other manual grinders.
Here’s a grind setting guide according to 1ZPresso:
- Turkish coffee — number 10, 40 clicks. This is one full rotation.
- Espresso — Numbers 12 to 16, 48 to 64 clicks.
- Moka pot and AeroPress — Numbers 24 to 28, 96 to 112 clicks. These are two full rotations for Moka pot. If you go to 112 clicks, you’ll have coarser grinds for AeroPress.
- Pour-over and drip coffee — Numbers 32 to 42, 128 to 168 clicks. This is a medium-range grind.
- French Press — Numbers 42 to 50, 168 to 200 clicks.
These settings are a guide for reference. Use it as a starting point and tweak the settings depending on the beans and the roast you use.
Overall, this manual coffee grinder has impressive consistency and a lot of scope dialing in. You can grind both coarse, medium, and fine grounds and brew everything from French Press to espresso. 12.5 micron adjustment may not be enough for serious espresso addicts, but it should satisfy most users and help you get the exact extraction time you want. It loses some consistency at the coarser end of the settings, but you’ll still have a good grind for the pour-over or the French press.
Finally, very few fines are retained inside the coffee grinder after grinding, which means each cup is made with fresh coffee for the best flavor.
Ergonomics and Ease of Use
I talked about how it’s easy to adjust the grind settings. The grind dial is located on the top, so you turn the handle to get to the desired size. While this part is easy, the grinding itself requires some strength.
You’ll need some physical effort to use the JX Pro grinder. While this can be said for most hand grinders in general, it’s especially true for the JX Pro. Most people find it manageable, but you’ll struggle to use it if you lack grip strength, have small hands, or have shoulder and upper arm weakness.
The handle has an ergonomic design. It feels good in the hand and is comfortable to hold. The silicone sleeve makes it easy to keep the grinder steady, although it’s still not the greatest for small hands. Also, grinding is relatively fast. It consumes beans about 1 gram per second, which means a typical batch takes less than 30 seconds, which is comparable to some electric coffee grinders.
Cleaning and maintenance are also easy. 1zpresso includes a cleaning brush with the JX Pro, and this is enough to remove the grounds from the burrs and the grounds catcher. It’s also easy to disassemble without extra tools or recalibration, which makes cleaning and maintenance easy. That’s a big plus here.
Overall, grinding is a bit of a manual chore, and you’ll get a short arm and shoulder workout, but the good news is that the grinder is relatively fast.
Value
1ZPresso JX Pro is more expensive than entry-level hand grinders (like a Hario Skerton), but you’re paying for burr quality, design, and a wide range of adjustments. Having 200 settings and a convenient adjustment dial is a very good all-around grinder.
It’s more affordable than a decent electric grinder, especially an espresso grinder. You can use the JX Pro with any brewing method and 48 mm steel burrs.
Overall, this is an excellent value for money, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better alternative at this price range.
Comparing The Lineup: 1Zpresso JX Pro VS 1Zpresso JX
Design and Burrs
Both JX and JX Pro have similar designs. The hand grinders are made of aluminum alloy and have a broad rubber band that covers most of the grinder body and provides a better grip. They have a crank arm that spins freely and provides relatively easy grinding. The inside mechanisms are similar as well.
However, JX is a smaller coffee grinder. It weighs 650 g compared to JX Pro’s 800 g. The Pro is the bigger of the two grinders and has a wider opening to accommodate the adjustment dial, so if you want a portable grinder to use on the go, JX is a better (and lighter) option.
Both grinders have 48 mm stainless steel burrs, which in theory, means they can achieve the same grind consistency and grind fine for an espresso machine and coarse for a cold brew. However, the adjustment mechanisms are what makes them different.
Grind Adjustment
JX has 30 clicks per rotation, which means fewer grind adjustment settings compared to JX Pro, which has 40 clicks.
Also, the JX adjustment dial is located at the bottom of the coffee grinder. This location is a big inconvenience. You have to remove the grounds from the catcher, hold the hopper and the handle with one hand and turn the dial with your other hand.
The dial on the JX Pro is located on top where the beans are loaded, and it’s much easier to use (no need to remove the catch cup). Also, more adjustment options mean more space to dial in espresso.
Use Cases
1Zpresso JX Pro works great for all brewing methods, including espresso and pour-over. This is a more versatile grinder compared to the JX.
JX works best with manual brew methods. You can get a decent espresso shot occasionally, but this isn’t what it’s intended for. It’s best used for filter coffee. If you’re a big espresso lover, go with the Pro manual coffee grinder.
Alternative: Comparing 1Zpresso JX Vs. J-Max
J Max
1Zpresso J Max highlights:
- 8.8 micron stepped adjustment
- 48mm titanium-coated stainless steel conical burrs
- Ergonomic handle
- Exterior adjustment
- Comes with a carry case, air blower, and a brush
J Max is an upgrade on the JX and JX Pro. It has exterior grind adjustment, which is much easier to use. The rotations are also labeled, which makes it easier to track, although it’s not perfect. However, you get 450 grind settings, which is considerably more than the previous models. It has 8.8 microns between settings, which is a huge level of precision and means endless possibilities in dialing in espresso.
The J Max also comes with an external adjustment ring, which is the easiest to adjust. it’s nicely labeled and there’s a little graphic that shows the rotation count, which is easier (but not the easiest to track.
J Max has a longer handle which gives you better leverage during grinding. You’ll need to work on your grinding technique and finding the most comfortable position, but once you do, it’s a pleasure to grind with this hand grinder.
Unlike JX, J Max has a magnetic catch car, so it’s easy to attach and take off. I also liked there’s a textured silicone foot that keeps the grinder stable when coffee grinding on a surface.
The burrs are the same as on the JX — 48 mm stainless steel burrs. However, these burrs are titanium coated, which ensures excellent longevity and lower degradation.
Possibly the only feature where J Max doesn’t beat the JX is the grinding speed. It takes a whole minute to grind at the finest settings, and it took me 40 seconds for 18 g of espresso. However, that’s still not bad at all.
K-Plus
1Zpresso K-Plus highlights:
- Over 90 clicks on the numerical dial
- Heptagonal conical burr
- Magnetic Catch Cup with the Blind Shaker
- External Adjustment Design
K-Plus is the premium 1Zpresso hand grinder. It has excellent grind consistency across the size spectrum and precise grind control.
It also has a stainless steel 48 mm burr grinder that handles both ultra-fine and coarse particle sizes well. You can use this hand grinder for a French press, Moka pot, or espresso machine.
There are 90 clicks per rotation, with ten adjustment rounds. In comparison, JX Pro has 40, and JX only has 30 clicks. However, each click on the the K-Plus is larger at 22 microns. So you get more settings with a little less precision per setting. Importantly, this comes with an external adjustment ring, which is the easiest to use.
The catch cap can hold up to 40 g of coffee, which is more than the JX models. It’s especially handy if you like French press or pour-over, as they need more coffee. It has a magnetic catch cup, like the JX Pro, so it’s easy to remove and use the grounds. Lastly, the K-Plus tends to take longer to grind than the other models.
Overall, the K-Plus is more suited to filter coffee, especially if you brew a 2-cup pour over each morning.
Recommendation: Who Is the 1Zpresso JX Pro and 1Zpresso JX For?
1Zpresso JX Pro is the best choice if you want an espresso grinder. It’s relatively fast and has a huge number of settings, so you’re guaranteed to find a setting that works for you. It’s also a good choice if you want a reliable grinder that creates good grind consistency across different brewing methods.
1Zpresso JX is the best choice if you want a grinder for drip coffee and pour-over. That’s not to say you can’t use it for espresso. You can get a decent shot. But it doesn’t match the JX pro. This is also a good choice if you want a light grinder that’s easy to use and can grind quickly.
What’s the Best 1ZPresso J Grinder for You?
Our vote for the best 1Zpresso grinder goes to J Max or JX Pro. If you’re an espresso fiend, go for the J-Max, as 450 grind settings guarantee you can dial in and fine-tune the grind to your inner barista’s content. If you drink espresso but also like other brewing styles, go for the JX Pro. It’s more affordable and works great for various brewing methods.
For electric all-in-one grinders that are new and comparable to 1zpresso, see our Fellow Opus Vs. Baratza Encore ESP comparison.
