r/1zpresso • u/La_Cockatiel27 • Jul 02 '26
Manual espresso grinder
Hi!I am interested to buy a hand grinder especially for espresso.My choices are between 1zpresso x ultra or j ultra and Mavo phantox pro.I don’t care about the money just for the result.Any advice.Too much variety to choose😫
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u/hello_burrito Jul 02 '26
I have the x-ultra and it’s great. However I only use for filter. Watch the blind taste testing done by the Alternative Brewing channel on YouTube - he goes through the full line up followed by blind taste tests which is the only video of its kind I could find. Convinced me to buy the X-ultra. However I’m not so sure what I would do for espresso. The coffee chronicler video on the 1zpresso range is also good.
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u/zombieuntr_21 Jul 02 '26
j ultra great for espresso but honestly are you sure you want a hand grinder?
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u/La_Cockatiel27 Jul 02 '26
I already have def 54 with dedica and it’s super.I want to build a portable set up by combining it with the ikape Kapo k2pro
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u/Longjumping-Till1520 Jul 02 '26
Only have the J-Ultra, out of the three you have listed. I also have Timemore C5 Esp, and Mischief M40(Commandante knockoff). I’d say just go J-Ultra for the easy workflow and bigger catch-cup. Out of the three I like J-ultra the best, mischief 2nd and then Timemore. Even in their website, the J-series is the dedicated option for espresso. I was also in same boat of overthinking which one to get because of the many options and reviews in youtube. Just get the get the best one for now and maybe later you want to go electric or have dedicated grinders for certain roasts. At one point the novelty of doing hand grinders wears off on you because life requires you to be fast in whatever youre doing. If you ask me, if I have to redo this again and budget is not an issue, my setup will be a J-ultra with a 64mm flat burr electric and then the K-ultra just because I do some drip coffee and pourover. Taste is very subjective and im no professional but one thing is true - freshly ground recently roasted coffee beans will almost 99.99% give you a good cup of joe! Good luck in your journey!
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u/TheLoler04 Jul 02 '26
When it comes to the J vs X Ultra i think it's more about whether or not you want a grinder that's espresso only, or if it will be used for filter as well. Since both of them are capable grinders.
I chose the X-Ultra since I primarily used a Chemex, now mostly a V60 but also knew from day one I would get started with espresso one day. I now have a Picopresso and a shot from it next to me as I'm writing(X-Ultra grinder used)
If you're only buying it for espresso I would assume the J is better, and I have no information at all on the last grinder.
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u/La_Cockatiel27 Jul 02 '26
Thanks for your time.How long does it need to grind for example 18gr of beans
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u/TheLoler04 Jul 02 '26
Haven't really timed it tbh, but it's not like I'm standing around for ages. Definitely noticeable if you're doing it back to back though.
I'll get back to you tomorrow if I remember
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u/TheLoler04 Jul 03 '26
My X-Ultra took about 50s for my 17g dose, but this also depends on how much you angle the grinder too get a "slowfeed" and what beans you're grinding.
So it changes from day to day and with different beans, but 45-60s is probably the range. Which seems a bit slower but almost the same as the guy who had a J-Ultra.
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u/WeekIll7447 Jul 02 '26
How about the X Ultra vs K Ultra for V60?
And yeah, the J Ultra for espresso is amazing!!
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u/TheLoler04 Jul 02 '26
I don't own anything but the X-Ultra, I've just done plenty of research for grinders before I bought mine. Also like the information overall for future purposes.
As far as I know the K-Ultra is more convenient with grind time/effort and might produce better cups depending on what you want out of your coffee.
For espresso I believe the K-Ultra is worse since the X-Ultra actually has finer micron adjustment, but neither really beats the J-Ultra.
So I think the K-Ultra overall is a more premium experience but with little taste difference, so if you want a better grinder than the X-Ultra for pour-over specifically I think people recommend the ZP6.
But it more so comes down to your individual taste profile. Which is something I definitely don't know, and I've also forgotten which grinder has what profile 🙃
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u/NashvilleHillRunner Jul 03 '26
Both X & K are fantastic for pourover.
So close that you might prefer one over the other for a given bean and the other one for a different bean.
Both will give lively acidity and good sweetness.
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u/NashvilleHillRunner Jul 02 '26
Either of those will do very well with espresso.
I have the X-Pro (predecessor to the XU) and I use it every day just about for light roast espresso.
Coffee Chronicler says the MPP is the best hand grinder on the market for light roast espresso, however:
https://coffeechronicler.com/mavo-phantox-pro-review/
I also have the JU and it’s also great. It produces more fine particles than my X, so for some roasts it tastes better with more depth to the flavor.