Specs
| Dial | External ring, about 8 µm per click 0:00 3:36 |
| Zero | Finding zero means judging when the burrs touch, so other people's settings may not match yours 11:23 |
Starting settings
These are the settings each creator gave, measured from their own grinder's zero. Use them as a starting point.
| Method | Setting | Context | Confidence | By | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 6 to 7 clicks coarser than a choking setting | The Coffee Chronicler's demo. A 13 g dose ran 46 s at 1:2, and going 6 to 7 clicks coarser brought it to 26 s | approx | Chronicler | 7:09 |
Cup profile
- Thick, blended and very sweet traditional espresso. It makes a lot of fines, so pour-over isn't crisp 0:00 6:43.
Strengths
- Fine control, mostly metal, about $200 0:00.
Weaknesses
Verdict
2026: excellent for traditional espresso. Pair it with a filter grinder built for clarity instead of forcing it to do pour-over 0:00 15:28.
The Coffee Chronicler's take
- In his 2024 review it was his favourite 1Zpresso for espresso, with a sweet, rounded, punchy shot and classic body. It's lighter than the J-Max (670 g against 770 g) and coated against static, so 18 g in gave about 18.1 g out. Single clicks are tiny, so a few of them get lost in the noise of puck prep. On the downside, 18 g takes 50 to 59 s, filter is thin next to a K-Ultra or Timemore S3, and switching methods takes several turns. If you mostly brew filter or long light-roast ratios, he'd choose a K-Ultra 11:17 7:09.
- Its burr is different from the J-Max's and he finds it copes better with lighter roasts 2:00.
- It runs on a Flair Power Tower with a kit of about $20, though the funnel fits poorly and beans escape 7:22.
- In his 2025 roundup it was his top pick for traditional espresso (18 g in about 40 s). Pour-over is fine if you grind finer than you'd expect. Otherwise it tastes watery 12:49.
Sources
- The Coffee Chronicler: 1Zpresso's best espresso grinder so far (2024-03-17)
- The Coffee Chronicler: The 80/20 Rule: Espresso for Beginners (2024-03-26)
- The Coffee Chronicler: Power Tower: Game-Changer for Manual Grinding? (2024-06-09)
- The Coffee Chronicler: Buying a manual grinder? Here's what I would do... (2025-11-17)
- Daddy Got Coffee: The Best Hand Grinder for Espresso (2026-07-25)
Summarised in our own words from the creators' videos, with every point linked to the moment it comes from. Notchbook isn't affiliated with or endorsed by any of these creators, so please watch the originals for full context. Sources
Dialling in from here
- Sour, thin or fast? Grind finer. Why coffee tastes sour
- Bitter, dry or slow? Grind coarser. Why coffee tastes bitter
- Espresso: how to dial in. Filter: pour-over grind size.
Compare with other grinders in the grind size chart, or see every grinder.
Notchbook is a free app that remembers the setting that worked on your 1Zpresso J-Ultra for each coffee and brew method, and keeps a journal of every brew. Get it free on Google Play. The iPhone app is coming soon. More about Notchbook.