Specs
| Type | Hand grinder with a conical six-spoke filter burr, a long crushing zone and very short cutting teeth 13:13 |
| Adjustment | External ring with roughly 60 clicks and hard stops at both ends 6:37. On 1Zpresso's external dials each number is 10 clicks 31:24 |
| Microns per step | 22 µm per click 6:37 28:42 |
| Zero | Wind it to zero, then click coarser until the burrs stop rubbing 6:37 |
| Build | The original has three bearings and two springs 13:44. The ZP6 Special has one spring, bearings spread further apart and a glossier finish 23:24. The burr is fixed to a chunky base on the axle 28:42. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pour-over | 3.2 | Kalita Wave with a very light washed Colombian. Deliberately finer than the recommended range to push extraction | stated | Hedrick | 6:37 |
| Pour-over | 3.5 to 4.5 | 1Zpresso's recommended filter range | stated | Hedrick | 6:37 |
| Pour-over | 5.8 (chirp set to 0) | Matched to a Femobook A4Z at 6.0 so both had a peak particle size near 920 µm | stated | Hedrick | 12:48 |
| Espresso | one click off burr rub | 20 g of a very light filter roast. It worked, but Lance Hedrick put it down to luck because 22 µm steps are too coarse for espresso | stated | Hedrick | 8:40 |
| Pour-over | 5.2 (from zero) | Medium-coarse setting behind a competition-winning Origami recipe | stated | Rowsell | 4:34 |
| Pour-over | about 5 | Orea Z1 brew aiming for 2:30 to 3:00 total | approx | Quan | 6:10 |
| Pour-over | 5 to 5.5 | Brian Quan's usual setting for a 15 g Orea Z1 brew | approx | Quan | 0:00 |
| Pour-over | about 3.5 to 4 | For a larger brew Brian Quan goes about 20 to 30% finer than his 15 g setting | approx | Quan | 0:00 |
| Immersion | 4.5 to 5.5 | ZP6 Special, dial scale. Reader-submitted and approximate | approx | Christensen | grind size chart |
| Pour-over | 3 to 4.5 | ZP6 Special, dial scale. Reader-submitted and approximate | approx | Christensen | grind size chart |
| AeroPress | 2 to 3.5 | ZP6 Special, dial scale. Reader-submitted and approximate | approx | Christensen | grind size chart |
| Moka | 2 to 3 | ZP6 Special, dial scale. Reader-submitted and approximate | approx | Christensen | grind size chart |
Cup profile
- Very clean and crisp, with florals, chocolate undertones and a long finish 13:44.
- On a V60 the Special reached roughly 23 to 23.5% extraction before more than a hint of astringency showed 23:24.
- Juicy and consistently clean. It gives up body for complexity and is at its best with light, Nordic and ultra-light roasts 28:42.
- Some people find it too clear or watery 7:38 7:50.
Strengths
- Very few fines and boulders 13:44. One report puts it at 4.5 to 5% fewer fines than a Comandante or JX, which Lance Hedrick calls anecdotal 2:01.
- Tight alignment 13:44, with the burr fixed to the axle 28:42.
- Holds its finish when you push extraction 13:44.
Weaknesses
- Filter only. The 22 µm steps are too coarse to dial in espresso 13:44 23:24.
- Weak with medium and dark roasts 7:50 28:42.
- In 2022 Lance Hedrick found the plain body hard to grip and the grinder hard to buy internationally 13:44. By 2026 he was praising how easy the small body is to hold 28:42.
Verdict
In 2022 it was Lance Hedrick's favourite filter hand grinder 13:44 23:24. His 2024 tier list gave it an A on a separate filter-only scale 7:50. In his April 2025 filter shoot-out it came second to the Pietro 13:07. In February 2026 it was still his steady favourite over the Kingrinder K7 and Millab M01 28:42. Later that month the Femobook A4Z, a motorised grinder with a ZP6-derived burr, beat it in his blind tasting 0:00.
Daddy Got Coffee's take
- In 2024 he put it among the highest-clarity hand grinders, second only to the Pietro but nicer to use at under half the price. The low body can make ordinary medium-dark coffees taste flat, so he doesn't recommend it as most people's only grinder 0:00 13:25.
Kyle Rowsell's take
- In 2023 he pointed out that a competition winner used this hand grinder, which costs under $200 3:02.
The Coffee Chronicler's take
- In 2022 the ZP6 Special was the most balanced and elegant of the three 1Zpresso grinders he compared. It held its finish as it cooled, with slightly higher extraction and a faster drain. It was his best conical filter result and easy to dial in, though well-aligned flat burrs still win. It can't do espresso, it tips over easily and the cup screws on. The light turning effort helps if your wrists are sore 3:06.
- In 2025 he described it as analytical, with very clear light-roast filter but little body and no espresso. He thinks it works better as a second or third grinder than as your only one 15:22.
Notes
- Over-extracting makes this kind of cup harsh, so keep extraction in check 13:37.
- In Lance Hedrick's particle test it measured a D50 of about 929 µm. That's essentially the same as the M01 and K7, even though they taste different 17:58.
Sources
- Lance Hedrick: BEST FILTER HANDGRINDER: 1ZPRESSO ZP6 (2022-08-19)
- The Coffee Chronicler: Best Grinders under $200? 1ZPRESSO ZP6 vs X PRO (2022-12-02)
- Lance Hedrick: 1ZPRESSO 1XPLAINED: Review of the 1zpresso Lineup (feat ZP6 Special!) (2022-12-03)
- Kyle Rowsell: EASY BREW RECIPE: 2023 Championship Method & Technique (2023-07-01)
- Lance Hedrick: BRIEF GUIDE TO BUYING A HANDGRINDER: Which is best for you with Burr Man (2023-11-29)
- Daddy Got Coffee: 1Zpresso ZP6: Ultimate Pour Over Coffee Clarity? (2024-09-14)
- Lance Hedrick: Hand Grinder Tier List (2024-10-02)
- The Coffee Chronicler: Buying a manual grinder? Here's what I would do... (2025-11-17)
- Lance Hedrick: ZP6 Dethroned?: Millab 01 x Kingrinder K7 x 1Zpresso ZP6 (2026-02-13)
- Lance Hedrick: The $500 Grinder that Blew My Mind: Femobook A4z Full Review (2026-02-27)
- Brian Quan: HOW TO BREW PICOLOT AND LIGHT ROAST COFFEE: Orea Z1 (2026-04-02)
- Brian Quan: 10 Gram Orea Z1 Recipe: Max Clarity (2026-04-22)
- Lance Hedrick: Can Handgrinders Beat Electric? The Ultimate Battle, Filter Edition (2025-04-10)
- Asser Christensen, The Coffee Chronicler (website): Grind Size Chart & Database (2025-08-29)
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 ZP6 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.