1Zpresso J Max Review: I’m Almost Speechless!

Ordinarily, I don’t like to give too much away in the introduction section. However, I find I’m unable to conceal my joy and excitement at the start of this 1Zpresso J Max review.

So, I’m doing away with hints and teasers and I’m just gonna lay all my cards on the table. Let me tell you that the 1Zpresso J-Max S Manual Coffee Grinder is a revelation. It’s a true champion. In fact, it might just be the best manual grinder I’ve ever used.

Having spent the last few days putting the J Max through its paces, I’m convinced that you’ll have a hard time finding any burr coffee grinder that’s as versatile and well-conceived.

Oh, and the icing on the cake? The 1Zpresso J Max will set you back just $N/A on Amazon.

Have I piqued your interest? If so, keep reading the rest of my 1Zpresso J Max review. I’m about to give you a full rundown on what makes this hand coffee grinder so darn special.

Note: The 1Zpresso J Max has been replaced by the new 1Zpresso J Ultra. It has some minor updates and improvements but is essentially the same grinder.

Overview: 1Zpresso J Max Review

1Zpresso (pronounced “easy-presso”) is a Taiwanese company that’s taken the manual grinder industry by storm in recent years. Seriously, these guys keep pumping out updated models like there’s no tomorrow, making significant improvements with each new release.

If you’ve checked out my manual coffee grinder guide 2024, you might remember that the 1Zpresso JX earned took the “best overall” spot on my list. However, I think I’m gonna have to amend that after this review.

Come to think of it, I’ll have to update my main burr coffee grinder guide, too!

Regular Coffeeness readers will know that the Comandante C40 MK3 is one of my most prized possessions. I’m not sure whether the 1Zpresso J Max will topple the Comandante from its throne, but it’s sure to give the German king a run for its money.

So what’s all the fuss about? Well, the 1Zpresso J Max does just about everything right.

For starters, the thing looks like the real deal – there’s no denying this is an attractive piece of kit. What’s more, thanks to its solid build and ergonomic design, the J Max feels super premium.

Even better, the J Max represents a significant improvement on its predecessor, the JX Pro. By saying that I’m referring to its ultra high-quality stainless steel burrs, longer crank handle and staggering grind range.

Don’t worry, I’ll go into more detail about all that and more a bit later. For now though, I’ll just say that this hand grinder is built like a tank and seems like it’ll last forever.

Sure, it isn’t exactly cheap, but believe me when I tell you the J Max will outperform electric grinders costing a whole lot more.

1Zpresso J Max Features

Now that I’ve whetted your appetite, let’s continue this 1Zpresso J Max review by taking a closer look at the grinder’s many exciting features.

Size and Design

As I already mentioned, the J Max feels incredibly solid and well-built. Constructed from stainless steel and aluminum alloy, the body has a nice weight distribution and feels very comfortable to hold.

Plus, I’d say that if you accidentally drop the thing you aren’t going to worry about damage to the grinder. In fact, your kitchen floor is more likely to suffer ill effects.

The cranking handle is nice and long, with a classy wooden knob at the end. Aside from looking great, this helps make grinding with the J Max a breeze.

I’ll talk about the awesome magnetic catch cup a bit later. Suffice to say, there’s a nice textured silicone foot on the bottom to help keep the grinder stable if you’re grinding on a flat surface.

Overall, the 1Zpresso J Max isn’t the most compact hand grinder out there, but it’s far from bulky. It’s definitely small enough to throw in your backpack if a travel grinder is what you’re after.

Incidentally, I’ve noticed that some reviewers dislike the fabric cover on the grinder’s main shaft, complaining that it feels cheap. Personally, I didn’t have a problem with the material and felt like its textured design provided plenty of good grip. Incidentally, it features the Chinese zodiac symbol for the ox, seeing as it was the year of the ox when the J Max was released. Pretty cool, eh?

Stainless Steel Conical Burrs

OK, so we’ve established that the J Max looks and feels great. But that means nothing if the thing can’t perform.

Well, have no fear because this baby is equipped with 48mm titanium-coated stainless steel conical burrs. Sounds pretty impressive, right? That’s because a manual coffee grinder sporting huge burrs like this is impressive! Seriously, you usually only find 48mm burrs on electric grinders costing double what you’ll pay for the J Max.

For reference, my beloved Comandante has 39mm burrs on board. Which is cool, but …

In case you’re wondering about the titanium coating, that’s new for a grinder from this manufacturer. And as you’d expect, it means the burrs are extra-durable and will perform at their best for a very long time.

Grind Settings

Adjusting the grind setting on many manual coffee grinders can be fiddly, if not downright annoying.

That’s usually fine if you’re only using the thing for one specific preparation method. However, if you like to drink espresso in the morning and French press in the afternoon, making adjustments can feel like a chore.

Fortunately, the J Max does away with such inconveniences. The top of the grinder is a chunky, clearly labeled adjustment dial, which clicks satisfyingly as you make adjustments. Speaking of, there are a whopping 450 grind adjustment settings to choose from. That’s absolutely insane! And get ready for the best part: each click represents just 8.8 microns of movement. For reference, the average human hair measures around 50 microns.

With that in mind, I think we can all agree that you won’t have a problem tweaking your grind as you’re dialing in espresso. This is pretty much a stepless grinder!

In use, I found it really quick and easy to make grind changes. Still, it takes a little getting used to; seeing as there are so many settings, they don’t all fit on one rotation of the dial. In fact, the dial offers around five rotations, each with 90 clicks.

Fortunately, there’s a neat little pyramid icon to help you remember where you are, and I quickly got the hang of it during my 1Zpresso J Max review.

Foldable Handle

I already touched on the J Max’s cranking handle a little earlier. To be honest, there isn’t much to say other than the handle makes grinding quick and efficient.

Thanks to its generous length and clever design, turning the handle feels effortless at all but the very finest settings. And even then, you never feel like you’re getting a workout. The wooden ball felt great in my hand, and it lends the grinder a little extra pizazz in the looks department.

Oh, and I shouldn’t forget to mention the fact that you can fold the handle so that it sits flush to the grinder’s body. That not only saves space but also makes the grinder more stable when it’s standing idle. Nice touch guys!

Magnetic Catch Cup

I’ll admit to having been a little skeptical about the whole magnetic catch cup thing. As I was unboxing the J Max, I foresaw a dark future in which the cup crashed to the floor every time I ground a little too vigorously or held the grinder incorrectly.

Turns out I had nothing to worry about. In practice, the 40-gram capacity magnetic cup is pretty dreamy – it attaches firmly and the magnets are certainly powerful enough.

Of course, you should avoid holding the grinder steady between your knees while using it. Still, you shouldn’t ever feel like you need that extra stability. Like I said earlier, it’s easy to use the J Max as intended, thanks to its superb design. 

Travel Case

If there’s one thing I’ve noticed, it’s that 1Zpresso doesn’t do things by half measures. That’s why I wasn’t surprised to find the J Max sitting pretty in its very own travel case.

The case itself is rugged and well made, and has a burly carry handle. No surprises there.

Inside, there’s an abundance of premium padding, and the grinder and its handle fit perfectly. There’s also a small bellows in there, as well as a double-ended cleaning brush and a rubber band for extra grip.

Personally, I never felt the need to use the rubber band, but it’s nice to have.

While the travel case is a little bulky, it’s definitely going to protect what’s inside. I’d say that’s a good thing if you plan on hitting the road with the J Max in tow.

The 1Zpresso J Max in Use

Using the 1Zpresso J Max is about as straightforward as it gets, even if you’ve never used a hand grinder before. Simply weigh your coffee beans using a coffee scale, pop them in the grinding chamber, then attach the handle.

While it’ll take a minute to figure out the grind adjustment dial, once you’ve cracked the code it feels very intuitive.

Rather than including a user manual, the manufacturer provides a QR code on a little piece of cardboard. I recommend spending a little time reading the online tutorial before getting started.

Plus, there’s an awesome grind chart you can download, which comes in very handy as you’re dialing in.

Throughout my testing I was truly impressed by the particle consistency across the grind size spectrum. Seriously, the J Max grinder is as effective for Turkish coffee as it is for cold brew.

While I did experience some static issues here and there, it wasn’t anything to worry about. Plus, the air blower came in really handy for taking care of any fines left in the burrs or catch cup.

The 1Zpresso J Max for Pour-over

I started out by busting out my Hario V60, experimenting with a few different grind sizes within the third rotation of the dial.

Let me tell you, pour-over freaks will fall in love with this grinder’s versatility. Especially those who like to brew with light roast single origin coffees. 

I was able to subtly tweak the flavor profile of the natural process Guatemala I was using, teasing out varying levels of sweetness and body with each adjustment.

As you might imagine, the J Max performed equally well when I brewed in a Chemex coffee maker. Again, I geeked out on making very small adjustments in order to produce subtle, yet noticeable changes.

Overall, though, what stood out was the burrs’ ability to bring out sweetness and clarity from the single origin Guatemala.

The 1Zpresso J Max for Espresso

I felt like the true test of the J Max would be its suitability as an espresso grinder. After all, if this thing could perform as well for espresso as it did for pour over, I’d be holding the holy grail of manual grinders!

With that in mind, I decided to pull out the Flair Espresso Maker. This manual lever machine is notoriously finicky, and demands ultra-precise grinding if you want to achieve good results.

Let’s just say the J Max didn’t bat an eyelid. Sure, it took a while to dial in – I ended up with something more suitable for a Turkish coffee maker at first.

However, it wasn’t too long before I was consistently pulling superb espresso shots using a single origin Ethiopian coffee. Again, my mind was blown by how much control I had over the grind size. I mean, there are just so many micro-adjustments to choose from!

My only complaint is that I experienced quite substantial clumping in the espresso grind range. Still, that’s a common issue with many espresso grinders. That’s why more and more baristas are stressing the importance of sufficient settling and distribution of coffee grounds in the portafilter.

So, if you’re going to be using the J Max in tandem with your home espresso machine, consider getting hold of a WDT tool.

This nifty little device helps break up clumps and evenly distribute ground coffee before you tamp. Trust me, it’ll change everything!

1Zpresso J Max Cleaning

You’ll be happy to learn that this section of my 1Zpresso J Max review won’t be very long. That said, you shouldn’t overlook regular cleaning and maintenance of your hand grinder.

To keep the thing in tip-top condition, I’d recommend disassembling it once a week. That way you can brush off the burrs and remove any stubborn build up. I’m not about to tell you how to do that here, but the online user manual has detailed instructions.

Otherwise, you should use the air blower to eliminate any residual fines in between every grinding cycle. I also found the included brush handy for cleaning out the catch cup.

Oh, and remember to never use water to clean the J Max. Or any grinder for that matter.

1Zpresso J Max Specifications

	1Zpresso J Max
Manufacturer	1Zpresso
Name	J-Max S Manual Coffee Grinder
Type	Hand Coffee Grinder
Burrs	48mm stainless steel conical
Capacity	35-40 g
Grind adjustment levels	400+
Weight	1.7 lb / 771.1 g
Color options	Iron Gray, Silver
Height	7.7 in / 19.6 cm
Current price on Amazon	$N/A

1Zpresso J Max vs Other Manual Grinders

If you’ve made it this far into my 1Zpresso J Max review with lingering doubts as to its awesomeness, I’m losing my touch. So, for argument’s sake, let’s take a quick look at a couple of other manual hand grinders worth considering.

1Zpresso J Max vs JX Pro

At $169.00, the 1Zpresso JX-Pro is in the same ballpark, price-wise. Still, I’d say the J Max is superior in every way.

Listen, the JX Pro offers exceptional grind precision that’s mainly geared toward espresso preparation. It’s just that it can’t compete when you consider the J Max’s titanium coated burrs, ease of use and incredible number of adjustment settings. Plus, you won’t get that lovely travel case with the 1Zpresso JX-Pro.

Essentially, it’s worth coughing up a little more for the J Max if you can.

Related: Best Manual Coffee Grinder 2024

1Zpresso J Max vs Comandante C40 MK3

Before testing the 1Zpresso J Max, I wasn’t sure whether there’d ever be a serious competitor for the Comandante C40 MK3 Nitro Blade.

However, the doubts are creeping in as to whether the Comandante can retain its status as my very favorite manual grinder. Plus, at $369.50, the Comandante definitely requires a more substantial investment.

Still, the fact remains that the Comandante C40 MK3 is a wonderful piece of equipment. Its Nitro Blade burrs are seriously impressive, and the Comandante shines across the grind size spectrum. Finally, the build quality involved is second-to-none, and using the Comandante is a complete joy. What was I thinking? I still absolutely adore this thing!

See Also: Comandante Grinder Review 2024

1Zpresso J Max vs Others Comparison Chart

	1Zpresso J Max	1Zpresso JX Pro	Comandante C40 MK3 Nitro Blade
Manufacturer	1Zpresso	1Zpresso	Comandante
Name	J-Max S Manual Coffee Grinder	JX-Pro S Manual Coffee Grinder	C40 MK3 Nitro Blade
Type	Hand Coffee Grinder	Hand Coffee Grinder	Hand Coffee Grinder
Burrs	48mm stainless steel conical	48mm stainless steel conical	39mm nitro stainless steel conical
Capacity	35-40 g	35 g	40 g
Grind adjustment levels	400+	200+	35
Weight	1.7 lb / 771.1 g	1.7 lb / 778.0 g	1.6 lb / 726.0 g
Color options	Iron Gray, Silver	Silver	American Cherry, Black, Cobalt, Green, Red Sonja
Height	7.7 in / 19.6 cm	7.5 in / 19.0 cm	8.0 in / 20.3 cm
Current price on Amazon	$N/A	$169.00	$369.50

Verdict: 1Zpresso J Max Review

Having reached the end of this review, I’m not really sure what else to tell you. Other than to just buy the thing. If you already own multiple coffee grinders and want a new toy, buy the thing. Looking for a top-notch espresso grinder that won’t break the bank? Don’t think twice. Buy the thing.

You catch my drift.

Honestly, the J Max is so cool in every way. It’s a true all-rounder that’ll blow your mind with its performance. What’s more, its innovative external adjustment ring makes it one of the most functional grinders I’ve ever tested.

Now all that’s left to do is award this premium hand grinder full marks. And wait for the Taiwanese manufacturer’s next release. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next!