1Zpresso JX Hand Grinder: Full Review After Two Years of Daily Use
The 1Zpresso JX is the hand grinder I recommend to anyone who asks me what to buy for pour-over, AeroPress, or French press. It produces a grind that rivals electric burr grinders costing $150 to $200, it builds like a tank, and it grinds a 20-gram dose in about 30 seconds. At around $70 to $80, it's the best value in the manual grinder market right now.
I've been using my JX almost every day for over two years. I grind for V60 pour-overs five days a week and AeroPress on weekends. The burrs are still sharp, the adjustment hasn't slipped once, and the body has zero signs of wear. This grinder is built to last, and below I'll explain exactly why I like it so much and where it falls short.
Build Quality and Design
The JX has an aluminum alloy body with a stainless steel inner frame. It feels solid in hand, heavier than you'd expect at about 340 grams empty. The handle is smooth stainless steel with a wooden knob, and it attaches magnetically when not in use. That magnetic attachment is a small detail, but it means the handle stays put during storage and travel.
The grind catch cup is at the bottom and threads on securely. It holds about 20 grams of ground coffee comfortably. Some people find the catch cup a bit small for larger doses, but for single-cup brewing, it's perfectly sized.
One design choice I appreciate: the grind adjustment is on the outside of the grinder, accessed by rotating a numbered dial at the top. You don't need to remove the handle, flip the grinder upside down, or unscrew anything. Just turn the dial. Each click corresponds to a 12.5-micron change in burr distance. That's precise enough for any filter brew method, though not quite fine enough for espresso (that's what the JX-Pro is for).
The Burrs
The JX uses 48mm stainless steel conical burrs. For a hand grinder at this price, that's a big deal. Most sub-$100 hand grinders use 38mm burrs. The larger burr diameter means:
- Faster grinding (fewer rotations per gram)
- More cutting surface, which reduces heat
- Better particle consistency
The burrs are sharp out of the box. I could feel the edge when I ran my finger along them (carefully). After two years of daily grinding, they still feel sharp. 1Zpresso rates them for over 10 years of typical home use, and based on my experience, that seems realistic.
For grind consistency, the JX performs at a level that genuinely surprised me. Side-by-side with a Baratza Encore (a $170 electric grinder), the JX produced a more uniform particle distribution at medium grind settings. Less fines, less boulders, more of those mid-range particles that make pour-over taste clean and sweet.
If you want to see how the JX compares against other 1Zpresso models and hand grinders, our best 1zpresso grinder roundup covers the full lineup.
Grind Speed and Effort
This is where the JX really shines. Grinding 20 grams of medium-roast beans for pour-over takes about 25 to 30 seconds. For comparison, my old Hario Skerton took over a minute for the same dose. The 48mm burrs and the efficient geometry make quick work of beans.
The effort is reasonable. You don't need a gym membership to use the JX. A steady, moderate pace gets the job done without straining your wrist. I've ground as much as 30 grams for a larger Chemex brew, and even that wasn't tiring.
Dark roast beans grind faster because they're more brittle. Light roasts are denser and require a bit more effort and time, maybe 35 to 40 seconds for 20 grams. Neither is difficult, just different.
A Note on Technique
Hold the grinder body in your non-dominant hand and turn the handle with your dominant hand. Keep the grinder slightly tilted so beans feed into the burrs by gravity. Some people grip the body between their knees for added stability, especially with larger doses.
Steady, consistent rotations give you the most uniform grind. Jerky or fast cranking can cause the beans to skip across the burrs rather than being pulled in cleanly.
What the JX Does Well
Pour-Over and Drip
This is the JX's sweet spot. At about 24 to 28 clicks from fully closed, it produces a textbook medium grind for V60 and Kalita Wave. My drawdown times are consistent, extraction is even, and the cups have good clarity and sweetness. I've dialed in a dozen different single-origin coffees on the JX without any difficulty.
AeroPress
The AeroPress is forgiving by nature, and the JX handles it beautifully. I use about 18 to 22 clicks for a standard AeroPress recipe. The grind is uniform enough that I get consistent results every time, which isn't something I could say about my old ceramic burr grinder.
French Press
At 30+ clicks, the JX does coarse grinds well. There's minimal fines contamination, so you get a clean French press without excessive sediment. Not perfectly clean, because no conical burr grinder is, but noticeably better than budget options.
Travel
The JX packs easily. It's about the size of a water bottle, fits in a backpack side pocket, and doesn't need electricity. I've taken it on camping trips, to hotels, and to the office. The magnetic handle cap keeps everything tidy.
Where the JX Falls Short
Espresso
The JX is not designed for espresso. The adjustment steps (12.5 microns per click) are too large for the fine-tuning espresso requires. You might get a passable shot on a pressurized portafilter basket, but for a proper unpressurized basket, you need the JX-Pro or the JX-S, which have finer adjustment steps (8.8 microns per click for the JX-Pro).
If espresso is part of your routine, spend the extra $30 to $40 for the JX-Pro. It does everything the JX does plus espresso. Our best coffee grinder guide covers espresso-capable options in more detail.
Large Batch Grinding
If you regularly grind for three or four people, the JX's 30-gram capacity and the manual effort involved become a bottleneck. Grinding 60+ grams by hand is doable but not fun. For multi-person households, an electric grinder saves time and forearm fatigue.
Retention
The JX retains almost no coffee between grinds, usually less than 0.1 grams. But some grounds do stick to the burrs and inner walls, especially with oily dark roasts. A quick tap on the table after grinding knocks most of it loose. It's a minor issue, but worth mentioning.
Maintenance
The JX is low-maintenance. Here's what I do:
After every use: Tap the grinder against my palm to knock loose any retained grounds. Takes two seconds.
Every two weeks: Unscrew the catch cup, remove the outer burr carrier (it pulls straight out), and brush both burr faces with a stiff brush. Wipe the inside of the body with a dry cloth. Reassemble. Five minutes total.
Every three months: Run 20 grams of grinder cleaning tablets through to dissolve oil buildup, then flush with 20 grams of cheap beans.
I have never needed to lubricate the adjustment mechanism, replace any parts, or do anything beyond the routine cleaning described above. After two years, the grinder functions identically to the day I bought it.
FAQ
Is the 1Zpresso JX better than the Timemore C2?
Yes, by a meaningful margin. The JX has larger burrs (48mm vs. 38mm), grinds faster, and produces a more consistent particle size. The Timemore C2 is an excellent budget grinder, but if you can afford the extra $30 to $40 for the JX, it's worth the step up.
Can I travel with the 1Zpresso JX on an airplane?
I've done it multiple times in carry-on luggage without any issues at TSA. It's a coffee grinder, not a prohibited item. That said, TSA agents have discretion, and some people have reported being asked about it. Putting it in checked luggage avoids any potential questions.
How do I know what click number to use?
Start at fully closed (turn the dial clockwise until the burrs touch and stop). That's your zero point. From there, count clicks outward. For V60, try 24 to 28 clicks. For AeroPress, 18 to 22. For French press, 30 to 35. Adjust based on taste. If the coffee is bitter, go coarser. If it's sour and thin, go finer.
What's the difference between the JX, JX-Pro, and JX-S?
The JX is for filter coffee. The JX-Pro adds finer adjustment steps for espresso capability. The JX-S uses a different burr geometry designed to produce less fines for a cleaner cup. All three have the same build quality and body design. Pick based on what you brew.
My Verdict
The 1Zpresso JX is the best hand grinder under $100 for filter coffee brewing. The 48mm steel burrs, the precise adjustment system, and the solid build quality make it a grinder you'll use for years without thinking about upgrading. If I had to start my coffee setup over from scratch with a limited budget, the JX would be the first piece of equipment I'd buy.