K-Plus Manual Coffee Grinder: 1Zpresso's All-Rounder Reviewed

The 1Zpresso K-Plus is a premium hand grinder that handles both espresso and filter coffee with impressive precision. If you're looking at this grinder, you're probably weighing it against the Comandante C40, the Timemore Chestnut X, or the Kinu M47. After using the K-Plus as my daily grinder for about four months, I can tell you it belongs in that conversation. It grinds fast, adjusts precisely, and produces excellent cups across every brew method I've tried.

I'll go through the build quality, grind performance for espresso and filter, the unique adjustment system, how it compares to competitors, and who should consider this grinder over the alternatives.

Build and Design

The 1Zpresso K-Plus is built with a stainless steel body, an aluminum outer barrel, and a wooden catch cup at the bottom. It feels substantial in the hand at about 685 grams, which is heavier than the Comandante but lighter than the Kinu M47. The extra weight actually helps with stability during grinding.

The handle is longer than most hand grinders, which gives you better leverage and makes grinding less tiring. It folds down for storage and travel, though the K-Plus is slightly too large to fit inside an AeroPress (unlike smaller travel grinders).

The Magnetic Catch Cup

The wooden catch cup attaches to the body with magnets. It's a nice design touch that looks great and works well. The magnets are strong enough that the cup won't fall off during normal use, but it pulls away easily when you want to dump your grounds. The cup holds about 35 grams of ground coffee, which covers most single doses.

The only downside of the wooden cup is that it doesn't seal as tightly as a threaded metal cup. In a backpack, grounds could potentially escape if the cup gets bumped loose. For travel, I sometimes swap it for a rubber-banded container to be safe.

The External Adjustment System

This is the K-Plus's standout feature. Unlike most hand grinders where the adjustment dial is under the burr (requiring you to remove the catch cup, reach inside, and turn a small knob), the K-Plus has an external adjustment ring on the top of the grinder, just below the handle.

Each click of the adjustment ring changes the grind by about 22 microns. That's incredibly fine resolution. For espresso, where tiny grind changes make a big difference in shot quality, this level of precision is a real advantage. I can dial in my espresso within 2 to 3 adjustments and hit my target consistently.

The external placement means I can change grind settings in seconds without disassembling anything. Switching from an espresso grind in the morning to a pour over grind in the afternoon takes about 5 seconds. On grinders with internal adjustment, this swap involves removing parts and counting clicks from zero, which is slow and error-prone.

Numbered Settings

The adjustment ring has numbers etched into it, so you can note your preferred setting for each brew method and return to it precisely every time. My V60 setting is 7.5, my espresso setting is 3.2, and my French press setting is 9.0. I never have to count clicks from zero to find my spot.

Grind Quality for Espresso

The K-Plus uses 48mm steel burrs with a heptagonal (seven-sided) geometry that 1Zpresso designed specifically for espresso performance. At fine settings, the grind consistency is tight enough to pull balanced, flavorful espresso shots.

I paired the K-Plus with a Flair Pro 2 lever machine and a Breville Bambino, and got good results on both. Shots pulled at a 2:1 ratio in 25 to 30 seconds with good crema, balanced acidity, and smooth body. The shots weren't quite as refined as what I get from a dedicated electric espresso grinder like the Eureka Mignon, but they were close, and the K-Plus costs less.

The 22-micron adjustment steps are fine enough that I never felt stuck between settings. With some hand grinders, you find one click too coarse and the next too fine, with no option in between. The K-Plus avoids this problem entirely.

Grind Quality for Filter Coffee

For pour over, the K-Plus produces clean, sweet cups with good flavor clarity. The 48mm burrs are large for a hand grinder, which contributes to a more even particle distribution than smaller-burred competitors. My V60 cups from the K-Plus are comparable to what I get from the Fellow Ode V1.1, which is a strong endorsement.

French press works well at coarser settings. The grounds are uniform and chunky without excessive fines, producing full-bodied cups with minimal silt.

AeroPress is excellent. The K-Plus is arguably at its best in the medium-fine range where AeroPress recipes typically land. The cups have great body, sweetness, and complexity.

For a comparison of top pour over and filter grinders, check out the best coffee grinder list.

Grinding Speed and Effort

The K-Plus is one of the fastest hand grinders I've used. The large 48mm burrs and the longer handle work together to make grinding quick and relatively effortless.

Typical grinding times for an 18-gram dose:

Espresso (fine): 30 to 40 seconds
Pour over (medium): 25 to 30 seconds
French press (coarse): 20 to 25 seconds

Light roasts take longer than dark roasts because the beans are denser and harder. Even with a light roast at an espresso grind, I finish in under 50 seconds, which is fast for a hand grinder.

The grinding feel is smooth with no catching or jolting. The handle turns evenly, and the burrs don't stall on single beans the way cheaper grinder burrs sometimes do.

K-Plus vs. Comandante C40

This is the comparison most people want. Both are premium hand grinders priced around $200 to $270. Here's how they differ:

Espresso: The K-Plus wins. The external adjustment and finer click resolution make espresso dialing much easier. The Comandante needs the Red Clix add-on ($40 extra) to approach the K-Plus's espresso precision.
Filter coffee: Very close. Some people prefer the Comandante's cup character for pour over (slightly more body), while others prefer the K-Plus's clarity. This is a matter of taste, not objective quality.
Adjustment ease: K-Plus wins by a wide margin. External numbered dial versus internal stepped clicks that require counting from zero.
Build quality: Both are excellent. The Comandante has a more classic, traditional feel. The K-Plus feels more modern and tool-like.
Travel: The Comandante is slightly smaller and lighter. The K-Plus is bulkier due to the larger burrs and external adjustment ring.

If you brew both espresso and filter, the K-Plus is the better choice. If you only brew filter coffee, either grinder will serve you well.

Maintenance

The K-Plus is easy to maintain:

After each use: Tap the grinder gently to clear retained grounds. The retention is very low, about 0.1 to 0.2 grams.
Weekly: Brush the burrs with the included cleaning brush.
Monthly: Disassemble the burr assembly (takes 2 minutes with no tools) and do a thorough cleaning with a dry brush.
Never use water on the burrs or internal parts. Moisture promotes rust on steel burrs.

The steel burrs will last for years. 1Zpresso doesn't publish an official lifespan, but based on the burr quality and typical home use, 5 to 8 years is a reasonable expectation before any noticeable performance decline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the K-Plus worth the premium over the 1Zpresso JX-Pro?

The JX-Pro costs about $100 less and still grinds well for both espresso and filter. The K-Plus upgrades you to larger burrs (48mm vs 38mm), the external adjustment system, and a wooden catch cup. If you grind daily and switch between brew methods often, the K-Plus's convenience and speed justify the premium. If budget is tight, the JX-Pro is excellent for the money.

Can I use the K-Plus for Turkish coffee?

The K-Plus can grind very fine, but reaching true Turkish fineness requires going nearly all the way closed. It will produce a very fine powder, but it takes significantly longer to grind at that setting. It's technically capable, but not ideal for daily Turkish coffee use.

How portable is the K-Plus?

It's portable but not pocket-sized. At about 21cm tall and 685 grams, it fits in a bag or suitcase comfortably. It's not the smallest travel grinder available, but the grind quality you get makes the extra size worthwhile. The folding handle helps with packing.

Does the K-Plus come with a carrying case?

Yes. 1Zpresso includes a padded carrying case with the K-Plus, which protects it during travel and keeps all the components together.

My Verdict

The 1Zpresso K-Plus is the best all-around hand grinder I've used. It handles espresso and filter with equal confidence, the external adjustment system is genuinely superior to internal dial designs, and the grinding speed makes daily manual grinding painless. At its price point, it competes directly with the Comandante C40 and wins on versatility. If you want one hand grinder that does everything well, the K-Plus is the one I'd recommend. Browse the top coffee grinder roundup to see how it compares to both manual and electric alternatives.