1ZPresso K Plus Review: Pros, Cons & A Baristas Opinion

The 1Zpresso K series is a game-changer, and its crown jewel, the K Plus knocks most other hand-crank grinders out of the park.

Hailed for its exceptionally consistent grind, decent power, excellent grind size control — and most importantly — its ability to grind for any brew method.

But, is it for you? 

We’ll dissect the pros and cons of this near-perfect golden boy grinder. Performance, materials, grind specifics, added features … we’ll cover it all.

So keep reading this 1ZPresso K Plus review to see if this epic release fits your needs.

1ZPresso K Plus Review Overview

 The 1Zpresso K Plus is, in short, a great hand coffee grinder for most coffee lovers.

That’s not empty praise. Like many 1Zpresso grinders, the K Plus yields a consistent grind, offers precise grind size adjustment, and performs well with any grind size — and, therefore, any brewing method.

Consistent grinds across the particle size spectrum (fine, medium, and coarse) and precise grind size control are the biggest pros of the 1ZPresso K Plus. 

I’ll go over some of the particulars that make the K Plus unique below, but highlights include a stainless steel conical burr measuring 48 mm. 

This gives the K Plus its consistent grind. Stainless steel is also a bonus for anyone who appreciates a uniform grind fit for a pour-over poured by your favorite third-wave barista. 

Not many coffee grinders are able to handle ultra-fine and coarse particle sizes equally well, but the K Plus lives up to the hype. 

So, If you might enjoy a French press today and a Moka pot tomorrow, you won’t need another grinder.  

The catch cup holds 35-40 grams of coffee, which is on the larger side for a manual grinder. That’s a nice feature if you like to make French press or pour-over, which uses a little more coffee.

The catch cup is also magnetic, which makes it easier to remove and use your grounds.

This sounds like a needless frill, but give it a chance. 

Magnetic seals tend to be so convenient that you can’t imagine life without them. Give it a few days to get used to it. Trust me. I doubted it too. 

But, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows here. 

The biggest downside to the K Plus is speed and maybe even the strength it takes. 

The K Plus is not fast for a hand grinder. Like at all. 

Most users will be able to grind enough beans for their morning coffee in under 2 minutes, but they won’t be bragging about any time saved.

The shape of the conical burr is supposed to deliver more power, which is part of why it takes longer to grind. It’s also supposed to make this manual grinder easier to use.

In practice, however, the large (48 mm) steel burr is not always easy for users to move, especially when trying to take advantage of the consistent finer grind this grinder offers. 

Some users barely notice the effort needed. Others will struggle to prepare a Moka pot.

To be safe, skip the K Plus if you have arthritis or don’t trust your upper body strength. But if you’re reasonably confident, just know it may take a little more effort to make Turkish coffee.

K Plus Burrs

1Zpresso’s “K” line of manual grinders come with specialized burrs, conveniently named the “K burr.”

This 48 mm stainless steel conical burr comes in a heptagonal shape. That’s seven-sided if your geometry is rusty.

Conical burrs tend to run cooler and more quietly, not that noise or heat is as much of an issue for a hand grinder anyway.

Although some warn that conical grinders can be a little less consistent, that difference is created in manufacturing — how precisely the grinder is put together. 

1Zpresso is generally a high-quality, popular brand, so your odds are better with their conical grinders.

The heptagonal shape is a little slower than the pentagonal shape other 1ZPresso hand grinders feature, but the heptagonal is generally considered higher powered. 

Yup. It takes less effort to crank the handle of this bad boy to the max. 

48 mm is also pretty large for a home-use, manual conical grinder. Larger burr sizes mean better control over ground size, which is always a plus. 

Likewise, stainless steel burrs are great for creating uniform, symmetrical grounds. 

That helps you create a smoother, more consistent cup of coffee regardless of the brewing method, although you may appreciate it more for espresso or Turkish coffee.

Steel heats up a little more than ceramic burrs, although this is less of an issue for a hand grinder — unless you’re the Flash.

However, steel burrs tend to offer a less complex but smoother flavor. 

You may hear it described as “clean.” So if you love “daily,” “morning,” or any other mild and steady blend, you may like the modest flavor adjustment steel burrs lend to a cup.

But most coffee lovers don’t notice the difference burr material has on flavor at the end of the day, so don’t get too bogged down here.

You can appreciate stainless steel for its quality and sharpness, which offer a consistent grind ideal for any brewing method.

1Zpresso K Plus Grind Settings

The 1Zpreso K Plus hand grinder is, in a word, precise. 

When adjusting the grind, there are 90 clicks per round, with 10 adjustment round settings. 

For comparison, other hand grinders on the market may have as low as 40, or even fewer, clicks and only three adjustment sizes. 

Each click is 22 microns, which is on the larger side for 1Zpresso grinders. 

That’s still within the average for a hand grinder (most range from about 12 to 30 microns per click), although below 20 would be ideal.

With over 90 micro-adjustments in 10 rounds (0-9), that’s still plenty of control over grind size. 

Not only does this let you adjust the grind of your coffee beans to match your preferred brewing method, you can adjust and fine-tune that grind to your inner barista’s content.

A few other 1Zpresso hand grinders, like the JX Pro, can just beat the K Plus, but don’t let that steal its thunder. 

The K Plus offers far better control of and precision in grind adjustment than many, maybe even most, hand grinders. It’s not too shabby on the 1Zpresso line, either.

If you’re someone who believes specialty coffee deserves an optimized grind worthy of your favorite coffee mug, consider this a point in the K Plus’ favor.

Speed

To fill the 1Zpresso K Plus to capacity (about 35 to 40 grams of coffee), most will average under 2 minutes.

Most likely, it will take 80-90 seconds to grind the amount you need to make a cup.

When compared to other grinders, the K Plus is a little slow.

The pentagonal burrs in some 1Zpresso manual grinders tend to be faster, but they also take more manual power. 

The heptagonal burr this model comes with doesn’t need a lot of elbow grease, but you will likely lose another 10-20 seconds in the morning.

Grind Consistency

If you haven’t caught the theme yet, the K Plus is an excellent choice for consistent grinds. Stainless steel, and heptagonal burrs that are relatively large all spell consistent grind sizes.

The K Plus can create some truly fine grounds if you need it to, but it doesn’t have too many fines — teeny tiny grounds smaller than the intended particle size (which can throw off your brew).

That consistency is, well, consistent from fine to coarse grinds, making the K Plus good for any brewing method.

Yes, really. The K Plus is reliable for any cup of coffee. 

It gets extra hype for fans of coffees that need finer grinds, like espresso or Turkish coffee, because so many grinders can’t deliver the right results for the ultra-fine end of the spectrum. 

But don’t think you can’t enjoy a great Chemex or pour over using the K Plus.

Calibration

Calibrating the K Plus is easy … until it isn’t. 

You know the grinder is calibrated when the red dot on the top rim of the grinder is lined up with the 0 mark on the adjustment dial.

If it’s off, you’ll have to recalibrate. Yes. This can be a little complicated. 

Basically, you have to turn the adjustment ring to a coarser grind (loosening the gap inside the ring).

Lloosening the thumb nut on the burr based on how far off the dot was from 0, retightening the adjustment dial.

1Zpresso offers a guide for this on their website, and it will probably take time to get used to. But once you’ve gotten used to it, calibration proves to be simple.

For most, this is a con but one that will become a minor issue with practice. 

So yes. After you get used to it, the process becomes easier, but still a bit tedious. You may have to adjust the dial and thumb knut back and forth to zero in on 0.

Quick Note

You can’t wash the 1Zpresso K Plus. It’s a dry clean — with a rag and brush, that is — only the grinder.

Don’t expect to throw this in the dishwasher or the sink. 

1Zpresso K Plus VS K Max VS K Pro

How does the K Plus compare to other hand grinders in the 1ZPresso K series?

What’s the Same?

The K Plus, K Max, and K Pro specs are all pretty similar.

Each has the signature heptagonal conical K burr in stainless steel, measuring 48 mm. All three feature the same external adjustment ring, with 10 settings (0-9), 90 clicks per rotation, and a click size of 22 microns.

They are all capable of creating a consistent grind for all ends of the particle spectrum, making the K series of grinders great for any brew method.

What’s Different?

Frankly, the differences are minor.

The K Pro is basically the little brother of the bunch. By 1Zpresso’s own admission, it tends to be slightly cheaper (we’re talking the price of two or three lattes).

Its capacity is slightly lower in the 30-35 gram range (compared to 35-40 grams). It’s also the only one not to feature the magnetic catch cup.

The K Pro comes with a slightly larger “traveling case,” whereas the K Max and K Plus come with the “cylinder case.” If one is better than the other, I couldn’t tell you which or why to be honest.

Aesthetically, the K Plus is slightly shorter – by approx less than a centimeter. The K Plus has a somewhat wider catch cup shape, too.

The K Plus has one unique feature worth mentioning: It has an optional blind shaker bottom. 

This helps reduce static in the grounds and increases extraction time and yield.

Fans of longer extraction will appreciate this feature. However, for those who don’t want it, there’s an alternative cap, so you aren’t forced into it. 

Which is Best?

Honestly, it doesn’t make much difference which of the K series you choose, which is pretty great.

The K series are solid, reliable coffee grinders. 

They’re well-designed and built for consistency, offer better-than-average grind adjustment control, and are equally good at grinding for all coffee types.

The K Plus, K Pro, and K Max have the same flaws, too. 

They are just tough for some people to grind at the finest settings (or lightest roasts). And it may take you 20 seconds longer to prep your grounds.

Unless saving a modest amount of money is worthwhile, you may pass on the K Pro for the slightly lower capacity. But if you don’t brew with a lot of grounds at once, you might not care.

The blind shaker bottom option with the K Plus is also nice to have. For comparable prices and abilities, you might as well give yourself more options.

Whereas the magnetic catch cup is convenient, making the K Plus and K Max slightly more appealing, but truly, you might as well decide by choosing the carrying case you like best.

The K series performs better overall than other 1Zpresso grinders, like the JX, which is saying a lot since most of their hand grinders are popular for good reason. 

As long as you can physically work the K series, you can’t go wrong with any of them.

The 1Zpresso K Plus Isn’t For You If …

Slower Than Average

If you’re considering a manual coffee grinder, you’re probably not scared off by a couple minutes’ extra work. 

If you’re convenience-motivated, you might be better off with fancy flash-frozen specialty coffee like Cometeer.

Still, the K Plus is a bit slow. If you’re a slow coffee fan or enjoy the process of making coffee, then this isn’t an issue for you. 

Grind Power Requires Force

Although some find the K Plus is plenty powerful, many users find it difficult to grind at the finest settings.

While you may not even need the finest settings (0-2) for most coffees, it’d be a shame to invest in a high-quality grinder you feel like you can’t use for Turkish coffee, at least with your lightest roasts, as these tend to resist breaking up.

I’ve already been warned by a chiropractor to take steps against developing carpal tunnel syndrome — the danger of writing too much. 

So, unfortunately, the K Plus or any other in the K series aren’t fit for my personal needs, despite the benefits.

If hand and arm strength are not in your toolbox, or worse, you’re worried about arthritis or carpal tunnel in your future like me, try another 1Zpresso grinder that offers you comparable benefits while requiring less force. Just to be safe.

Yes. The JX Pro isn’t quite as precise, but it’s easier for most to use and still delivers great results for all brewing methods, especially espresso.

Related Read: Best Manual Coffee Grinder

The Final Verdict

In all, the 1Zpresso K Plus has a lot going for it.

Like the rest of the K series from 1Zpresso, the K Plus offers true consistency in particle size, making for better brews every time. And you get exceptional control over the grind adjustment. 

The conical “K burr” design seems to live up to the fancy name.

Modest features, like a large capacity, magnetic catch cup, carrying case, and blind shaker bottom add up to a better investment. The 1Zpresso brand offers replacement parts on most grinders, too.

The caveat is in the slower grind time (a minor inconvenience) and harder-than-average grind (a bigger one).

For most people, these issues don’t get in the way of making a wide variety of brew types, even espresso. 

If you do invest in this generally high-performing hand grinder, I have no doubt you’ll be glad you did.