1Zpresso K-Ultra - How It Won Me Over

[@taqial-faris6421]

I own K-Plus and I must say that it was worth every single cent. Even for beginner, I think this is a great one, it will last you a lifetime.

[@benjaminwestney9095]

I got the K-Ultra for Father’s Day this year and I LOVE it. Using it exclusively for pour overs with a V60 and Kalita Wave. It’s almost impossible to make a bad cup regardless of grind size, roast, water temp, age of beans… this grinder just does not miss.

[@nataliekavanagh5573]

I'm a huge beginner, I've got this arriving tomorrow as I'm currently using a Krups blade grinder, 6 years and counting to be fair! Thank you for this in depth video, really helps me understand the grinder before it's here. The brand was recommended to me, and I'm glad i chose a good model for filter!

[@PhilippeCarphin]

I ordered this as part of my pour over setup. I got the grinder first so I didn't have a cone or filters for pour over. But I received a CAD300+ toy so I wanted to use it immediately so I made myself an espresso and since then I've ditched my electric grinder just because of coffee retention. Plus grinding for espresso with it gives me a nice forearm pump in the hand that holds the grinder. And the dial indicator is really handy for switching between espresso and pour over.

[@joelcleare]

Picked one up over Prime day for $ 207. 🎉. I was just looking for a better grinder than my Baratza Encore without breaking the bank. Yes the coffee taste better with this hand grinder. I’m sure there are a ton of grinders better than the Encore but I can’t test them all.

[@Legorose2316]

I have a k-max for about 1 year now and this grinder help me discover all the world of speciality coffee.

[@perfectlynormal5729]

I bought the K-Ultra as a backup pour over grinder. It quickly became my go to.

[@PhilippeCarphin]

I bought it for pour over but since I got it before my cone and was excited to use it so I made some espresso with it made me realize how big an effect the coffee retention of my electric grinder had.

[@photoclickazhar1515]

Ive got the k ultra a month ago, i gotta say and admit it, this bad boy is a real game changer for my daily coffee! It worths every single cent :) !!!

[@Owza57]

I've had my K-Ultra since Nov 23, I'm very pleased with it. I swap between AeroPress and Espresso quite a lot, even the same morning, so this is perfect.

[@RealBonk]

I've had the k-plus since 2021 and could not be happier with it. Primarily used for filter coffee and looking forward to comparing it to a ZP6 I will have soon :)

[@Richard-Seekingwulf]

I have the one Z presso J-max and I just love it, it's so easy to use even making espresso and when I want to make a pour over or something even in the French press I just zip that knob around and around and around and never have a problem and all of my coffee's tastes wonderful☕ cheers

[@Howie-bz5pe]

I have this and the zp6. I use them for filter as I only use electric for spro. I use my zp6 primarily but when I find a bean that I really want more body I grab the k ultra and love both of them.

[@igorvinograd7259]

Do you think the ZP6 is better in a pour over than the K-Ultra? I can't decide which to buy.. I mostly brew a pour over but sometimes I'd like espresso.

[@Howie-bz5pe]

@@igorvinograd7259 the zp6 won’t do espresso

[@xenodrake4008]

​@@igorvinograd7259zp6 just does not do espresso. There's your answer.

[@CoffeeGeek]

Great video and coverage. I am completely sold on all the Ultra grinders from 1zpresso. I use the J-Ultra for a lot of our espresso testing lately, and the K-Ultra is set up on my secondary brew bar. One note - I think between the K-Ultra and X-Ultra, I gravitate to the latter. It doesn't have the curvy beefiness of the K, but the adjustment clicks are a smaller micron range, which allows for better tuning on espresso grinds. Also for whatever reason, the straight body X-Ultra (albeit with their included optional silicone ring) just overall feels better in my hand under operation. Also the X is substantially cheaper than the K model. It's overall volume capacity is lower, but if I was presented with either, even at the same price, I think i'd go for the X-Ultra model.

[@hippiemcfake6364]

What are your thoughts of K vs X for pour over specifically? Is the K noticably better?

[@BBuchanan3]

For a couple years I used the J-Max for my all-around grinder. I actually liked the pour-over results. Certainly not as “clean” as the results I now get with the addition of a ZP6 Special, but that wasn’t a bad thing. In fact from time to time, I’m actually wishing there was a bit more “mud” in my cup.

[@thomascee]

I am a “mud in my cup” ☕️ drinker too. I like the thick coffee mouth feel 💯

[@Rpm1197]

Just got this in the mail yesterday. The case can fit the silicone v60 which makes a perfect travel kit

[@bruceharlick3322]

@Rpm1197 do you have a link for the silicon V60? Interested in that. Thanks either way

[@Rpm1197]

@@bruceharlick3322it’s called the hario zebrang

[@khcstewie]

It's been a while since I last visited the channel and I think you really improved your presentation. Felt to me like the writing/general outline was less stiff, the cadence of your speech was more varied, and you're not ending your sentences in the same register every single time. Idk if you're making a conscious effort in these areas or if you're simply more comfortable in front of the camera than when you first started, but for my hyper-anal preferences, it's a marked improvement.

[@AgathosKaiAlethia]

This grinder and the Pietro Lance Burr are the best two hand grinders. I’ve used them both a lot. I agree with your summary for the most part. I sold my 1ZPresso and kept the Pietro since I only do brew. I think the Pietro is more forgiving than this review made it seem. I stay on the coarse end. The stand for Pietro fixes the ergonomic issues but it does grind about half the speed of the K Ultra and is substantially heavier if you’re traveling with it. You can’t go wrong with either grinder but I would agree that the Ultra has less upside and less downside in the cup making it a little easier to dial in but I don’t think the depth of the downside is as as high as the upside. In other words, Pietro can you you a juicer and tastier cup more so that it can be harder to dial in.

[@ZacharyPinder]

I have quite a few grinders, including a P64 and Varia VS3. I also find myself coming back to the K-Ultra often for easy, simple and good tasting coffee. It really is everything you say it is in this review.

[@LocalYokel01]

Recommendation for a hand grinder to use with a moka pot?

[@cafe_au_neil]

I got one a year ago and it’s my best grinder I’ve had.

[@kevinfurniss1462]

I go back and forth between the K-Ultra and the Timemore Chestnut X. I have a Comandante C40 MK4 but I don't use it as often because I hate having to count clicks.

[@brunozukauskas]

Any thoughts on how this compares to the x-pro, mainly for filter?

[@orrinbelcher6593]

Nice video, fun, informative and nicely done.

[@mlpjunior]

I haven't ever used a hand grinder, but this video is very reminiscent of the reasons why cast burrs are my favorite. It's almost impossible to make a bad cup with them.

[@pierredelux2319]

Just got one today! Love your channel btw

[@homecafecharlie]

Great video. I rarely use hand grinders but after my last holiday I've committed to bringing a portable espresso setup with me because you cannot rely on many European countries to have a good coffee spot nearby 🤣

[@VinegarAndSaltedFries]

I love this grinder…not my favorite thing to clean though. And when I reassemble it’s hard to get it back exactly to the exact point it was before so after cleaning it takes a bit more dialing it again. Not sure if you’ve used yours as much as me but my middle band is cracked in half and has worn off. Also I hate the handle having that little twist mechanism it always feels like a weak point and I’ve struggles with a couple issues with it. I like the sound the Commandante makes far better especially the wood one, but the amount of time difference is wild in how long I’m grinding for. Also on a particularly hard light roast on a morning I was being a bit cloudy headed The handle came loose and I dislocated my thumb. Not fun always worth remembering hand grinders are a tool, and if you are careless they can make you pay haha.

[@smashtankful]

I haven't heard it mentioned that the K-Ultra is almost too fast of a grinder. Which means for espresso in particular, which it is good enough at, it can require some pretty serious physical strength to do comfortably. But, it will definitely be grinding the dose quickly.

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

It’s fast. You’re definitely working on espresso but I don’t find it unreasonable. Harder than a c40 for sure though in this regard

[@PhilippeCarphin]

I have it, I love how it performs. My only gripe with it is the big diagonal "1ZPRESSO" that makes it look cheap.

[@cade5400]

The sentiments you shared about the K-Ultra are exactly how I feel about my Lagom Mini, especially now that I have my Zerno with MPs here. With the mini, I can throw almost any coffee at it with the same grind size and get a solid cup out of the V60. It seems the C40/K-Ultra/Lagom Mini burr geometry just has some magic to it

[@COLTATRON]

Do you have moonshine or obsidian burrs

[@alanhart6407]

What are your thoughts on the timemore xlite? Would love to see a video contrasting/comparing hand grinders.

[@borbetomagus]

Any plans to test any of the budget line Kingrinder options (P0, P1, P2) for those starting out? (All under $50) How would the *results* of these compare to your higher grade grinders??? Or would you suggest waiting to buy a higher grade grinder instead? (As long as it's under $100 -- And what is worth recommending in this price range?) I have the P2, but am just starting out, so I couldn't be of much help otherwise...

[@MyNameJim]

I usually recommend most people start with the Kingrinder P2 or K6. P2 if you plan on upgrading to the 1ZPress K-Ultra eventually, and use your P2 as a nice travel grinder. K6 if you just want one to last for a looooong time and dont feel the need to upgrade later.

[@beefvalve]

love it. i used the commandante a lot and i like a lot about it, but i also hate the way you dial grind size. especially if there are 2 people in the house hold grinding to different sizes. also, i think the diameter is a little too big to grab comfortably. hoping to get a 1zpresso zp6 some day, but those arent easy to find... great video btw. keep it up!

[@Rpm1197]

Would love to see you do an update on the neo flex with the pressure gauge and updated group

[@spektrograf]

100% agree with your findings. The K-Ultra never delivers a bad cup for me out of the gate with any bean I throw at it, though I reach for my other grinders for more clarity-which, just as you point out, takes a bit more work to get a good cup out of them. Also, 100% of the time, friends and family normies prefer cups ground out of the K-Ultra to my other grinders. Granted, I don't necessarily spend the time to dial in the absolute perfect brew/shot when I serve them out a high clarity grinder/burr set.

[@fluffyman15]

What are your other grinders?

[@Gwinter452]

Hi, what's an electric grinder you recommend for espresso? Thanks

[@libartstech]

How does it compare to the Lagom Casa? I currently have a K-Max and really love the results I’m getting with it. Im basically wanting the same thing but in an electric grinder.

[@JoeEngineersThings]

I wish there were more image comparisons of grinds. I love the consistency of pre-ground coffee - consistent size but also shape. I find more jagged shapes coming from the hand grinders. The ZP6 seems pretty close but not quite there.

[@Evan_Rodgers]

Can you do a review on the K6?

[@theimike4360]

J max is my go to hand grinder and have been using it for years :) can you do a video with a recipe using that hand grinder with a pour over with your v60 :)

[@bacca71]

Very nice review. It appeared in your demo where you dumped the ground coffee into a 58mm portafilter basket, that the grinder cup fit well inside the basket. Is this the case, and do you feel this works well? Can you shake the grind up a bit in the grinder cup before dumping it into an espresso basket (note you did a quick WDT after)? I might be interested in this grinder if I didn't already have two that do the job for courser grinds and for espresso (an old, Mod2 Knock Feldgrind) that work well enough for occasional use. The price tag for a reliable, wide-margin-of-error all-around grinder of that quality would not be out-of-line for me.

[@jvanides]

Is there a hand-grinder you’d recommend for doing Turkish? 😍

[@dabougi8063]

It is completely ridiculous to compare the burrs with the comandante in terms of copy (the handle was the actual thing iirc) because my (beloved) comandante is extremely lame, especially when it comes to espresso. I am talking about 3 to 5 times the grind time. In fact, this was originally the reason I also got the zp6 (that is also slow)- I just associated speed with espresso and fines because "aggressive burr" and so on. The truth is, I surprisingly love the (light roast) filter coffee from the Ultra. Sure, sometimes a little extra clarity would be nice, but most of the times I actually prefer the juicy cups. And looking at stalling issues (or lack thereof) the Ultra makes it easy to brew. I "tested" the fines Ultra vs ZP6 with a Shaker with inserted sieve, so something cheap and not scientific, but I was surprised that there was no real differece between ultra amd zp6. I know, fines are not all and the test is really shitty, but it fits the overall experience. The Ultra does something quite impossible, it is good for filter AND espresso, but you do not feel you make a real compromise in eighter section (speaking for normal hand grinders)

[@alexcheong553]

Thanks for this review. Have you compared the K-Ultra with the ZP6, as well as the Timemore S3? Would love to get your thoughts on how they fare for filter brews.

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

I’m actually dropping a ZP6 review in less than 12 hours 👀 And I do make the K-Ultra Comparison! S3 is on deck for testing!

[@alexcheong553]

@@DaddyGotCoffee awesome! Can’t wait

[@benjaminbutton3476]

How does this compare to the Casa that you said you also love?

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

Taste wise they are in a very similar neighbourhood!

[@SoulBladeM]

I own the K-max. How different are they in your opinion?

[@rnrnrkrk994]

I'm curious what makes a grinder espresso oriented or not. If the burr is strong enough to grind fine enough, shouldnt it be good for all-around?

[@salarycat]

I have the K-Plus and it was my trusty grinder for a couple of years, but I haven't been using it since I got an electronic grinder. Not so much for the effort of hand grinding, but I don't want to clean 2 grinders instead of 1. Could you elaborate why you'd choose to use a handgrinder when you have a high-tier electric grinder, besides traveling? Are there any workflow or quality reasons or is it just for the fun of it?

[@3looish]

It would be nice if you can compare the results between this and the ZP6 Special for filter to see which one yields a better result

[@choppersplace]

Agree a tasting comparison would be great since so many praise the ZP6 and the commadante...coffee chronicler suggested, as did you, that the zp6 is better for lighter to lighter medium beans versus the k plus giving more body but perhaps not as much clarity... Great video btw

[@BBuchanan3]

Odd question, perhaps: I’d like to know the brand name of the fluted coffee cup you have in the video. I can’t find one that isn’t double walled, and want a single walled version.

[@hippiemcfake6364]

Have you had a chance to look at the X-ultra? It seems similar, maybe slightly less good on paper but also substantially cheaper.

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

Not yet but I will put it on the list. Without being hands on, I would expect good things!

[@appelsenperenboom]

I really enjoy my x-ultra because of the wide range. Works well for pourover/filter, French press and espresso. Just be willing to grind for quite some time

[@hippiemcfake6364]

@@DaddyGotCoffee Looking forward to it! I'm tempted to get a good hand grinder to see if it improves my filter over my DF64 with stock burrs.

[@hippiemcfake6364]

@@appelsenperenboom Thanks! I'd mainly want a hand grinder for filter to see if it improves on my DF 64 with stock burrs. For espresso, I'm already quite happy, so mainly eyeing the x-ultra due to the lower price.

[@appelsenperenboom]

@@hippiemcfake6364 i am curious to see how these compare :). I do think the reviewed grinder is more ergonomic and can hold more coffee. I am curious to see a review :)

[@gregoryrobak456]

Sounds like since I have the Commandante, this grinder is not really justified for my needs, especially at that price point. I guess I'm looking for a grinder to compliment the Commandante, and not be so similar in profile.

[@GrekosTed]

The discount code provided for K Ultra does not work on Amazon any other discount code!

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

The discount code for K-Ultra is for Cafune.ca only 😊

[@jebegonzalez]

🤔🤔 Should I get one?

[@adrianmichaelsmith]

YES if espresso is not your main interest. otherwise consider the J Ultra or Kinu M47 IMHO. but im just an old coffee lover from the UK so take no notice ☕

[@appelsenperenboom]

Do you take microns into account when dialing in?

[@adrianmichaelsmith]

usually the main thing to take in to account when dialling in is time and Taste. 😋 Take microns in to account when purchasing and choosing.

[@appelsenperenboom]

@@adrianmichaelsmith I like this advice

[@heyitsyeh]

This has been heavy lifting for me for the past 9 months as I wait for a Zerno

[@HaveAGoodHeart]

How does it compare to Zerno just in terms of taste? I am using j max, not sure how much upgrade in taste I can get from getting zerno.

[@bombthesystem666]

The bottom comes off also when disassembling.

[@davidhunternyc1]

The King of Espresso Hand Grinders is still the BPlus Apollo. All metal. No plastic. Grinds for French Press, filter, and espresso with ease. It's also the fastest hand grinder you can buy and built like a tank.

[@Smittyxc]

Jx-pro gang

[@MariaPerez-e6m]

Fadel Canyon

[@Moon_mlhk]

What would you say if you were to use aeropress recipe to get a more body and sweeter - what would you say your preference on grind setting would that be?

[@scopolamin1]

Is this the sponsor of the video?

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

There is no sponsor to this video. 1zpresso did send me this unit nearly a year prior to me releasing this with no expectation of making any content on it.

[@Zebrajellyfishphoto]

Is there an easy answer to this question...Fellow Opus or this 1Zpresso K-Ultra? I use a moka pot every morning. My wife is not as exacting and uses our Jura to "pull" shots.

[@hbr6545]

My only problem with these Handgrinders is: at first glance it sounds great. "I can buy an AMAZING grinder for 260€? wow.... " but then I take a deep breath and think: "well what if i get tired of grinding manually all the time? Then I'll end up buying and eletric and when you realized you spen way more than expected." on top of this I'm also on the fence wether i go for an espresso grinder (since i only drink espressos) but the realiy is, i only drink espressos because I dont have any equipment that even allows me to explore other coffee experiences. "What if then i want to try something different? I'll have to change the grinder again.." ... "260€ maybe I should just add extra 50€ and go for an eletric like the Baraza encore esp or any decent one around 300€?"..... These reviews give me the real FOMO

[@Owza57]

"What if then i want to try something different? I'll have to change the grinder again.." Not with the K-Ultra, it's an all rounder. It grinds equality as well for Espresso, AeroPress and Pour Over.

[@DeborahReed-h2h]

Lukas Manor

[@NoraRalston-p9q]

Torp Stream

[@phynx2006]

The main reason I wouldn't purchase this grinder is it's $450.00 CDN are you kidding me, that is one expensive grinder IMO 😱

[@utiuandy99]

If you search on the whole internet you will find that almost everyone will recommend this grinder and puts it at the top of the list for manual grinders. It’s expensive but it has great materials, produces great cups and will last a very long time. I do not own one but if I didn’t have so many grinders this would definitely be my only grinder.

[@greybeard27]

These are not cheaply made grinders, I have a ZP6 and it is very much a premium product with nothing in its construction that will wear out quickly. It is a grinder that will last years, if not decades.

[@adrianmichaelsmith]

it is much, much cheaper than a lot of the eclectic grinders it can beat time after time when looking at taste in the cup...... and you can make coffee in a power cut..... if you have a gas mokka pot or kettle . rofl!!

[@choppersplace]

it's like any good piece of equipment: once you use it and understand it, esp compared against an electric grinder for the same price and you are able to compare a grind from each, then you understand better.

[@tommyrq180]

Great review! Your subjective assessment at the end was very useful. Your case for this grinder was one that resonated with me and was well-argued on the basis of a regular coffee drinker. I make coffee for myself daily. Pour over only. But I liked knowing how the grinder does across the span and appreciate a grinder with a wider sweet spot. Coffee varies, even within one bag over time. Water varies. So having a grinder that can accommodate those variances with grace sounds like a very good choice as a “daily driver.” 😊

[@alflessa]

Burr life?

[@Kang_Guru.]

not "e-zy-presso" but meant to be read as "wantz-presso" as in "wants presso"

[@jasonmurkin3364]

Errrr no.... Easy presso