1Zpresso ZP6 Special coffee grinder review
My Wilfa Electric Grinder broke sometime last year after a 7+ year lifespan. Honestly, I don't know if it's a Wilfa or a rebranded Breville because it's got some slight differences and googling doesn't give me the model. It served me well despite the frankly absurb amount of ground retention, but shortly after moving flats last year it finally kicked the bucket.
I think I did three months of grinder research, on and off. I simply couldn't get one at a quality I would be happy with without spending an incredible amount of money because I had my sights on high end filter + occassional espresso. The Ode Fellow was under consideration before realizing how terrible the NZ import tax was. Damn near double the price. Knowing that, I turned my attention to hand grinders instead.
Taiwanese company 1Zpresso makes probably the most well-known handgrinders in the Asian sphere. "1" in Mandarin is pronounced like the letter "E" in English, so the name 1Zpresso is basically a pun: EZ (easy) Presso. The original ZP6 model was discontinued; Taiwan loves their filter coffee more than espresso, but they're used to a certain grit and texture in their filters. Post-release, the Taiwanese audience complained that the ZP6 grinded 'too clean' -- a profile that is much more suited towards western filter drinkers. They did not sell well until well-known coffee professional/influencer Lance Hedrick did a campaign to bring it back after naming it his best hand grinder ever. For filter, that is. There are better options for espresso.
Eventually, 1Zpresso re-released the ZP6 and even upgraded it with a better step adjustment: that's why it's called the ZP6 'SPECIAL'.
To identify my biases here: I mean, I'm Taiwanese, so if you're saying that I can buy things of great quality while supporting domestically produced goods...I'm gonna do it.
It comes with a brush for cleaning out the grounds and that's very nice. :eggbug-relieved: I've been using it for about 6-ish months now? And I've gotten a good handle over my new morning coffee routine.
The steps on the ZP6 Special are fantastic. They're wonderfully tactile, and they give such beautiful clicks as you turn them. My god, I could adjust the dial all day.
The entire stainless steel construction feels good to touch; I can't understate it because, well, you have to use it! While it may appear a bit daunting in size, it's perfect for me because I can actually grind 2 people portions with this grinder (that's 30g), which just about fills it to the top. Other grinders force you to dump and reload it twice. On a personal note, I much prefer using the ZP6 Special over the famous Comandantes. The wooden handle is ergonomic and the middle section has a lovely texture. That middle grip is a godsend when you're dumping your grounds into your v60--you simply knock the catch cup against that soft grip instead of smashing two pieces of metal together. The botton of the catch cup is also lined with a soft material so that the grinder doesn't whack your kitchen counter when you put it down.
It's so well-designed I could cry. Even the cleaning process is simple and you don't have to readjust the steps every time you do it.
Pictured: The black "Iron Sands" version of the ZP6 Special. Honestly? I prefer the original stainless steel color instead.
For hand grinders, you MUST RDT ('Ross Droplet Technique'). Essentially, it means that you need a tiny spray bottle and spritz your coffee grounds once before loading them into your grinder. This prevents static build up, and most people do RDT for electric grinders anyway. It's a good habit!
I use a super cheap Daiso spray bottle and it works wonders. You can also grab one from MUJI or your local dollar store.
Alright, so the elephant in the room: hand grinding.
God, I miss an electric grinder. I think it took me an entire week to get used to doing it by hand. An important note is that I would NEVER recommend a hand grinder to someone who has relevant disabilities. I have some occupational injuries from typing on a keyboard and using a mouse too much. For one, you really have to grip the grinder with your non-dominant hand, which also needs to move in opposite directions of your dominant hand as it turns the grinder. Both hands moving in tandem makes the grinding motion a lot easier, as you'll see a lot of professionals do.
Some people say they love it as part of their morning ritual. I'm just here to let you know that hand grinding takes a heck of a lot longer than electric. Grinding for one person is fine. Me? I'm grinding for two people every morning, and while the 1Zpresso ZP6 Special is big enough to do the entire dose in one go, gosh, it just takes a while.
To be honest, it's not that bad. I mean, you gotta get the kettle boiling and stuff. I'm not actually doing anything else with that spare time other than doom scrolling on my phone. But I remember when I just pressed a button on an electric grinder and it did everything automatically...
All in all, I really love my ZP6 Special. It's been making some exceptionally special cups, bringing out all the wonderful floral and fruity light roasted notes. They're on par with professionally made ones outside.
I'm making them every day.
Do I still want an ELECTRIC grinder?
Uhh, I'm not sure. See, I'm very picky about grinder noise. I can't help it, I get overstimulated very easily. I used to put my electric grinder in my cupboard and close the door every time I used it. Even then, it was a bit too much. Noise is why I ruled out getting a Baratza; they may be cheap, amazing, easy to fix and replace, but they're famous for being violently loud.
If you're someone who gets overstimulated like me, then maybe a hand grinder would be a good choice.