Great review of the grinders. Going for an specific brand or feature could be though for the first acquisition. Several options to be evaluated !! Thanks !!
I own a C40 and I love it for my filter coffee recipes. I also own a Knock Feldgrind that’s dialed in for espresso due to it stepless design. What sealed the deal with me was choosing small companies that make their products in-house with great detail by hand (Germany & Scotland).
Hey, I have the c40 and wanting the new Knock Feld47 for espresso. So you find your knock does a good job, e.g. better than a £409 electric grinder for instance? 😂
I've been using my Kinu m47 Phoenix for the past 9 months and I love it. Many people complain about the thumb stop of the Simplicity or the Classic. Oddly, it is replaced with a much more comfortable piece of rubber on the cheaper Phoenix version. To me, the most important is the possibility to adjust very precisely the grind size. It's pretty much the only thing that matters to get the perfect cup of coffee. The Kinu does that perfectly thanks to its stepless adjustment system. By the way, I read somewhere that grind uniformity is not all. Some finer grounds are also needed.
Interesting! I’m still tossing up Kinu or C40. Apparently uniformity does matter for espresso. More uniformity equals a cleaner and more refined cup and less uniformity generally equals a better texture and mouth feel. I can’t say my palette is advanced enough for that, but some of it does come down to preference.
I’ve had the K-plus for a year now, some notes: 1- I was reluctant about the magnetic base at first but now it’s one of my favorite features. The trick of removing it super easily is twisting it as you do so. Otherwise it’s pretty solid. 2- Look for another grinder if you only want to use it for espresso. It takes about a minute of grinding, becomes super tough to grind with at espresso grind sizes (between 3 and 4), and the clicks are just way too big to adjust for espresso. With One click you can go from choking to a too fast flow.
I'd just like to leave a comment for others like me that are considering the normcore v2. I watched this video 6 months ago and decided to buy it since I was looking for something I could take with me. I'll just leave my experience with using it daily, hoping it helps someone. After 6 months I can tell you its totally worth the price. It makes a great cup of filter coffee but its a little finicky for espresso, at least trying to dial in medium-light rostas (I tend to find darker roast more forgiving). I'd take a little more resolution, as you get maybe 4 clicks of adjustment for espresso. Even so, it is completely capable of doing espresso. I find that its easier to just adjust the dose slightly when I find myself between steps. It isn't the most ergonomic thing ever and I had the catch cup unscrew on me a few times while grinding since I tend to grip it around the top, but its not a big deal. I'm just writing this since it would have liked to know when I bought it.
I have been using the J-max for a few months now, and overall for an espresso hand grinder it’s the best in the market for $200. The only problems I have had with it is reassembling the the top nut. It’s an awkward grip to get real tight enough bc if you don’t you’ll start skipping gears when grinding. Also, (this is an issue with all hand grinders not just the j-max) is that I recommend using medium to dark roasts bc lighter roasts can be quite the workout on your arms to grind those hard light roasted beans. Which is an issue bc most specialty coffees come in lighter roasts these days. But if you want a high quality espresso grinder and don’t want to spend $500 plus on an electric one, the J-max will make great espresso.
I love how over the top my mom's grinder is she has a Kinu Phoenix. I got it for her when she was using a cheap hand grinder. She doesn't want any coffee gear out on the counters so she says no to electric grinders. Loved the video!
Great video Kyle. Really enjoyed it. Just wanted to say I discovered you when up feeding my new born baby boy. He’s 4 weeks now and you really helped me get through some tough late nights! Thanks!
I own the kinu m47 classic, fellow ode, and comandante with red clix. When it comes to espresso I am not a fan of the comandante. I cant seem to get it dialed in with red clix. The kinu is great for espresso but id defiantly agree that it lacks in the terms of filter in comparison to the comandante. Thanks for the video
I’ve been waiting for this video, with my finger poised over the ‘Add to basket’ button on various pages, and I’m delighted to say that you have clarified a number of options for me, so thanks. Only one I’m sorry wasn’t included was the 1Zpresso JE-Plus, which looks like a potentially slightly better option for someone who wants to do both pour overs but also wants to be able to dial in espresso when away from home. I actually think I prefer the K-Plus - just concerned about the fine adjustment for espresso. Thanks for a really thorough and enjoyable video as always.
The quality of you videos are awesome! I bought the 1zpresso jx after watching your review and I love it. Great to see content like this from a fellow Ontarian
I have the J Max and use it mostly for Pour Overs... I'm in love! It is great to grind and it doesn't feel that you are taking too much time, rather (as he mentioned), it feels like you are getting something done (30g every morning). The taste is incredible (maybe because of the panamenian coffees I get to enjoy) and the notes feel rich and it's like the notes start to explode (something I rarely experience in a cafe/coffee shop). Hahaha maybe it's the whole experience of making and sharing coffee but I don't regret getting my J Max for Pour Overs! 😄
Hello! I was curious how well the Jmax is for Pour overs , was concern coz of the 8.8 microns maybe it was too much of leap for it, I mainly do espresso and pour overs . Haven’t read/seen a lot about Jmax used for pour overs, only for espresso
@@BonEE008 Hi! There is a channel that explains in depth the J Max (is the best review I've seen so far) TMB - The Majestic Bean Channel. I just brew my pour over and it's really tasty. What Kyle mentioned in his review (if I got it right) is that to change from espresso to pour over is quite difficult because there are a lot of clicks, was corrected in this video when he mentioned that there is a pyramid below the ring that will allows you to know how many rotations you have. The last thing is that once you receive it I will recommend you to adjust the ring to 0. That way you will be precise in your measurements. It is easy to take apart for cleaning and put it all back together.
Have you ever tried the KinGrinder K4 or K6? They seem well made but I don't find any serious reviews about them. In Canada, Eight Ounce Coffee seems to be the only place where we can find them.
I used Essentia bottled water to brew my FogBuster Summit Sunrise coffee absolutely delicious cup! I have found that some of those little health food stores with all the vitamins carry some excellent bottled water compared to the big brands. But for home use, I prefer RO water with Bodybio E-Lyte electrolytes for best water for coffee.
Just fired up my machine and made a shot with my old JX Pro, I now mainly use a Eureka Mignon mk2 but I love my hand grinder, I will endevour not to neglect it in future.
Man this is a handy video. I'll probably be going for the jmax myself, since it's mostly espresso I'm going for, and as much as I'd like a Comandante...the 150 dollar difference is a LOT when the results are this close.
Hi! Long time viewer but first time commenter. One of my favorite thing about the C40 is how often it is used as a reference to grind size. Grind size was one of the biggest frustrations for me getting into coffee because of how poorly defined things like "medium" and "medium fine" are. I've found the C40 is widespread enough that recipes will often mention how many clicks on the C40 taking the guesswork out of grind size that comes with many of these other grinders.
Wow! This is one the unicorn comparison videos that I'm sure many many people will be waiting for !! Great work Kyle. You did a great job to keep this video digestible despite being so long and thorough! I have a K-Plus and my friend has a C40. The C40 is super nice but no way I could give up the grind speed, catch cup, and ease of grind adjustment with the K-Plus. As for taste, both are good , it was hard to tell any real difference but we only did a very brief tasting.
Hey, I'm here to tell you what's the REAL difference between the Kplus and the C40: durability C40 doesn't have the fancy Hi-Tech adjustment mechanism of the K series but trust me it will last for generations. Can't say the same about the Kplus. The adjustment mechanism is delicate (mine was spilled with water and boom... It's damaged. No joke, it's broken) I used to own a Jxpro. Then stepped up to Kplus and dude... Regret I did. At least the Jxpro can be washed with water and soap and will Never let you down.
Awesome video Kyle! I've been waiting for it. I've all those hand grinders except the normcore. I understand what you say about C40 and K-plus. C40 is my favorite grinder for pour over and Kinu for espresso because it produces the best flavour! For daily uses I prefer the Brazilian grinder Bravo It (Do you know?). Of course, i really like JX pro and K Plus too. And I think the J-max is excellent, but they could put the JE burrs to have a exceptional espresso like Kinu! Thanks for sharing your results!
Because the J max was on a super long backorder I got the k-plus and don't regret it at all. It's my one and only coffee grinder. An I'm loving it. I use it for everything from French press and aeropress to pour over and Espresso. So thx for everything you do to help me and others elevate their home coffee brewing experience.
Nice vid. Got a C40. Feeling very happy right now! Good to know that the extra hassle, which I am aware of, does have a pay off. I'm a Flair user, and espresso is such a minefield of variables that I wouldn't always know if the way it tastes is down to the grinder, though when I hit it right, it's just great. But for pour-over, I have found the cups I get to be silky, smooth, juicy and well-rounded, just like you say, from day one. Great to hear that confirmed. I'll settle for great tasting coffee and a few extra cranks of the burrs.
PS - If you're unsure about what setting a C40 Nitro Blade is on, we love using this technique to go back to zero and then dial in in a matter of seconds >>> th-cam.com/video/UN1X4ELC3-o/w-d-xo.html 😊👍
After hearing me say I wanted a grinder, as I wanted better tasting coffee, my girlfriend surprised me with the Comandante C40 for Christmas. Other than the occasional caramel, or seasonal spiced latte, she's not much of a coffee drinker. So you can imagine my surprise when I learned she had done thorough research on everything related to great tasting coffee and grinders. I think this video was one of the deciding factors for the Comandande C40 she chose. So, thank you, Kyle, and Comandante. It's truly a great grinder. ✨
Dear @@benjaminaustnesnarum3900 , thanks so much for your kind words and to you and your girlfriend for supporting us! So happy to hear that you're enjoying your C40 :). All the best from HQ here in Munich, Joe (PS, thanks Kyle too!)
I've already made my purchase, but it's always nice to see a video that helps to tamp down the buyer's remorse! I can't spend money without second guessing myself, so thank you Kyle! I don't do espresso, so I was looking for a grinder that went from French press to moka pot in range. Narrowed it to the regular JX (not Pro) and the K-Plus, and ultimately decided on the latter just to indulge myself with a bit of luxury. So far, I've mostly been surprised (don't know why since it's kind of the point) how different the cups have been from my Encore (which was my first non-blade grinder) since that is what I was used to. But I'm very appreciative of the experience as the making of the coffee is more my meditative break from work than is the drinking of it.
Too bad you didn't get the ZP6 in there. 😫 I bought a C40, Ode Gen2, & ZP6 at the same time. The C40 already got returned and the Ode isn't far behind. Still wanting to give a good shot at the SSP MP's before giving up on it. Thanks for the great presentation!
Always love the thorough detail of your videos Kyle . Bonus was the comedy sketch at the beginning.....which was great. I got a bit of a "Jerry Lewis....The Nutty Professor " vibe from it 😃
Nitpicking is my favourite. Some people don’t like it. But when you get down and dirty into the details about stuff, it reveals all the things that one person might prefer that another person might not. Thanks for doing all the hard work so we didn’t have to.
Very very interesting! 3x 1zpresso! I'm mostly interested in the 1zpresso JX, J-Max & K-Plus (coming from the little sibling, Q2). J-Max seems to be king of the three. Sadly all these 3 are so heavy/bulky that I kind of wanna stick with my Q2 (which I bought based on one of your previous comparisons). Overall a very comprehensive, interesting comparison! Thank you!
Excellent video 👏 The phoenix grinds efficiently, consistently, and produces great coffee/espresso. Unfortunately the catch cup design is a huge flaw. I've replaced the catch cup and O-rings several times, and the phoenix m47 just can't hold more than 3 beans anymore. I've reached out to Kinu 5 times without response. So purchased another hand grinder a few weeks ago, and enjoy making coffee again. The Kinu was great for a year, and now it's unusable. I do not recommend. ***update**** I kept bugging them, and they eventually got back to me, had me make videos of the grinder failing, and eventually told me to go to a hardware store and buy rubber bands to hold it together. This conversation took a month, and I’m even more disappointed now.
I have the Normcore and I absolutely love it! I love the speed it grinds at (which my dad kept going on about lol) and just how uniform the grinds are for a unit of its price range. Thoroughly enjoyable to use and very well made. Great review!
Yeah, Normcore does really well. I own Normcore V1 and V2, comandante C40 and JX-pro from 1Zpresso Have to say these are amazing grinders. C40 & JX-pro are very very similar in taste. In fact the JX-pro brings a bit more sweetness to the front and is a tiny bit less acidic than the C40, but can't choose one over the other for pour over TBH That being said, Normcore (entry level) does exceptionally well for such a low price and build quality is just great.
@@lightandthesungod well, worth mentioning that Normcore grinders are really good and uniform. So much that i use them for traveling and my brews (aeropress) taste amazing. Very nice and rich flavor, no complains at all and the whole package with a quality carrying case, brush and blower is just GREAT! From a certain point you start comparing grinders instead of replacing them. And here is my point. Normcore does incredibly well to be an
@@manuelpenaruiz3694 exactly! for everything coarser than espresso, the normcore smashes it out of the park! if it had enough adjustment to dial in for espresso properly it would probably be one of the best manual grinders out there
Great video, thanks for breaking this all down with relevant pros and cons of each. Out of curiosity, what color combo is the C40 in your video? It's a beautiful grinder!
All these are going to be pretty good. That being said, I’ve had the m47 Phoenix for years. It’s been fantastic, very easy to grind due to the long handle and great adjustment for different roasts. No significant issues or problems, still makes fantastic coffee, will get you some of the best cups you can get if the settings and technique are dialed in. Plastic bin holds more grounds. Pour over burr is slower but does indeed make better course grinds. Needs a lid and some rubber grip though - I cut a lid from some thin plastic vinyl to wrap around the center like a donut with a slit through one side and a tab, and some rubber bands from broccoli for grip. Get the one based on the features that seems best to you and leave it at that!
Excellent review Kyle! Also the quality of shooting is amazing. I have been using C40 and I love the style, the feeling, and the quality of the cups. For espresso, I use 1zpresso JE-Plus. Fantastic 47mm burs, same jar as K-Plus. It takes 50 sec for 18 g but it is smooth, a real pleasure to use it. With 12,5 micra stepped adjustment is also very easy to dial in.
My K-Plus arrives tomorrow, it will be my very first grinder and will be a interim solution until the WW Key arrives. Of course I will use it afterwards as a portable solution. I also read that the J-Max produces too much fines, which diminishes the advantage of being a dedicated espresso grinder. I fell in love with the tumbler and I also think that the silver color is a more durable option, compared to the black anodized aluminum. Thank you for this great review, it really confirmed my choice.
Just got my C40 MK4 and only today had my first cup produced from it. Very happy what you're saying reinforced what I experienced. It makes for a great cup.
@@AnonYmous-wf1oz stepped up to K series and now I regret. K series are quite fragile. The adjustment mechanism is highly prone to damage. Mine just suffered some water spillage and it's over. No way to repair it. Decided not purchasing the adjustment wheel again and look for better and more reliable options. My JXpro was in general much more robust and dependable. If your goal is best uniformity of grinds, k series can't be beaten. But if your goal is a grinder that's durable and versatile, JXpro does much better.
Good job Kyle! I own 4 of the grinders in this video and agree with most findings. The only thing I struggle with is the sweetness that people seem to love so much in the comandante. Mine (second hand, red clix) has a slightly muffled/muted taste compared to the K-plus, which is definitely cleaner/complex but I don't feel like it loses sweetness because of this. Then again, everyone's tastebuds are different, as is the coffee you use, water chemistry, etc. It all influences taste and balance. My J-max is almost as fast as the K-plus though, which is weird that yours was slower. I'm ususally at around 35s for a 20g espresso dose for the Flair 58 on both. I haven't timed it on coarser settings though.
@@KyleRowsell I have JX Pro, and I regularly do 34-35 sec for 20g of very fine espresso grind, and a second or two less for a regular espresso grind, and of course quite a bit faster for coarser grinds. So I'm also not sure about these grind results... The regular JX shouldn't be slower than the JX Pro for coarser grinds.
fantastic video dude, really love to see this kind of effort put into a comparison like this. i like how detailed your approach is to grind uniformity and speed recently got the jmax and I've been in love with it. great espresso but versatile enough for pourover
The Apollo Grinder is a premium manual coffee grinder that fully justifies its reasonable price. This is perhaps the most beautiful manual coffee grinder currently produced. BPLUS has made some good choices in terms of user experience, and its grinding quality is not inferior to any other coffee grinder using a set of 48 mm millstones.
How do you feel about the Kingrinder K grinder series? There's the K2, K4 and K6 but would like to know your thoughts on it. Looks great as it's competing directly with 1Zpresso for price, fit and finish. Great video! Thanks for narrowing down some more good hand grinders.
Awesome reviews! Thank yhou so much for doing this. I'm looking to upgrade from my Hario grinder soon. The lack of click control and being able to see it makes it hard to dial in a certain grind size. Have you ever used or tried the Flair Royal Grinder?
Great video! I had Wilfa Svart which just broken and I was going to get Comandante, but I think I’ll go for K-plus after reading some reviews and especially after your recommendation ;) Hopefully it will be a good choice!
Great video Kyle! I have a C40 and can't wait for your future video with the red clix...it's hard to get it in argentina and want to know whether it worths the money.
Great video here. Really great to hear the percentage differences between all the grinders, albeit a little arbitrary. Appreciate the effort! Also, the app sounds like a great idea.
I just bought a Nomcore V2 and i am really impressed with quality of shots and how fast does it gets through 17gr for espresso. In comparison with eureka mignon specialita, Nomcore produce a little bit more acidity and thinner shots, but still really good.
Would love a review of the Kinu M47 filter burrs. I have owned one for 6 months now, but brew exclusively filter coffee, so would be great to know if the burrs are worth the investment.
Every competent person I know says their aren't. Comandante smokes any version of Kinu unfortunately. I have given Kinu so many chances but Comandante is way superior. I was thinking the filter burr set might be a good idea, but many people say they are even worse. And I mean people who usually brew with EK43, SSP burrs or Comandante, who definitely know their stuff.
The C40 with all the different wooden veneers is easily the most aestetic hand grinder there is. I would already buy it just for it's decorative appearance. All the others look like the hunchbacks of Notre Dame in comparison.
Thanks Kyle for this vid. Great descriptions and overall review. I love my Kplus too and I’m glad I got it over the C40 and M47. Two cons I have about the Kplus are the magnetic cup and the blind shaker. For denser beans it’s harder to grind, but due to the magnetic cup, I can’t rest the grinder on my chest to get better stability since it’ll snap off. I also find that the blind shaker traps too much coffee ground that it takes forever to unscrew everything and brush every crevice for coffee grounds. BUT a trick I find that helps with my workflow is that with the magnetic cup along with the non-blind shaker attachment, you can semi-attach the mag cup on the rim of a 58mm portafilter, and it acts as a dosing cup which you can just flip over, similar to niche’s cup.
1Zpresso and Chesnut's grinders all are produced in China too! Honestly, the most well-rounded grinder would be the K-Plus for me... or the Kinu m47..of course, based purely on taste and grind consistency, but overall the mighty tree are the C40, Kplus and Kinu's line hahaha
Great review Kyle, I really enjoy watching your videos. What are your thoughts on the Aergrind by Knock? I am currently using it and I have some great results on filter coffee. Best wishes for 2022 and keep up the good work
Have owned the Simplicity as my daily driver for about 1.5 years now. I’ve had a much quicker time of grinding light roasts, about 42 seconds for a regular 30g dose. While it’s a joy to use, you do need a rubber band for more grip. I also wish it had better aesthetics :) Its a beast though and I’m sure my great grand children will enjoy using it 100 years from now :)
I owned Simplicity for 2 months and it helps to make a way better expresso from my BES500. The quality is just astonishing! Completely agree that a rubber band is a must since the thumb stop does not really help while grinding. It is not cheap, but it is one of the best purchases I have made.
I'm about 6 months into using the K-Plus and love it, I did some sieving tests to compare to my grinder with SSP Multipurpose burrs and the grind distribution of the K-Plus was actually tighter. I enjoy it for espresso too but find the lack of fines better suited to fast flow shots where puck integrity isn't as important.
@@KyleRowsell yep, I have both a DF64 and Ode with SSPs. While I do think I prefer the taste ever so slightly with SSP MP to the K-Plus, the distribution on the K-Plus was actually more unimodal.
Hello Kyle, thank you so much for the reviews. It would be great if you can review the Kinu along with the replacement Pour Over Burr. I own both Kinu Titan and Comandante and I can say that the Comandante gives me a better Pour Over Cup, but it would be great if we can get a review from you.
Sift Test:
Ground at 800 Microns
C40
Time: 1.15
Boulder: 0.5
Sweet Spot: 17.1
Fine: 1.9
85.5%
K-Plus
Time: 0.37
Boulder: .5
Ss: 17.6
Fine: 1.5
88%
Chestnut X
Time: 1.15
Boulder: 0.9
SS: 17:7
Fine: 1
88.5%
Kinu:
Time: 0.50
Boulder: 1.3
SS: 17.4
Fine: 0.7
87%
JMAX:
Time: 0.57
Boulder: 0.6
SS: 18.1
Fine: 0.6
90%
JX
time: 0.55
B: 1.1
Ss: 16.9
F: 0.9
84.5%
Normcore:
time: 0.44
Boulder: 1.8
SS: 16.5
Fine: 1.2
82.5%
👀
Not sure if you did a comparison to the JX-Pro?
Are you considering to review the arco grinder when it comes out? I love the idea of adding the other Kyle to the video tho!
Great review of the grinders. Going for an specific brand or feature could be though for the first acquisition. Several options to be evaluated !! Thanks !!
Which would you choose, the 1Zpresso K Plus or Fellow Ode?
Great video, Kyle! Thanks for the shout-out 😀🙏 Happy grinding everyone!
My pleasure! All the best!
I own a C40 and I love it for my filter coffee recipes. I also own a Knock Feldgrind that’s dialed in for espresso due to it stepless design. What sealed the deal with me was choosing small companies that make their products in-house with great detail by hand (Germany & Scotland).
Hey, I have the c40 and wanting the new Knock Feld47 for espresso. So you find your knock does a good job, e.g. better than a £409 electric grinder for instance? 😂
This must be one of the most detailed hand grinders review out there! Great job
Thanks Alan!
I've been using my Kinu m47 Phoenix for the past 9 months and I love it. Many people complain about the thumb stop of the Simplicity or the Classic. Oddly, it is replaced with a much more comfortable piece of rubber on the cheaper Phoenix version. To me, the most important is the possibility to adjust very precisely the grind size. It's pretty much the only thing that matters to get the perfect cup of coffee. The Kinu does that perfectly thanks to its stepless adjustment system.
By the way, I read somewhere that grind uniformity is not all. Some finer grounds are also needed.
Interesting! I’m still tossing up Kinu or C40. Apparently uniformity does matter for espresso. More uniformity equals a cleaner and more refined cup and less uniformity generally equals a better texture and mouth feel. I can’t say my palette is advanced enough for that, but some of it does come down to preference.
@@ryannicholls3372 Yo, not sure if you've made up your mind yet but if you're thinking espresso, go the Kinu all day.
It's absolutely insane the price of grinders....for what they do, DAMN!!!
Poachers😂
I’ve had the K-plus for a year now, some notes:
1- I was reluctant about the magnetic base at first but now it’s one of my favorite features. The trick of removing it super easily is twisting it as you do so. Otherwise it’s pretty solid.
2- Look for another grinder if you only want to use it for espresso. It takes about a minute of grinding, becomes super tough to grind with at espresso grind sizes (between 3 and 4), and the clicks are just way too big to adjust for espresso. With One click you can go from choking to a too fast flow.
I'd just like to leave a comment for others like me that are considering the normcore v2. I watched this video 6 months ago and decided to buy it since I was looking for something I could take with me.
I'll just leave my experience with using it daily, hoping it helps someone.
After 6 months I can tell you its totally worth the price. It makes a great cup of filter coffee but its a little finicky for espresso, at least trying to dial in medium-light rostas (I tend to find darker roast more forgiving). I'd take a little more resolution, as you get maybe 4 clicks of adjustment for espresso. Even so, it is completely capable of doing espresso. I find that its easier to just adjust the dose slightly when I find myself between steps.
It isn't the most ergonomic thing ever and I had the catch cup unscrew on me a few times while grinding since I tend to grip it around the top, but its not a big deal.
I'm just writing this since it would have liked to know when I bought it.
The m47 classic is built like a military rifle, and the micro adjustment is unbeatable for espresso.
I have been using the J-max for a few months now, and overall for an espresso hand grinder it’s the best in the market for $200. The only problems I have had with it is reassembling the the top nut. It’s an awkward grip to get real tight enough bc if you don’t you’ll start skipping gears when grinding. Also, (this is an issue with all hand grinders not just the j-max) is that I recommend using medium to dark roasts bc lighter roasts can be quite the workout on your arms to grind those hard light roasted beans. Which is an issue bc most specialty coffees come in lighter roasts these days. But if you want a high quality espresso grinder and don’t want to spend $500 plus on an electric one, the J-max will make great espresso.
I love how over the top my mom's grinder is she has a Kinu Phoenix. I got it for her when she was using a cheap hand grinder. She doesn't want any coffee gear out on the counters so she says no to electric grinders. Loved the video!
Great video Kyle. Really enjoyed it. Just wanted to say I discovered you when up feeding my new born baby boy. He’s 4 weeks now and you really helped me get through some tough late nights! Thanks!
Wow. This made my day. Thanks for sharing!
I own the kinu m47 classic, fellow ode, and comandante with red clix. When it comes to espresso I am not a fan of the comandante. I cant seem to get it dialed in with red clix. The kinu is great for espresso but id defiantly agree that it lacks in the terms of filter in comparison to the comandante. Thanks for the video
I’ve been waiting for this video, with my finger poised over the ‘Add to basket’ button on various pages, and I’m delighted to say that you have clarified a number of options for me, so thanks. Only one I’m sorry wasn’t included was the 1Zpresso JE-Plus, which looks like a potentially slightly better option for someone who wants to do both pour overs but also wants to be able to dial in espresso when away from home. I actually think I prefer the K-Plus - just concerned about the fine adjustment for espresso.
Thanks for a really thorough and enjoyable video as always.
The JE-plus is unfortunately discontinued, grab one while you can! ;-)
So glad to help!
K Plus
JE Plus
M47 Pheonix
Mainly for espresso and occasionally pour over. What should i get ?
Thxs
The quality of you videos are awesome! I bought the 1zpresso jx after watching your review and I love it. Great to see content like this from a fellow Ontarian
Thanks Samuel! It’s my joy!
I highly recommend the kinu m47. Its my daily and I love it. Its super consistent and the stepless adjustment has become a must have for me.
Another amazing video Kyle! Congratulations on the 3rd Wave sponsorship! That's huge
Thank you! I’m a huge fan of their products so it seems like a natural fit!
I have the J Max and use it mostly for Pour Overs... I'm in love! It is great to grind and it doesn't feel that you are taking too much time, rather (as he mentioned), it feels like you are getting something done (30g every morning). The taste is incredible (maybe because of the panamenian coffees I get to enjoy) and the notes feel rich and it's like the notes start to explode (something I rarely experience in a cafe/coffee shop).
Hahaha maybe it's the whole experience of making and sharing coffee but I don't regret getting my J Max for Pour Overs! 😄
Awesome! I will get mine in 2 weeks for my birthday for pour over, moka and espresso. I think I've made the right choice.
@@jesadag1150 Yes! I hope you can enjoy it as much as I do. I also bought it as a birthday present! 😄
Hello! I was curious how well the Jmax is for
Pour overs , was concern coz of the 8.8 microns maybe it was too much of leap for it, I mainly do espresso and pour overs . Haven’t read/seen a lot about Jmax used for pour overs, only for espresso
@@BonEE008 Hi! There is a channel that explains in depth the J Max (is the best review I've seen so far) TMB - The Majestic Bean Channel.
I just brew my pour over and it's really tasty. What Kyle mentioned in his review (if I got it right) is that to change from espresso to pour over is quite difficult because there are a lot of clicks, was corrected in this video when he mentioned that there is a pyramid below the ring that will allows you to know how many rotations you have.
The last thing is that once you receive it I will recommend you to adjust the ring to 0. That way you will be precise in your measurements. It is easy to take apart for cleaning and put it all back together.
@@Carlos_Vasquez thank you I did actually saw his video before.
I have j-max. Pretty great grinder for espresso and easy to dial in.
Have you ever tried the KinGrinder K4 or K6? They seem well made but I don't find any serious reviews about them. In Canada, Eight Ounce Coffee seems to be the only place where we can find them.
I used Essentia bottled water to brew my FogBuster Summit Sunrise coffee absolutely delicious cup!
I have found that some of those little health food stores with all the vitamins carry some excellent bottled water compared to the big brands. But for home use, I prefer RO water with Bodybio E-Lyte electrolytes for best water for coffee.
amazing video!
would love to see the kingrinder k6 in that mix
Just fired up my machine and made a shot with my old JX Pro, I now mainly use a Eureka Mignon mk2 but I love my hand grinder, I will endevour not to neglect it in future.
Man this is a handy video.
I'll probably be going for the jmax myself, since it's mostly espresso I'm going for, and as much as I'd like a Comandante...the 150 dollar difference is a LOT when the results are this close.
Hi! Long time viewer but first time commenter. One of my favorite thing about the C40 is how often it is used as a reference to grind size. Grind size was one of the biggest frustrations for me getting into coffee because of how poorly defined things like "medium" and "medium fine" are. I've found the C40 is widespread enough that recipes will often mention how many clicks on the C40 taking the guesswork out of grind size that comes with many of these other grinders.
Hi Josiah! Thanks for commenting! Complete agree - it’s one of the greatest strengths of the c40
Totally agree. I choose it because it is kind of the de facto standard and the reference for the tons of videos and recipes all over around.
Wow! This is one the unicorn comparison videos that I'm sure many many people will be waiting for !!
Great work Kyle.
You did a great job to keep this video digestible despite being so long and thorough!
I have a K-Plus and my friend has a C40. The C40 is super nice but no way I could give up the grind speed, catch cup, and ease of grind adjustment with the K-Plus.
As for taste, both are good , it was hard to tell any real difference but we only did a very brief tasting.
Thanks for the thoughts and kind words!
Hey, I'm here to tell you what's the REAL difference between the Kplus and the C40: durability
C40 doesn't have the fancy Hi-Tech adjustment mechanism of the K series but trust me it will last for generations. Can't say the same about the Kplus. The adjustment mechanism is delicate (mine was spilled with water and boom... It's damaged. No joke, it's broken)
I used to own a Jxpro. Then stepped up to Kplus and dude... Regret I did. At least the Jxpro can be washed with water and soap and will Never let you down.
I could not have asked for a better video!
Awesome video Kyle! I've been waiting for it. I've all those hand grinders except the normcore. I understand what you say about C40 and K-plus. C40 is my favorite grinder for pour over and Kinu for espresso because it produces the best flavour! For daily uses I prefer the Brazilian grinder Bravo It (Do you know?). Of course, i really like JX pro and K Plus too. And I think the J-max is excellent, but they could put the JE burrs to have a exceptional espresso like Kinu! Thanks for sharing your results!
Thank you for this thoughtful comment!
Because the J max was on a super long backorder I got the k-plus and don't regret it at all. It's my one and only coffee grinder. An I'm loving it.
I use it for everything from French press and aeropress to pour over and Espresso.
So thx for everything you do to help me and others elevate their home coffee brewing experience.
Nice vid. Got a C40. Feeling very happy right now! Good to know that the extra hassle, which I am aware of, does have a pay off.
I'm a Flair user, and espresso is such a minefield of variables that I wouldn't always know if the way it tastes is down to the grinder, though when I hit it right, it's just great. But for pour-over, I have found the cups I get to be silky, smooth, juicy and well-rounded, just like you say, from day one. Great to hear that confirmed.
I'll settle for great tasting coffee and a few extra cranks of the burrs.
Glad to hear it!
Thanks for your support! 🙌🥰
Awesome! The content people are asking for!
Hey there Kyle, we're so happy that you love coffees brewed with your C40 Nitro Blade 🙏😊. All the best to you from all the team here in Munich!
PS - If you're unsure about what setting a C40 Nitro Blade is on, we love using this technique to go back to zero and then dial in in a matter of seconds >>> th-cam.com/video/UN1X4ELC3-o/w-d-xo.html 😊👍
Thanks friends!
After hearing me say I wanted a grinder, as I wanted better tasting coffee, my girlfriend surprised me with the Comandante C40 for Christmas.
Other than the occasional caramel, or seasonal spiced latte, she's not much of a coffee drinker.
So you can imagine my surprise when I learned she had done thorough research on everything related to great tasting coffee and grinders.
I think this video was one of the deciding factors for the Comandande C40 she chose.
So, thank you, Kyle, and Comandante. It's truly a great grinder. ✨
Dear @@benjaminaustnesnarum3900 , thanks so much for your kind words and to you and your girlfriend for supporting us! So happy to hear that you're enjoying your C40 :).
All the best from HQ here in Munich,
Joe
(PS, thanks Kyle too!)
It's beautiful but I can't justify the price.
I've already made my purchase, but it's always nice to see a video that helps to tamp down the buyer's remorse! I can't spend money without second guessing myself, so thank you Kyle!
I don't do espresso, so I was looking for a grinder that went from French press to moka pot in range. Narrowed it to the regular JX (not Pro) and the K-Plus, and ultimately decided on the latter just to indulge myself with a bit of luxury.
So far, I've mostly been surprised (don't know why since it's kind of the point) how different the cups have been from my Encore (which was my first non-blade grinder) since that is what I was used to. But I'm very appreciative of the experience as the making of the coffee is more my meditative break from work than is the drinking of it.
Thanks for the comment! Keep brewing and grinding my friend!
such a timely video…I can’t thank you enough. Just picked up my c40 mk4 today … looking forward to joining the community!
Thanks for your support! 🥰
Do recipes you find online match what you see on your MK4? I've seen some comments that MK4 differs from MK3 in number of clicks - is that right?
Well done Kyle. Great job on the video. I think I go with Kplus as well.
Thanks for watching!
Too bad you didn't get the ZP6 in there. 😫 I bought a C40, Ode Gen2, & ZP6 at the same time. The C40 already got returned and the Ode isn't far behind. Still wanting to give a good shot at the SSP MP's before giving up on it.
Thanks for the great presentation!
Always love the thorough detail of your videos Kyle . Bonus was the comedy sketch at the beginning.....which was great. I got a bit of a "Jerry Lewis....The Nutty Professor " vibe from it 😃
Ah thanks so much!!
Nitpicking is my favourite. Some people don’t like it. But when you get down and dirty into the details about stuff, it reveals all the things that one person might prefer that another person might not. Thanks for doing all the hard work so we didn’t have to.
My pleasure! Thanks for watching!!
Very very interesting! 3x 1zpresso! I'm mostly interested in the 1zpresso JX, J-Max & K-Plus (coming from the little sibling, Q2). J-Max seems to be king of the three. Sadly all these 3 are so heavy/bulky that I kind of wanna stick with my Q2 (which I bought based on one of your previous comparisons).
Overall a very comprehensive, interesting comparison! Thank you!
Love my 1ZPresso KPlus ! Cant wait to see your calculator!
Excellent video 👏
The phoenix grinds efficiently, consistently, and produces great coffee/espresso. Unfortunately the catch cup design is a huge flaw. I've replaced the catch cup and O-rings several times, and the phoenix m47 just can't hold more than 3 beans anymore.
I've reached out to Kinu 5 times without response.
So purchased another hand grinder a few weeks ago, and enjoy making coffee again.
The Kinu was great for a year, and now it's unusable. I do not recommend.
***update****
I kept bugging them, and they eventually got back to me, had me make videos of the grinder failing, and eventually told me to go to a hardware store and buy rubber bands to hold it together. This conversation took a month, and I’m even more disappointed now.
I have the Normcore and I absolutely love it! I love the speed it grinds at (which my dad kept going on about lol) and just how uniform the grinds are for a unit of its price range. Thoroughly enjoyable to use and very well made. Great review!
Thanks for watching!
Yeah, Normcore does really well. I own Normcore V1 and V2, comandante C40 and JX-pro from 1Zpresso
Have to say these are amazing grinders. C40 & JX-pro are very very similar in taste. In fact the JX-pro brings a bit more sweetness to the front and is a tiny bit less acidic than the C40, but can't choose one over the other for pour over TBH
That being said, Normcore (entry level) does exceptionally well for such a low price and build quality is just great.
@@manuelpenaruiz3694 if I could afford a commandante or a JX-Pro I wouldn’t even be talking about the normcore 😭
@@lightandthesungod well, worth mentioning that Normcore grinders are really good and uniform. So much that i use them for traveling and my brews (aeropress) taste amazing. Very nice and rich flavor, no complains at all and the whole package with a quality carrying case, brush and blower is just GREAT!
From a certain point you start comparing grinders instead of replacing them. And here is my point. Normcore does incredibly well to be an
@@manuelpenaruiz3694 exactly! for everything coarser than espresso, the normcore smashes it out of the park! if it had enough adjustment to dial in for espresso properly it would probably be one of the best manual grinders out there
Great video, thanks for breaking this all down with relevant pros and cons of each. Out of curiosity, what color combo is the C40 in your video? It's a beautiful grinder!
Would really love your take on KINGrinder, specifically, the K2 and K4
THANK YOU. Been waiting for this. Can't wait to watch.
Great quality production. Love these videos!
thanks for watching!
Great introduction to hand grinders! I bought the Comandante C40 MK4!!!
All these are going to be pretty good. That being said, I’ve had the m47 Phoenix for years. It’s been fantastic, very easy to grind due to the long handle and great adjustment for different roasts. No significant issues or problems, still makes fantastic coffee, will get you some of the best cups you can get if the settings and technique are dialed in. Plastic bin holds more grounds. Pour over burr is slower but does indeed make better course grinds. Needs a lid and some rubber grip though - I cut a lid from some thin plastic vinyl to wrap around the center like a donut with a slit through one side and a tab, and some rubber bands from broccoli for grip. Get the one based on the features that seems best to you and leave it at that!
Excellent review Kyle! Also the quality of shooting is amazing. I have been using C40 and I love the style, the feeling, and the quality of the cups. For espresso, I use 1zpresso JE-Plus. Fantastic 47mm burs, same jar as K-Plus. It takes 50 sec for 18 g but it is smooth, a real pleasure to use it. With 12,5 micra stepped adjustment is also very easy to dial in.
Thanks for the thoughts!!
what makes you prefer the JE-Plus over the C40 for espresso, when it comes to taste?
I was waiting for this video :D thank you, very nice work, helps me to choose !
Glad to help!
I am loving how you did the sift test maths ♡
My K-Plus arrives tomorrow, it will be my very first grinder and will be a interim solution until the WW Key arrives. Of course I will use it afterwards as a portable solution.
I also read that the J-Max produces too much fines, which diminishes the advantage of being a dedicated espresso grinder. I fell in love with the tumbler and I also think that the silver color is a more durable option, compared to the black anodized aluminum.
Thank you for this great review, it really confirmed my choice.
The silver color as well shines better when adjusting the grind size vs the black version. Easier to see.
Just picked up my JX grinder, really loving it !
Excellent video as always Kyle! Comandante will always have my heart! Can't wait to get one one day! 🙌
🙏🥰
Great video and details. Awesome studio setup and lighting. Love the Comandante, no regrets!
Thanks for watching!
I've been using the K-Plus for a few months now and couldn't agree more. Solid grinder for everyday use! Awesome video!
Have you tried it for espresso?
@@bobert6644 I use espresso grind in my Aeropress but have not made it in an actual machine. It grinds extremely fine and is very consistent.
Does it work for light roast coffee?
@@jasonevans8914 I’ve not found a coffee that it doesn’t work perfectly with up to this point.
Amazing video, mate! Thanks for the great and detailed comparison! 🤜🏼🤛🏼
Thanks for watching!
Just got my C40 MK4 and only today had my first cup produced from it. Very happy what you're saying reinforced what I experienced. It makes for a great cup.
Glad to hear it!
If you want to save money, the best choice would be linglong R1 or kingrinder k6.
Absolutely!
Great video bro! You can see the effort and passion behind it, thank you as always!
Thanks for this. I chose the JXPro personally and found it to be great for espresso. Looks like it is hard to go too far wrong with any of these.
Once your budget reaches the JX pro level, everything after has diminishing returns.
@@AnonYmous-wf1oz stepped up to K series and now I regret. K series are quite fragile. The adjustment mechanism is highly prone to damage. Mine just suffered some water spillage and it's over. No way to repair it.
Decided not purchasing the adjustment wheel again and look for better and more reliable options. My JXpro was in general much more robust and dependable.
If your goal is best uniformity of grinds, k series can't be beaten. But if your goal is a grinder that's durable and versatile, JXpro does much better.
Good job Kyle!
I own 4 of the grinders in this video and agree with most findings. The only thing I struggle with is the sweetness that people seem to love so much in the comandante. Mine (second hand, red clix) has a slightly muffled/muted taste compared to the K-plus, which is definitely cleaner/complex but I don't feel like it loses sweetness because of this.
Then again, everyone's tastebuds are different, as is the coffee you use, water chemistry, etc. It all influences taste and balance.
My J-max is almost as fast as the K-plus though, which is weird that yours was slower. I'm ususally at around 35s for a 20g espresso dose for the Flair 58 on both. I haven't timed it on coarser settings though.
Interesting! I didn’t time me espresso times for these findings so maybe the Jmax is faster on its finer settings comparatively.
@@KyleRowsell I have JX Pro, and I regularly do 34-35 sec for 20g of very fine espresso grind, and a second or two less for a regular espresso grind, and of course quite a bit faster for coarser grinds. So I'm also not sure about these grind results... The regular JX shouldn't be slower than the JX Pro for coarser grinds.
AWESOME VIDEO. There is a Brazilian hand grinder that is better than All of them. BRAVO HAND GRINDER !!!!!! Hard to get but worth the efford. .
As a straight shot espresso drinker, I love my J Max
fantastic video dude, really love to see this kind of effort put into a comparison like this. i like how detailed your approach is to grind uniformity and speed
recently got the jmax and I've been in love with it. great espresso but versatile enough for pourover
My pleasure!
The Apollo Grinder is a premium manual coffee grinder that fully justifies its reasonable price. This is perhaps the most beautiful manual coffee grinder currently produced. BPLUS has made some good choices in terms of user experience, and its grinding quality is not inferior to any other coffee grinder using a set of 48 mm millstones.
How do you feel about the Kingrinder K grinder series? There's the K2, K4 and K6 but would like to know your thoughts on it. Looks great as it's competing directly with 1Zpresso for price, fit and finish.
Great video! Thanks for narrowing down some more good hand grinders.
Awesome reviews! Thank yhou so much for doing this. I'm looking to upgrade from my Hario grinder soon. The lack of click control and being able to see it makes it hard to dial in a certain grind size. Have you ever used or tried the Flair Royal Grinder?
So much to think about. Learned a lot Kyle. Thank you
Thanks for watching!
Great video! I had Wilfa Svart which just broken and I was going to get Comandante, but I think I’ll go for K-plus after reading some reviews and especially after your recommendation ;) Hopefully it will be a good choice!
Great video Kyle! I have a C40 and can't wait for your future video with the red clix...it's hard to get it in argentina and want to know whether it worths the money.
Great review! Thx! Did you finish that Calculater ? It would be great to have this comparison chart.
newer model of k plus or k max according to lance hendrick perform better then c40 what your review is kplus new model really that good ?
I have been using the c40 for about 5 months. Love the grinding experience. I really like the pitch of the sound by grinding.
Great video here. Really great to hear the percentage differences between all the grinders, albeit a little arbitrary. Appreciate the effort! Also, the app sounds like a great idea.
Thank you! I hope I can make it an app, at the very least a web page. Fingers crossed!
I just bought a Nomcore V2 and i am really impressed with quality of shots and how fast does it gets through 17gr for espresso. In comparison with eureka mignon specialita, Nomcore produce a little bit more acidity and thinner shots, but still really good.
Thanks for sharing!
They are expensive for my wallet but I'll go with the Normcore. Thanks for the video and recommendation!
Your comparison videos are really the best I enjoyed them all
Ah thanks so much!!
Thank you Kyle! You produce really great content!
Thank you!
I’ve beeeeeeeeeeen waiting for this!
Wow! Thank you for this compare! It's that what i did want to know!
Yaassss I agree! I just have my mk4 c40! Although it is relatively slow compare to others but it creates decent shot!
Would love a review of the Kinu M47 filter burrs. I have owned one for 6 months now, but brew exclusively filter coffee, so would be great to know if the burrs are worth the investment.
Every competent person I know says their aren't. Comandante smokes any version of Kinu unfortunately. I have given Kinu so many chances but Comandante is way superior. I was thinking the filter burr set might be a good idea, but many people say they are even worse. And I mean people who usually brew with EK43, SSP burrs or Comandante, who definitely know their stuff.
The C40 with all the different wooden veneers is easily the most aestetic hand grinder there is. I would already buy it just for it's decorative appearance. All the others look like the hunchbacks of Notre Dame in comparison.
Thanks Kyle for this vid. Great descriptions and overall review. I love my Kplus too and I’m glad I got it over the C40 and M47. Two cons I have about the Kplus are the magnetic cup and the blind shaker. For denser beans it’s harder to grind, but due to the magnetic cup, I can’t rest the grinder on my chest to get better stability since it’ll snap off. I also find that the blind shaker traps too much coffee ground that it takes forever to unscrew everything and brush every crevice for coffee grounds. BUT a trick I find that helps with my workflow is that with the magnetic cup along with the non-blind shaker attachment, you can semi-attach the mag cup on the rim of a 58mm portafilter, and it acts as a dosing cup which you can just flip over, similar to niche’s cup.
Thanks for these thoughts! Enjoy grinding my friend!
That's why the 1zpresso K-Pro is actually better than the K-Plus
1Zpresso and Chesnut's grinders all are produced in China too! Honestly, the most well-rounded grinder would be the K-Plus for me... or the Kinu m47..of course, based purely on taste and grind consistency, but overall the mighty tree are the C40, Kplus and Kinu's line hahaha
Kinu is produced in bulgaria if i am not mistaken to add to your list.
@@keulengnomdererste2850 romania hahah
So you dialled in for the Commandante it tasted the best?
Just bought a timemore chestnut c3, love it....am I missing out by not purchasing a Ferrari grinder??? I'm very curious
Primary use is for aeropress
Perfect selection Kyle - great video!
Thanks for watching!
Got the Chestnut X with leather. Absolutely ❤️ it!
Missing out Orphan Espresso Lido OG. There is a wonderful grinder back to field with step and step less grind setting.
Love your creativity!!
Welcome back Kyle!
it was only 3 weeks... but thank you!
Great review Kyle, I really enjoy watching your videos. What are your thoughts on the Aergrind by Knock? I am currently using it and I have some great results on filter coffee. Best wishes for 2022 and keep up the good work
Have owned the Simplicity as my daily driver for about 1.5 years now. I’ve had a much quicker time of grinding light roasts, about 42 seconds for a regular 30g dose. While it’s a joy to use, you do need a rubber band for more grip. I also wish it had better aesthetics :) Its a beast though and I’m sure my great grand children will enjoy using it 100 years from now :)
I owned Simplicity for 2 months and it helps to make a way better expresso from my BES500. The quality is just astonishing! Completely agree that a rubber band is a must since the thumb stop does not really help while grinding. It is not cheap, but it is one of the best purchases I have made.
Great video! And by the way 1Zpresso and Timemore are both Chinese brands ❤
Which would be a better purchase? Normcore 38mm titanium burr or 44mm stainless steel burr.
I'm about 6 months into using the K-Plus and love it, I did some sieving tests to compare to my grinder with SSP Multipurpose burrs and the grind distribution of the K-Plus was actually tighter. I enjoy it for espresso too but find the lack of fines better suited to fast flow shots where puck integrity isn't as important.
Thanks for sharing! I didn’t realize SSP had a burr set for the k plus? Now I’ve got some more testing to do 🥲
@@KyleRowsell no kyle, he means he tested it with his another grinder that using ssp mp.
@@SAMUEL-zc2mv clearly I need another coffee. Thanks! Ha
@@KyleRowsell yep, I have both a DF64 and Ode with SSPs. While I do think I prefer the taste ever so slightly with SSP MP to the K-Plus, the distribution on the K-Plus was actually more unimodal.
Hello Kyle, thank you so much for the reviews. It would be great if you can review the Kinu along with the replacement Pour Over Burr. I own both Kinu Titan and Comandante and I can say that the Comandante gives me a better Pour Over Cup, but it would be great if we can get a review from you.
Thanks for being honest.