Some Notes: The common Q2 uses a Pentagonal burr and is also found in other grinders like the Timemore C2 and Lagom mini - still good but different. The Q2 is quite impressive but please understand Comandante did design this burr - and credit should be given to them. Also from my understanding 1ZPRESSO has either limited the sourcing of this grinder or discontinued it all together. This is why it must be purchased through a third party vendor. And of course I have no affiliation with either of these companies. Also I will be giving this grinder away to a Patreon Supporter.
I bought a Q2 from Amazon for am entry level coffee set-up for a friend. Paired with an Aeropress, I was so impressed by it's speed and clarity I bought one for myself as well.
Received a V60 kit as Christmas present and after watching your videos, I upgraded my grinder to the JX pro. Loving the coffee I brew! Going to share this video to a friend of mine who's been tempted by me to get a hand grinder! Q2 will be perfect for him as it's travel friendly!
Thanks for this video! I've had a Hario Slim grinder for a while for budget reasons, and this one is the next step for me, I've had it for two days, had four pour-overs, and I already love it! Of course, I would get the Comandante C40 if I could afford it, but I went a bit overbudget with this one already. Thanks again, because the amount of options there are are overwhelming and your channel really helps people like me who are just into this coffee world. Keep the good work, You're amazing!
I went from the slim+ to Timemore C2 and then to the Q2. Very notable differences between them all, with the Q2 being by far the most uniform and pleasant tasting of the 3. I also later got the Kingrinder K6. In my opinion, the K6 has a little bit more clarity, but the Q2 wins in the categories of sweetness, texture and portability. While the K6 has much finer adjustments and faster grinding, with higher dosing per hopper. All that said... the Q2 is a surprisingly capable grinder!
Great video start to finish. If I wasn't so addicted to espresso… I'd grab one of these to add to my set-up as a backup. But the JX-Pro is already my primary, everyday grinder. I like what 1ZPRESSO is doing and look forward to seeing where they go with it. Thanks for the review, Kyle.
And my jx pro fit perfectly in the main chamber of the aeropress (although it’s only useful when dosing into it), maybe 1Zpresso grinders are built around aeropress.
Wow - I bought Q2 with heptagonal burrs last year after much research. Here in Japan, Commandante supply is scarce and it's too overpriced, and so are 1zpresso. But I managed to find Q2 with heptagonal burrs (bought in Taiwan I think) for not too much markup, so even though I couldn't find much info about the heptagonal burrs, I bought it. Man, am I glad I did! One thing I think is great about Q2 is the fact that you can take the grip part off for easy cleaning of the burr set. I use it everyday, but I hardly ever need to take it fully apart for thorough cleaning. 20g capacity isn't a big deal for me, and I personally love how it fits in my hand. Thank you for a great video - I feel 100 times better about my Q2!!
Awesome video Kyle !!!!! After watching this video I get myself a 1zpresso E-PRO grinder which has the same burr as Q2 but have a larger capacity (30g) and better clearity for $140. I compare my grinder with my friend's C40, and honestly I think E-PRO will be a better match with the C40.
I have bought 3 1zpresso grinders and Comandante C40. At first, I used 1zpresso 1Z-Pro, then bought the K-Plus, and bought Q2 pentagonal for my dad. Recently I bought Comandante C40 Mk IV to replace my K-Plus because the burr adjustment mechanism got damaged. I used to like the 1zpresso because it offers good value for money. The 1Z-Pro offered a magnetic grind catcher and full stainless body but like the Q2, suffers in terms of capacity. The Q2 is cheap but there is no easy way to note the adjustment settings. And the K-Plus is fast thanks to its large burr. But larger burr made it more difficult to grind light roast beans. But there's one thing about C40 Mk IV that can't be replicated by 1zpresso and that is the ease of cleaning. 1Z-Pro and Q2 have a smaller bodies and that's hard to clean even after you disassemble them. The K-Plus is somewhat easier but to clean you have to disassemble many parts and recalibrate the burr after that. After a while, coffee dust would find its way inside the adjustment ring mechanism and stuck there. I tried using a cotton swab to clean it but found little success. On the other hand, C40 has a larger body even though its burr is smaller. And that makes cleaning a breeze. I just need to blow it with rocket blower a few times and use a cleaning brush (from 1zpresso but any grinder brush would likely fit) and it would be 98% clean. Once a week I would make a morning latte and enjoy it while disassembling the grinder and perform a more thorough cleaning. Overall it has fewer parts to disassemble and you don't need to do calibration afterward.
Thanks for your support! One more interesting point for you -- the Nitro Blade burr surface is highly inert, meaning it won't take on the flavour of stale coffee, meaning you can also afford to be lazy once in a while and just purge a couple of beans instead of disassembling and brushing everything clean 😇😜. We love Nitro Blade steel!
C40 simple yet effective design is something I praise to Comandante. But your story with the KPlus sounds like you're not that kind of person that knows how to deal with fine mechanisms, and I'm not gonna judge. I just can't. KPlus is the flagship grinder from 1Z and I've been using and loving it (also own an absolutely gorgeous C40 MK4*) and see no problem with its adjustmen mechanism. As long as you know how to clean your grinder and you do so on a regular basis there's no way you can get issues with it. 1Z is very clear when claim that you can calibrate the grinder after each cleaning/disassembly "only if you want to" cuz if you're lazy or just don't wanna mess with that you can just assemble everything back and count your clicks, like you do on the C40 and that's it! Did you know this? C40 doesn't come with numbers or reference, Comandante engineers say this isn't even necessary and yah, they got a point. So just find your zero and count back from there, simple and effective, right? But 1Z goes the extra mile in this regard and offers a better experience, at least from my experience, it does my life easier cuz I don't have to remember at which setting I was the last time. I can see it directly and that's pure gold for me. On the Kplus the external burr is removable so cleaning it is piece of cake. Yeah, less parts to deal with on the C40 is a big plus but 1Z is easier to keep clean. Both are great, both are top notch. Make your choice based on what you like and what makes your coffee life easier. I own and love these grinders but for me the Kplus does a bit better overall. *Nitroblade is awesome
I bought an 1ZPresso J Max to pair with my Breville Barista and to use for travelling. It has taken my espresso up to the next level. 1zpresso really killing it quality wise. Great video also!
Just bought a Jx and waiting for it to come in. For the first year of my coffee making journey, I've been using a $30 Sahara Beans ceramic grinder. Definitely has gotten good results for a cheap entry price. But it was time to upgrade and am super excited to get better coffee. Great video Kyle!
Disclaimer, I'm a reseller for 1Zpresso here in the EU. I asked them about the heptagonal Q2 a while ago, and they're working on a redesign. I hope we can show it (or a prototype) at our booth during World of coffee in Warsaw end of June. This being said, the regular pentagonal Q2 is a pretty amazing grinder for it's price too. The only disadvantage is it's slower than the 48mm 1Zpressso models, but in the same ballpark speed as the comandante. And thanks to it's smaller "fits inside the aeropess" diameter, it's really easy to grip while grinding, even on espresso settings. I'd say the pentagonal has less detailed flavors in the cup compared to the comandante and 48mm 1Zpresso models, but a full-aluminium body and stainless steel burrs at this price point are impressive. And sometimes a thick body / slightly muted flavors profile is nice, especially in milk drinks. 🙂
@@KyleRowsell It's kinda funny that people (like you) are chasing the hard-to-get unicorn grinders like this one. Maybe it's more fun to use if it took more effort to get one (look at all the waiting list grinders out there). ;-)
So the new model isn't coming anytime soon then? edit: I am currently considering whether to get the Q2 or upgrading to the JX-Pro or J-max, as they look nicer/seem better.
Third wave grinding :D Glad to see that 1Zpresso is making great, affordable grinders. I have the JX Pro which I use exclusively for espresso. It didn't occur to me how much effort/force I'd have to use when grinding that finely tho lol. But it's not too bad, it's worth it. The smaller body on the Q2 is appealing as someone with smaller hands. 🤔
Looks like you liked the Q2 cup more at first and thought it was that from the C40, right? Btw, the sweeter a cup the closer to the astringency limit. So I wouldn't conclude C40 is better tasting. Thanks for sharing!
It's interesting how Kyle's description of the cup on the left changes from "little more sweeteness" (when he thought it was the more expensive C40) to "little bit more astringency" (when he knew that it was the cheaper Q2). Admittedly, he does highlight their similarity and his inconfidence in his judgement.
Yeah I rolled my eyes when I heard that comment lol. I'm getting pretty disillusioned with all this expensive coffee equipment hype. That's why you never see blind taste tests between expensive and cheap equipment. People don't want to embarrass themselves and admit that they wasted crazy amounts of money on extremely slight differences in flavor. You just see comparisons between equally priced equipment. And if it's comparing a bunch of cheap stuff, the reviewer will wince and make funny faces saying how nasty it is compared to the expensive stuff.
Heard a lot of good things about the Q2 over the last year, definitely would have purchased it over my C40 if it was available at the time. In terms of value, seems the Q2 is the DF64 of hand grinders.
Bird grave finding! Cool video, I love my JX Pro. Was really hoping to find another electric grinder with the Eureka Mignon single dose, but I guess I’ll be hand-grinding a little while longer. Thanks for that Eureka video too, btw
You have to check out the Kingrinder K2 easily the best value. 48mm stainless steel burrs, full aluminium body, 25g cap and more adjustments then the JX. Pretty much at the price point of a timemore c2.
I feel that while the allure of something still being made in Germany will always have its appeal, I find that the higher costs of doing business there do hold back a small company like Commandante who still only have a single model of grinder to their name. Granted that it's one of the most respected hand grinders that essentially created the market for high-end hand grinders. But in comparison, 1Zpresso just feels like the more dynamic company who's doing so much more to be experimental and fill a lot of different niches in the hobby, with pretty much all models costing less than the C40. I don't want to knock either company, but I just can't help but feel hyped for whatever 1Zpresso may be doing next, where I just expect Commandante to keep existing. Edit: Third wave grinding
Fair points. I do believe without a company like Comandante who really started this revolution in premium hand grinders - we would not see grinders like the Q2 or even Kplus. At least they wouldn't be what they are. Just my personal take.
@@KyleRowsell Absolutely! Commandante definitely should take credit for pushing hand grinders to the levels of performance we have today, at a much higher standard than before, and that could compete with great electric grinders. I just wish that they could continue to push that envelope with new products on both ends of the price spectrum in the way that 1Zpresso is really doing. But like I said, a part of that is probably to do with the costs of doing business in Germany, as opposed to Taiwan and China.
I agree, Comandante wouldn't just only spend little bits of R&D just for minor changes like from MK3 to MK4. They are probably waiting for some chances to release a new amazing grinder that is different to the C40.
Thanks for your review. Just found heptagonal q2 at same price tag than JX in Amazon. Which one would you buy for French and Aeropress?? Newbie at specialty coffee. Thanks!!
@@KyleRowsell I think the downfall is the lack of adjustments. You can probably get something fine enough for espresso at under 1 rotation and maybe from the number 7. So that's 9 possible settings? The one weird but makes sense thing, is it's actually easier to grind than on my J-Max, moving those bigger burrs isn't all that easy. It could be my model which uhh wasn't QCd properly...it arrived with the adjustment nuts loose in the case and the burr was stuck to the outer burrs. I'm pretty happy with it but I'm definitely getting an electric grinder for espresso. In hindsight I'd probably go K-Pro, the magnetic catch cup is something I thought was great but it's too often an annoyance.
I'm always curious about the outer burs as well. How do they compare? A lot of people compare the lower burrs to each other in grinder comparisons, but I see little about the outer/upper burs. Why is this? Honestly curious.
Looking at something like this for camping, to go with aeropress and/or the picopresso. Does this do ok when switching up the grind, and can it produce decent espresso?
I have a C40 but wanted a cheap second grinder for experimenting with other brew styles / beans without losing my espresso dial in. I purchased the 1ZPRESSO JX-PRO after discovering the brand from Kyle's previous hand grinder comparison video. The value in terms of quality:cost is definitely excellent. It's also worth mentioning that 1ZPRESSO can be purchased straight from Amazon, without having to hunt through every specialty site for stock. That's a nice plus. But man, turning that thing is so dang difficult. I don't know why exactly. Obviously some beans are denser than others. But with same beans and comparable grind to the Comandante, sometimes I can barely crank it at all. And I'm not exactly weak. Now I just attach my electric drill to it. I know that is a major no-no, but I bought this as a cheaper tool for experiments anyway. The speed and power with the drill is glorious 😂
the burrs are more aggressive (feeding more coffee beans into the burrs at a time) and way larger, both making it require more force to grind the coffee (think how a larger motor is needed for larger burrs in an electric grinder)
JX-pro isn't a cheap grinder. Performance and quality are up there with the C40 (yeah, I own both) The bigger and more aggressive burrs from the JX-pro are fast and precise. Way faster than those of the C40 and regarding the crank force: yah, sometimes it demands serious power but keep in mind you're compromising ease of movement by speed Quality is up there, no doubt and can't tell the C40 is superior cuz it's not
@@manuelpenaruiz3694 true true. I guess when I was looking it was ~50% the price of a Comandante. So not cheap in absolute terms, but comparatively speaking. Maybe it's fair to say the 1ZPRESSO grinders are the cheapest of the good quality, espresso-capable bracket. However the difficulty of grinding really took me by surprise, and I would hesitate to recommend it to someone unless I knew they were really capable and willing to exert the effort.
@@victorpoiesz9265 There's a difference between the J series and K series. The burrs of the K series have 7 edges while J series has 6, so more room for beans in the J series (faster grind but more effort) Comandante uses a 39mm burr with 7 edges and the geometry of the burrs was designed so that it can grind gentler, bit slower but with certain particle distribution and particle shape K series is as good as the C40 in the cup IMHO Think it's not a matter of quality but preference. C40 has earned a reputation and using it feels special
I’ve got to keep this entry level as it’s just to get me into pour over until I can upgrade to a DF64, so I’ll have to go the C2 MAX route, it’ll still be better than my Sette 🤷🏻♂️
Hi Kyle, what's the different between Q2 and K-max/plus? I have been using Kingrinder K6 and I'm looking for a grinder which can very closely to the C40. Have you any suggestion for me? Thanks!
Can you do a comparison between that one and the KINGrinder k3???? It can be purchased at Amazon and has 18 microns clicks, so it's between the 1zpresso-JX (25) and the JX-Pro(12.5) and would be a very interesting comparison
Hi Kyle! I've had the Q2 for about a year now. My main brewe method is an aeropress. However, I still struggle with trying to adjust the grind setting for whatever I'm using. It's such a little difference between these steps that I feel like I'm just kinda guessing.... :( Would you be able to help with this? Maybe make a video about it? I would greatly appreciate it!! Hope you have a good day and tamped that button a while ago now 😜💪
Hey one update to your info - the Q2 now comes with a 7 chamber burr as standard they don't make the 5 chamber one so no need to go through aliexpress as their delivery times are much longer and they are a bit pricier than say purchasing from 1xpresso direct channels. I hope I can return the one I ordered from aliexpress and get a refund :) 2 rotations 1/3 makes my 150 ml water cup a bit too bitter on a specialty roast but wondering if maybe it is medium roast and if it was lighter would be okey. ;) first grinder :) using with a V60
Hey Kyle, i am looking for a grinder to use a few times a year on holiday for the picopresso could i use the Q2 or should I go for a Jmax og something else ?
I've heard the K series burrs are similar to the Commandante's in taste profile and also design, they're also 7 sided Pentagonal shaped. But you think the Q2 is even more so like the Commandante? Now I'm curious how the K series compares with the Q2 with those Pentagonal burrs.
I don’t think a cupping is the best way to compare two different grinders. Immersion brews typically are far more forgiving of grind quality, and this don’t show everything about a grinder. Great video nonetheless! The opening shots are once again stunning! Great sound design as well!!
possibly - there really isnt a perfect way to judge this without being subjective. That being said this test wasn't concluded from one blind taste test but dozens of cups over my experience with these grinders.
It's easier to compare grinders with cupping or something like pour over or aeropress I find vs espresso, where there are so many variables that can go wrong and slight differences can make a huge impact. However there are grinders that do well at coarser brew methods and not as well for Espresso or vice versa so good to compare that as well to get the full picture.
is the Q2 better to buy that the Normcore Manual Coffee Grinder V2 - 38mm Titanium Contemporary Conical Burr? they are similar price here in Europe. I am a V60 once cup of coffee a day drinker specialty coffee. I would love to hear your say which one cause I am eager to buy my first hand grinder.
Great video @Kyle. I'm looking for a manual coffee grinder to compliment the Wacaco Picopresso, so needs to be both small and portable, and grind to ultra fine levels. What would you recommend?
Hey kyle, tamp squad (?) And thirdwave grinding. I hope u get to review the kingrinder 6. And compare it to this 1zpresso. The kingrinder is the 1zpresso to 1zpresso's commandante. I want to upgrade my grinder (timemore c2) to a grinder to highlights complexity, clarity and sweetness. Body is not that important. I hope I get a reply from you. I'm a big fan. :)
Hi, Kyle Rowsell, Hope you're having a great day! I have been seen your video since a few weeks ago, which is really professional and detailed. I am wondering if you can do for us a review video and publish it on your account. Looking forward to your reply! best regards Swifty
Semi related question to your sponsor, I'm in vancouver where there's very little mineral in the water so I've got some third wave on the way. As a canadian person, do you have a favourite brand of off the shelf water that you think is good for espresso and available in local stores? Cheers!
@@KyleRowsell Yeah exactly! Like what bottled water brand that is available in canada do you think works well for espresso, for example? I presume TWW just goes into distilled!
Hey Kyle - In your experience, do you have to season these hand grinders? The thought of running 10lbs through a hand grinder before you get decent coffee seems like a real barrier to entry for most people, and I don’t recall you talking about it much in your hand grinder reviews.
We'd like to add that Nitro Blade burrs don't need seasoning (nor do they change performance with time) 😇. Seasoning is something relevant for softer steels or burr coatings. (Question is, where does that material go ☕️😳).
@kyle would you pick up this grinder over a ez JX grinder? I bought a JX recently may be able to return it but not worth the trouble if the cups are not better in this Q2 hept. Thanks for thoughts ! Love the vids
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Some Notes: The common Q2 uses a Pentagonal burr and is also found in other grinders like the Timemore C2 and Lagom mini - still good but different. The Q2 is quite impressive but please understand Comandante did design this burr - and credit should be given to them. Also from my understanding 1ZPRESSO has either limited the sourcing of this grinder or discontinued it all together. This is why it must be purchased through a third party vendor. And of course I have no affiliation with either of these companies. Also I will be giving this grinder away to a Patreon Supporter.
@@sebaba001 not sure why that is. It works for me. I’ve used a genius link to shorten it so it fits nicely - but that shouldnt cause any issues.
Same error here, i dont know if is a geolocation problem. Great grinder tip, man. Cheers from Brazil.
Q2...yayy or nayy for espresso ?
@@superpadro It should be fixed now.
@@ishantsingh3366 Nayy. Really budget and for espresso go for Kingrinder K3. Q2 Is good but for espresso not good.
I bought a Q2 from Amazon for am entry level coffee set-up for a friend. Paired with an Aeropress, I was so impressed by it's speed and clarity I bought one for myself as well.
Received a V60 kit as Christmas present and after watching your videos, I upgraded my grinder to the JX pro. Loving the coffee I brew! Going to share this video to a friend of mine who's been tempted by me to get a hand grinder! Q2 will be perfect for him as it's travel friendly!
Glad to hear it
yes :D
Thanks for this video! I've had a Hario Slim grinder for a while for budget reasons, and this one is the next step for me, I've had it for two days, had four pour-overs, and I already love it! Of course, I would get the Comandante C40 if I could afford it, but I went a bit overbudget with this one already. Thanks again, because the amount of options there are are overwhelming and your channel really helps people like me who are just into this coffee world. Keep the good work, You're amazing!
I went from the slim+ to Timemore C2 and then to the Q2.
Very notable differences between them all, with the Q2 being by far the most uniform and pleasant tasting of the 3.
I also later got the Kingrinder K6.
In my opinion, the K6 has a little bit more clarity, but the Q2 wins in the categories of sweetness, texture and portability.
While the K6 has much finer adjustments and faster grinding, with higher dosing per hopper.
All that said... the Q2 is a surprisingly capable grinder!
Great video start to finish. If I wasn't so addicted to espresso… I'd grab one of these to add to my set-up as a backup. But the JX-Pro is already my primary, everyday grinder. I like what 1ZPRESSO is doing and look forward to seeing where they go with it. Thanks for the review, Kyle.
Thanks for watching!
Why did u choose jx pro instead of jmax?
I got my Q2 Yesterday Kyle and it is absolutely fantastic
I just received my 7 core Q2 and it dose make a very good cup of coffee. Excellent recommendation.
I love how the Q2 fits perfectly in the aeropress plunger. Great for traveling.
Ideal!
feel the same, it is small and comfortable in your hand
And my jx pro fit perfectly in the main chamber of the aeropress (although it’s only useful when dosing into it), maybe 1Zpresso grinders are built around aeropress.
Yeah, but it doesn't exactly help since you still have to stash the top bit somehow .
Wow - I bought Q2 with heptagonal burrs last year after much research. Here in Japan, Commandante supply is scarce and it's too overpriced, and so are 1zpresso. But I managed to find Q2 with heptagonal burrs (bought in Taiwan I think) for not too much markup, so even though I couldn't find much info about the heptagonal burrs, I bought it. Man, am I glad I did!
One thing I think is great about Q2 is the fact that you can take the grip part off for easy cleaning of the burr set. I use it everyday, but I hardly ever need to take it fully apart for thorough cleaning. 20g capacity isn't a big deal for me, and I personally love how it fits in my hand.
Thank you for a great video - I feel 100 times better about my Q2!!
Glad to help! Thanks for watching.
Thanks, Kyle. I have short-listed a few budget grinders, and you have helped in my decision-making.
Awesome video Kyle !!!!!
After watching this video I get myself a 1zpresso E-PRO grinder which has the same burr as Q2 but have a larger capacity (30g) and better clearity for $140. I compare my grinder with my friend's C40, and honestly I think E-PRO will be a better match with the C40.
Where did you get the e pro
Can you tell us more about your experience with the Epro?
I've looked at it and it seems to be a very capable grinder.
Just ordered a 1zpresso septagonal q2 after much research. I plan this to by my travel grinder so thanks for the heads up!
Was going to buy in june, all gone. I see 1zpresso has a new heptagonal model for 2022, hope you'll review it in the future, great videos 🙂
Heptacore is the best. My Q2 grinds for espresso at 17 to 22 clicks and works great. Fits inside Aeropress too for travel.
I have bought 3 1zpresso grinders and Comandante C40. At first, I used 1zpresso 1Z-Pro, then bought the K-Plus, and bought Q2 pentagonal for my dad. Recently I bought Comandante C40 Mk IV to replace my K-Plus because the burr adjustment mechanism got damaged. I used to like the 1zpresso because it offers good value for money. The 1Z-Pro offered a magnetic grind catcher and full stainless body but like the Q2, suffers in terms of capacity. The Q2 is cheap but there is no easy way to note the adjustment settings. And the K-Plus is fast thanks to its large burr. But larger burr made it more difficult to grind light roast beans. But there's one thing about C40 Mk IV that can't be replicated by 1zpresso and that is the ease of cleaning. 1Z-Pro and Q2 have a smaller bodies and that's hard to clean even after you disassemble them. The K-Plus is somewhat easier but to clean you have to disassemble many parts and recalibrate the burr after that. After a while, coffee dust would find its way inside the adjustment ring mechanism and stuck there. I tried using a cotton swab to clean it but found little success. On the other hand, C40 has a larger body even though its burr is smaller. And that makes cleaning a breeze. I just need to blow it with rocket blower a few times and use a cleaning brush (from 1zpresso but any grinder brush would likely fit) and it would be 98% clean. Once a week I would make a morning latte and enjoy it while disassembling the grinder and perform a more thorough cleaning. Overall it has fewer parts to disassemble and you don't need to do calibration afterward.
Thanks for this detailed response!
Thanks for your support! One more interesting point for you -- the Nitro Blade burr surface is highly inert, meaning it won't take on the flavour of stale coffee, meaning you can also afford to be lazy once in a while and just purge a couple of beans instead of disassembling and brushing everything clean 😇😜. We love Nitro Blade steel!
C40 simple yet effective design is something I praise to Comandante. But your story with the KPlus sounds like you're not that kind of person that knows how to deal with fine mechanisms, and I'm not gonna judge. I just can't.
KPlus is the flagship grinder from 1Z and I've been using and loving it (also own an absolutely gorgeous C40 MK4*) and see no problem with its adjustmen mechanism. As long as you know how to clean your grinder and you do so on a regular basis there's no way you can get issues with it.
1Z is very clear when claim that you can calibrate the grinder after each cleaning/disassembly "only if you want to" cuz if you're lazy or just don't wanna mess with that you can just assemble everything back and count your clicks, like you do on the C40 and that's it! Did you know this? C40 doesn't come with numbers or reference, Comandante engineers say this isn't even necessary and yah, they got a point. So just find your zero and count back from there, simple and effective, right? But 1Z goes the extra mile in this regard and offers a better experience, at least from my experience, it does my life easier cuz I don't have to remember at which setting I was the last time. I can see it directly and that's pure gold for me.
On the Kplus the external burr is removable so cleaning it is piece of cake.
Yeah, less parts to deal with on the C40 is a big plus but 1Z is easier to keep clean.
Both are great, both are top notch. Make your choice based on what you like and what makes your coffee life easier. I own and love these grinders but for me the Kplus does a bit better overall.
*Nitroblade is awesome
I just purchased this Q2s with heptagonal burrs today for 99usd! There was a 6.6 sale going on. I'm so excited!
Bought mine $71 on 5.5 sale. Lazada is good for these things 2x price in America!
6.6 Lazada or Shopee???
I bought an 1ZPresso J Max to pair with my Breville Barista and to use for travelling. It has taken my espresso up to the next level. 1zpresso really killing it quality wise. Great video also!
Thanks for watching daniel!
Just bought a Jx and waiting for it to come in. For the first year of my coffee making journey, I've been using a $30 Sahara Beans ceramic grinder. Definitely has gotten good results for a cheap entry price.
But it was time to upgrade and am super excited to get better coffee. Great video Kyle!
You'll love the JX. I've had mine for about three months and its been incredible, a game changer for me.
Enjoy! Thanks for watching James
Just bought an heptagonal Q2 thanks to this review. By fortune I live in a place where the heptagonal comes easily.
Yeah Asia is great. Mine cost $71 USD on Lazada. Currently $120 in USA.
Thanks for the Video Kyle.
You bet!
The 1zpresso q2 is available for about $90 USD in Thailand. Nice comparison.
Check to make sure its the 7-core. The 5-core is widely available and much easier to find
@@abelburnem4402 yes 7 core 38mm. I’m really not in the market for a grinder as I have a Niche and am very satisfied.
I am from th,
Q2 in th for 5core the price is 90usd
7 core for 110usd
Third wave grinding and/or tamp squad...I'm on board man! keep those good vibes!
Always! Thanks for watching!
Disclaimer, I'm a reseller for 1Zpresso here in the EU. I asked them about the heptagonal Q2 a while ago, and they're working on a redesign. I hope we can show it (or a prototype) at our booth during World of coffee in Warsaw end of June.
This being said, the regular pentagonal Q2 is a pretty amazing grinder for it's price too.
The only disadvantage is it's slower than the 48mm 1Zpressso models, but in the same ballpark speed as the comandante. And thanks to it's smaller "fits inside the aeropess" diameter, it's really easy to grip while grinding, even on espresso settings.
I'd say the pentagonal has less detailed flavors in the cup compared to the comandante and 48mm 1Zpresso models, but a full-aluminium body and stainless steel burrs at this price point are impressive. And sometimes a thick body / slightly muted flavors profile is nice, especially in milk drinks. 🙂
Very cool. Thanks for sharing!
@@KyleRowsell It's kinda funny that people (like you) are chasing the hard-to-get unicorn grinders like this one. Maybe it's more fun to use if it took more effort to get one (look at all the waiting list grinders out there). ;-)
So the new model isn't coming anytime soon then?
edit: I am currently considering whether to get the Q2 or upgrading to the JX-Pro or J-max, as they look nicer/seem better.
@@Shifterfire those are much faster grinders, also a good choice
@@danymeeuwissen5973 I just can't seem to decide if it's really worth the extra cost :/
Third wave grinding :D
Glad to see that 1Zpresso is making great, affordable grinders. I have the JX Pro which I use exclusively for espresso. It didn't occur to me how much effort/force I'd have to use when grinding that finely tho lol. But it's not too bad, it's worth it. The smaller body on the Q2 is appealing as someone with smaller hands. 🤔
Thanks for watching Sarah!
It's very easy to hold. I have small hands. No problems gripping the Q2.
do you have to readjust the JX-pro grind after every use? or to be more accurate so you have to clean after every use?
Tamp squad! Thanks for helping me find my next hand grinder. Third wave grinding.
You’re amazing mike! Thanks for watching
Nice review Kyle and I loved the black crank sneak peak in the video. Third wave grinding is a thing and you can't deny it 🤣
It's a movement. And are you talking about the one in the bottom left corner? ha
@@KyleRowsell yeap that's the one. It's the black crank isn't it?
Great review. Loved it. Going to try get one of these q2 grinders. Thank you
Thanks for watching friend!
Third wave grinding. Interesting comparison. I really like my 1ZPresso JX-Pro. Makes good espresso and Aeropress.
Thanks for watching!
ok I bought this one ;) through your links super excited.
New to the channel! It looks like Amazon sales the Heptagonal version now!
What an intro! That was incredible.
Glad you enjoyed it!
FYI, 1ZPresso has brought it back to their official site sometime within the past couple weeks.
Nice hat Kyle!!! Excellent video as usual.
Thanks!
I have some obsession with build quality as I am a watch enthusiast and Comandantes are beautifully finished.
They truly are!
Now, Timemore has released the new C3 with S2C burr, would absolutely love to know how these two compare.
Looks like you liked the Q2 cup more at first and thought it was that from the C40, right?
Btw, the sweeter a cup the closer to the astringency limit. So I wouldn't conclude C40 is better tasting.
Thanks for sharing!
good review though I was hoping to see how the grind setting adjustment worked since I've read complaints about that and it seems convoluted
Finally a youtuber makes this known! Let’s hope prices don’t go up
It’s too good not to!
It's interesting how Kyle's description of the cup on the left changes from "little more sweeteness" (when he thought it was the more expensive C40) to "little bit more astringency" (when he knew that it was the cheaper Q2). Admittedly, he does highlight their similarity and his inconfidence in his judgement.
Yeah I rolled my eyes when I heard that comment lol. I'm getting pretty disillusioned with all this expensive coffee equipment hype. That's why you never see blind taste tests between expensive and cheap equipment. People don't want to embarrass themselves and admit that they wasted crazy amounts of money on extremely slight differences in flavor.
You just see comparisons between equally priced equipment. And if it's comparing a bunch of cheap stuff, the reviewer will wince and make funny faces saying how nasty it is compared to the expensive stuff.
I purchased based on this video. Thanks Kyle!
Amazing cinematic work!
Thanks!
Using my grinder, and drinking Detour one of my favourite roasters. I’m going to like this one.
Availability - I bought a Q2 heptagonal model in the UK. So far, it has produced great cups of coffee
Heard a lot of good things about the Q2 over the last year, definitely would have purchased it over my C40 if it was available at the time.
In terms of value, seems the Q2 is the DF64 of hand grinders.
Well said!
agree
Amazing presentation 👍
Finally some love for the Q2. I use it daily for my flair! Tamp squad
Thanks for watching Jake!
The beginning of this video is hilarious
Bird grave finding! Cool video, I love my JX Pro. Was really hoping to find another electric grinder with the Eureka Mignon single dose, but I guess I’ll be hand-grinding a little while longer. Thanks for that Eureka video too, btw
My pleasure. All the best!
You have to check out the Kingrinder K2 easily the best value. 48mm stainless steel burrs, full aluminium body, 25g cap and more adjustments then the JX. Pretty much at the price point of a timemore c2.
I will!
I feel that while the allure of something still being made in Germany will always have its appeal, I find that the higher costs of doing business there do hold back a small company like Commandante who still only have a single model of grinder to their name. Granted that it's one of the most respected hand grinders that essentially created the market for high-end hand grinders. But in comparison, 1Zpresso just feels like the more dynamic company who's doing so much more to be experimental and fill a lot of different niches in the hobby, with pretty much all models costing less than the C40. I don't want to knock either company, but I just can't help but feel hyped for whatever 1Zpresso may be doing next, where I just expect Commandante to keep existing.
Edit: Third wave grinding
Fair points. I do believe without a company like Comandante who really started this revolution in premium hand grinders - we would not see grinders like the Q2 or even Kplus. At least they wouldn't be what they are. Just my personal take.
@@KyleRowsell Absolutely! Commandante definitely should take credit for pushing hand grinders to the levels of performance we have today, at a much higher standard than before, and that could compete with great electric grinders. I just wish that they could continue to push that envelope with new products on both ends of the price spectrum in the way that 1Zpresso is really doing. But like I said, a part of that is probably to do with the costs of doing business in Germany, as opposed to Taiwan and China.
Absolutely! The question is: can Comandante change the game again once everyone else catches up?
@@benbauer7866 I’m optimistic. Comandante is a leader in the space.
I agree, Comandante wouldn't just only spend little bits of R&D just for minor changes like from MK3 to MK4. They are probably waiting for some chances to release a new amazing grinder that is different to the C40.
Thanks for your review. Just found heptagonal q2 at same price tag than JX in Amazon. Which one would you buy for French and Aeropress?? Newbie at specialty coffee. Thanks!!
Great video, thank you! I just started looking at affordable hand grinders. How do you think the Q2 compares to Kingrinder K6?
Sold, I'm ordering it to go with my Aeropress tomorrow 😁😁
Hi Kyle, really great video. Is the Q2 also good for espresso or should i then upgrade to a JK model?
It is! At least this model is good at it!
@@KyleRowsell
I think the downfall is the lack of adjustments. You can probably get something fine enough for espresso at under 1 rotation and maybe from the number 7. So that's 9 possible settings?
The one weird but makes sense thing, is it's actually easier to grind than on my J-Max, moving those bigger burrs isn't all that easy. It could be my model which uhh wasn't QCd properly...it arrived with the adjustment nuts loose in the case and the burr was stuck to the outer burrs.
I'm pretty happy with it but I'm definitely getting an electric grinder for espresso. In hindsight I'd probably go K-Pro, the magnetic catch cup is something I thought was great but it's too often an annoyance.
Great video - Third wave grinding
Thanks for watching
I'm always curious about the outer burs as well. How do they compare? A lot of people compare the lower burrs to each other in grinder comparisons, but I see little about the outer/upper burs. Why is this? Honestly curious.
They’re near identical
@@KyleRowsell Good to know! Thanks for replying!
@@gld3gld3 always!
Looking at something like this for camping, to go with aeropress and/or the picopresso. Does this do ok when switching up the grind, and can it produce decent espresso?
Tamp Squad!
How does the Q2 perform when grinding for espresso?
I have a C40 but wanted a cheap second grinder for experimenting with other brew styles / beans without losing my espresso dial in. I purchased the 1ZPRESSO JX-PRO after discovering the brand from Kyle's previous hand grinder comparison video. The value in terms of quality:cost is definitely excellent. It's also worth mentioning that 1ZPRESSO can be purchased straight from Amazon, without having to hunt through every specialty site for stock. That's a nice plus.
But man, turning that thing is so dang difficult. I don't know why exactly. Obviously some beans are denser than others. But with same beans and comparable grind to the Comandante, sometimes I can barely crank it at all. And I'm not exactly weak.
Now I just attach my electric drill to it. I know that is a major no-no, but I bought this as a cheaper tool for experiments anyway. The speed and power with the drill is glorious 😂
the burrs are more aggressive (feeding more coffee beans into the burrs at a time) and way larger, both making it require more force to grind the coffee (think how a larger motor is needed for larger burrs in an electric grinder)
JX-pro isn't a cheap grinder. Performance and quality are up there with the C40 (yeah, I own both)
The bigger and more aggressive burrs from the JX-pro are fast and precise. Way faster than those of the C40 and regarding the crank force: yah, sometimes it demands serious power but keep in mind you're compromising ease of movement by speed
Quality is up there, no doubt and can't tell the C40 is superior cuz it's not
@@manuelpenaruiz3694 true true. I guess when I was looking it was ~50% the price of a Comandante. So not cheap in absolute terms, but comparatively speaking. Maybe it's fair to say the 1ZPRESSO grinders are the cheapest of the good quality, espresso-capable bracket.
However the difficulty of grinding really took me by surprise, and I would hesitate to recommend it to someone unless I knew they were really capable and willing to exert the effort.
@@victorpoiesz9265 There's a difference between the J series and K series. The burrs of the K series have 7 edges while J series has 6, so more room for beans in the J series (faster grind but more effort)
Comandante uses a 39mm burr with 7 edges and the geometry of the burrs was designed so that it can grind gentler, bit slower but with certain particle distribution and particle shape
K series is as good as the C40 in the cup IMHO
Think it's not a matter of quality but preference. C40 has earned a reputation and using it feels special
Great review
Thanks!
I’ve got to keep this entry level as it’s just to get me into pour over until I can upgrade to a DF64, so I’ll have to go the C2 MAX route, it’ll still be better than my Sette 🤷🏻♂️
Enjoy!
Hi Kyle, what's the different between Q2 and K-max/plus? I have been using Kingrinder K6 and I'm looking for a grinder which can very closely to the C40. Have you any suggestion for me? Thanks!
Tamp squad'
Third wave grinding,
There you go!
Cheers
You’re Amazing!
How many clicks that you set your q2 heptagonal for v60?
Bought it! Thanks!
Thanks for watching
Hey Kyle! How does this compare with the Normcore V2 titanium? I’ll be using this for espresso through the Picopresso!
Can you do a comparison between that one and the KINGrinder k3???? It can be purchased at Amazon and has 18 microns clicks, so it's between the 1zpresso-JX (25) and the JX-Pro(12.5) and would be a very interesting comparison
I’ll look into it!
Hi Kyle! I've had the Q2 for about a year now. My main brewe method is an aeropress. However, I still struggle with trying to adjust the grind setting for whatever I'm using. It's such a little difference between these steps that I feel like I'm just kinda guessing.... :( Would you be able to help with this? Maybe make a video about it? I would greatly appreciate it!! Hope you have a good day and tamped that button a while ago now 😜💪
Hi Kyle, do you recommend buying this Q2, or is the x-pro worth the extra $30~ (after discount)
How does the 1ZPRESSO Q2 compare to the Knock Aergrind?
Hey one update to your info - the Q2 now comes with a 7 chamber burr as standard they don't make the 5 chamber one so no need to go through aliexpress as their delivery times are much longer and they are a bit pricier than say purchasing from 1xpresso direct channels. I hope I can return the one I ordered from aliexpress and get a refund :) 2 rotations 1/3 makes my 150 ml water cup a bit too bitter on a specialty roast but wondering if maybe it is medium roast and if it was lighter would be okey. ;) first grinder :) using with a V60
I’m only here now, trying to decide what hand grinder to get, I have aeropoess and hario v60. Any advice would be great thanks!
Hey Kyle, i am looking for a grinder to use a few times a year on holiday for the picopresso could i use the Q2 or should I go for a Jmax og something else ?
I've heard the K series burrs are similar to the Commandante's in taste profile and also design, they're also 7 sided Pentagonal shaped. But you think the Q2 is even more so like the Commandante? Now I'm curious how the K series compares with the Q2 with those Pentagonal burrs.
I do. The kplus is a 48mm burr and the size changes it’s overall profile. While those are similar, this one is near identical.
I don’t think a cupping is the best way to compare two different grinders. Immersion brews typically are far more forgiving of grind quality, and this don’t show everything about a grinder.
Great video nonetheless! The opening shots are once again stunning! Great sound design as well!!
possibly - there really isnt a perfect way to judge this without being subjective. That being said this test wasn't concluded from one blind taste test but dozens of cups over my experience with these grinders.
It's easier to compare grinders with cupping or something like pour over or aeropress I find vs espresso, where there are so many variables that can go wrong and slight differences can make a huge impact. However there are grinders that do well at coarser brew methods and not as well for Espresso or vice versa so good to compare that as well to get the full picture.
Hi Kyle, can I use (this) hand grinder for my espresso or isn´t that the best idea?
Did you do the particle distribution test with kruve?? If yes the pls do share the results 😁
I wonder if any JX owners could say if it's worth picking up the Q2 Hept. I wonder if the difference in profile will be actually noticeable.
is the Q2 better to buy that the Normcore Manual Coffee Grinder V2 - 38mm Titanium Contemporary Conical Burr? they are similar price here in Europe. I am a V60 once cup of coffee a day drinker specialty coffee. I would love to hear your say which one cause I am eager to buy my first hand grinder.
Great video @Kyle. I'm looking for a manual coffee grinder to compliment the Wacaco Picopresso, so needs to be both small and portable, and grind to ultra fine levels. What would you recommend?
This grinder would be great
Hey thanks for the video, i was just wondering if you think the Q2 is good for espresso aswell? Thank you
It’s possible! Hand grinding is never fun to do for espresso though, keep in mind
@@KyleRowsell thank you sir!
@@KyleRowsell what do you mean? Is it taking too long to grind the bean? Is it good enough to use with picopress? Thanks
Hey kyle, tamp squad (?) And thirdwave grinding.
I hope u get to review the kingrinder 6. And compare it to this 1zpresso.
The kingrinder is the 1zpresso to 1zpresso's commandante.
I want to upgrade my grinder (timemore c2) to a grinder to highlights complexity, clarity and sweetness. Body is not that important.
I hope I get a reply from you. I'm a big fan. :)
Here’s your reply 😊 and hope to dive into those in the future!
Hi, Kyle Rowsell,
Hope you're having a great day!
I have been seen your video since a few weeks ago, which is really professional and detailed. I am wondering if you can do for us a review video and publish it on your account.
Looking forward to your reply!
best regards
Swifty
Alright Kyle, tamp squad, great comparison 👍 not everyone can afford the Comandante
Hi. Between the 1zpresso q2 and kingrinder k2, wich one would you recommend?
Semi related question to your sponsor, I'm in vancouver where there's very little mineral in the water so I've got some third wave on the way. As a canadian person, do you have a favourite brand of off the shelf water that you think is good for espresso and available in local stores? Cheers!
Are you asking what water I use with TWW? Or just water bottles in general?
@@KyleRowsell Yeah exactly! Like what bottled water brand that is available in canada do you think works well for espresso, for example? I presume TWW just goes into distilled!
The new Q ( hept burrs ) which is currently available on 1z site is same grinder as this Q2s or Q2 hept ?
Thank you very much!
How is the taste compared to the k plus?
Similar!
Would you say that the Q2 is a better camping grinder than the VSSL Java? It looks to be more in my budget.
Oh my gosh ♡
Playing my song and everything
I am home :)
I already have the Q2 and love it. Do you know if you can buy the heptagonal burrs after market?
Likely not
Third wave grinding brings forth a novel tamp squad. Great grinder recommendation for my friend in Korea :)! Great for cold brew?
Love this! And absolutely!
@@KyleRowsell Thank you :). This will be his gift celebrating annual longevity. Lol.
Hey Kyle - In your experience, do you have to season these hand grinders? The thought of running 10lbs through a hand grinder before you get decent coffee seems like a real barrier to entry for most people, and I don’t recall you talking about it much in your hand grinder reviews.
You do. I don’t. I did for this video by using it for weeks. Just use the grinder and enjoy it. It’ll season with time
We'd like to add that Nitro Blade burrs don't need seasoning (nor do they change performance with time) 😇. Seasoning is something relevant for softer steels or burr coatings. (Question is, where does that material go ☕️😳).
@@ComandanteGrinder it goes in the filter
@@lampadashorde5989 At that particle size, we don't think so. And those using metal filters or brewing espresso can be sure it's in the cup 😳.
Have you seen the Timemore slim3? It's the new version of the slim plus. Is the Q2 better for pour over?
@kyle would you pick up this grinder over a ez JX grinder? I bought a JX recently may be able to return it but not worth the trouble if the cups are not better in this Q2 hept. Thanks for thoughts ! Love the vids
JX is great. Just stick with it
I wish this was compared to the Normcore V2
Did you buy directly from the link in the description?
Grinder (like Ode) with 64mm SSP flat burrs, or Comandante?
Well that’s like asking motorcycle or convertible? They’re very different beasts. But I love them both. And both produce great cups
Love your Buffalo Blue Jays hat!! 😉
.. thanks 🥲
Hay kyle, is 1zpresso q2 better than timemore slim plus with e&b burr? I mean from price and grind quality
Does this 1Zpresso Q2 do good with Espresso grind or only shine with a larger grind?