1Zpresso X-Ultra Review

Grind Quality

The 40mm heptagonal conical burrs are the heart of the X-Ultra, and they punch well above what the modest burr size might suggest. In blind cuppings run by the 1Zpresso K-Ultra testers, the X-Ultra's cup quality was nearly indistinguishable from the larger 48mm sibling — a meaningful result given the burr-size gap.

At 12.5 microns per click, the external dial gives you genuinely useful resolution for dialling in espresso without the fiddly 8-micron increments that make finer-adjusting grinders like the J-Ultra a chore.

Grind distribution skews slightly bimodal, leaning toward filter character: cleaner than a true espresso burr, but with enough body to pull a credible shot. It's not a unimodal espresso specialist, and the K-Ultra will outshine it for clarity on the very lightest filter roasts.

For a single grinder covering AeroPress through light-roast pour-over and into espresso territory, this is the sweet spot.

Build & Design

At 520g with a slim 5.2cm body, the X-Ultra feels solid without being a wrist workout. The folding handle — originally a workaround for a Comandante patent dispute — is a genuinely useful ergonomic touch, and the overall fit and finish sits comfortably in premium territory for under $200.

The hard case is included, which is a quiet but real value-add for anyone who actually travels with a grinder. The magnetic catch cup clicks into place with a reassuring snap, and contrary to some early online complaints, the magnet on recent production runs holds firm during grinding.

One genuine miss: no anti-static treatment. Grounds will cling to the inside of the burr chamber and the cup, which means a quick tap and brush between doses. Annoying on a $170 grinder, but not a deal-breaker.

Workflow & Daily Use

The 25–30g hopper capacity is the real number, despite some spec sheets listing 25g — either way, it's enough for a single V60 or a double shot, and that's exactly the single-dose use case the design targets. Pull off the lid, weigh your beans, grind, done.

Stepped adjustment is the one workflow compromise. If you bounce between, say, a moka pot and a Chemex every morning, the click-stops are a feature: quick, repeatable, no second-guessing. If you spend weekends chasing four-micron differences on a single origin, the stepless K-Ultra or the J-Ultra are better tools.

Grind speed is middle-of-the-pack for a 40mm hand grinder. A 20g dose for pour-over takes roughly 40–45 seconds of cranking. Comfortable, not fast.

Who It's For

Buy this if you brew across two or more methods — AeroPress, V60, maybe the occasional moka or pressurised espresso — and you want one grinder that does all of them well without dominating the kitchen counter. It's the textbook all-rounder: not the best at anything, but rarely disappointing either.

Skip it if you only brew one style. A dedicated filter drinker with a light-roast obsession will get more from the K-Ultra's larger burrs, and a serious espresso hobbyist should look at the J-Ultra's finer clicks and unimodal burr geometry. For the price and the breadth, though, the X-Ultra is hard to argue with.

Comparison Notes

Against the 1Zpresso Q2, the X-Ultra is a clear step up in burr quality and adjustment precision, with the trade-off being weight and a smaller capacity. Against the travel-focused Q-Air, the X-Ultra is a home-body: heavier, slower, but with meaningfully better grind consistency.