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1Zpresso K-Max

Buying guide · Conical burrs

1Zpresso K-Max

Buy a used K-Max if you want a fast hand grinder that leans toward filter but still pulls espresso; shot-first buyers should pick a finer-stepped grinder.

No longer sold new. This guide is for anyone looking at a used one.

Best for
Pour-over, AeroPress, French press, Cold brew, Moka pot
Skip it for
Fine espresso dialing
Settings chart →

BrewMark hasn't tested this grinder in person. This guide compiles the maker's specs and published reviews, listed under Sources. As an Amazon Associate, BrewMark earns from qualifying purchases.

In brief

The K-Max is discontinued. 1Zpresso's K Series page marks it "Discontinued" and links buyers to the new K-Ultra. Used ones are common, so it is still worth understanding.

1Zpresso describes it as a combination of the K-Pro and K-Plus, with a slimmer magnetic catch cup. It uses the stainless steel heptagonal "K Burr" and an external dial at 22 microns per click.

The trade-off is step size. It covers espresso through cold brew, but its clicks are coarser than 1Zpresso's espresso-first models. It leans toward filter.

What it does well

  • BrewCoffeeHome calls it 'a fantastic all-rounder' for espresso and filter
  • Among the fastest in the 1Zpresso range, per BrewCoffeeHome
  • External numbered dial makes settings easy to repeat, per BrewCoffeeHome
  • Coffee Chronicler calls it, with the updated burr, 'an espresso beast'

Where it falls short

  • 22-micron clicks are coarser than the JX-Pro or J-Max, per BrewCoffeeHome
  • BrewCoffeeHome calls it slightly optimised for filter coffee
  • No longer sold new; 1Zpresso lists it as discontinued

Specs

Type
Conical burrs
Burrs
48 mm conical, stainless steel heptagonal "K Burr"
Adjustment
External dial, 90 clicks per rotation, 22 microns per click
Capacity
35–40 g
Weight
720 g
Size
19 × 6 × 19.5 cm
Catch cup
Magnetic, slimmer than the K-Plus, no blind shaker
Warranty
One-year limited (1Zpresso)
Power
Hand

Where to start on the dial

Pour-over 68 clicksAeroPress 67 clicksFrench press 128 clicksCold brew 154 clicksMoka pot 64 clicks

Every method on the settings chart →
On this page · 5 sections
  1. What it does well
  2. Where it falls short
  3. Who should buy it, and who shouldn't
  4. How it compares
  5. Owning it

What it does well

It is a genuine all-rounder. BrewCoffeeHome calls it "a fantastic all-rounder" that can grind for "an authentic espresso shot." In a sifting test, it found fewer fines and boulders than cheaper grinders.

It is quick. BrewCoffeeHome timed 18 g at 35 seconds for pour-over and 40 seconds for espresso. It calls the K-Max "one of the fastest models in the lineup."

Espresso is better than the step size suggests. Coffee Chronicler, writing about the updated K burr in the K-Max, calls it "an espresso beast." In the same review it timed 18 g of medium roast at 32 seconds on the K-Plus, which shares the burr. It calls that a little faster than the JX-Pro.

The external dial helps. BrewCoffeeHome praises the "easy, replicable" adjustment, with 9 numbers and 10 clicks between each. You can change grind without opening the grinder.

The build is solid. BrewCoffeeHome describes "a sturdy grinder, aesthetically pleasing, and well-designed." It notes three ball bearings in the drive and an aluminium alloy body with a wood knob.

Where it falls short

The clicks are coarse for espresso. BrewCoffeeHome notes "the J-Max and JX Pro have even smaller adjustments per step," which makes them better for fine-tuning shots. It calls the K-Max "slightly optimized for filtered coffee."

The magnetic cup has a catch. Coffee Chronicler found the K-Plus's magnetic cup a real workflow gain, and notes the K-Max drops the blind shaker for a slimmer cup. If you want to dose straight into a portafilter, the K-Plus did that better.

It is not sold new any more. That means no maker warranty on a used unit, and prices that depend on condition.

It was never a budget grinder. BrewCoffeeHome called it one of the most expensive manual grinders 1Zpresso made. A used asking price should reflect its age and the newer models now on sale.

Who should buy it, and who shouldn't

Buy a used K-Max if you brew pour-over, AeroPress or French press most days and pull the odd shot. The settings chart on this page covers each method.

Skip it if espresso is your main drink and you dial in often. Finer clicks will save you frustration. Skip it too if you would rather have a warranty, since 1Zpresso sells only newer models.

How it compares

The 1Zpresso X-Ultra is sold new and moves 12.5 microns per click, per 1Zpresso. The K-Ultra replaced the K-Max in 1Zpresso's lineup, at 20 microns per click.

The KINGrinder K6 is a much cheaper external-dial grinder at 16 microns per click, per KINGrinder. See K-Max vs K6 for both scales.

The Comandante C40 MK4 is the filter benchmark many recipes assume. The JX-Pro vs K-Max and J-Max vs K-Max pages show how its dial lines up with 1Zpresso's finer-stepped models.

Owning it

Clean it dry. 1Zpresso shipped it with a cleaning brush, a blower and a cylinder case. Our guide to cleaning a hand grinder covers the routine.

Re-zero after you strip it down. The zero point is what every setting counts from, and our calibration guide walks through finding it.

Parts are still available. 1Zpresso sells a K-Max spare parts page, which helps keep a used one running. New units carried a one-year limited warranty against defects.

Also worth a look

Sources

  1. 1Zpresso: K Series
  2. 1Zpresso: K-Max Manual Coffee Grinder (archived 2023)
  3. 1Zpresso: K-Max spare parts
  4. 1Zpresso: K-Ultra
  5. BrewCoffeeHome: 1Zpresso K-Max Review, an all-rounded premium hand grinder
  6. Coffee Chronicler: 1Zpresso K-Plus review
  7. 1Zpresso: X Series
  8. KINGrinder: Comparison of the KINGrinder models

By Jeff Gluck · Checked 2026-10-21