Which to buy · Every setting
1Zpresso J-Max vs Timemore C3
Two hand grinders cross-shopped at the same money. The J-Max counts 405 clicks; the C3 counts 36 clicks.
Which to buy
Choose the
J-Max if you…
- pull mostly espresso — 1Zpresso designed the J-Max burr for it
- want 90 clicks a turn, 8.8 microns each
- grind larger doses — 35–40 g
Choose the
C3 if you…
- brew espresso to French press — Timemore rates it across that range
- grind one dose at a time — 20 g in the standard C3
- may move towards espresso — Timemore makes C3 ESP models with a finer dial
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1Zpresso no longer sells the J-Max new: its J series page marks it "Not Available" and links to the J-Ultra. Timemore sells the C3 in several versions (C3, C3S, Max, ESP, Pro). The settings on this page are for the standard C3 dial.
Sources: 1Zpresso — J series · 1Zpresso — J-Max (archived) · Timemore — C3s / C3 series
| J-Max | C3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | 1Zpresso | Timemore |
| Scale | Clicks | Clicks |
| Dial range | 0 clicks – 405 clicks | 0 clicks – 36 clicks |
| Burrs | Conical | Conical |
| Espresso → filter | 180.8 clicks | 7 clicks |
| Filter → coarse | 140 clicks | 11 clicks |
The same number means different things
Both grinders use a clicks, which makes it tempting to copy a number straight across. Setting 18 clicks sits at grind index 0 on the J-Max but 53.2 on the C3 — far enough apart to change the cup.
Converting a setting
If a recipe quotes a setting for one of these grinders, read across for the equivalent on the other. Rows are spaced evenly by grind size, not by dial number — on a conical burr those are not the same thing.
| J-Max | C3 |
|---|---|
| 84 clicks | 8 clicks |
| 150 clicks | 10 clicks |
| 202 clicks | 12 clicks |
| 229 clicks | 13 clicks |
| 247 clicks | 14 clicks |
| 271 clicks | 15 clicks |
| 304 clicks | 17 clicks |
| 340 clicks | 19 clicks |
| 370 clicks | 21 clicks |
| 388 clicks | 23 clicks |
| 396 clicks | 24 clicks |
| 400 clicks | 25 clicks |
| 405 clicks | 26 clicks |
| C3 | J-Max |
|---|---|
| 8 clicks | 84 clicks |
| 10 clicks | 150 clicks |
| 12 clicks | 202 clicks |
| 13 clicks | 229 clicks |
| 14 clicks | 247 clicks |
| 15 clicks | 271 clicks |
| 17 clicks | 304 clicks |
| 19 clicks | 340 clicks |
| 21 clicks | 370 clicks |
| 23 clicks | 388 clicks |
| 24 clicks | 396 clicks |
| 25 clicks | 400 clicks |
| 26 clicks | 405 clicks |
Side by side, by brew method
Where each grinder lands for the same brew, worked out from its own dial curve.
| Method | J-Max | C3 |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 123 clicks | 9 clicks |
| Moka pot | 194 clicks | 12 clicks |
| AeroPress (short steep) | 229 clicks | 13 clicks |
| Pour over — V60 / cone | 259 clicks | 15 clicks |
| Siphon | 272 clicks | 15 clicks |
| Pour over — flat bottom | 283 clicks | 16 clicks |
| Steep and release — Clever / Switch | 296 clicks | 17 clicks |
| Drip / batch brew | 240 clicks | 17 clicks |
| Cupping | 313 clicks | 18 clicks |
| Chemex | 338 clicks | 19 clicks |
| French press | 383 clicks | 22 clicks |
| Cold brew | 399 clicks | 25 clicks |
The shape of each dial
Where the connectors bunch, that grinder’s dial is compressed and single steps count for more. Comparing the two shapes tells you which gives finer control, and where.
1Zpresso J-Max
Timemore C3
Dialing in the J-Max
The J-Max trades coarse range for espresso resolution, and the click density near the fine end is the whole point of the grinder. If you are using it for pour over you are working in the middle of its range and will find it forgiving; if you are pulling shots, expect meaningful taste changes from two or three clicks. It will reach French press, but it is not what you bought it for.
Dialing in the C3
The best-value hand grinder in circulation and the one most likely to be someone's first. Its range is usable across filter and immersion, with espresso possible but genuinely tedious. The C3 benefits more than most grinders from a few seconds of settling before you judge a shot or a pour — its distribution tightens noticeably once the burrs are warm.