KINGrinder P1

What it does well

It is fast and light for what it is. Zelpio compared the P1 with a Hario Slim and reports it "grinds noticeably faster and with less effort." KINGrinder lists it at only 330 g and says it disassembles with no tools and ships with a cleaning brush.

The cup is better than the price suggests. In a V60 comparison, Zelpio ranked the P1 between the Hario Slim and a Comandante, with better balance and sweetness than the Hario. Its particle analysis showed more fines than either, yet tasters preferred the P1, which Zelpio attributes to fewer oversized particles above 1,500 microns than the Hario produced.

The build looks better than the weight suggests. Zelpio describes a metal handle with a wooden accent and a smooth adjustment, and calls it a sensible entry point that leaves room in the budget for good beans.

Pub Palaver also lists it as working well for espresso, though that is a comparison of several grinders rather than a full review.

Where it falls short

Espresso reports conflict. Pub Palaver says it works well; Zelpio says espresso settings work but the shots taste acidic and under-developed, and that the espresso "lacked sweetness and texture." The finder gives it a low espresso rating. CoffeeGeek's review of the P2 makes a similar point about the P-series dial: single clicks create large jumps in shot time.

The handle and burr are small. Pub Palaver lists the straight handle and smaller grip as a con, and says the P-series burrs are about 10 mm smaller than the K-series equivalents, which means more effort per dose.

Particle distribution is not tight. Zelpio's analysis found more fines than the Hario and the Comandante, which is a reason to expect a muddier cup in some brews.

Specifications disagree slightly. KINGrinder lists an ABS body; Zelpio describes polycarbonate. Both agree it is plastic with a metal handle.

Capacity is one cup. KINGrinder says up to 20 g. KINGrinder's store also listed all options out of stock when checked.

Who should buy it, and who shouldn't

Buy it if you brew pour-over, drip or AeroPress, want a grinder to carry, and want a metal burr without paying for aluminum. Zelpio's V60 comparison suggests it beats a Hario Slim.

Skip it if you pull espresso daily, if you grind for several cups. For those jobs, step up to a K-series model.

How it compares

The KINGrinder P2 shares the P1's specs on KINGrinder's pages. CoffeeGeek rates the P2 for pour-over and not for espresso, and Pub Palaver says the P2 is harder to grind than the P1.

The KINGrinder K2 has a 48 mm burr, an offset handle and an aluminum body. Pub Palaver found it worth the step up mainly for comfort.

The KINGrinder K0 uses an all-metal body with 18-micron clicks. The Hario Mini Mill Slim Pro is the ceramic travel alternative; Prima Coffee found it light but muddy in the cup.

Owning it

Take it apart with no tools and brush it out, as KINGrinder describes. Our guide to cleaning a hand grinder covers the routine.

With a 30-click dial, write down your settings by rotation and click. The calibration guide explains how to find the zero point, and dial in a new grinder shows how to build your first recipes. Zelpio notes that its testing was short-term, so durability is unproven.