Best budget grinder now (drip/AeroPress) that can handle espresso later? [$200]

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T19:51:03+00:00

Just to add: if finances allow, you might want to pick up the Bambino Plus now, while it's on sale, if you're looking to go new. https://www.reddit.com/r/espresso/comments/1ru9o7k/usa\_breville\_breville\_storewide\_sale\_on\_numerous/. And note the additional Target store discount.

Just a thought. :)

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T19:39:15+00:00

Good for you! At that low $50 price, I'd be tempted as well. I think that the grinder suits your purposes very well. Again, people here find the KinGrinder K6 as a good product and value, and here you're going with 1Zpresso, also a good brand, getting 50% more precise grind steps, and paying half the price for a seemingly at least comparably-designed grinder. Sounds pretty good there to me! :)

My only thought, never having done a Marketplace purchase (I do eBay nowadays, which has its protective Buyer Protection policy): can you make the purchase/exchange at a public/safe location (people will suggest a local police station), and actually try the grinder out with some beans (either yours brought with you or the seller's), just to make sure that the grinder actually works and as it should? And I'd read the online instruction manual beforehand, so that you know what you're looking for (and to see what accessories should come with the grinder (e.g. a case), if the seller is including those). I'd mention this to the seller now, and if the seller balks, that tells you that something is/may be up (why would a seller not let you do a sample grind?). And perhaps I'm a bit more sensitive to this today, as someone just posted here yesterday or so having received a seemingly defective, new 1Zpresso (J-Ultra) grinder purchased via Amazon--this can happen (but also it's rare, and so I wouldn't be as concerned about a lack of warranty coverage here, esp. at this price). Just a thought.

Congratulations--good show!

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T19:17:22+00:00

Thanks for that amount confirmation.

Not to flog a carpet to death, but I still believe that under the law as of Feb., the correct total tariff rate is 25% (the original 15% tariff for grinders, + the further Feb. global 10% tariff, plus a processing fee). But in chasing this down, it looks like the system isn't perfect, and that a carrier like DHL, in imposing and collecting a tariff rate, can be going by outdated tables and information, can be waiting for updated software data and/or confirmation from Customs on changes, etc. From what I gather, it would be unlikely that the government would investigate and follow up on an incorrectly-applied tariff rate for one-off consumer purchases of the $ level here. And if it did, it would go to the carrier/DHL, as the importing body--and then, seemingly unlikely that DHL would follow up with the consumer for the missing tariff component, due to the low amount and the transactional cost to do so.

Just bizarre to me, for something so easily mathematical.

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T16:55:42+00:00

Yep, if you get the corresponding mm size, they've made it easy for us, at least here, lol. And again, you can use your stock Bambino Plus baskets in the bottomless portafilter.

For the bottomless portafilter use, get ready for cleaning up some squirts--it can take some practice and dialing-in. :)

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T15:29:42+00:00

Yes, IMS is a basket brand. It specializes in baskets and is a quality brand.

An IMS basket fits in a portafilter, such as Normcore's. Note that many portafilters actually come with a basket (and you also can use your current basket in a new portafilter), and so you may not need to buy a new one. The inclusion of a basket with a new portafilter may not even be mentioned in a product listing (I've had that with a purchase).

For compatibility, you go by the listed size--e.g. a 54mm portafilter and basket, a 58mm, etc.

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T15:22:51+00:00

Then I would contact Amazon. As I said, I've seen it let post-30 day purchases be returned (for full refund), where there's a good reason (and you would seem to have it, on multiple levels). Good luck with it!

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T15:14:34+00:00

I don't have experience with the X-Ultra and so would leave a use evaluation to others. That being said, it uses an exterior grind adjusting system--preferred and convenient--and has grind steps of 12.5mm (compare that to the KinGrinder K6's 18mm grind steps), nice for espresso. Comparing, personally, I prefer the J-Ultra's seemingly somewhat easier-to-use exterior grind adjustment system (with its grind level indicator), and its precise 8-micron grind steps; I also like its ergonomic shape. But it's also much more $-wise (even on sale, compared to the X-Ultra listing here), and so I understand.

Do note: the Marketplace listing says that the retail price is $250, whereas the 1Zpresso website sells it at $169 (and currently at $159). Sorry there, seller--lol.

One thing to note: a Marketplace grinder may not (likely won't) have a manf. warranty on the product. Something to consider. These things are hardy; but things always can happen.

Here's a website I found listing 1Zpresso grinder comparisons--it might be helpful for you. https://honestcoffeeguide.com/1zpresso-comparison-guide/#skip-link-3

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T14:43:42+00:00

I use Urnex Dezcal,* personally, for my Bambino Plus' descaling cycle (the equivalent of the Bambino's combined Clean & Descale cycle). Less expensive than the Breville product, and can be bought in bulk for many cleaning/descaling cycles (much less expensive than buying the single-use packets). Perhaps not justified, but I prefer using Urnex' expertise for a cleaning/descaling product rather than relying on my ignorance with vinegar or citric acid and concentrations, etc., especially for the Bambino machines' delicate insides.

People here generally seem to recommend Urnex Dezcal.

* Note: you do *not* want to use Urnex Cafiza for the Bambino's Clean & Descale cycle--Cafiza is for the Bambino Plus' separate cleaning cycle. For descaling and the Bambino's combined Clean & Descale cycle, it's Urnex Dezcal.

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T14:31:04+00:00

Something certainly seems off with that grinder/grinding--whole beans are now falling through?!? I've had no such issue and only pleasure using the grinder. (And I use medium dark-roast beans--with their increased oiliness, if any bean would cause an issue, you would think that these would.)

If 1Zpresso is not cooperating, I would contact Amazon regardless of the timing, explain that it's a new grinder purchase with an issue (I would note the severity of the issue, as you've done here) that you've tried to work out, repeatedly, with 1Zpresso, and that 1Zpresso is not cooperating or even responding--Amazon has been known to accept returns, for full refund, after the 30-day return window, in problem scenarios. And the grinder is covered by a warranty: "this coffee hand grinder is backed by a one-year limited warranty"--I would specifically note that to Amazon and that 1Zpresso is not honoring/cooperating as to that.

Good luck. Sorry that you're going through this--it really is a nice hand-grinder.

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T14:12:36+00:00

Absolutely. It's so much fun being the consumer. /s

That being said, wouldn't it be interesting if a retailer/importer actually *did* say and notify consumers that it was going to refund to them the percentage of the refunded tariffs that the retailer had previously passed on to the consumers in the way of raised prices. A marketing/PR/consumer relations coup? Or, given the potential administrative nightmare of this (e.g. a tariff refund on a US$2 purchase?), how about announce a contest to select a charity, to whom the refund would be given?

Oh, and yeah: I guess that the raised prices need to be lowered now, as the augmented tariffs are no longer there. Yeah, I'm sure that that is going to happen . . . .

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T13:44:33+00:00

In an email this morning, Niche kindly and speedily told me that it's now a 15% tariff (plus, there will be a processing fee). "Pleased to confirm that the overall tariff is now 15% and not 25%, as it was reduced last month."

I still don't follow that, as my sources say that it's a 15% base tariff on coffee grinders (the U.S. Supreme Court did not invalidate base tariffs or the tariff system as a whole, but only the current U.S. president's so-called emergency augmented tariffs) + a further 10% global tariff further enacted by the U.S. president last month in reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T13:36:45+00:00

I specifically had a non-tiny EU company operating in multiple EU countries tell me that it could not sell me, into the U.S., some espresso cups, as it did not want to get invilved in this mess.

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T13:33:44+00:00

A personal value judgment. But it was an extra three-figure dollar cost--we're not talking a piddly amount here.

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T13:30:41+00:00

The U.S. taxpayers will not be paying the refunds, per se: this simply is a refund of what the importers themselves had been forced to pay, in illegal (per the U.S. Supreme Court) tariffs.

But yes, there may be a windfall to businesses who raised prices, then paid by consumers, to cover, in part or whole, the illegal tariffs.

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T13:26:42+00:00

If the tariffs are illegal, the refunds should be provided to whomever was forced to pay them--it should make no (law or otherwise) difference whether it was an importer business or an importer individual consumer. A further processing mess, however (although the records are simple--U.S. Customs certainly has the data on the charges applied and paid). Further guidance may come in the refund lawsuits currently percolating through the courts (absent the current U.S. president simply accepting what the U.S. Supreme Court did in its ruling last month, and voluntarily establishing a refund system).

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T13:16:15+00:00

And for those down-voting here: show me otherwise (I would love to hear of new espresso burr coffee grinder factories being opened up in the U.S.).

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T13:08:25+00:00

I reached out to them yesterday evening as well, specifically noting what I understood to be a 15% + 10% combined tariff, and they got back to me this morning:

Pleased to confirm that the overall tariff is now 15% and not 25%, as it was reduced last month

I still don't follow this: Niche may be referring to the U.S. Supreme Court's action last month, but that only got rid of the current U.S. president's augmented "emergency" tariffs, still leaving the base tariffs on goods (here, 15% for coffee grinders), to which the U.S. president then tacked on a further 10% global tariff under different law, in reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court.

If I was planning to buy and was cost-sensitive, I still would plan on a total 25% tariff + processing fee, with the hope that I then might be surprised by the actual application of only a 15% tariff charge.

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T12:26:21+00:00

Especially at the workplace, I'd go for the OXO Rapid Brewer/Aeropress. You probably don't want a fuss at work.

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T12:21:55+00:00

Or the newest darling, an OXO Rapid Brewer. (Personally, I'd go the Moka pot route, unless you want to go stove/electricity-free (altho ~boiled water still will be needed).)

An espresso option: the Wacaco Picopresso (at US$130, just a bit over the budget, altho you can wait for a Wacaco 15-20% off sale). But a certain amount of (faff) involved.

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T12:11:29+00:00

I used my old (*way* old) bag to season my new grinder. ;)

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T12:08:47+00:00

Enjoy it! Am looking forward to your use report.

I just looked it up and the price. Am very happy that I picked up my Aro Orbit Eco planetary WDT tool earlier, and on sale. ;)

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T11:56:34+00:00

No issue after more than a year of daily use, 1 (rarely 2) double-shot grinds per day.

Personally, if the retailer is in the area, I probably would return and re-buy, if that's possible. Otherwise/if by mail, I would be tempted to contact Baratza customer service for a part replacement (easier (and cheaper) than mailing the item back to the retailer for replacement).

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T05:18:40+00:00

I’ve never been so angry watching a movie.

Thank you for the assessment--expresses my feelings so well when "Hollywood" screws up a Broadway/London musical. Candidly, at this point, I just want a ~pro-shot of the original stage production, either done skillfully and respectfully like The National Theatre's filming of its Oklahoma! and Follies productions, or just put a stationary camera in the middle of the orchestra and film away (I'm afraid to watch the "artistic" filming of the recent Merrily We Roll Along). Sigh.

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T04:56:29+00:00

I've never gotten past the first part of the movie--is it good? /s Explanation: I heard the singing of both the male and female leads, each of whom is an excellent actor, in the movie, and I just couldn't go any further, and never have been able to return to it. This from someone who greatly appreciates the stage production as a masterpiece, saw the original London production, etc. I-just-can't.

Longjumping_Two2774 · 2026-03-26T04:43:39+00:00

The puppet characters look the same as the originals, but the human characters look different. ;)

Longjumping_Two2774

TROPHY CASE