1zpresso Q Air Review: My New Travel Grinder?

And when I first pulled the Q Air out of its box, my reaction was not excitement. This small plastic grinder felt both cheap and oddly different from the rest of 1Zpresso’s more premium line-up.

But after weeks of testing, bringing it on trips, and tearing it apart for direct comparisons, this grinder forced me to challenge my preconceived ideas. And for the right person this grinder is actually fantastic. But who is that exactly? Let’s dive into that.

The Q Series Evolution

The Q Air represents 1Zpresso’s most affordable hand grinder to date. The Q series has a slightly confusing history, but I’ll try to simplify it for you.

I’ve been following 1Zpresso from the sidelines pretty much since the beginning. By random chance, I encountered the brand when I went to the annual coffee expo in Taiwan back in 2017. Back then no one had heard about 1Zpresso in the west, but I ended up chatting with the founder and got a strong impression.

(Back then the brand also carried a clever portable espresso maker, besides the grinders. And I think it was actually their main focus – hence the name. But then the grinder division took off… and the rest is history).

One of the first grinders they launched was a tiny travel grinder called the Q Mini. It was a cute little grinder with pentagonal burrs. It later evolved to the Q2 – also a grinder with pentagonal burrs. The burr geometry was a kind of spiral pattern and many other brands employed the same design (notably Helor 101, which was another hyped grinder back then.)

However, in Taiwan and China, the Q2 was available with heptagonal burrs (aka 7-sided burrs). This other version developed an underground cult-following because its burr set was remarkably similar to the Comandante C40, delivering comparable performance at a much lower price.

The Q2 was relaunched internationally several years later, but with a slightly different heptagonal burr set compared to the cult-favorite. At the same time it was renamed from Q2 and back to Q. It’s that new/different burr set that is housed inside the Q Air as well.

So the evolution goes like this: Mini Q → Q2 → Q → Q Air.

Confusing? You bet. (But at least it’s still easier to navigate than the naming convention of SSP burrs)

With the Q Air, 1Zpresso has pushed even further into budget/travel territory, cutting the price with almost 40% compared to regular Q.

Design and Build Quality

The Q Air is similar to the Q2 in many ways, but there are some key differences that are apparent right away. The plastic outer cylinder and catch cup immediately catches the attention.

But where it matters most they’re identical. When I disassembled the Q Air removing the plastic outer cylinder, I was pleased to see that the complete metal frame and steel axle underneath was exactly the same as the classic model.

The aluminum alloy frame holds those excellent heptagonal burrs, ensuring that the particle distribution remains the same. The cost-cutting is limited to just two components: the cylindrical plastic tube that screws over the steel frame and the plastic catch cup. In daily life it feels cheaper.

But it cuts costs, and is also lighter. At just 354 grams, it’s actually remarkably light, and pretty ideal for travel. You can even fit it inside an AeroPress plunger, if you want to save a bit of space in your suitcase.

The plastic feels pretty substantial rather than flimsy. I’d say this is “quality” plastic as weird as it sounds.

The steel components is what matters most. And the axle, bearings, burr set, and adjustment mechanism, match what you’d find in more expensive grinders. This targeted approach to cost reduction makes the budget positioning feel intentional rather than accidental.

I also own the very similar Kingrinder P2, but that grinder appears to have more flimsy plastic that I would worry about. This isn’t really the case here. Compared to the Q Air, the P2 also has lower quality bearings and a straight and less ergonomically pleasing handle. I definitely prefer the Q Air between the two, even if it’s slightly more expensive. That quality is worth paying for when it comes to repeated daily use.

The Q Air has a rather short handle. While contributing to the grinder’s portable footprint, it reduces leverage, making grinding slower compared to other 1Zpresso models.

However, the grinding action is still smooth due to the dual bearing design. And the handle is slightly crooked which helps transmitting force better than a regular, straight one.

If you ask me, it’s a pretty nice grinding experience, given the tiny form factor.

Performance in the Cup

Despite its budget construction, the Q Air produces coffee that consistently surprised me throughout testing. The performance holds its ground against grinders costing significantly more.

Pour-Over: Enjoyable and Different

For pour over and AeroPress brewing, the Q Air is in its right element. Grinding 15 grams takes around 35 seconds, which feels comfortable for daily use.

Taste-wise it does something a bit different from the high-end grinders in the 1Zpresso collection like the K-Ultra. Those grinders have more clarity and acidity, while the Q Air tones this down. In that sense, it’s probably more in line with what someone who enjoys traditional coffee might prefer.

You get more sweetness and a surprisingly big body. When you look at this small grinder, you expect small flavors. But in the cup, it feels quite substantial.

You can still sense the heptagonal family DNA because you do get that sessionable cup profile with some vibrancy, acidity, and pleasing aftertaste. But the sweetness and body are turned up a notch at the expense of some fidelity.

I don’t think the brand has conducted any market demographic analysis, but this is probably a smart compromise, given who are likely to buy a grinder at this price point. Light roast fanatics will want the higher fidelity from the likes of ZP6 and K Ultra, whereas regular folks who are more likely to brew medium roasts, will probably enjoy what the Q Air brings to the table.

When I compared it directly to my original Q2 the differences in the cup were small, but still noticeable.

The original Q2 has a different inner cone design that’s less aggressive. It has a slimmer pre-breaking section, which contributes to a more unimodal grind distribution.

The Q Air has more prominent pre-breakers, which affects both the grinding feel and cup character. Visibly, the differences between the two cone burrs are quite striking, with the Q Air’s being much more aggressive. So no surprise that the flavor is also different.

Pro tip: You can actually easily swap the cone burr from the O.G. Q2 inside the Q Air’s body. Then the performance is pretty much the same as far as I can tell. Grinding speed gets a bit slower, but the flavor emphasis is pushed from body and sweetness and more towards acidity and mid-notes.

Espresso Performance

The Q Air can grind fine enough for espresso quite easily. I found that around half a rotation from zero was the sweet spot for a very fine grind size, around 16 clicks. Most people, depending on their portafilter size and roast degree, will probably be grinding somewhere between 16 to 22 clicks.

It does take a while to grind espresso because the handle is relatively short. You can expect at least a minute for a 16-gram dose, probably in the range of 60 to 75 seconds depending on your particular coffee and roast degree.

Flavor-wise, espresso is pretty mediocre, I don’t think it has much character. It’s passable, like an average shot. A bit acidity-forward, not quite rich and textured like you might want from espresso.

But we’re talking about a budget grinder. A grinder that’s cheaper than a single bag of Panama Geisha coffee. So maybe this is to be expected.

If you’re grinding a darker or medium roast for espresso, it’s a good idea to add a little droplet of water to the beans and shake them around (the Ross Droplet Technique). The plastic catch cup can create a lot of static, so this will make your life easier.

Things to keep in mind

• The small hopper hits you pretty quickly. 16-18 grams is going to be max, so it unsuitable for larger batches or multiple cups. This clearly positions it as a single-serve solution.
• The design is a bit divisive. On my black version, it looks pretty discreet, although not very stylish. In the colorful versions, it looks a bit gaudy, but fun. I can’t help thinking about how it would have looked if 1Zpresso had been able to hit something that matches the color of the metal body that is exposed in the middle. A kind of faux silver grey. That might have been a bit more sleek.
• The plastic catch cup is a magnet for static electricity, so RDT is highly recommended

on a trip?

Since this grinder is clearly designed for travel, I decided to bring it along on a recent trip to Italy to test it in its right element.

So instead of writing my usual “daily use” section, let’s focus on how it was during those weeks abroad. What stood out to me almost immediately was how differently I treated the Q Air compared to my other grinders. Because of its cheaper build and plastic body, I didn’t feel the need to be extra careful with it. Normally, I use a dedicated grinder case and make sure everything is packed securely in my suitcase. But this time, I just tossed it in with the rest of my gear and moved on.

The plastic shell is slightly scratch-resistant, but even if it does pick up some marks, it doesn’t really matter. That gave me a kind of unexpected freedom. In a way, the Q Air felt… liberating. I think that’s part of its charm. You could easily keep your main grinder at home and take this one just for trips.

At first, I did feel like I was missing out a bit. A few times I caught myself thinking, “I should’ve brought the K-Ultra instead.”

But after a couple of days, I settled into a nice rhythm with the Q Air and got more used to it. Its slimmer form factor worked well with the rest of my travel setup, which also included the Munique Tetra Drip and the new Mini Cube scale from MHW-3BOMBER.

So yes, for a minimalist travel kit, it actually makes a lot of sense to bring this one along.

Who Should Consider the Q Air?

The Q Air makes perfect sense for several distinct user groups:

• Coffee-curious folks exploring manual grinding will appreciate that it actually improves the taste of their coffee – not just grinds beans into uneven bits and dust. The jump in quality compared to budget options like the Hario Slim or Porlex Mini is so dramatic, it almost feels unfair to place them in the same category.
• Users seeking a travel grinder that doesn’t sacrifice cup quality will enjoy its lightweight build and compact design. It’s easy to pack in a carry-on, and its performance means you won’t have to settle for subpar coffee on the road.
• For gift-giving, the Q Air hits a sweet spot: impressive performance at an approachable price. The low entry cost reduces the risk of buyer’s remorse, while the real-world capability lets recipients experience how good quality coffee can truly taste.

More serious hobbyists will eventually crave something more substantial. Grinders like the 1Zpresso K-Ultra, Mavo Phantox Pro, or Timemore S3 offer better leverage and a more luxurious grinding experience. While the Q Air works well as a first step into specialty coffee, those who dive deeper into the hobby may soon want to upgrade.

Final Verdict

The 1Zpresso Q Air succeeds by embracing its budget positioning rather than apologizing for it. It looks affordable because it is affordable, yet it performs like equipment that costs significantly more.

If you’re looking for a lightweight grinder that still delivers excellent quality, or you need a budget-friendly option that produces genuinely solid coffee, the Q Air is a no-brainer.