For a full 18–20 gram V60 brew, grind time clocks in round 30 to 35 seconds, stretching to 40 should you’re coping with a very mild roast. The method feels environment friendly and simple to handle. That very same timing usually applies for different pour-over strategies just like the Kalita Wave and Melitta-style cone brewers.
Cleansing the Q‑Air is simple: unscrew the adjustment dial till it (and the underside burr) slide out, give the burrs a light-weight brush (with your individual brush, since they don’t embody one), and reassemble with out instruments. For those who’ve adjusted the dial, simply you’ll want to double-check your zero level, because the orientation can flip should you’re not cautious.
Due to the combination of supplies on this grinder, static is a matter. You positively wish to use the RDT methodology should you can (spritzing the beans with a light-weight mist of water) to maintain issues manageable. For me, that is a suitable tradeoff contemplating all the nice issues in regards to the grinder.
On the finer finish of its vary, the Q‑Air can attain espresso-adjacent grinds, nevertheless it’s not the grinder’s candy spot. You’ll discover a steep curve of diminishing returns in grind pace and luxury. Grinding at that stage takes effort, and the outcomes, whereas acceptable in a pinch, aren’t what most espresso drinkers would settle into long-term.
The Q‑Air presents spectacular grind precision for its value. Every click on strikes the burrs by a company-claimed 25 microns, providing you with repeatable settings so long as you notice them down. The adjustment dial is inner, which suggests eradicating the grinds bin to make adjustments. It really works, nevertheless it’s a step down in comfort in comparison with the exterior dials discovered on fashions just like the X‑Extremely. That’s a part of the trade-off on this entry-level class.
Whereas it shares some design DNA with 1Zpresso’s higher-end grinders, the Q‑Air just isn’t in the identical class. The J‑Extremely, Ok‑Extremely, and X‑Extremely all function higher burr geometry, stronger development, and way more refined adjustment mechanisms. These fashions will not be simply the corporate’s flagships, they’re additionally benchmarks throughout the complete handbook grinder area proper now.
That mentioned, the Q‑Air performs higher than its value may recommend. It creates extra fines than the flagships, however fewer than comparable grinders just like the Kingrinder P2 (which I examined, face to face). When stacked towards an entry-level electrical grinder just like the Baratza Encore (non-M2), the Q‑Air pulls forward in grind readability and consistency at pour-over and coarser settings.
For a light-weight, low-cost grinder, it holds up properly. It’s simple to make use of, easy to scrub, and genuinely succesful in case your brew methodology stays within the filter to immersion vary.
