‎zeroHero ‎MDJ-9S Manual Grinder - Review 🏆

The zeroHero MDJ-9S is a manual burr coffee grinder designed for home use. As a manual grinder, the zeroHero MDJ-9S uses a hand crank to power the burrs instead of electricity. This makes it a quiet, portable, and energy-efficient option for grinding coffee beans.

The MDJ-9S features stainless steel conical burrs that crush and grind the beans to a consistent size. Conical burrs are known for minimizing friction and heat buildup during grinding, helping preserve the beans' flavors and aromas. The burrs have a dual bearing mounting for smooth operation when turning the crank.

Overall, the zeroHero MDJ-9S provides a simple yet effective manual grinding solution for coffee enthusiasts who want control over grind size. Its solid build and quality burrs make it suitable for daily home use.

Design & Build Quality

The zeroHero MDJ-9S has a sturdy stainless steel construction that feels solid and durable. The metal parts have a brushed finish that gives it an elegant, minimalist look that would suit any kitchen décor.

The handle and crank are also metal and turn smoothly without any wobble. The clear grounds catcher is made of thick plastic that should withstand regular use. Overall, the materials and finish give an impression of quality craftsmanship.

Some reviewers mentioned the grounds catcher was a tight fit and required a bit of force to attach properly. But this could be seen as a good thing as it ensures a secure fit.

Aesthetically, the MDJ-9S has a simple, unfussy design that looks smart. The stainless steel paired with the clear plastic catcher gives it a modern feel. While manual grinders tend to have a vintage look, this one has more of a contemporary style.

Grind Settings

The MDJ-9S offers a wide range of grind size adjustability, from fine espresso to coarse French Press, making it suitable for brewing various coffee types. The grind settings are controlled by an adjustable hopper on top, allowing you to easily dial in the size you need.

Inside the hopper, a helical burr mechanism crushes the beans to your desired texture. Adjusting the inner burr closer or farther from the outer burr changes the gap between them, resulting in finer or coarser grounds. The smooth helical shape promotes consistency by feeding the beans through evenly.

Turning the hopper adjusts in precise increments, letting you hone in on the optimal grind size. The settings positively click into place, so you can clearly feel each adjustment. While not as stepless as high-end electric grinders, the MDJ-9S offers more than enough range and precision for most manual brewing methods.

During grinding, the burrs produce remarkably consistent particle sizes. This uniformity allows for proper flavor extraction, increasing the quality and taste of your brewed coffee. The grounds have only minimal fines and boulders compared to other manual grinders. Overall, the MDJ-9S delivers exceptional grind quality for the price.

Grinding Performance

The MDJ-9S offers good grinding performance for a manual coffee grinder. The handle crank allows you to grind at a moderate pace without too much effort. It won't grind as fast as an electric grinder, but is quicker than some other manual models.

The hopper holds around 60g of whole beans, which is decent capacity for a manual grinder. This is enough to make 2-3 cups of coffee in one go. You can grind approximately 30g of coffee beans on each full rotation of the handle. So filling the hopper will let you get through a couple of grinding sessions before needing to refill.

Overall, the grinding speed and capacity is reasonable for a small manual coffee grinder. It provides fresh grounds efficiently while keeping the process simple. The grind performance meets expectations for personal use.

Grounds Catcher

The zeroHero MDJ-9S manual coffee grinder comes with a grounds catcher that attaches magnetically to the bottom of the grinder. This is a really handy feature as it neatly collects all the coffee grounds as you grind, preventing mess.

The grounds catcher has a generous capacity, easily collecting the grounds from grinding enough beans for 4-6 cups of coffee. It's made from thick clear plastic so you can clearly see when it needs emptying. The strong magnets keep it securely attached while grinding, so there's no risk of it falling off.

Removing the grounds catcher is very easy thanks to the finger slots on either side. You simply hold it by the slots and gently pull down to detach from the magnets. The grounds then tip out cleanly for disposal. It's quick and fuss-free to empty and reattach between grinding sessions.

Overall, the grounds catcher is a practical addition that makes using the manual grinder much tidier. No more loose grounds scattering everywhere!

Cleaning & Maintenance

The MDJ-9S is designed for easy cleaning and maintenance. The grinder comes apart into several components for thorough cleaning.

The grounds catcher, hopper, and handle are all removable and dishwasher safe. The stainless steel burrs can be brushed clean or rinsed under running water. The grounds catcher even includes a cleaning brush for removing coffee particles between uses.

Disassembling the grinder takes just a few seconds. Simply remove the hopper and grounds catcher, then detach the handle. The burr assembly slides right out for inspection and cleaning. Everything snaps back into place and secures with the center screw for reassembly.

Overall, the process is straightforward and the dishwasher-safe parts make cleanup a breeze. The quick disassembly also allows you to keep the grinding mechanism in top shape by periodically cleaning out any residue.

Value for Money

The zeroHero MDJ-9S manual coffee grinder offers excellent value for money given its build quality and performance. At around £25-30, it is very competitively priced compared to similar manual coffee grinders.

Most comparable hand grinders fall in the £40-60 price range, so the zeroHero is around 30-50% cheaper. Despite the lower price tag, it doesn't compromise on quality or grind consistency. The ceramic conical burrs are on par with more expensive models.

The zeroHero also comes with an impressive 3 year warranty. Most manual grinders only include a 1-2 year warranty, so the extra year of coverage is a nice bonus. It provides peace of mind that the grinder will hold up, even with daily use.

Overall, for the price you would be hard pressed to find a better performing and better built manual coffee grinder. The zeroHero delivers tremendous value, outshining many pricier competitors. It's an affordable option without sacrificing quality.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• High quality stainless steel construction for durability and longevity. The ceramic conical burrs should stay sharp for years of daily use.

• Precise grind size adjustment from fine espresso to coarse French Press with 18 click settings. Great for dialing in your preferred grind.

• Very efficient grinding with little effort required thanks to the quality burrs and gears. Much easier than other manual grinders.

• Produces very consistent grounds for optimal flavor extraction. Grounds have minimal fines or boulders.

• Built-in grounds catcher works well to contain mess. The grounds stay inside the catcher when removing the receptacle.

Cons

• Fairly small capacity - can only grind enough for 1-2 cups at a time. Not ideal for making large batches.

• Grounds catcher has a small opening which can cause some grounds to get backed up during grinding.

• No markings on the grind adjustment dial to indicate grind size. You have to dial it in by feel and memory.

• At over £50, it's more expensive than some other comparable manual grinders. The premium build quality comes at a price.

Who It's For

The zeroHero manual coffee grinder is a great option for beginner coffee enthusiasts or travelers who want a portable grinder.

Good for Beginners

This manual grinder is very approachable for anyone new to home coffee brewing. The hand crank mechanism is easy to operate and gives you full control over the grind size and grinding process. The settings clearly mark grind sizes from fine to coarse, making it straightforward to achieve the right grind for different brew methods. The affordable price point and simple design mean beginners can start experimenting with grinding their own beans without a big investment.

Travelers

Frequent travelers will appreciate how lightweight and compact the zeroHero is. Just weighing 0.33kg, it packs down small so you can easily toss it in a bag or suitcase. The hand crank operation means you don't need electricity to use it. So you can freshly grind beans wherever you are, whether in a hotel room, campsite, or Airbnb. The grounds catcher also minimizes mess while grinding on the go. So this manual grinder is very portable and convenient for travel.

The Verdict

Overall, I'd give the zeroHero MDJ-9S manual coffee grinder 4 out of 5 stars.

It's a great option for anyone looking for an affordable and portable manual coffee grinder. The stainless steel construction makes it durable and easy to clean. It has solid grind consistency across its 18 grind settings, though the finest espresso grinds can be a bit inconsistent. The handle is comfortable and grinding is relatively easy, though it can be tiring for large batches of coffee.

The grounds catcher works well to minimize mess. And the grinder is small enough to easily fit in bags or suitcases for travel. The grounds bin could be a bit bigger, but it's sufficient for most uses.

I'd recommend the zeroHero MDJ-9S for:

• Travelers who want a portable grinder
• Anyone on a budget looking for solid performance
• Those who only grind small batches of coffee at a time
• People who want an easy-to-use and clean manual grinder

It's not ideal for frequent use or large batch grinding, where an electric burr grinder would be better suited. But overall, it's a great manual grinder for the price that delivers consistent grinds for brewing tasty coffee.