WACACO Exagrind Review: The Picopresso's Pocket Partner
Researched by Netspresso Editorial · Published Oct 24, 2026
Verdict: The Exagrind is a compact, quick hand grinder that reliably hits Picopresso espresso, and it packs smaller than most rivals. Buy it as a travel partner for a WACACO brewer; if the grinder will mostly stay home or feed a 9-bar machine, a 1Zpresso grinds better and adjusts more finely.
Pros
- Grinds a Picopresso double in about one to one and a half minutes, according to three reviewers
- Four reviewers dialled in the Picopresso between 12 and 15 clicks, so there's a known starting point
- Handle folds into the lid, giving a 143 mm package that fits inside an AeroPress Go
- Aluminium body with a dual-bearing shaft; reviewers found no wobble
- Rated for 20 g, but reviewers fitted 22 to 25 g
Cons
- 33-micron clicks are coarse for dialling in a 9-bar espresso machine
- No numbers on the dial: you zero it and count clicks under the catch cup
- Nothing holds the stowed handle in place, so it can come apart in a bag
- In Kyle Rowsell's blind cupping the 1Zpresso JX tasted cleaner and sweeter
- The 2026 Exagrind Pro-E fixes the adjustment but has very little independent testing
This WACACO Exagrind review starts with a naming problem. Search Amazon and you'll find two WACACO grinders with nearly the same name. The original Exagrind (2022) has 60 clicks of 33 microns, set from underneath. The Exagrind Pro-E (June 2026) has an external numbered ring with 207 clicks of 14.5 microns. Both use a 38 mm steel burr. Five of the seven videos we analysed tested the original; the two Pro-E videos are an unboxing and a sponsored first look. So this review covers the original, which our buy buttons link to, and treats the Pro-E as the newer sibling. The top-ranking reviews each come from one tester using the 2022 model. This page adds the click settings five reviewers landed on, the owner complaints in the comments, and what the Pro-E changes.
What Reviewers Agree On
| Aspect | What reviewers found | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Picopresso espresso | Grinds fine enough, and shots came out well on camera | 5 of 5 original-model videos |
| Picopresso setting | Between 12 and 15 clicks from zero. WACACO's manual says 13 to 15 | 5 videos, 4 channels |
| Speed | About a minute (Kyle Rowsell) to a minute and a half (The Nomad Barista, Stuff I Like) for an espresso dose | 3 |
| Stowed handle | Loose. No magnet or clip holds it, so it can come apart in a bag | 3 |
| Adjustment | 33-micron steps work on a hand-pumped Picopresso but feel coarse for machine espresso | 3, plus many commenters |
| Dial markings | None on the original. You zero the burrs and count | 3 |
| Capacity | Rated 20 g. GadgetViper fitted 22 g; The Nomad Barista fitted 25 g of a dense light roast | 2 |
| Build | Machined aluminium body, dual bearings, no shaft play | 3 |
WACACO's specs for the original: 38 mm stainless-steel conical burrs, 60 clicks of 33 microns, an aluminium unibody, a 20 g chamber and a height of 14.3 cm. GadgetViper weighed it at 470 g (a 70 g handle plus a 400 g body). Its manual warns against setting it within five clicks of zero, where the burrs can touch.
Check the Exagrind's price on AmazonExagrind for Espresso: The Picopresso Workflow
The Exagrind was built as a partner for the WACACO Picopresso, and that's where the evidence is strongest. Every original-model video ground for one, and they ended up within three clicks of each other:
| Brewer | Clicks from zero (original Exagrind) | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Picopresso, 18 g double | 12 to 15 | Kyle Rowsell 15, GadgetViper 15, The Nomad Barista 12, Stuff I Like 12 to 14 |
| Picopresso, 12 g single basket | About 2 clicks finer than your double | The Nomad Barista |
| Nanopresso | 16 to 18 | Stuff I Like, The Nomad Barista |
| Pipamoka | 18 to 20 | Stuff I Like, The Nomad Barista |
| Filter, medium-coarse | 25 to 30 | The Nomad Barista, replying to a commenter |
To set it, unscrew the catch cup, turn the adjuster until the burrs just close, then count clicks back out. There are no numbers, so you rely on memory, or on a note in your phone. GadgetViper started at 12, got a slow, over-extracted shot and moved to 15. WACACO's instructions say 13 to 15.
Two reviewers explain why the coarse steps matter less on a Picopresso than on a machine. Kyle Rowsell points out that hand pumping lets you vary flow during the shot, which makes up for the gaps between clicks. META Coffee notes that the Picopresso's tapered basket tolerates a grind that's slightly too coarse. If you land between two clicks, The Nomad Barista's fix is to take the coarser setting and add about half a gram of coffee.
Other tips: tap the grinder to shake off static, preheat the Picopresso, and grind right before brewing. Our coffee grind size chart shows where each method sits.
Exagrind vs 1Zpresso JX and J-Ultra
Kyle Rowsell ran the only head-to-head: a blind cupping against the 1Zpresso JX, with a helper swapping the cups. The two were close. He correctly picked the JX by its extra clarity and a sweeter aftertaste, and described the Exagrind's finish as a little hollow. The JX, with its 48 mm burr, ground an espresso dose in about 45 seconds against roughly a minute for the Exagrind. He'd keep the JX for its build and adjustment, but called the Exagrind an easy buy for Picopresso owners who want something compact.
How the three compare on what matters:
| WACACO Exagrind | 1Zpresso J | 1Zpresso J-Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burr | 38 mm steel | 48 mm steel | 48 mm steel |
| Adjustment | 33 microns per click, internal, unmarked | Internal, about 30 clicks per turn | External, about 8 microns per click |
| Packs small | Best: handle stows in the lid | Larger | Larger |
| Best at | Picopresso and travel | Filter and travel | Espresso at home or on a lever machine |
If the grinder will live on a counter next to an espresso machine, buy a 1Zpresso. Our espresso grinder guide explains why the J-Ultra's 8-micron clicks suit machines. If it's going in a backpack with a Picopresso, the Exagrind's size wins. Commenters under three videos also suggested Kingrinder's K-series and the 1Zpresso Q2 as alternatives at similar money, but none of the reviewers tested those against it.
Compare the 1Zpresso J-Ultra on AmazonWhat About the Exagrind Pro-E?
WACACO launched the Pro-E in June 2026 and sells it alongside the original. On paper it fixes the two biggest complaints: an external ring with printed numbers and full-rotation markers, and steps of 14.5 microns, less than half the original's. META Coffee, a coffee-gear retailer that says it never stocked the original because of its 33-micron steps, put the Pro-E in the same bracket as Kingrinder's 13 to 16 microns. It keeps the 38 mm burr and the fold-in handle. Metel Coffee, who got a unit from AliExpress, thought the handle seemed to stay put magnetically.
Metel's test is the only one with grinding and brewing. She liked how easily it turned at every setting and how her pour-overs tasted, but she saw boulders mixed with fines from about 90 clicks up. She also found that 20 g filled the chamber, and re-zeroing it after a teardown took her about an hour. Her unit weighed 549 g. WACACO's chart for the Pro-E puts the Picopresso at 46 to 50 clicks, so original-model settings don't carry over.
On paper the Pro-E is the better design. Nobody has yet compared the two in the cup.
What Else You Need to Buy
- A brewer. The Exagrind makes most sense with a WACACO espresso maker. The Picopresso is the one it was designed around, and the Nanopresso and Pipamoka work with it too. Our portable espresso maker roundup compares the options.
- A scale. Every reviewer weighed the dose. GadgetViper paired it with WACACO's Exagram; any 0.1 g pocket scale works.
- Fresh whole beans. The Nomad Barista and GadgetViper both stress that freshness matters as much as the grind on a Picopresso.
- A better brush. META Coffee found the included brush short and stiff and suggests a cheap paintbrush.
- An elastic band or a small bag. Stuff I Like wraps a band around it for travel. The Nomad Barista keeps it in a drawstring bag, and one ships in the box.
Owner-Reported Problems
Comment sections here are small, so most of these come from one or two owners. Treat them as warnings, not patterns:
- Loose handle in storage. The one complaint that recurs. Kyle Rowsell and Stuff I Like both wanted a magnet, and The Nomad Barista agreed in his replies that nothing holds it. META Coffee, looking at the Pro-E, found the same handle solid in use but still disliked the design.
- No numbers on the dial. Commenters under two videos called it a mistake. The Pro-E adds them.
- Too coarse for machine espresso. One long, well-liked comment argues 33 microns is a poor step size for an espresso grinder and says WACACO couldn't explain the figure. Another owner called the grind inconsistent and too coarse for espresso.
- Durability. Stuff I Like's creator says the lid cracks easily and he has glued his several times. One owner reported the click setting working loose. Another said the grinder catches mid-turn, and one said the silicone sleeve slides up while grinding.
- The other side. A deckhand wrote that he used his Exagrind and Picopresso daily at sea for a year without issues. Another owner, who also has a 1Zpresso Q2, rated it a better Picopresso match.
The Amazon listing for the original states a two-year warranty, so grind several doses at your usual setting early on.
As a Gift
The Exagrind sells for under $100, and it suits:
- Someone who already owns a Picopresso, Nanopresso or Pipamoka and grinds with a cheap blade grinder or buys pre-ground.
- Campers, van travellers and frequent flyers. It packs smaller than a 1Zpresso and fits inside an AeroPress Go (not the original AeroPress), per GadgetViper.
- People who like matching kit. Kyle Rowsell noted it shares the Picopresso's grip and knurled aluminium.
Skip it for:
- Anyone with a home espresso machine, who'll want finer steps. A 1Zpresso J-Ultra is a better gift.
- Someone with arthritis or little patience, who'll be cranking for over a minute per espresso.
- Anyone who wants a dial they can read. Consider the Pro-E, with the caveat above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the WACACO Exagrind good for espresso?
For a Picopresso or Nanopresso, yes. Four reviewers made good shots with it between 12 and 15 clicks. For a 9-bar machine, the 33-micron steps make dialling in harder, as Kyle Rowsell and META Coffee both pointed out.
What Exagrind setting should I use for the Picopresso?
Start at 13 clicks from zero for an 18 g double and adjust one click at a time. Reviewers settled between 12 and 15. On the Pro-E, WACACO's chart says 46 to 50.
Exagrind vs 1Zpresso: which should I buy?
For travel with a WACACO brewer, the Exagrind, because it packs smaller. For home espresso or the best cup, a 1Zpresso. Kyle Rowsell picked the JX in a blind cupping and preferred its adjustment.
How much coffee does the Exagrind hold?
WACACO says 20 g. GadgetViper fitted 22 g and The Nomad Barista 25 g of a dense light roast.
Is the Exagrind good for pour-over?
The Nomad Barista uses 25 to 30 clicks for medium-coarse filter. Kyle Rowsell's cupping found a clean, sweet cup with high clarity, though slightly behind the JX.
What's the difference between the Exagrind and the Exagrind Pro-E?
The Pro-E has an external numbered ring and 207 clicks of 14.5 microns, against the original's unmarked 60 clicks of 33 microns. Both use a 38 mm burr. The Pro-E has had far less independent testing.
WACACO Exagrind Review Verdict
Buy the Exagrind if you own a Picopresso or another WACACO brewer and want a grinder that packs small, grinds an espresso dose in about a minute, and has a well-established setting range. Skip it if the grinder will mostly sit next to an espresso machine at home. A 1Zpresso adjusts more finely, and in the one blind test it made a cleaner cup. Budget for an elastic band for the loose handle. Our editorial score is 3.7 out of 5.
See the Exagrind on AmazonHow We Reviewed
Netspresso did not test the Exagrind in-house. We transcribed seven YouTube videos from six channels and read the comments under them, noting each reviewer's settings, timings and complaints. Usable independent testing is thin. Only three channels tested the original Exagrind without a stated relationship with WACACO: Kyle Rowsell, GadgetViper and Stuff I Like. GadgetViper links to WACACO with an affiliate code, and Stuff I Like's video is a short first look. We gave less weight to The Nomad Barista, who tested WACACO prototypes before launch and is described by an owner as a WACACO ambassador. META Coffee, a retailer that stocks the Pro-E, also got less weight, as did Metel Coffee, whose Pro-E was provided by AliExpress. We left out WACACO's own channel and one video that ground instant coffee instead of beans. Specs come from WACACO's product pages and the Amazon listings. Claims made by a single source are credited to that source.
Sources
- Kyle Rowsell: EXAGRIND - The budget grinder you didn't know existed
- The Nomad Barista: The Wacaco EXAGRIND - HAND GRIND Your Espresso (Picopresso)
- The Nomad Barista: Reviewing the ENTIRE WACACO RANGE (and Picopresso Workflow)
- GadgetViper: Exagrind Manual Coffee Grinder Review with the Picopresso + Exagram Scales
- Stuff I Like: Unboxing and quick thoughts on the Wacaco Exagrind
- META Coffee: Wacaco Exagrind Pro-E Manual Grinder Unboxing and First Thoughts
- Metel Coffee: Exagrind Pro-E grind test and teardown (Japanese)
- WACACO: Exagrind product page and Exagrind Pro-E product page