The Z1 takes 64mm flat burrs. Five of our six sets are blind burrs that mount with the system your Z1 ships with, and the Mazzer 233M is a traditional set that mounts with screws. Burr swaps take minutes, so many owners keep two sets and switch between them. Here is how our options compare, from most clarity to most texture.
At a glance
| Burr | Best for | Taste | Roast level |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSP Unimodal Brew (UMV1) | Pour over only | Light body, highest clarity, tea-like | Light |
| SSP Lab Sweet V2 (CV2) | Pour over | Medium body, sweet, rounded | Light, medium |
| SSP Multipurpose V2 (MPV2) | Pour over and modern espresso | Light body, bright, high clarity | Light |
| SSP Lab Sweet V3 (CV3) | Pour over and modern espresso | Juicy, complex, balanced | Light to medium |
| SSP High Uniformity (HU) | Espresso | Full body with good flavor separation | Light, medium |
| Mazzer 233M | Traditional espresso | Full-bodied, velvety, chocolate | All, best with medium-dark |
SSP Unimodal Brew (UMV1)
Designed for filter coffee. Minimal fines and a tight particle distribution give a crisp, vibrant, tea-like cup with maximum clarity and a sharp finish.
Great for: light roast pour over when you want the most clarity the Z1 can give.
Keep in mind: UMV1 is not made for espresso.
SSP Lab Sweet V2 (CV2)
A pour over focused burr that sits between HU and MPV2. Expect well-rounded, body-forward cups with extra sweetness and moderate flavor separation. It shines with processed coffees.
Great for: pour over drinkers who value sweetness and body over sharp acidity.
Keep in mind: the CV2 is challenging to build pressure on and may not build full pressure on a 9 bar espresso machine. For espresso, choose HU or CV3. CV2 is a cast burr with a Silver Knight coating, so it takes about 5kg of coffee to fully season.
SSP Multipurpose V2 (MPV2)
A true all-purpose set. Pour over is bright with high clarity and a bit more texture than UMV1, and it handles processed coffees well. Espresso is intense and textured once you find the right setting.
Great for: light roast drinkers who want acidity and clarity in pour over, plus modern espresso.
Keep in mind: the espresso dial-in window is narrow, and shots can turn bitter if over-extracted.
SSP Lab Sweet V3 (CV3)
A multipurpose set that brings clarity, sweetness, and balance to both pour over and espresso. Pour over is sweet and well-rounded with medium texture. Espresso is balanced with extra sweetness and mellow acidity.
Great for: modern espresso and pour over from one set, with light to medium roasts.
Keep in mind: CV3 is a little trickier to dial in for espresso than HU, and it is not the pick for a heavy, traditional shot. As a cast burr, it takes about 5kg of coffee to fully season.
SSP High Uniformity (HU)
Our flagship Z1 espresso burr. HU reliably delivers full-bodied shots with good flavor separation and works for both traditional and modern espresso.
Great for: most Z1 espresso drinkers, and anyone unsure where to start.
Keep in mind: HU is not a pour over burr. It can show a false chirp while you zero, and it can clog while it seasons. See Troubleshooting: False Chirp and Zero Point Shift on the Z1 and Troubleshooting: HU Burrs Clogging While They Season (Z1).
Mazzer 233M
Unapologetically traditional espresso. Syrupy, velvety, body-forward shots that bring out chocolate and caramel, with sweetness over flavor separation. Great with darker roasts and decaf.
Great for: medium-dark and dark roast drinkers who want a classic, heavy shot.
Keep in mind: the 233M mounts with screws and the foam burr pads from your service kit instead of blind burr pins. It is not the pick for light roasts or clarity.
How to choose
| If you mostly want | Choose |
|---|---|
| Espresso and you are not sure where to start | HU |
| Traditional, heavy, chocolatey shots or dark roasts | Mazzer 233M |
| Modern espresso with sweetness and clarity | CV3 |
| One set for both espresso and pour over | CV3 for a more forgiving cup, or MPV2 for a brighter one |
| Pour over with maximum clarity | UMV1 |
| Pour over with light, washed coffees | MPV2 |
| Pour over with sweetness and body, or processed coffees | CV2 |
| Two sets to cover everything | HU plus UMV1, or HU plus MPV2 |
After you install new burrs
Set your zero point before grinding, and never run the grinder with the burrs touching. New burrs also take time to season: coated burrs usually settle within 1 to 2kg of coffee, and cast burrs like CV2 and CV3 take closer to 5kg. See Changing Burrs on Your Z1, Setting the Zero Point on Your Z1, Seasoning the Burrs on Your Z1, and Switching Between Espresso and Filter on Your Z1.
Still deciding? Email info@zerno.co with what you brew and the roasts you like, and we will be happy to help you pick.