Coffee grinder __ recommendations please

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Just been trawling ebay … which reminds me why I asked for recommendations !

This little thing appears to tick a lot of my specification boxes : **LINK**.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352989608878

I wonder if it’s actually any good ?

MichaelG.

[Trevor Drabble 1Participant @trevordrabble1]

Boundary Mills off Sheffield Parkway used to sell various grinders . May be of interest if you are within reasonable travelling distance.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

I recently inherited a Trösser rather like this from my mother, I think she purchased it when we lived in Germany about 1964. As a youngster it was good fun grinding the beans although I was not a coffee drinker as a child. I shall have to give it a clean up and give it a try with some beans, it had an adjustment for the grind preference. It has not been used for many years but it used to have a lovely coffee aroma.

Mike

[OldMetallerParticipant @oldmetaller]

Michael, I've used one of these for donkey's years, the grind is so fine I have to scrape it out with a spoon. The sticky-uppy thing is a cleaning brush. The only time it fails is when a bean gets stuck in the microswitch, a quick prod with a table knife soon clears it. But switch off first, obviously.

John.  [Sorry I can't post as a hyperlink]

https://www.delonghi.com/en-gb/kg49-kg-series-grinder/p/KG49?_gl=1*fdap99*_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvZCZBhCiARIsAPXbajvxKxf4b8lFlynGamf6CzZCTEVTbwq5bZJ0N1AeQJWgHPJXuY4HdfwaAlMREALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Edited By OldMetaller on 17/09/2022 05:28:47

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Posted by Nealeb on 16/09/2022 20:53:19:

I use a similar Dualit to Andy, again with an espresso machine. I found the spinning blade grinder to be too unpredictable – the Dualit is a "press the button and it's done" thing. And anyway, I broke the blade trying to grind something too hard for it. Must admit, though, I'm not really a coffee gourmand – just someone who drinks a lot of the stuff!

On a related topic – I have a coffee plant in my hall that is absolutely covered in coffee berries, but I have no idea when they are supposed to be picked. Would like to brew my own-grown and roasted coffee at least once, just to say I had done it!

When to pick coffee cherries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D8zuY7W1QY&t=3s

Well done on successfully germinating and growing a plant UK.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by OldMetaller on 17/09/2022 05:26:49:

Michael, I've used one of these for donkey's years, the grind is so fine I have to scrape it out with a spoon. The sticky-uppy thing is a cleaning brush. The only time it fails is when a bean gets stuck in the microswitch, a quick prod with a table knife soon clears it. But switch off first, obviously.

John. [Sorry I can't post as a hyperlink]

https://www.delonghi.com/en-gb/kg49-kg-series-grinder/p/KG49 < et seq >

.

Thanks for : **LINK**

https://www.delonghi.com/en-gb/kg49-kg-series-grinder/p/KG49

Note: the rest of that URL is just tracking how you arrived there

Interesting to see a blade-type grinder that’s adjustable … how does that work ?

Edit: __ it appears to be time based : https://www.delonghi.com/medias/KG49-170556

 

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 17/09/2022 09:51:12

[HowiParticipant @howi]

to anyone thinking of getting a hand grinder, don't! unless you have muscles like Tarzan.

It takes so long to get a fine grind, I have run out of desire for a coffee and want something stronger!!!!

They are a real pain in the a**e to use and need constant adjustment.

Go elextric unless you are a glutton for punishment.

The oither cheaper alternative of course is to buy the coffee already ground……..

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Drat … the link in my last edit doesn’t work

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Howi on 17/09/2022 09:40:33:

[…]

The oither cheaper alternative of course is to buy the coffee already ground……..

.… and drinking water is cheaper still

But this was a simple technical question on an engineering forum

MichaelG.

[Andy StopfordParticipant @andystopford50521]

Posted by Nealeb on 16/09/2022 20:53:19:

I use a similar Dualit to Andy, again with an espresso machine. I found the spinning blade grinder to be too unpredictable – the Dualit is a "press the button and it's done" thing. And anyway, I broke the blade trying to grind something too hard for it. Must admit, though, I'm not really a coffee gourmand – just someone who drinks a lot of the stuff!

Mine is the conical burr type – much more durable than the spinning blade kind; herewith some pics:

I'll have to try growing a coffee bush, don't think I'll bother with the civets though (still, don't knock it till you've tried it).

By the way, bought coffee is never ground fine enough for commercial espresso machines – the spring generates pressures of 9 – 10 bar when the handle is released, enough to blast the water straight through coarse ground coffee. To get optimal results you have to adjust the grind for individual samples of beans, and be ready to whip the cup out from under the spout before the bitter "tails" come through at the end, i.e. you have to be geeky about it, but then if you weren't, you wouldn't be reading this forum…

Edited By Andy Stopford on 17/09/2022 17:11:31

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Great … thanks for taking the trouble, Andy

Incidentally, that little hand-cranked one that I linked has ceramic conical burr

… and there are burr sets on ebay, from China for just over £4

albeit everything is of unknown quality.

MichaelG.

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

C'mon guys and gals. This is an engineering forum. Surely the answer is a pair of good quality fine knurling wheels and a little ingenuity!

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Coffee grinders are very popular here in France. Starting at about £12 for hand wound models up to silly money. This looks like a good compact model at a good price:

Coffee grinder at amazon.fr

Russell

[Robin GrahamParticipant @robingraham42208]

The Spong machine (whilst not compact perhaps) does have lugs which allow it to be attached to the wall, if you have space.

I think they can still be had on eBay &c at reasonable prices. Mine, although ancient, certainly produces a finer and more consistent grind than I've been able to achieve with spinning blade coffee grinders.

For grinding spices (because I don't want to pollute the Spong) I have have the blade grinder attachment for my Bamix stick blender. For an extra £15 (!) you can buy the 'powder disc' which is just a piece of plastic which sits above the blades:

I was sceptical but it does work – even tough stuff like coriander seed is reduced to a powder rather than just bouncing off the blades, So maybe that's an engineering answer to improving the performance of blade grinders – constrain the 'free volume' in which the seeds/beans have to move about. I suppose that's why burr grinders work better – they can't escape.

Robin.

[OldMetallerParticipant @oldmetaller]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 17/09/2022 09:11:44:Edit: __ it appears to be time based : **LINK**

 

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 17/09/2022 09:51:12

It is time-based Michael- you twist the base [you need wrists of steel to do this] and set the little red pointer, allegedly for the number of coffee cups you wish to fill. I leave it permanently on 8, as I am a bit of a coffee junkie.

John.

Edit: I've no idea why I am whispering. 

 

Edited By OldMetaller on 18/09/2022 08:33:24

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Russell … Thanks for another budget candidate with the right features

[ difficult to know how its performance would compare with the one I linked ]
.

Robin … I had never seen that disc before … your hypothesis seems good to me [it confines the ‘grindee’ into a smaller space, where the blade is more likely to hit it] … seems an excellent idea for use with appropriate quantities.

I lust after a wall-mounted Spong; but there is even less available wall space than work-top space in this little galley kitchen.

I hoped I had posed a very simple question, which would produce an obvious winner … but reality is more complicated than that. The strong consensus is that grinders work better than spinning blades, so I will probably buy a new little hand-cranked one for now [as proof of concept] and keep an eye open for ‘perfection at an affordable price’

Thanks all … I think we’ve done this

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by OldMetaller on 18/09/2022 08:32:11:

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 17/09/2022 09:11:44:Edit: __ it appears to be time based : **LINK**

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 17/09/2022 09:51:12

It is time-based Michael- you twist the base [you need wrists of steel to do this] and set the little red pointer, allegedly for the number of coffee cups you wish to fill. I leave it permanently on 8, as I am a bit of a coffee junkie.

John.

Edit: I've no idea why I am whispering.

Edited By OldMetaller on 18/09/2022 08:33:24

.

You are whispering because you continued typing directly after the footnote in my post, and the formatting then gets carried forward.

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

PostScript :

Here’s a nice tribute page to the Spong coffee grinders: **LINK**

https://www.home-barista.com/grinders/spong-coffee-mills-grinder-for-23rd-century-t16165.html

MichaelG.

.

Yes, I probably will somehow find/make enough wall-space if a good example turns-up

[HowiParticipant @howi]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 17/09/2022 10:34:44:

Posted by Howi on 17/09/2022 09:40:33:

[…]

The oither cheaper alternative of course is to buy the coffee already ground……..

.… and drinking water is cheaper still

But this was a simple technical question on an engineering forum

MichaelG.

sometimes the simple questions only require simple answers!

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Howi on 18/09/2022 15:02:42:

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 17/09/2022 10:34:44:

Posted by Howi on 17/09/2022 09:40:33:

[…]

The oither cheaper alternative of course is to buy the coffee already ground……..

 

.… and drinking water is cheaper still

But this was a simple technical question on an engineering forum

MichaelG.

sometimes the simple questions only require simple answers!

.

If I wanted ‘lifestyle’ or ‘financial’ advice, I would have asked elsewhere.

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 18/09/2022 15:50:10

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

MichaelG,

I’ve been using my Krups GVX2 grinder for years now and find it perfect.

It’s sat on a piece of foam that allows me to give it a shake to get recalcitrant beans to head for the grinding mill.

Geoff – Insomnia strikes again grr!

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Thanks for the ‘review’ Geoff … that’s definitely one on my list of candidates

Incidentally; those who are actually interested in the mechanics of grinding coffee may like to admire the CNC-milled stainless-steel burrs that are currently advertised on ebay.

Now that the ceramic burrs are so common, it was a surprise to see these little beauties.

[ Mr Turbine Guy might be impressed ]

MichaelG.

.

There would be no point inserting a link here, but anyone interested can search for:

CNC Stainless Steel Burr Mill Hand Coffee Grinder Manual Coffee Grinder Plate

or

Manual Burr Coffee Grinder, Coarseness Settings CNC Stainless Steel Burr Mill

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 19/09/2022 07:42:03

[lfoggyParticipant @lfoggy]

There is a sizable community of coffee enthusiasts out there with their own forums and You Tube channels. They will offer endless advice given half a chance.

My question is what type of coffee do you want to make? Filter coffee and caffetiere coffee are much less sensitive to grind quality, and an inexpensive burr grinder like the Dualit will work fine. If you want to make espresso you are in completely different territory. Espresso is very sensitive to the size, quality and consistency of the grind. Believe it or not studies using electron microspcopy have been done which describe the shape and quality of coffee grinds necessary for espresso. Bad machines crush and tear the beans, good machines grind into uniform undistorted particles. Machines like the Dualit will not do decent coffee beans justice and you will never be able to achieve the exquisite results possible with a better grinder. A good starting point for espresso is the Sage Smart Grinder Pro available from John Lewis. I use a Rocket Fausto which is pretty good.

Coffee enthusists will say that the grinder is more important than the espresso machine…..

Edited By lfoggy on 19/09/2022 16:04:13

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by lfoggy on 19/09/2022 16:01:08:

My question is what type of coffee do you want to make?

.

… and my pre-emptive answer to that [which appeared to shock some] was given on page_1

MichaelG.

.

P.S. __ When BAe was moving into Tolouse, I went over for a couple of weeks ; the ‘canteen’ was superb and had a Gaggia machine the size of my kitchen. The guys there introduced me to Serré 

Ref. https://garconcoffee.com/coffeedetail.php?item=3&id=1

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 19/09/2022 16:42:20

[Martin Dilly 2Participant @martindilly2]

+1 for Andy and Nealab. I use a Dualit for espresso as well and it seems fine. As somebody mentioned earlier, blade grinders seem to produce more heat and thus a change of taste in the resultant grind. The Dualit has a multiple grind setting and can also be adjusted to give whatever portion size you want. The 'footprint' is only about 5 inches square. Not sure of the current cost but mine was about 50 quid maybe 7-8 years ago.

[Author]

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