Coffee grinder __ recommendations please

[lfoggyParticipant @lfoggy]

The guys there introduced me to Serré

If you like that you need to try a Macchiato. You will need to get yourself an espresso machine though….

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by lfoggy on 19/09/2022 20:53:09:

The guys there introduced me to Serré

If you like that you need to try a Macchiato. You will need to get yourself an espresso machine though….

.

Thanks for the thought … That was a new one on me: but I don’t use Milk

MichaelG.

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

MichaelG,

Let us know what you decide.

I was introduced to French coffee when I worked for Merlin Gerin, Grenoble in the early ‘70s.

Steve Gibson on coffee and grinders is interesting.

I’m a percolator man myself.

Geoff – Mowed lawn today

Edited By OuBallie on 20/09/2022 19:35:00

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I will, Geoff … currently tempted by some Spongs on ebay, although I really don’t have the room for one.

MichaelG.

.

P. S.  __ on the subject of ‘makers’ rather than ‘grinders’

“When I were young” I used a lovely old Cona

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 20/09/2022 19:53:41

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

[ UPDATE ]

I have just purchased a tidy-looking example of the Salter version of the Spong No 1

… here’s hoping

MichaelG.

.

Quote from Grace’s Guide:

By the late 1970s, Spong and Co were experiencing mixed fortunes

1980 With falling sales of mechanical kitchen equipment, the hardware section of the company was sold off to Salter Housewares Ltd. Salter Housewares Ltd continued production of some key Spong products, such as the mincer and coffee grinder, but these were eventually phased out and production has now ceased.

 

[ FootNote ] 

I had never seen the innards of the Robert Welch version before:

https://wildcardcuriosities.com/2021/01/23/robert-welch-designed-spong-coffee-grinder/

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 20/09/2022 22:49:08

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 20/09/2022 23:26:10

[Robin GrahamParticipant @robingraham42208]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 20/09/2022 22:38:21:

[ UPDATE ]

I have just purchased a tidy-looking example of the Salter version of the Spong No 1

… here’s hoping

MichaelG.

Link not live for me – for a horrible moment I thought that you had succumbed to the lure of some ghastly plastic imitation (Salter aren't what they were) but a moment with Grace's guide reassured me. I have the No 1 and have never had any problem with fatigue grinding enough for a cafetière. About 30g for a 350ml cafetière in my case, but I like it strong!

Robin

Edit – posted before your ref to Grace's appeared! R,

Edited By Robin Graham on 20/09/2022 23:08:32

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Sorry, Robin … the underlining of Salter version was not intended as a hyperlink, it was just for emphasis.

MichaelG.

.

A masterly updating by the pattern-maker:

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 20/09/2022 23:38:51

[Colin WhittakerParticipant @colinwhittaker20544]

I use a cheap 400W chinese grinder daily. This model works well for around 3+ years and then I switch to my spare and order a replacement. For coffee making I add some star anise to spice things up. For bread making I grind up flax speeds (not a job for a lightweight motor) and add to the dough.

There are cheaper and lower powered coffee grinders but I've found them to be a false economy.

Take care all.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Well …

The Salter [née Spong] No.1 arrived safely today, and gives every appearance of never having met a Coffee Bean

Everything is remarkably clean, and the black finish [which looks like powder coating] seems to extend contiguously over the two round-head screws [as visible in my previous post] … so I am reluctant to dismantle it for inspection.

Hopefully this will prove to be the real deal, not just a decorator’s homage

Does anyone else here have the Salter version ?

MichaelG.

[Kiwi BlokeParticipant @kiwibloke62605]

Well, I'm pleased you've tracked down a Spong(-oid). I hope you'll be very happy together. I discovered only after my recommendation, that they were defunct. What a pity. However, with no built-in obsolescence, they were doomed to death by accountant.

Edited By Kiwi Bloke on 25/09/2022 10:14:12

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I checked with the Seller, and yes, it had been used ‘a bit’ and then gathered dust on the kitchen wall.

They had kindly given it a wash before posting it to me.

Everything seems to work as hoped … and I don’t think it has even been run-in yet

[ see the note about lack of precision in that link that I posted ]

There is a small but very noticeable patch in the rotation where there must be a high-spot on the cast burr.

… my grounds may be contaminated with slag for a while !!

I’m sure we will be very happy together … Job done, suitable grinder found, thanks.

MichaelG.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Perhaps because of his German origins, my dad fed me East African coffee at least from when I was about 4. I can still remember toddling downstairs with the smell of it in my nostrils, thinking "Ahhhh – coffeeeee!"

I think the best I've ever had was Chagga AA, from Kilimanjaro.

I saw a video of some Chagga tribespeople making coffee. They ground it with a tub and a stick – you couldn't really justify the expression 'pestle and mortar'. And they put the smashed-up coffee in the water before boiling it, decanted it to a jug and let it settle before pouring without straining it.

You could tell from the faces of the tourists as well as the makers that it was b100dy marvellous.

There's no point in becoming too preoccupied with the equipment.

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

noticed a somewhat worn, obviously used, Sprong coffee mill on a market stall selling old tools, (I indulged) for ?35 – no doubt he could be knocked down somewhat – I was tempted but find my cheap grinder and a French percolator that pushes the boiling water over a filter containing the ground coffee works very well.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Mick B1 on 25/09/2022 14:43:31:

[…]

You could tell from the faces of the tourists as well as the makers that it was b100dy marvellous.

There's no point in becoming too preoccupied with the equipment.

.

Especially if you happen to have an enormous supply of freshly roasted good beans

… but some of us are not in that fortunate position, and need to make the best of what we can buy in the U.K.

My modest expenditure on this simple second-hand grinder hardly feels like ‘becoming too preoccupied with the equipment’ … it seems very good value so far.

MichaelG.

[NealebParticipant @nealeb]

Had a look in the Sainsbury home delivery crate a few days ago as it came in the house and knew it wasn't ours – it had four bottles of Camp coffee essence in it! I didn't know they still made that stuff – last time I can remember seeing it was at my grandmother's house maybe 60 years ago. Rather reminds me of the "Birds Mellow" my parents used to keep for me – "We know you like coffee so we buy the cheapest" seemed to be the unspoken comment.

However, I realise that mentioning either of these two products is out of place in this thread – neither really deserves to have the word "coffee" anywhere on its label!

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi MichaelG, good to hear you seemed to have found your ideal coffee grinder, I used to grind beans many years ago, albeit with a small electric machine with a simple blade with two cutting edges, but it was rather a nuisance to do before going to work in the mornings and buying already ground coffee was the same price, so I have just stuck with that, although I do accept that people prefer to grind their beans themselves.

Here's my first coffee in the mornings, which holds about 500 ml, but it ain't what the mug portrays, it's Taylors rich Italian, roast 4 which suits my taste very nicely, and yes always black with no sugar or anything else.

Regards Nick.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Sadly, Nick

My prized Leica coffee mug is no longer meeting its ‘mission statement’

.

MichaelG.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi MichaelG, don't you just hate it when that sort of thing happens. In a way I've had a similar thing, as some time ago I'd just washed my black, Jack Daniel's, Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey tea mug and placed it on the draining board, then turning around, promptly went and knocked it onto the floor, which broked the handle into three pieces but hey, I bought two of them at the same time They came in those specials that the supermarkets sell at Christmas time with a small bottle included. I don't like whiskey in any form, but do like the mug, so gave one bottle to my son and one to my younger brother-in-law, who actually sadly passed away three years ago.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 26/09/2022 20:34:24

[peak4Participant @peak4]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 26/09/2022 19:32:59:

Sadly, Nick

My prized Leica coffee mug is no longer meeting its ‘mission statement’

MichaelG.

I did have a look around out of curiosity, but couldn't find anything similar.
You could find your creative side and upload your own images for a custom replacement; albeit a slightly different shape.
https://www.zazzle.co.uk/custom/mugs

Bill

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