Thread: What's a good manual / electric coffee grinder?

I recently bought a new Zass and to me maybe at one time they made great grinders but their new stuff has terrible workmanship. I had to return two which were defective and the third is very inconsistent. But its a nice show piece. I have a Solis maestro electric and it does everything I would ever want. You can spend a lot of money for a grinder but as long as it has conical burr grinders and a gear reduction motor and grinds fine enough for what you need that's about it.

Originally Posted by cannonfodder

Mazzer Robur is king, and cost as much as a small car.

My first thought as a coffeegeek was that a Robur for home use is the quintessence of overkill. Then I thought: "it's no less equivalent to you having the Shapton stones in relation to straight shaving, so keep yer yap shut, you should talk". Wow, a Robur for home use. Seriously? What does a Robur give the home user that a Macap M4 Stepless can't? An honest question.

Chris L

Clarity, repeatability, speed, built like a tank and very few adjustments. Keep in mind, this is for espresso, one of the most demanding preparation methods, for drip/press/vac pot the difference would be less obvious. The espresso machine you use makes a difference as well. Using a Robur on a Krups steam toy verses a LaMarzocco FB80 would nullify most of its benefits. My machine is a Elektra 60’s A3 which produces an uncannily clean cup.

Elektra works some magic with their machines, I have used the A3, MicroCasa leva and Semiautomatica, and they all produce some of the best shots out there. I also have a two group Faema I restored, two Gagga lever machines and a VBM Domobar Super, then there is the hottop roaster and pounds and pounds of greens for blending and roasting. Yup, I take my coffee pretty seriously. I have a VBM Doubledomo coming for a buyers guide around the end of this month. Their prototype and gen one machine had a couple of issues. VBM is doing some redesign work and shipping us (team HB) a new gen two for testing, but that is getting a bit off topic.

If you want the big explanation might I recommend you read through…

Titan Grinder Project
Titan Grinder Project: Can it Beat the Mazzer Robur?

If you really want to go over the top we also ran a grind partical analysis with a Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer and a Scanning Electron Microscope. Ya, we take coffee seriously.

My house, most of those grinders are for testing.

Originally Posted by cannonfodder

Clarity, repeatability, speed, built like a tank and very few adjustments. Keep in mind, this is for espresso, one of the most demanding preparation methods, for drip/press/vac pot the difference would be less obvious. The espresso machine you use makes a difference as well. Using a Robur on a Krups steam toy verses a LaMarzocco FB80 would nullify most of its benefits. My machine is a Elektra 60’s A3 which produces an uncannily clean cup.

Elektra works some magic with their machines, I have used the A3, MicroCasa leva and Semiautomatica, and they all produce some of the best shots out there. I also have a two group Faema I restored, two Gagga lever machines and a VBM Domobar Super, then there is the hottop roaster and pounds and pounds of greens for blending and roasting. Yup, I take my coffee pretty seriously. I have a VBM Doubledomo coming for a buyers guide around the end of this month. Their prototype and gen one machine had a couple of issues. VBM is doing some redesign work and shipping us (team HB) a new gen two for testing, but that is getting a bit off topic.

If you want the big explanation might I recommend you read through…

Titan Grinder Project
Titan Grinder Project: Can it Beat the Mazzer Robur?

If you really want to go over the top we also ran a grind partical analysis with a Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer and a Scanning Electron Microscope. Ya, we take coffee seriously.

My house, most of those grinders are for testing.

Very nice set up. Can I move into your house? The silky crema laden elixers must just taste like honey at your place. I couldn't have a set up like that at home. Why? Too much caffeine makes me tired, lethargic and makes me just want to go to sleep. That and if I quickly increase my normal dosage of caffeine than go back to my regular dosage, the headaches almost make blood drip out of my ears. Yep, she's a cruel mistress always wanting me to take in more and more and more and more.

Chris L

I want to start brewing my own Kombucha!

Wow!!, I was so proud of my Breville and Zass. Very impressive. I should probably get immunized for GAD now.

I have FOR TRADE the conical burr hand crank assembly from a very, very, OLD grinder for trade. It is definitely from the 19th century! It is only the crank and burrs. The wooden base/ box is long gone. I temporarily rigged it to a wooden plank so that I could grind something. It worked. Slow but sure. This item is perfect for parts, restoration, or just as a curio for that shelf. If someone has an extra straight razor that will shave, let us trade. Ugly is OK. The grinder assembly is ugly for now also. This is the plan: We can both have something of utility without spending money for. No photos. I do not have a camera either. Maybe someone has an extra older digital camera instead of a razor for the trade. How does this sound? Gotta go, the coffee is ready. Robert

Our factory export and produce manual coffee grinder many years!

You guys are killing me! I just settled in with a great cup of coffee only to read this post and learn about yet, another "should have." In this case, a manual coffee grinder! My wife works at Williams & Sonoma and brought home a great burr grinder that has, more than anything else, improved my cup of joe. I had already gone to storing my beans in a cannister that I vacuum seal, which my wife thinks is going overboard. When I do the grinder thing...oy.

By the way, I am an all grain (beer) brewer. Many of the brewery supply houses also sell coffee roasters and offer fresh green beans. Something to ponder.

Best on this Sunday morning to all.

Jim