Thread: Looking for Espresso Bean Burr Grinder Advice

Zassenhaus.

My knee mill came with a 10 year warrantee and it was about $80 w/shipping.

Only potential downside is that it's a manual.

The manual bit doesn't bother me.


zassenhaus - Google Product Search

The biggest problem with Zassenhaus is availability. A few years ago the company suddenly stopped shipping grinders for a while (a year?). They started slowly becoming available and now you can get one, but it is unusual for any vendor to have the full line up at any one time. Zass prices on eBay are still high (not as high as when they weren't available at all).

This is a unit with a pressurized portafilter, so grind isn't as critical as on a non-pressurized unit. So there are a number of choices in you price range: Capresso Infinityn, Bodum Antigua, Maestro, etc.

I believe the Breville BarAroma grinder is meant to go with this machine and is in your price range: Amazon.com: Breville BCG450XL Conical Burr Grinder: Kitchen & Dining

I bought a basic Zass about 8 months ago and the first time I used it it literally fell apart in my hands. I replaced that with a better Zass and it never evenly ground the coffee and the adjustment nut kept readjusting by itelf and had to be continually let out as I ground.

In my book the new stuff is garbage better left for display. If you can get a vintage one grab it.

To stabilize the grinding adjustment, take a wide-ish rubber band and wrap it several times around the lower portion of the adjusting knurl. It will tighten and keep your adjustment from "walking" while you grind. Some people have used Loctite.

It's funny, but I do remember the lack of the Zazz grinders a few years ago.

I haven't really heard of any quality issues regarding the new grinders, so I cant comment on that. I can say that when I first recieved my grinder I completely disassembled and reassembled it. Actually, the mechanism did unbolt itself once, but I feel that was due to my carelessness after reassembly.

I've used mine almost daily for about 8 years now without any issue. To me, this grinder is well worth the dough.

What I do to secure the adjustment nut is I just hold it in position with one finger while the mill is between my knees. I use my grinder for espresso as well as a french press, so I like the idea of not locking the nut down. i am going to try the rubber band idea.

Originally Posted by Whiskers

I use my grinder for espresso as well as a french press, so I like the idea of not locking the nut down

Dude,

you need another hand grinder. One for espresso, one for French press. One for vac pot, one for balance brewer, one for aeropress, one for the Ethiopian coffee ceremony, one for Turkish coffee, one for travel (Geska is good for this - I have 4), one for .....


I have 25.

meet CEAD (coffee equipment acquisition disorder)

Originally Posted by Pyment

Dude,

you need another hand grinder. One for espresso, one for French press. One for vac pot, one for balance brewer, one for aeropress, one for the Ethiopian coffee ceremony, one for Turkish coffee, one for travel (Geska is good for this - I have 4), one for .....


I have 25.

meet CEAD (coffee equipment acquisition disorder)

LOL !

It's been quite a few years ago now ... but at one point in time, I lived in an apartment that was prone to losing electricity. This loss of electricity cost me my morning cup one too many days. So, I went on a coffee quest. My quest consisted of making a cup of coffee without using electricity.


Hence, the French Press and hand grinder.


Then I bought an espresso machine... but I've limited myself to buying good beans and not loading up on equipment (for now).


Absolute 2 thumbs up for the Zazzenhaus !

I just replaced my Cunill Tranquillo (tall, cafe-size grinfer, noisy, grounds everywhere) with a Baratza Vario. Ceramic burrs, quiet, and will grind from Turkish to French press. I have a QuickMill Anita espresso machine and a LaPavoni lever machine - the new grinder makes an amzing grind for both. The Vario has a digital readout and built in timers for an "average" grind time, but you can also just let it grind one its own - it will shut off after 90 seconds. The hopper holds about 3 cups of beans. It has two recepticle otpions - a portafilter holder (a bit messy) or a fitted container. It is very solid and the internal works are by Mahlkoenig. It was recommended by Chris at Chris' Coffee Service in Albany, NY. You can Google them or check out references on CoffeeGeek. I was around $450. You may have trouble finding a really good espresso burr grinder for around $100. CoffeeGeek has a Buy/Sell forum, among the other cool features on the site. eBay is an option. You want to go with burrs, regardless.

I don't drink coffee or espresso but use them in recipes now and again. I've been using my grandmothers old Kitchen Aid burr grinder. For me it's fantastic... Ever put a pound of black pepper through a grinder I love this beast

this morning's cup:

you begin with coffee:n Today we have a Tanzanian Peaberry. Roasted in my cafe mino yesterday in my Cafemino: Coming Soon....

The roast was a 1 lb roast. Slowing the roast in the 174 - 188 C range where carmalization takes place to enhance malliard reaction and development of flavor precursers. First crack began at 204 C 219 C (7min30 seconds and heat was reduced. this is the exothermic part of the reaction where heat is generated. The temp creeps toward the end of first crack at 219 temp crawls to my intended goal of 229. I dump the beans intro the cooler to cool them quickly. The coffee was ground using a Saeco Titan grinder releasing a beatiful coffee scent redolent with rhododendrons snd plums is generate. adding the requisit amount to tmake a 32 oz FP. Steeped for 3 minutes. and poured.

blackcurrents, plums and just a bith of east African Gaminess, makes this an interesting sscoffee as itcools,anging fkavors as it .


ahh quiete morenings at the Cabin on the lake)