Thread: My Antique Coffee Grinder restore.

Originally Posted by sinnfein

I like it. How fine does it grind the coffee? it seems to work faster than my electric grinder.

It adjusts to different grinds depending on how mush you tighten the grinding wheels down

Originally Posted by TonyFranciozi

Nice job, the gold details are a great touch. Is the grind consistent?

Yep the grind is consistent

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The only issue with an antique like that is eventually all grinders need to have the burrs replaced which of course you can't do with the antique units and you have no way of knowing if the antique unit has worn burrs to begin with. If you do anything other than typical drip type coffee worn burrs are a big problem. Either way it's a nice display piece.

Thanks, I really dont forsee the burrs wearing out for many yeas seeing the are cast iron. I'll probably be long gone when that happens.

Are you sure the burrs are cast iron and not steel? cast iron isn't a good material for burrs. It's too brittle.

The most important thing in a coffee grinder is the grind piece. The two pieces should not be flat but conic, well clean and with a progressive grit. Coffee grinding is very important in order to get a perfect coffee.
Not to mention, it also depends on the making/brewing technique, coffee origin and type. All these factors strongly affect how the grinder should be made and how it should be used.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Are you sure the burrs are cast iron and not steel? cast iron isn't a good material for burrs. It's too brittle.

Assuming they are cast. The next time the bean hopper is low I'll have to check it out

They can be of good steel even if cast!

Actually they are typically brass but that's in modern pieces. I don't know about the old ones. Though I did have a baratza around 10 years ago that had steel.

Ok, I found this article on a Spong coffee grinder that is simular to the Arcade stating " The burrs, unlike the European are cast" I thought the ones in the Arcade looked like cast and I believe they are.

I've got a small old coffee grinder that I got from my grandmother, Eskilstuna steel, I'll take it apart tomorrow to see.

Originally Posted by Lemur

I've got a small old coffee grinder that I got from my grandmother, Eskilstuna steel, I'll take it apart tomorrow to see.

Different companies used various materials. It seems like it depends on what part of the world they were manufactured.