I've heard good things about the Zassenhaus manual grinders, but are they capable of a fine/consistent enough grind for an Expobar Office? I've caught a bad case of upgraditis, and I'm considering a used Expobar. The problem is that doesn't leave much budget for a new grinder, so I was thinking of a Zass until I can save up for a Mini or similar.
The other option I'm considering is to pick up a Mazzer SJ used off Ebay, and find a deal on a Gaggia or Silvia. My first argument against this is that I know I'll end up upgrading either of those machines in a year or two. If I pick up the Expobar now, I hopefully won't need to replace it for 5 to 10 years, so if the Zassenhaus will do what I need I'm leaning that direction. The second is that while I drink mainly straight espresso, my gf and most of our friends prefer milk drinks. The ability to steam while pulling a shot is very appealing.

As long as you don't mind turning the crank, the Zass is a great grinder.

Right now I have a Peugot hand grinder and a Mazzer Mini. I love the Mini in the morning (no early AM hand cranking), but I think the Peugot may produce a better grind - absolutely no clumping, minimal heat, and they can grind whatever you need.

Of course the Zass. grinders are kinda pricey right now (or they were a couple of months ago when I was looking around for one).

Can't go wrong with a quality hand-grinder IMHO, though.

/mw

i have a zassenhuas grinder.

i have the expobar office pulser.

i actually got the zass thinking it was going to be good enough. it wasnt and isnt for me. i have never been able to get it to grind fine enough to make a shot go longer than 15 second 3 ounce shot blond gusher. YMMV.

i ended up getting a KA that was great. then later as fate would have it a mazzer mini. thanks 1st-line!

i used to put the cordless drill on the zass to make it easier on the arm.

jon

mattwells wrote:Of course the Zass. grinders are kinda pricey right now (or they were a couple of months ago when I was looking around for one).

Pricey is a relative term in this case. While $60 probably is too much to pay for a manual grinder, it still beats several hundred for an equivalent automatic. If nothing else it'll go well next to my Back to Basics roaster.

Are the La Pavoni or Armin Trosser hand grinders as good as a Zass? There a good number of them on Ebay right now, and without the Zass name on them they seem to sell a bit cheaper.

I would avoid the la pavoni hand grinders for the most part. They are capable of grinding fine enough. Newer models though seem to have low quality cranks. They easily bend and strip even when going slowly and carefully. The Zass or trosser will serve you well. Or a Turkish coffee mill.
Lynn

I have a Zass and a Trosser, go with the Zass.

jormun wrote:I've heard good things about the Zassenhaus manual grinders, but are they capable of a fine/consistent enough grind for an Expobar Office?

If you get a Zassenhaus Turkish mill, it will be more than capable of producing an excellent grind for espresso. Check out this link if you have any doubt: http://www.coffeed.com/viewtopic.php?t=576

Link here for a photo and availability of the specific mill: http://baldmountaincoffee.com/pag...fee_Mills/00002485

The only downside to the Zass Turkish mill is hand crank time ... I have one, and that is the only thing that keeps me from using it on a regular basis. If I have time and am just pulling a straight shot for myself, it's the choice grinder.

Matt

Hey Matthew. I believe i bought a Trosser from you on ebay, not long ago. I am presently using it for a moka pot. Also just got a Turkish mill and like it much better for different grinds. That Trosser is soon making a move to another home, where it will be used by a nongeek espresso person who doesn't want to bother adjusting grind and is presently using a blade grinder. I know it will treat her better. Nice little grinder though. I know it grinds fine enough for espresso since I took some grinds in to work with it and pulled shots on an astoria. Just too much of a geek to not adjust. Thanks for the good ebay experience though.
Lynn

Here's my 2 cents on hand grinders:

I went a little overboard on ebay and bought several used grinders. Some are pretty old.

I am not using the new Zassenhaus I got in December (want to buy it?) but trade off between an old KYM and newer Trosser (see the avator). The KYM grinds more per revolution than the Trosser but both are excellent for my Sama Lever machine.

ebay prices on the grinders are down a little from the holiday season so now might be the time to play.

One more thing: there is virtually NO loss of coffee grinds with the hand mills.

i still have both the zass and the expobar.

it still doesnt work for me.. still..

both are excellent for my Sama Lever machine.

i think i am the only one this thread that has actual experience with both of these combined. my insight is based on actual use of these two pieces of equipment used together. not one or the other but both.

One more thing: there is virtually NO loss of coffee grinds with the hand mills.

i would tend to agree with this on the surface, but this would require me not counting the lost grinds from 30 or more sink shots from the zass and the pulser combined.

it does work great for camping and french press.

just my 2¢ again.

i guess it would be 4¢ now.

jon