Hand (grinder) Jive - a photo essay - Page 10

[peacecup]

I've been dreaming about a chrome Turkish-style grinder to match the chrome on the Caravel...when I get overseas I hope to begin expanding my hand grinder sampling again.

PC

[tsackett]

I guess it could be the 156 although the shape is slightly different and so is the handle.

This is an older grinder, and I don't think you'll find the model number by comparing it to more recent ones.

If you search on Ebay for Zassenhaus grinders you'll find a few German antique sellers who always list the model number. Looking at both the current and completed auctions should give you a fairly comprehensive sense of the variety of Zassenhaus styles.

Looking at the picture of your grinder, I would guess that it has the same mechanism as a Zassenhaus that I bought on Ebay and just received today. On mine, the grind adjustment is made by turning a bolt inside the grinder, above the drawer. The bolt has a handle on it, but just on one side (as opposed to the T handles on Trosser grinders).

If this sounds like your grinder, I'm curious: is there any sort of centering mechanism on the burr that turns, or does it rattle around when you set the adjustment to grinder very coarse? Mine seems to be completely loose.

[samgiles]

Hi tsackett,
It sounds just like yours. One sided lever inside above the drawer and yes mine seems loose when it's opened up for coarser grind. It also seems to touch more on one side when tightened up. Thanks for the ebay tip. I'll go and have a hunt.
Cheers,
Sam.

[caeffe]

This thread, along with others in the lever world, as well as tasting a shot pulled from a spring LSM has convinced to go manual. So, i went to market (eBay) and got:



On the left is a PeDe Moka, and next to it is an Armin Trosser.
The Mazzer Major is not quite manual though and was a previous purchase long ago....

I haven't used the hand grinders yet - I'd like to clean them up first. How does one disassemble these beauts for cleaning of the burrs? Once disassembled, how do you establish an espresso grind for them? Do you adjust till the burrs touch then back off say one or two revolutions?

For now, I'm still semi-auto with the europiccola as the Major is doing the grinding .....

[r-gordon-7]

I just bought this Zusserhaus 190 this morning on ebay for use with my Gaggia Factory 106. The Gaggia is still enroute to me ( a replacement for the first one that arrived damaged). Hopefully the Zusserhaus will be a good match for the Gaggia - but I won't know until after both arrive...



r-gordon-7

[prof_stack]

On the left is a PeDe Moka, and next to it is an Armin Trosser.
The Mazzer Major is not quite manual though and was a previous purchase long ago....

I haven't used the hand grinders yet - I'd like to clean them up first. How does one disassemble these beauts for cleaning of the burrs? Once disassembled, how do you establish an espresso grind for them? Do you adjust till the burrs touch then back off say one or two revolutions?

For now, I'm still semi-auto with the europiccola as the Major is doing the grinding .....

The Trosser is my daily driver. Wrench off the top bolt and unscrew the handle. You might have to hold the shaft to get the handle off.

Carefully loosen the four screws at the top corners and pull the top off, after noting which side goes where. Then study the bottom side until you are confident you can reassemble it in the same way. Its not hard, but be careful.

OR, use Minute Rice to clean the burrs until you are happy with it. Then get ready to use some beans to get the grinder set for espresso. The burrs on my Trosser rub against each other (in a good way) but turn easily and make a very nice grind, perfect for the Factory. You may have to tweak the bracket underneath to get the burrs aligned. If the adjuster doesn't turn, it will need some persuasion. This shot is of a Trosser no longer in use:


I will be curious how the hand grinders do vs the Mazzer Major. I would think for the money that the Mazzer has to be more consistent in grind. But for the money the Trosser is a no-brainer for me.

But FIVE Trossers?

[caeffe]

Five!? Wow. I'd probably get my eBay privileges taken away if I did that .... But then again, I'd probably justify it by saying - but honey, I need one for drip, one for FP, two for espresso (decaf & regular), & another one for .... hmmmm.

Prof - thanks for letting me know how to take it apart .... right now, I'm far from the grinders, so when i get home AND get some time I'll have to do that. I actually have 2 trossers, one is in better shape than the other, wood wise but I can't tell yet which has a better set of burrs.

I sure wished they tested out the Major as part of the Titan's project. I did see that they tested a manual grinder. After using the piccola, I can see the allure of using the hand grinder. When I get everything set up along with my palate I'll make sure & post if I can tell the difference. Right now, I think I'd only be able to see it was good or bad - no shades of gray in-between.

[chicory]

My hand grinder search was driven more by size constraints than anything else, as I was after a grinder to take with me on extended motorcycle tours.

As the Presso machine was bulky to start with I had to compensate with a small grinder.

I eventually decided on a Turkish hand grinder, the HON, partly for its size, but also as if it could do Turkish grind, it should be able to do espresso

...

Tamped basket, the PF holder is in the kettle warming up, a usefull trick wit a presso.
...

Are you still on the line Andy? I would like to ask you about your Presso, particularly about this reviewers findings:

http://users.ameritech.net/jim_sc...Presso-Report.html

Did you modify your piston?

Thank you,
D

[Javier]

Those are beautiful machines! I recently "Googled" for more information about hand grinders, and found this: http://www.camanocoffeemills.com/index.html (The Camano Mill). Looks nice.

Javier

[prof_stack]

Those are beautiful machines! I recently "Googled" for more information about hand grinders, and found this: http://www.camanocoffeemills.com/index.html (The Camano Mill). Looks nice. Javier

The Camano looks to be made in Taiwan or China. Is that good or bad? Your call.

But the adjustment mechanism is not stepless, rather large steps actually. I have/had a couple of those type grinders and they're not useful for espresso. Inconsistency of grind is the problem I've had with them.

And they don't have the mojo of an old German grinder.

[mogogear]

And they don't have the mojo of an old German grinder.

Hey- careful-! I felt a waver in "the force"

[Javier]

The Camano looks to be made in Taiwan or China. Is that good or bad? Your call.

This is what I originally thought, until I read their claim "each mill is crafted by hand in the USA". Maybe the wood cap is the only thing made in the USA, and the cast grinding mechanism is imported from Taiwan or China (as you suggest).

I agree, the old German grinders are really something. I used to own a Zassenhaus grinder back in 2001 (paired to a Starbucks "Barista" machine), now my ex-wife owns it .

Javier

[orphanespresso]

We're really going to have to stop reading...first it was a severe case of leveritis, and now...what would you call it? Grindergrab? Gottagrinder?

We had our first hand job from the little Zassenhaus kneemill we got a few days ago. Today arrived a lovely Trosser! What goes on here?!?

Same machine, same beans, a few minutes of hand grinding and lovely sweet nectar! Versus 'ok' ground with the Rocky.

If you guys start discussing high collars & hoop skirts we are outta here!

[The_Falconer]

I purchased an Armin Trosser grinder off eBay for about 30 USD. When I got it, there was a thin layer of rust over everything. I set to work, and three hours later, these are the results.

Before:




After:




After even more polishing:




I also have shots of all the individual parts and an exploded view of the grinding mechanism. If anyone wants to see those, I'll upload them.


--James

[Psyd]

If you guys start discussing high collars & hoop skirts we are outta here!

S'like getting a pre-CBS Strat. Those are the 'real' Fenders, and the CBS stuff is decent, but not quite the same.

[orphanespresso]

Psyd, we're with ya on the pre-CBS Fender stuff! Been there, done that....then there's vintage Archtops. Another obsession...

As far as the hand grinders go, it is most interesting how different grinders impart, or release, different flavors from the same beans. Our Zass brings out fruity tones, the Trosser shows more chocolates. We look forward to finding what the others will show us. But, just like guitars, it becomes obvious, you need more than one, even though you can only play one at a time!

Felt like we hit the jackpot yesterday - touring the junk stores in the Southwest and found 2 grinders in one store! A Trosser and a Guarantie - we haven't tried either yet.

[prof_stack]

Wow, to find a Trosser and a Guarantee (both German) in one place is rare. You were very lucky. Around here we find Chinese grinders that are usually of really poor build. Some look nice, though.

I just received a generic made in W Germany grinder from ebay for all of $15 shipped. After cleaning I tested the grind against the Trosser and found it has sharper blades and has at least as fine a grind. The real test will be tomorrow's capp in the ol' Factory.

[prof_stack]

So I used the just purchased W German grinder for the morning shot. Smaller burrs mean more revolutions. Finer grind means I should tamp less...

This was the first shot that just about choked the Factory. That's with 13.3g. I went slowly down on the lever to keep the machine on the counter and the seals from popping.

So you never know what you'll get with an ebay grinder. This one looks to be a keeper.

[RsfIrving]

I'm new to the lever machine world and would like to pick up a hand grinder to pair with it. I'm seeing some PeDe Dienes grinders for sale here and there, but some say "Mokka" on them and some don't. It's hard to imagine that these would really be different, but is there any chance the Mokka ones are in fact designed especially for grinding coffee?

Thanks for your help and advice.

[prof_stack]

I'm new to the lever machine world and would like to pick up a hand grinder to pair with it. I'm seeing some PeDe Dienes grinders for sale here and there, but some say "Mokka" on them and some don't. It's hard to imagine that these would really be different, but is there any chance the Mokka ones are in fact designed especially for grinding coffee? Thanks for your help and advice.

PeDe Deines is good, along with the usual German suspects. I don't believe there is any difference in grind for a mill labeled Mokka than not. Good luck in your search!