Hand (grinder) Jive - a photo essay - Page 13

[peacecup]

...and of course there are a few other brands of nice old grinders, so it doesn't take long to fill up a shelf or two...

PC

[farmroast]

Here's a Pe De Dienes wall mount grinder.

[peacecup]

Thanks for posting the wall grinder - we haven't seen one taken apart before. I'll be interested to hear how it works. I've always wanted to try one, but I have little need for such a large hopper.

PC

[GB]

Farmroast

A handsome machine. Thanks for the disassembly photos. I have been curious as to the inner workings of wall mounted grinders and their potential application for espresso. How does it grind, and how easy is it to clean?

Geoffrey

[IslandAddict]

A new grinder from Hario with ceramic burrs. Inexpensive and decent as a backup grinder for travel and hurricanes.

[orwa]

Do you think it can grind fine enough for a lever machine?

[Bushrod]

I'd like to know this, too. Also, where can one get one online? I tried Google but didn't have much luck.

[IslandAddict]

It's available from http://www.avenue18.ca, but after testing I can't recommend it. The inner burr wobbles around quite a bit, resulting in a horribly inconsistent grind. It's a shame. If the designers had added a simple stabilizer piece on the bottom it would be a good grinder, especially for 25 Canadian dollars.

[peacecup]

Seems like its difficult to find good quality hand grinders these days. The right entrepreneur could probably make money at it.

I have found a couple of nice old-style grinders lately, I've been meaning to share:

A "new" DeVe - had never seen this label before.


Carved sides like many of the others, but chrome top, more to my taste. It has a metal drawer, and has seen little use. Its bigger than most hand mills, and difficult to hold while grinding despite the carved sides. It will choke the levers.


A added a mate (on the left) to my original PeDe, now over five years "old". Couldn't resist at 9 Euros, but the metal is not in great condition, and the decal slightly peeled. Its a "user"

[IMAWriter]

Beautiful grinders, Jack. I really like my PeDe, once I found the sweet spot, and got with the proper dosing amount, etc. It's my night-time grinder, and occasional day one as well.
Orphan Espresso http://www.orphanespresso.com has answered all my questions...and them some. They have a nice selection, and seem like really nice folks. The grinder was exactly as pictured and described.
Man, you are scoring some primo grinders...where are you putting them all?

[peacecup]

Ima,

The hand grinders are the perfect companions at home and work. This AM I pulled my first cappa before the rest of the family stirred. I did get forget to re-set the KYM for the older beans, though, so the pour was fast. Surprisingly, it tasted very good. I just started using the Ponte Vecchio again after a month with the Caravel. The spring lever is so much more forgiving that even relatively large mistakes can produce good espresso.

I'm going to designate a grinder for each blend, though, just to avoid this next time.

PC

[IMAWriter]

You are certainly get exercise
My PeDe leaves virtually no clumps...still trying to find a better way to get the grind into the Yogurt cup for WDT...that postcard over the drawer and pouring actually creates some clumping...I'm just using my finger to move the grind into the cup...very even grind as well...I use my Rio Jr when I'm doing 2 shots. Lazy.

[peacecup]

I seldom make more that one or two espressos in a row, so I don't mind the time or effort it takes to hand grind. In fact I consider the entire espresso making process so elevating that I've given up yoga.

Its less than 1 minute per 14g of beans. Of course dosing takes another minute, including getting all the grinds into the drawer and dosing into the portafilter. In my experience hand grinders produce virtually no clumping, and very little occurs during proper use of the Cut Corner Dose Method (widely known as the cut corner dose method, "hitherto unknown from your area but destined to take the place of the mudshark in your mythology, here it goes now the circular motion, rub it".

But, then again, I've never been one to avoid cutting a corner wherever possible.

Yesterday I designated Dienes 1 as the "old beans for AM Cappa" grinder because I knew I could dial er in without wasting a shot (although the grind was a bit too fine and the pour slow). The results were some great coffees throughout the day, so I stuck with it for today and used up more of the older beans.

I've been amazed actually, at how great the espresso has been from some beans imported from Italy sometime THIS YEAR, with no known roast date. Hand grinders and spring levers....

PC

[Ignatius Riley]

What a great thread! Grinder porn.

Did a google search on Peter Dienes and it turns out he is somewhat famous in the plastics history world as one of the first to use Bakelite. Here a picture of a PE De Bakelite grinder 1924.
<image>

Interesting, I have just bought a similar looking KYM mocca grinder in excellent condition.

Any clues on it's age?

I also scored another KYM.
It needs minor cleaning, but is in very fine condition except for a scratch on the lid:

[peacecup]

Mats,

I saw and was tempted by both of those. I'm sure they will be great compliments to your lever machine. its nice that they are both in such good condition. I think the bakelite is from the 1920's but others may know more. Keep us posted on how they work for espresso.

PC

[eastpresso]

My Cimbali Max is currently on leave and (out of pure desperation) I purchased this hand grinder which was advertised for Espresso also..Well, what can you lose better to waste 20 $ than to be without espresso for weeks I thought:



After a llittle bit of fiddling with the adjustment knob and a couple of tries - voila: Espresso grind



Don't take my word for it (Costa Rica 1 week + from the roast):



Of course lacking in aromatics and mouthfeel compared to the Max but the results are MUCH better than expected, and very educational in terms of how much work is actually needed to grind one shot

Edit: Links added http://www.porlex.co.jp/1-coffee1.htm , http://www.porlex.co.jp/1-coffee2.htm

[peacecup]

Espresso from the old hand grinders I've been using don't lack mouthfeel or aromatics, although I've never compared them to a Max. Jim Schulman did a brief comparison of an old PeDe to the Robur, but it only turned out to beat the Mini. But that was just one round, and I wouldn't give up on the PeDe so fast.

[ChrisC]

Orphan Espresso http://www.orphanespresso.com has answered all my questions...and them some. They have a nice selection, and seem like really nice folks. The grinder was exactly as pictured and described.

Does anyone know how to get in touch with Orphan Espresso? I have a few questions about their hand grinders, and I've tried calling the number on their contact page (it's a fax), and using their contact form (no response yet, although it hasn't quite been 24 hours now...).

Thanks in advance!
Chris

[espressme]

Just write an email with your phone # to their contact. They may be out of town at the moment. They will get back to you.here
Cheers
Richard

[ChrisC]

Will do, thanks Richard. And by the way, that's some nice work of yours on their site!