PTI on the PeDe love fest...
My KYM is a champ...60 turns for 15 grams. My former PeDe was wonderful as well, though the KYM goes way finer.
Question:
How often should a manual grinder be taken apart and cleaned?
Or is this one of those "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" sort of things.
No oily beans, and my shots are consistent.
TIA

I haven't cleaned any of mine since I got them, other than to brush them out with a stiff paintbrush. A suppose a little bit of old grinds finds its way into every espresso I make, but it can't be much.

I've been home all weekend with a cold, so I've pulled out a pair of pocket Dienes', the 88 and the 530 (now offically ID'd as such). I've been grinding beans from the good old USA, some PT's and Caffe Umbria, generously mailed by Hal P. Its been great to have some fresh roasts.

I've also got a pocket KYM, but have not had a chance to clean it up so its not in service. I've already shown these photos, but since this is a photo-essay:

My KYM is a bit camera-shy, as she a bit "plain-spoken."
No curved sides, simple logo, unassuming. She just grinds the heck out of any bean I pour into her.

So you have officially Id'ed it as a 530? Cool, so basically theyre the same line of PeDe grinders. If your is anything like mine, it grinds like a dream, and powder fine if thats what you want? I plan on using my 550 for my new machine purchase, a QM Anita. I think I may be one of the only people to operate a Prosumer level HX machine, with a hand grinder.

But idc, its either Anita and the 550, or a Bezzerz BZ07/NS Oscar and new grinder. I dont want to settle for a machine Im not totally stoked about, so Ill just get a grinder down the road. Im not worried about fineness, as she should handle it no prob, but maybe the shots will be brighter, as some have reported does happen with small conicals.


Peacecup,
Have yuo noticed that if you grind a light roast, like city or city+, that it wont be able to grind nearly as fine as it can say, a fullcity+ or more? Not a huge problem, most of my espresso roasts are full city+ or a light Vienna.

but in absolutley any case, Hand grinder totally rule! Ive been trying to snag another from orphan, but theyre going quick lately! MAybe I should stop suggesting hand grinders to newb's when they ask "do I really have top spend 500 etc etc etc"

Ahh well, as used Major will always do the trick as well. Dont worry though fellas, Im a hand grinder guy till the end. Its just my machine/pallate may demand a larger conical, or a large flat burr set. Hope not!

Kudos
Jeff

Seems a good opportunity to finally post some pictures about the Norpro canning funnel (Amazon, $7.99) I use to neatly get ground coffee from my hand grinder's drawer to a 58mm basket.

I hope the pictures are self explanatory; if not, please ask any questions you may have. Bottom line is that this method is quick and neat... and requires no WDT or leveling. Once finished, I just tamp and go.







Quick explanation for this next image. I grab onto the funnel with my fingers ending up at the base of the funnel where I can grab onto the filter basket. I lift the whole assembly, give it a couple swirls (circular movement of funnel) and the coffee settles nicely into the basket. What you see here is 18 grams.


Again, just tamp and go. This by the way was an SO shot using Yrgacheffe. Brilliant.

I should also mention that this funnel fits perfectly inside the lower portion of the small cocktail shaker I also use. This works great when I'm pulling a shot with my La Pavoni lever (the 58mm basket is for my Andreja). I've posted pictures of the resulting coffee pile using the funnel and shaker... Great results there too. If I could just remember what that discussion was here...

The metal funnel looks great (so does the old Zass box mill). It should also help to eliminate static if you have any. I sometimes stir lightly with the back end of a steel coffee scoop to reduce static. Also, waiting a minute after grinding helps.

I've now seen two types of Dienes 530's, the kind with the lip that bluecold shows, and the type without, in my photo. I took my ID off another one I say in DE, without the lip, plus the faint numbers beneath mine.

I have not noticed a difference in grinding light vs. dark beans, but I have found that dark beans require a finer grind to achieve the same pressure. Try pulling a shot with a french roast sometime - its really difficult to choke the machine.

PC

Jack,

Yes, the funnel does help with static a bit, though it still is an issue with the Zass. Interestingly, with my Armin Trosser and the same beans... no static.

The Zass (Mokka) is fantastic. Not sure of its age (anyone who can help, I'd appreciate it... I can take more pictures), but it appeared to have never been used when I got it (eBay about a month ago). Still had the hang tag and instruction book. I'm sure it would have been best, from a collector's standpoint, to keep it in a "virgin" state, but I couldn't do that. I did some non-scientific comparisons between it and my Cimbali Max Hybrid using Klatch Belle Espresso this last weekend. Zass seemed to produce a more laid-back shot which I preferred.

Bob, thanks for reminding us of this particular funnel for this application (and to Jeff "Spresso_Bean" who first suggested the possibility); your photos take the tip even further by demonstrating its value for all to see. It's a particularly elegant example of a serendipitous symbiosis.

I'm loving this thread, as its value increases with virtually every post. HB. What more can one say?

You're welcome Ed. And I agree that HB is what the Internet is all about (I'm sure that Facebook is a lovely place to spend time too!).

One more bit of information: I checked out as many canning funnels as I could before I spent the big-bucks at Amazon ( ), and the Norpro seemed to be best suited to what I wanted it for. There's another one they have which is chromed stainless, but I read a review stating that it has a small lip on the inner part of the spout... great place for coffee to hang out. The Norpro is straight up and down, and my guess is that it's outer diameter is about 1mm less than the ID on my ridgeless LM basket. Very nice fit.

Here's a link to it on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004UE88/

The thread that never dies (just that some of us are somewhat late to jump in)...

Finished restoring a couple grinders over the weekend. That really turned out to be a pleasure - especially when I was finished. Both of these mills were picked up on eBay, the DeVe for $36 plus shipping, and the PeDe for $62 plus shipping. Needless to say, the DeVe proved to be the find. It's in excellent condition (once I was finished), and has an amazing grind (looks like the burrs have been used very little, and they make a delightful, and even, grinding sound). The PeDe grinds fantastic as well, but it's just not as clean as the DeVe. My speculation is that it's been on this earth a bit longer (anyone out there able to help me date these two mills? Any help would be greatly appreciated.).

Here they are, all cleaned up, and ready to go to work:

Oh my gosh, they are beautiful!
Fine furniture. You did a good thing.

Thanks Rob. Didn't quite know what I was getting into when I bought them. One thing is for sure: The price that Orphan sells their grinders is a deal. Restoring them takes more time than you'd think. Of course I now have added satisfaction when I use them... Actually, it's going to take a while before they make it into my normal rotation - at least the DeVe. I've always had a soft-spot for that particular grinder (I think it's one of the nicest vintage mills out there), and I'm not quite ready to start using it (we'll see how long that mindset lasts ).

Restoring them really was a (time-consuming) pleasure. To see the workmanship that originally went into them has been a treat. Looks like the inner burrs were machined, or at least finished, by hand.

I'm going to continue trying to get information about these old mills, and the history of the companies which made them. Haven't had much luck so far. My wife did buy me a book for mill-collectors which has lots of pictures, but very little information.

I'm sure Doug and Barb will appreciate your comments, as well as the fine job you did.
Amazing how, in the last couple of years (or less?) hand grinders have come in to their own (again!)
Maybe due to the economy, but also as they do a fine job, albeit with a bit of elbow grease.
Until I can afford another monster grinder (mostly for show ), I may purchase another manual grinder dedicated to vac pot/Chemex.

Yeah, a Zass was my first "serious" grinder six or seven years ago, and I've recently come to appreciate its ease of use. No vacuuming, no significant bean-waste, etc. Like you, I do know that there is a place for commercial-grade grinder in every espresso-drinking home, and I'll keep my Cimbali M-H for those times when I need the convenience of blowing through 18 grams in 7-8 seconds.

What has really happened for me lately is my coming to appreciate how good that Zass grinds (guess I got lucky - my new one rivals the vintage mills I have)... Heck, how any good hand-mill grinds. When I began getting more serious about espresso a few years ago, I just figured that a big ol' honking grinder was mandatory. I've come to know that's not the case. Guess we all get caught up in the gear-chase. Part of being male.

Just picked this up from an Ebay auction. It's a very small Leinbrock's Ideal (box is 8cm x 11cm x 12cm or 3.15" x 4.33" x 4.72") The burrs were positively filthy, so I soaked them in Joe Glo for 20 minutes, scrubbed 'em up with an old stiff bristle toothbrush, dried 'em off and reassembled. The burrs aligned perfectly, and it's got a lovely, even growl. I think this will make a great travel grinder. When I've got some time, I'll re-enamel the hopper and polish the metalwork, but it's a good find. Addendum: It's not quick, but it is mellow. About 200 very easy turns to do 9 grams, so she'll probably be over 300 for 14. Further addendum April 3, 2009: 14 grams = 430 turns, assuming I didn't get distracted and lose count somewhere along the way. That's a half turn back from the initial grind and it still chokes the Caravel pretty spectacularly.








It's even got a birthday coming up in about a month.


The stepped adjustment can be tweaked easily.


I didn't even have to try and pull a shot with the 9 gram scoop of beans I tested with - it's Turkish powder.

Great pictures.

A couple weeks ago someone on a military base in Germany put up a whole slew of hand grinders. Most of them started getting bids pretty quickly (and there were some nice ones), but there was a pair that wasn't getting any love, probably because they'd both been painted red and had decals put on them. Placed together as one item, they were sad and lonely until I came along and bid. Nobody else wanted them, so I got them for the minimum. They arrived this week, and I did a little cleanup and some testing.

Grinder No. 1.

This one's a real winner, despite being all tarted up. I imagine some hausfrau deciding to brighten up the kitchen by doing the cosmetic work on it.


I'm pretty sure that it's a Leinbrock's Ideal. There are two things that lead me to this conclusion. First, the stepped adjustment and burr mount are virtually identical to the small Leinbrock's Ideal I've posted here before. Second, as you can see from this contrast enhanced photo, whoever did the paint job painted right over the decal and you can see the rough outline of it underneath the paint. It's the right shape for the banner circling the globe decal that Leinbrock's used.


Here's a shot of the hopper and burrs with both swinging blue melamine doors open. The burrs cleaned up very nicely and are still quite sharp. Like the other Leinbrock's Ideal I have, it's very easy to turn and takes enough time to go through 14 grams of coffee (over 300 turns) that one can get quite contemplative. No grunting and groaning here and it has a lovely 'growl'.


Again, like the other Leinbrock's I have, it has a birthday.


The boat-shaped metal drawer is quite nice and the grinds form a nice, even crater as they gently drop from the burrs. I need to tighten up the springs on the side, but, aside from the paint job (which, I'll admit is growing on me), it's in great shape. And the grind? I can easily choke the Caravel with it. It's a keeper.

300 turns for 14 grams?...my arm would fall off. I have rotator cuff problems (played baseball in high school and some in college, also power lifted.)
Pulling a shot can be a bit stressful as well.
My Kym, with what I'd estimate as 1o pounds of circular force (whatever) will do 14 grams in 60 turns.
I'd give up espresso with a 300 turn grinder, but TEHO.
George, looks like you have a certifiable case of manual grinder influenza.
Glad the "lonely" grinders were worth the effort.
As mine is a stepless grinder, how big (in seconds) would you say each step is? Or have you noticed much in the way of longer/shorter pulls per step?