rubbish cyclist wrote:Hello all, first poster here.
After using a Hario Mini Mill for about a year, I decided to look for something both less plasticky and all-round better for espresso. Sadly, halfway decent electric grinders for espresso are generally horrifically overpriced - a Rocky is about $800+, and a Mazzer Mini is about $2000! In other words, hand grinders are a far less insane proposition.

First purchase was a swing and a miss:
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It's an external rear dial-adjusted PeDe 550. Looks lovely, the burrs seem in good shape (six-point inner burr) and once the bottom ball bearing was regreased, it turns as smooth as silk. Sadly, the finest setting on the rear dial is just outside of the espresso range. Tantalisingly close, but no cigar. a 60ml double pulled in about 10 seconds. Another half turn would be enough to get it in range, but no go sadly. Shame too, as it grinds much more evenly than the Hario, and it took 60 turns to grind 15g as opposed to 400 turns.

I have a KyM brass Turkish mill inbound which I'm sure is up to the task, but...I like the wood of the PeDe. Here's to hoping the KyM will do a grind which at least rivals a Rocky. That would make me happy.

Nice little grinder and in good condition. I liked the rear adjustment. When I refurbed mine it wouldn't grind fine enough, so went back in and discovered that I had installed the adjustment wedge upside down. Flipped it over and it was fine(pun intended).

After gifting it, I wanted to try a vintage Italian box to pair with the Faemina, as it seemed they would have been a popular combo back in the day. Picked up a little Tre Spade and it works quite well.

It is right that the round-handled mills in the photo have 5 pointed burrs, and the conical-handled mills have six-pointed burrs, except in the case of the third mill from the right in my previous photo. It is a round-handled mill with a six-pointed burr, model 623 printed on the bottom. This one is also the easiest to use. I found it in basically unused condition, with burrs that are super-sharp. It grinds through beans as though they were butter. It has a like-new bakelite drawer with a pouring spout that is easy to use and catches all the grinds with no spill. I can grind 17 grams in around 65 turns, versus around 110 turns on the Tre Spade (also super-easy to grind, but slower). I am currently using the 623 on a daily basis instead of the Tre Spade.

I don't know if the six-pointed mills are all newer. The mill completely on the left seemed really old when I found it (I restored it) and it has a six-pointed burr. It grinds superfine, but it takes more turns to do so. It doesn't have a number on it, but I it is like the 520 next to it, which seems much newer. The mill all the way on the right arrived seeming pretty new, but it has a five-pointed burr.It has 649 printed on the bottom. I have to close to burrs until they rub to get an espresso grind, but the resulting coffee seems excellent. The flavor is "darker" (less bright), if that means anything.Indeed, even with the same coffee, the flavor from each grinder is a little different.

I might pick up a Lido3 when I am in the US this summer, but I would like to be convinced that I would taste a better flavor on my Bacchi before investing. Has anyone run a comparison taste test? And the Lidos are made in China, right? Apart from electronics (where there is no choice), I prefer to buy things made in Europe or the US. I see that Peacecup thinks the Knock is much better than are the Dienes. But is this for ease of use, or flavor? Also, how do you actually get your hands on one????? They are always sold out, and I even found complaints from people waiting on their orders.

On the other hand, I paid €10-€15 each for the vintage grinders. It's true they are hit or miss, and are not new or super-precise. But the leftovers make great gifts together with some home-roasted beans! I already gave one (not in the picture) with some roasted coffee to a friend here in Italy, and she was ecstatic. Now everyone wants one...

The Lido grinders are made in Taiwan, not China.

Taiwan = The Republic of China, no?

That is correct. As opposed to the Peoples Republic of China, which is what we commonly call China. For all practical purposes, they are two different countries.

Does anyone know what company might have made this grinder? It's purported to be stainless steel, well built, and heavy. I have an opportunity to buy it, was just wondering if anyone knew anything about them.

On the other hand, I paid €10-€15 each for the vintage grinders. It's true they are hit or miss, and are not new or super-precise. But the leftovers make great gifts together with some home-roasted beans! I already gave one (not in the picture) with some roasted coffee to a friend here in Italy, and she was ecstatic. Now everyone wants one..

Yes, I've had similar experiences. The vintage grinders have so much appeal that there is always someone who will appreciate them, whether just as decoration or an everyday tool.

Once I scored a few lifetime's worth of espresso-capable vintage grinders I stopped buying and have been gifting a few. They are also incredibly useful around the house. Two currently serve to grind cichlid pellets for baby fish, one for flax seeds (awesome), and others for occasional use (poppy seeds, etc).

I used to use an inferior mill as a flax seed grinder and an inferior Turkish mill as a pepper grinder.

Nonprophet wrote:Does anyone know what company might have made this grinder? It's purported to be stainless steel, well built, and heavy. I have an opportunity to buy it, was just wondering if anyone knew anything about them.

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So, I went ahead and bought this grinder, and got in the mail today. I really wish I knew who made it--it is an amazing grinder! Adjusted all the way tight, it produces such a fine powder that I can't even describe how fine it is--really, it's so fine it feels like a "dry liquid." I had to adjust it out several turns to get it where it wouldn't choke either of my machines. The seller said it was stainless, but it's actually aluminum. The quality of the machining on this grinder is amazing--everything is VERY precise and tight. The burr is unlike any I've seen before, only 4 point instead of the usual 5 or 6 point (I'll take pics soon and post them). It's super easy to grip and to grind, and it does 16g in about 80-90 turns. VERY smooth, tight, and precise and the uniformity of the grind is incredible. I just pulled a few shots with the Pavoni, and once I adjusted it out so it didn't choke the machine the shots were the best I've pulled on the Pavoni so far.

There is no name stamped on the grinder anywhere, I'm wondering if maybe somebody might know who makes it?

Anyone see this one on eBay.de last week? It got a bit out of my price range but it's very unique. I've never seen one of these in 3 or 4 years of chasing hand mills on eBay - makes me wonder if it is a prototype?