Home antique coffee grinders were usually either stand-alone or wall-mounted grinders. Wall mounted grinders were quite popular and more ornate than the stand alone grinders. Wall mounted grinders that are popular among collectors include those models with intricate carvings or crafted porcelain figurines on them. There are models with windmills adorning them and others that are porcelain figurines.

Table-top coffee grinders from days of old are typically simple wooden boxes with hand cranks either on the side or the top of the box. The ground coffee is deposited into a drawer on the bottom of the coffee box. These are beautiful examples of wood crafting and are also popular among collectors.

Other vintage coffee grinders are the wheel grinders that are large and bulky. These were typically found in the local general store and used to grind customers’ coffee beans when they came to purchase groceries. This was a benefit to customers who didn’t have their own grinders or to travelers passing through to get supplies for their hunting trips or cattle drives and would not have access to their grinder. Many of these vintage grinders are now in museums on display for the world to enjoy.

Purchasing vintage coffee grinders can be a long, tedious and expensive task. Collectors typically join groups that specialize in collecting and restoring coffee grinders. This allows them to share information with each other and also to put out locators among members if a particular grinder is being sought. The cost of the grinder can be high if it is a very rare or if there are many people trying to get one.

Some collectors of vintage coffee grinders learn to restore them. This skill allows them to purchase grinders that need repair or are in less than perfect shape, thus saving them money on the purchase. They can then restore the grinder to its original condition and increase its value. This part of the hobby of collecting vintage grinders is rewarding in more than a financial way, when the owner sees the finished product there is a sense of pride in having restored a piece of history to its original condition.

Vintage coffee grinders belong out in the open for younger generations to see and admire. Collectors realize this and they see the beauty in the workmanship and want to share it with the world. Although most vintage grinders are not used to actually grind coffee they are still valuable and highly sought after.

-Sharon Chapman

Manual coffee grinding was the only way to get coffee prepared for hundreds of years. Manual coffee grinders were hand crank machines that were considered hard work and a part of the daily chores. The fact that hand cranks made excellent coffee would not be considered for many years to come, well after the invention of electricity.

Krups Coffee Grinder

After electricity was invented it wasn’t long before the electric coffee grinder was created. This made the work of grinding coffee a mere push of a button. Soon, large companies began grinding coffee and distributing it in grocery stores. This pre-ground coffee was a novelty that was embraced with open arms. No more grinding beans by hand in order to get a pot of coffee. Consumers could go to the grocery store and purchase their coffee ready to brew.

Other people wanted to continue grinding their own coffee and so the electric coffee grinder was made in sizes for home use. It would take many years and many different models to find an electric model that created coffee that was quality. The problem was in the friction created by many of the methods used to create electric grinders. Friction creates heat which then scorches the coffee beans and the resulting coffee.

Designers found different ways to grind the coffee and the conical burr was eventually the grinder that created the best coffee with no friction and no scorched coffee. Other models were made using a single blade that rotates. These made quality coffee but had to be watched to insure the coffee didn’t overheat. The electric coffee grinder had finally found its way into kitchens around the world. This discovery didn’t automatically make home coffee grinders popular, people still liked the convenience of store bought coffee that was ready to brew.

Over time, people realized that grocery store coffee was not as fresh as the coffee from days past when it would be ground just before brewing. Home grinders began to be popular and could be found on  retail shelves in every size, shape and color. The electric coffee grinder was finally being used by more people than ever and the coffee shop wasn’t the only place to get a quality cup of coffee.

Today, the electric coffee grinder is a common appliance that is used to make top quality coffee I homes around the world. These grinders come in all sizes and shapes and can even be found as part of a coffee maker and grinder combination. The electric coffee grinder is an important part of the coffee drinking ritual because of flavor explosion it brings to the coffee.

-Sharon Chapman

Russell Hobbs Coffee Grinder

The Russell Hobbs grinder is a small compact grinder with three settings for fine, medium and coarse coffee. This grinder is the ideal size for small kitchens, dorms and people who only occasionally grind their coffee beans. The timer sets the grinding time to allow for a precise grind while the cup setting allows one to six cups of coffee to be milled at one time.

The Russell Hobbs grinder is in the family of blade grinders that are less expensive than burr grinders. While the burr grinder is the preferred method for grinding large amounts of coffee beans on a continual basis, their price is cost prohibitive for many people. The blade grinder is the ideal option for getting freshly ground coffee.

The blade grinder’s drawback is that it has to be monitored to prevent the coffee from becoming scorched due to the overheating of the coffee beans. However, if the timer is used and the beans are carefully watched, the coffee grind will be perfect and the taste of the coffee will reflect this perfection. The Russell Hobbs grinder has timers to insure that the beans are not overheated. The timers in conjunction with the cup size selection work together to make sure the beans are not ground longer than necessary. Should the beans need to be ground finer the timer can be turned on for a second time. This works better to keep the beans from overheating than having the timer set for a long period.

Blade grinders that do not have timers work on a pulse action basis and require more interaction on the part of the user to keep the beans from becoming scorched. These types of grinders operate by pushing on a lever to turn on the blade and releasing it to stop the blades. Users have to learn how long their beans need to grind simply by sight and they also have to be careful not to let the machine turn too fast for long periods of time.

Small coffee grinders for home and dorm use can be found in retail shops and online. Manufacturers like Russell Hobbs provide top quality products that individuals can trust to provide quality ground coffee on a regular basis. Companies that have a history of top quality products can be trusted to supply their kitchen’s needs.

-Sharon Chapman

Collectors do have to be careful when searching for these grinders as there are unscrupulous people who will try to pass off grinders that are not genuine as being real. The Arcade Crystal grinder is particularly vulnerable as there are people who take parts from various Crystal models and combine them to make one complete grinder. To an uneducated collector the grinder might appear to be a complete antique but the trained eye will be able to pick out that it is not a true piece of history.

Arcade Crystal Coffee Grinders

Arcade Crystal Grinders are beautiful grinders with crystal clear bean hoppers that resemble mason jars on the top. These wall mounted models were black cast iron with crank handles and later models would have crystal clear catch jars attached to the bottom to catch the ground coffee. The words Arcade Crystal appeared in various places on the different models. Model No. 2 simply had “Crystal” across the upper jar.

Every Arcade Crystal Grinder had a model number and each one had its own markings to identify it. Later models would be more art deco and colorful. The one thing that they all had in common was the Arcade Crystal engraving on the glass bottoms and possibly a number as well. Collectors have to be well educated on these markings in order to identify the real grinders from the imposters.

There are other reasons that distinguishing Arcade Crystal Grinders can be difficult, one of which is the glass jars used by Arcade Crystal Grinders. Arcade Manufacturing supplied the glass jars to other companies who put their own name on them for their coffee grinders. This is why the markings are important in differentiating the different companies.

Collectors should join collector clubs and follow coffee grinder blogs that are devoted to helping collectors find real gems and not be fooled by fake ones. If the grinder is being purchased through the Internet, the buyer should request close-up photos that show all markings along with a certificate of authenticity or warranty should the delivered grinder not be the same one that was promised in the ads.

Collecting vintage coffee grinders is fun and fulfilling if the finds are genuine. Before any purchase is made the buyer should research the seller and the product to make sure they are getting what they believe they are seeing. Finding a rare Arcade Crystal grinder is exciting but should be approached with caution until the authenticity is verified.

-Sharon Chapman

Cuisinart Coffee Maker & Grinder

Every coffee lover knows that the best coffee is made from freshly ground coffee beans. This is why the sale of home coffee grinders has seen a popularity explosion in the past several years and why coffee shops seem to have a never-ending line at the counter. Grinding coffee beans at home is a simple process that should be done right at the time of brewing to insure the freshest coffee possible. If the beans are ground ahead of time they will quickly lose their freshness. This means that every time a pot of coffee is made the beans have to be ground first. While this is not a monumental task it does take a few minutes of time and when the clock has went off late and time if of the essence it seems like forever.

Coffee makers with built in grinders eliminate the need for grinding the beans prior to making the coffee. The coffee maker takes care of every detail. These machines have bean storage hoppers attached to the coffee maker. The hopper releases a set amount of beans into the built-in grinder which grinds the beans according to the user’s preference which is adjustable. As the beans are ground, they are released directly into the filter basket of the coffee maker which then turns on and begins the brewing process.

The features of the coffee maker with a built in grinder vary from one manufacturer to another. Adjustable grind settings are important if the coffee maker also has an espresso feature. If it does not, then the grinder may be preset for drip coffee. Hopper sizes vary from one machine to another but should be around eight ounces or slightly more. This is large enough for several pots of coffee without being so large that the coffee beans become stale before they are used. Advanced brewing features such as timed delay are common in coffee makers. This allows the user to set the coffee to brew before going to bed and insures they have fresh coffee when the alarm clock goes off in the morning.

The main consideration in coffee makers with built in grinders that needs to be considered is maintenance. These coffee makers need to be cleaned more often than other coffee makers to insure that buildup does not clog the grinder. The cost is not necessarily much higher than purchasing two separate machines.

Coffee makers with built in grinders are convenient appliances to have when time is a necessity and freshly ground coffee is the only coffee that is worth drinking. These machines allow individuals to have their perfectly ground fresh coffee without sacrificing their time in the process.

-Sharon Chapman

Hobart coffee grinders and other vintage coffee grinders have become collectables that many enthusiasts have turned into a hobby. These collectors have formed clubs and online groups to share their finds and tips on how to find and restore antique coffee grinders. Most of these grinders do not function well as coffee grinders for use in today’s coffee makers.

Antique coffee grinders are art pieces that are at home in any kitchen as a decorative piece and are also museum quality pieces of history that the public enjoys seeing and learning about. Finding these grinders can be difficult as they are often tucked away in an attic or closet in the old family homestead. Today’s generation might not even recognize an antique coffee grinder. They can be big, monstrous machines and unless they have markings on them it could be hard to discern what it is.

Antique coffee grinders represent a time in history when life was simpler and yet hard work was required at the same time. Grinding beans was a necessity in order to have fresh brewed coffee. Local country stores would often have large grinders that were used to grind customer’s beans. Homes would sometimes have smaller grinders to grind the beans at home. The necessity of grinding beans made this a chore that had to be done daily in order to have coffee ready for the next day.

The discovery of electricity and advancements in the design of coffee grinders made it possible for companies to manufacture pre-ground coffee and offer to the public. This commercialization of ground coffee made home coffee grinders practically obsolete. The ease of opening a coffee bag and scooping ground coffee was a godsend for many people.

In time, coffee shops became a popular place for coffee enthusiasts to have their daily java. These coffee lovers noticed the difference in the coffee served and how it was fresher tasting. The key was in freshly ground coffee beans. This realization brought the coffee grinder full circle and back in demand. It wasn’t long before coffee drinkers everywhere were purchasing coffee grinders for their home. These coffee grinders were not the monster machines like the Hobart; these are smaller, compact machines able to grind coffee in a wide variety of particle sizes.

Hobart coffee grinders are one of many hundreds of coffee grinders and a large part of the history of freshly ground coffee. They started the trend of freshly ground coffee and today are part of the collectable pieces in the vintage coffee grinder collector’s dreams.

-Sharon Chapman

Baratza "Vario" Digital Ceramic Burr Coffee Grinder

The majority of burr coffee grinders have metal burrs. These are more economical than ceramic burrs and create an excellent coffee without becoming overheated and causing the coffee to have scorched taste. Although metal burrs don’t cause scorched coffee, they do produce some heat.

A ceramic burr grinder is advantageous in coffee grinders because they last longer and are quieter in operation than other grinders. Metal burrs are long lasting but over time they can become worn and have to be replaced. Ceramic burr grinders will typically outlast the owner of the machine; ceramic doesn’t wear down like metal.

Burr coffee grinders are noted for producing very little heat that is one of the traits that make them ideal for grinding coffee without scorching the beans in the process. Ceramic burr grinders produce even less heat than their metal counterparts do. In addition to preventing scorching, this reduction in heat prevents the burrs from becoming glazed over with ground coffee like metal burrs.

Consistency is another trait of burr grinders that make them superior to blade grinders. Ceramic burrs produce an even more consistent grind than metal burrs. This is another reason that purchasing a ceramic burr grinder is the perfect choice. Knowing that the coffee is going to be consistently perfect and that the grinder will last a lifetime without needing a new burr makes purchasing a ceramic burr grinder simply the right choice.

Ceramic burr grinders are found in many brands of grinders. The Saeco coffee grinder is one brand that is well known for having a ceramic burr that lasts a lifetime. It is available on the Internet and at retail shops that carry coffee supplies and accessories. Researching the Internet for ceramic burr grinders will reveal many options for places to purchase ceramic burr grinders.

Burr grinders are the best choice when purchasing coffee grinders and a ceramic burr grinder is the best choice in the burr grinder category. It lasts a lifetime and consistently creates excellent coffee that is superb.

-Sharon Chapman

KitchenAid Pro Line Burr Coffee Mill

The Kitchen Aid grinder is a workhorse with the power of a commercial grinder combined with the stylish design Kitchen Aid products are known for having. The Pro Line is a conical burr coffee grinder with adjustable grind settings. Users can choose from fifteen grinds that allow them to make coffee of every type, from Turkish coffee to French Press.

Conical burr grinders like the Kitchen Aid provide coffee drinkers with freshly ground coffee without scorching it due to overheating of the grinds caused by the friction of high speed rotating blades like a single blade grinder.

The conical grinder is able t produce a consistent grind without having to guess if the coffee is going to taste the same as the pot before. In addition to being consistent, the grind of the beans is uniform in size than blade grinders. This is especially important when grinding beans for espresso and other coffee drinks that require a fine or super fine grind.

The advantages of using a burr coffee grinder have to be carefully weighed with the disadvantages in order to make a wise decision. The disadvantages are not overwhelming; they consist of the cost and maintenance.

Burr grinders are more expensive than blade grinder. There are some burr grinders that are available under a hundred dollars and others that are upwards of two hundred or more. The Kitchen Aid Pro Line coffee grinder can be purchased online for about two hundred dollars. Coffee drinkers who grind coffee on a daily basis need the power of a heavier duty grinder and so the cost is justified.

Maintenance of the conical burr grinder is not difficult but does take more time than cleaning a blade grinder. The burr can be removed and cleaned with a brush to remove any bean dust buildup that can clog the grinder.

Once the decision to purchase a burr grinder has been made, the resulting coffee will prove that the cost and maintenance of the machine are minor detractions that are easily overlooked.

The Kitchen Aid coffee grinder is a solid machine backed by the Kitchen Aid reputation for making quality kitchen appliances that are at home in any kitchen, large or small.

-Sharon Chapman

Collectors of coffee grinders typically search for the mills that were used during the nineteenth and twentieth century, particularly those from manufactures such as Arcade, Enterprise, Parker and various other companies. Coffee grinders can be found dating back to the 1780’s when Richard Dearman received the first patent for a coffee grinder. Finding these coffee grinders can be a difficult task and takes time, patience and research. It can take many years to find the most sought after models and then it may be more of an investment than most people are willing to make. This is why many antique coffee grinders, including the Enterprise, are usually found in history museums.

Enterprise Coffee Grinder

Antique coffee grinders are big, bulky machines that typically operate on a crank wheel mechanism. The coffee beans are loaded into the top of the grinder, which deposits them downward to the wheels as space permits. The operator of the grinder turns the crank handle to start the grinder process. The beans are crushed between the wheels and the resulting coffee granules are deposited into a collector box underneath the grinder. Other antique grinders operated in a similar fashion using blades instead of wheels. The crank handle turned the blades, which crushed the coffee to create the usable grounds.

Antique coffee grinders produced quality coffee during the era in which they were used; however, they would not be the ideal choice for today’s coffee makers. The resulting coffee granules created from antique coffee mills were too coarse for coffee makers in today’s world, however, in those days, coffee was typically made or brewed using what was known as coffee socks, a type of filter cloth.

Brewing in those days was a manual task. The person brewing the coffee could control the strength of the coffee by varying how many times it was poured through the coffee sock. If strong coffee was desired, the coffee would be poured the sock repeatedly. Today’s coffee makers do not operate in this manner and the size of the granules produced by mills like the Enterprise coffee grinder would not produce a quality coffee.

Collecting antique coffee grinders is a passion for many people. They proudly display their finds and are always on the lookout for the next great discovery. The one thing that is constant is the love of coffee has endured many generations and continues to grow more popular. Years from now there will be generations of people collecting single blade grinders and wondering how coffee ever survived the process.

-Sharon Chapman

Turkish Coffee World Grinder

The ritual behind Turkish coffee goes back to traditional times when a young man goes to the intended wife’s family to request her hand in marriage. According to this tradition, the bride-to-be is supposed to serve coffee on a coffee tray. Tradition states that the only opinion she is allowed to state in the proposal is in terms of how sweet the coffee is, if it is very sweet, she is indicating a yes to the proposal; however, if the coffee is sugarless she is stating her opposition to the marriage proposal. If the coffee appears to be salty, she is simply stating her indifference to the situation.

The process of making Turkish coffee requires an extra grind of coffee that most electrical grinders are unable to produce. These grinders, known, as “kahve degirmeni” are manual grinders that are able to produce this fine grind are the preferred grinders for making Turkish coffee.  If the coffee beans are not ground fine enough the resulting coffee will not be true Turkish coffee.

The process for making Turkish coffee is more involved than other types of coffee. The finely ground coffee is placed in cold water and stirred. The important thing to remember when deciding on the amount of coffee to add is that the coffee grounds are not filtered out, they settle to the bottom in a thick layer, which means that more coffee results in a thicker layer of sediment.

If the coffee is going to be sweetened, which it traditionally is in Turkish coffees, the sugar is added before the water is heated. This coffee water mixture is allowed to heat very slowly. The process in old days was done over charcoal embers with the pot being removed intermittently to prevent overheating.  Quick heating destroys the integrity of the coffee. Once the water boils it is time to remove the coffee and serve.

Serving the coffee is another art form that must be learned. The coffee is slowly poured into individual cups. The slow pour insures that each cup receives part of the foam that is an essential part of the taste. Because there is not filtering involved, the drinkers must allow the coffee to settle before drinking.

Turkish coffee is an experience that visitors to the country will cherish and that residents of the country consider a part of life. With the right tools, anyone can enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee anytime they want; the key is having a Turkish grinder that will produce the fine grind that is needed.

-Sharon Chapman