Hand-Crank Coffee Grinders

[feltfan]

The problem with hand grinders is that it takes a fair amount
of time and effort. Charming at first, but eventually annoying.
What makes hand grinders inefficient is that you have to hold
them and turn the crank. Zazzenhaus used to make a hand
grinder that clamped to your counter or table. Probably the
only practical model I've ever seen. You might be able to find
one on eBay. They now make a "knee mill", which you can hold
between your knees as you grind. Sort of annoying, but it works.
I recommend this online retailer:

http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.zas.shtml

Or you could go with an antique mill with a wheel for
ease of use:

As for how coffee was made in the Golden Era, they had everything
we have today. Espresso was invented around 100 years ago.
Drip coffee, french press, neopolitan, etc, all were in use. Perhaps
not in middle America, but ... no comment. Of course the classic
American Golden Era coffee maker was the siphon:

I believe there are detailed posts on this method somewhere on this site.

 

[Dickie]

SPONG

You want to buy a vintage SPONG. My family have had one since when I was born, and we've got one now. They come up on ebay quite often and are quite cheap but they do the job magnificently and last for years. The domestic model is/was called SPONG No. 1 and works like a dream! Hope this helps.

 

[Josephine]

The problem with hand grinders is that it takes a fair amount
of time and effort. Charming at first, but eventually annoying.
What makes hand grinders inefficient is that you have to hold
them and turn the crank. Zazzenhaus used to make a hand
grinder that clamped to your counter or table.

My aunt and grandmother had one that was on a board that screwed into the wall. The ones with the Dutch blue pattern of a windmill, etc on on the part that held the beans (hopper?). I haven't seen it in their house in awhile, I hope they still have it...

 

[adamjaskie]

As far as simple non-electric coffee MAKERS go, my favorite is probably the simple manual drip model. It consists of a plastic cone into which you place a regular paper coffee filter full of grounds, and pour water over the top. The cones generally sit right on top of a thermos, so your coffee brews into an insulated pot that you can close up and take with you.

For smaller quantities, you can find similar plastic cones that will fit on top of a coffee mug. I find these excellent for camping.

 

[30s sliphorn]

[/IMG]

This is our vintage Arcade Crystal coffee grinder. It's the same model my great grandmother used around the WW1 era. I was surprised that you can actually adjust the grind with it - the nut holding the arm on it will tighten or loosen, and bring the grinding wheels closer together or farther apart. It's actually rather a clever design. It's neat that some people still use these. We don't use it; we are Nespresso aficionados (I know that's probably probably at least a misdemeanor in the barista world, but they do make great coffee with little fuss.)

 

[Gregg Axley]

I've got a hand crank coffee grinder!
I never really thought about it being an antique.
Yeah it's true about there being a lot of effort.
I think you need the coffee to grind the beans, to make coffee...:eusa_doh:

 

[scotrace]

We run a shop and one of the things we sell is treadle sewing machines so we know a little about non electric devices, i have seen a kitchenaid mixer that has a crank, now there is a place in ohio that is called lehams,non electric catalog, now i may not have that spelled right check it out on the web they have a web site, and they probably have a handcrank coffe grinder thank you 59Lark. home of the studebaker and the singer treadle sewing machine.

"Lehman Brothers Hardware" in Kidron, OH. I've been there many times. They have hand-crank coffee grinders but their web presence is dismal (main target customer is Amish - and tourists Amish wannabes).

 

[carouselvic]

Landers, Frary & Clark

coffee mills of all qualities can still be had on ebay

 

[Gregg Axley]

Mine is very close to that, but not as ornate on the top.
The handle has WHC in cursive.

 

[carouselvic]

Mine is very close to that, but not as ornate on the top.
The handle has WHC in cursive.

Wrightsville Hardware Co.

 

[Oldsarge]

There's a Spong #2 on ebay right now.

 

[Gregg Axley]

Thanks for the info.
This is the one I have, now that I know who made it.

[/IMG]

 

[David Conwill]

Well, it only took a dozen years, but I finally ordered a coffee grinder. Thanks for the advice, folks!

 

[MisterCairo]

I bought a hand grinder from the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul during our naval deployment port visit in 2015. Brass and copper, looks beautiful.

Does not work...