Antique Coffee GrindersChoosing the Perfect Antique Coffee & Espresso Grinder
We collect only the best top quality coffee & espresso grinders from all over Europe. All of the antique grinders on this website are very rare due to condition and age and many are one out of a hundred finds. We also have a nice selection of antique coffee & espresso grinders that are waiting to be cleaned and many times never make it to the website. If you do not see what you are looking for ask us there is a good chance that we have it. We would be happy to answer any questions and help you find that perfect antique coffee & espresso grinder for daily use, museum or private antique collection. Antique Hand Conical Burr Grinders - Still making the best coffee & espressoThere are a lot of factor involved to achieve great coffee. Besides the quality of the beans and the freshness of the roast, the grind has a great effect in the taste of coffee. When beans are ground with an electric grinder an uneven grind is usually produced along with a small particle dust. The high speed of an electric coffee / espresso grinder can also over heat the beans oils leaving a bad flavor. 
An antique German or European grinder has a conical burr. This conical burr is the best to achieve a uniform particle grind that gives a more even extraction of flavors so that the bitter taste that comes from particle dust is not created. An antique German or European grinder also has a grind adjustment making it possible to adjust the burr for grinds from coarse all the way to extra fine. This is a finer and more even grind than most electric or store grinders are capable of. This grind adjustment range makes it possible to adjust the grind to the proper preparation required for the chosen method of brewing. The aroma of fresh beans ground by a quiet beautiful working antique also adds to the enjoyment of making that wonderful beverage we love so much every morning. Old World QualityCoffee grinder production has evolved in Europe since the 16th Century. In the 1700's a few towns in Germany became the European centers for high quality coffee grinder production. These centers produced master craftsman at a time when quality was the number one priority. Design quality reached it zenith in the Biedermeier era and continued until the Jugenstil period or late 1800's. Grinder production continually increased and peaked after the Second World War until the mid 1950's meeting its fateful end with the modernazation of the late 50's and 60's. History & Makers
Valuable information for collectors. Robert Zassenhaus, Pe De Dienes, Peugeot Freres, Goldenberg, Mutzig-Framont, Holtzendorff, ELMA, EREKA, Österreich-Ungarische Industrie, Alexanderwerk, Lehnartz, Leinbrock, Burg Mühle - Mathias H Schmitz, KyM / K & M - Kissling & Müllmann, Otto Wülfing, F & B, Geska, B & T, Trösser and more. Antique Coffee Grinders - History & Makers Model & Design Guide
A general guide to the design style and time period for antique European grinders. Modern Art Deco Box, Full Wood Box, Jugendstil Wall Mount, Jugendstil Half Rise, Classic Biedermeier Side Handle, Classic Biedermeier Low Rise, Full External Hopper, Classic Biedermeier, Open External Hopper, and Full Brass & Copper. Antique Coffee Grinders - Model & Design Guide Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the grind adjustment on an antique grinder? Most German grinders have a grind adjustment that is located inside the grinder box. In order to adjust the grind it is necessary to remove the drawer first. There is usually a lever that can be turned for the desired particle size. Why Beech hardwood? Antique coffee grinders were usually made from Beech hardwood for a good reason. Beech which is native to Europe has a few special properties, Beech does not splinter! This makes Beech the ideal wood for an item that is used by hand. Also Beech has special oils that preserve the wood and makes the wood even more beautiful with age. Beech is also the wood that is used in Dutch shoes, ice cream and popsicle sticks for the same reason. Does an antique grinder labeled Mokka grind finer than other older antique grinders? The Mokka label was used by many German makers from the 1940's until the 1960's. Mokka was a marketing label indicating that the coffee grinders were capable of grinding fine for mokka pot & espresso machine brewing. Some coffee grinders with this label had a ball bearing grind adjustment making it easier to adjust the burr. The ball bearing conical burr adjustment was a Peter Dienes invention called Solida Kugal Werk that can be found in Pe De Dienes Solida model conical burr coffee grinders all the way back to the early 1900's. Many antique Mokka labeled grinders from the 1950's and 60's also have a full metal housing which automatically centers the conical burr and burr plate. However not all of the antique Mokka labeled grinders were made with the ball bearing and or full metal housing. So in conclusion Mokka is not an indication of a higher quality but it is usually a fine grind for espresso. Not all antique Mokka grinders can grind fine enough for espresso and many much older antique grinders like the Pe De Dienes Solida can grind finer for espresso than some Mokka labeled grinders. Is a modern antique hand coffee / espresso grinder better than an older hand grinder for daily use? There were slight design changes but the quality that was achieved in Germany in the mid to late 1800's set the standards for most European coffee grinder production. The newer grinders are cheaper and easier to find but the older grinders in good condition are the real gems and some models can grind fine enough for espresso. What does D. R. G. M. mean? This mark can be found on many antique items that were made in Germany and Austria from 1891 until just before the end of the Second World War 1945. The mark D. R. G. M. stands for Deutsches Reich Gebrauchs Muster this is a utility model patent for commercially applicable inventions. Cleaning & Maintenance NEW UPDATE! Check back daily for new grinders and content. Refresh page for latest updates Info Collections |
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