An early preview of my YT video as it’s unlisted at the moment

I think adding a motor is a great idea because as you say not everyone can grind by hand, forget injuries such as broken wrists or arms (or in my case a few years ago…elbow) just getting old and suffering from loss of grip or arthritis is common enough. What will be interesting is to see what quality the burrs are and how it compares with some of the established hand grinder manufacturers out there such as the Commandante or Zpresso to name just two. If all it takes to grind is as long as it takes to boil the kettle and it’s still too long for anyone, then they must be a right miserable so and so.

Pompeyexile I’ve done a new video, Oh and my friend had had a broken wrist a year or so before trying my hand grinder and was having trouble. Enjoy

Forget wrist injuries, age, arthritis…when I’d grind big brews at work, or at family get-togethers, a kindly female might occasionally offer to take over grinding duty…it’s something we might take for granted, but it’s a big ask for a lady. For me, a motor for a Hario, or Porlex transforms grinding to a reasonable part of the process, rather than a total chore (for bigger doses). So, what’s the anticipated price Dave? Hario Grind Stick is £80-£90 plus grinder (£110-£130 total), Timemore Go is £120-160. How does this fit in that landscape? By the way, you’re not getting 310g out from 500g water poured (24g dose) …there’s something amiss there?

MWJB So, what’s the anticipated price Dave? Hario Grind Stick is £80-£90 plus grinder (£110-£130 total), Timemore Go is £120-160. How does this fit in that landscape? By the way, you’re not getting 310g out from 500g water pour That was before I’d finished the pour I think. I’m not totally sure of the price , the burrs I’ve found out are 38mm, and I believe it will be £99 all in, including a brush and blower. I think they just forgot to repack them when they sent it to me. The spindle has 2 decent bearings with tight tolerances. I like the little grinder going coarser tomorrow.

I hear you say you have a JX Pro 1Zpresso hand grinder and I would be interested to hear your comments on a side by side comparison for tasting as the JX Pro at the moment is going for about £150-160 not including postage. Or would it be more comparible with the JX 1Zpresso which retails at just under £100. If so, same price and performance but with a motor would be a bargain.

Pompeyexile Or would it be more comparible with the JX 1Zpresso which retails at just under £100. If so, same price and performance but with a motor would be a bargain. It’s more comparable to the JX, the JX pro is a very capable grinder that can do espresso. This little grinder is surprisingly decent, hence me spending the time on what is a relatively inexpensive product. I’m more interested in decent products finding their way to consumers. If someone gave me this for my Birthday (V soon) or Christmas, I would not be disappointed, especially if I was just getting into coffee. If either of my student kids drank coffee, I would buy them this and a cheap pour over setup with no worries.

This really is the final video where I take it apart and other stuff.

For me a decent hand grinder is the final piece in my affordable coffee jigsaw that I’m hoping Santa might bring me and I was looking at the 1Zpresso (not sure which variant yet) but this, if it comes with coated burrs seems a real bargain and I think will have to be on my shortlist.

Pompeyexile if it comes with coated burrs seems a real bargain and I think will have to be on my shortlist. That’s what they are saying about the burrs, it sounds like a really good package….Also they are considering a special offer for people who view my YouTube (for which I don’t get a penny and it won’t be a paid referral link either) , just a genuine special offer. How this would work I have no idea, as I’ve never done anything like it before, also they may decide not to do it as the price is pretty low as it is. I am assuming I get a special discount code to put in the description of the video?? Hence, I would hang on from purchasing until I get more news … if I forget, check the video descriptions (probably check the last video first) before purchasing. P.S. I started using some really hard beans and so far it’s done at least 5 X 24g, I can see the charge is getting lower as 2 blue lights show when grinding…I will be doing a 6th lot of 24g later. Even 5 grinds, I consider excellent for such a small motor unit.. They are also considering having spare motor units available to previous purchasers at a discount, so when the lithium cell eventually dies, you can get another.

The Unknown Hand/Electric grinder

dfk41

Teaboy Could you expand a little on that please. I used mine daily initially then put it away. I have been finding that (it might be me being a knacker!) that if I tighten the grind by say half a turn, it was making no difference to the draw time. This meant I could not fine tune to alter the taste. Hopefully, someone will call by soon who is better than I with brewed and we can sort it

Teaboy

dfk41 Yes, sorry apart from the known issue with the slight play in the shaft I was happily using it but had to stop as the lugs are now disintegrating where the motor joins.

I am now looking for a replacement, do you have any recommendations, Kinu, mazzer etc I am unsure as this was my first hand grinder but I don’t want to go wrong twice.

dfk41

Teaboy Ah, how frustrating! I am afraid that I am the wrong person for hand grinders! I think that @DavecUK rated the JX Pro range

https://coffeeequipmentreviews.wordpress.com/2019/11/21/1zpresso-jx-and-jx-pro-hand-grinders/

Perhaps @LMSC and @MWJB might chip in

james65477564

Teaboy Wow, the picture suddenly makes sense!

I have used mine a reasonable amount and no similar signs.

DavecUK

Teaboy Yes, sorry apart from the known issue with the slight play in the shaft I was happily using it but had to stop as the lugs are now disintegrating where the motor joins.

Just seen the photo, can’t believe it, the motor lugs are polycarbonate, how on earth have they damaged the metal??

I will check the prototype one I have carefully tomorrow…especially as the improved production ones should be arriving soon!!

DavecUK

Teaboy Yes, sorry apart from the known issue with the slight play in the shaft I was happily using it but had to stop as the lugs are now disintegrating where the motor joins.

was there anything odd about the way the motor was locking in, was it locked in correctly or twisting as it started. I ask because I can’t understand how it can happen? I ground lots of coffee on the prototype…I will actually inspect and photo the lugs now.

This is what mine look like and the grinder has probably had more than 2 kg through it, plus some espresso, so around 165+ grind sessions, equating to perhaps approx 3 months of usage based on your work pattern? The only sign of any usage marks are those created by locking and unlocking the motor.

Below is the motor unit lugs and the moulding marks exist on a never used motor unit as well

I did let the manufacturer know directly what happened with your unit…the immediate reaction was shock and they have no idea how this could have happened? Please let BB know as the revised and improved production grinder samples are due in and I think they would want to send you one.

Teaboy

dfk41 thank you for that, I am thinking German made or Italian? Not sure what make or model though.

Teaboy

james65477564 mine I used 2 to 3 times a day every day at work and have done since end July.

MWJB

Teaboy Strange requirement to go by country, I’d go by features & support.

I don’t think grinders that adjust underneath, without clear visible indication of grind setting are ideal, but I have the Commandante X25 that grinds without too much resistance, finding it better for coarser settings.

There’s also the well regarded Kinu grinders from Germany.

Not sure there is much choice other than the very expensive Mazzer hand grinders from Italy.

Also consider maybe Made by Knock, 1Zpresso, Lido?

Teaboy

MWJB sorry, not specifically going by country, my thoughts are that anything can be made anywhere with the correct specs and materials.

Support is important but I really want a hand grinder that can be used day in day out without needing support, commondante or Kinu as mazzer are pricey, the trouble with Kinu though seems to be supply. I am not sure.

MediumRoastSteam

Teaboy

Kinu M47 - German company, but I think the workshop is in Romania if memory serves me right.

Mazzer Omega - Italian company, and presumably made in Italy.

Dusk

Teaboy

Knock grinders are made in the UK and spares can be bought for them or it can be sent back for a service. They’re very well made and I’ve given mine plenty of use and it’s still in very good condition.

FadedFrontiers

Dusk Knock grinders are made in the UK and spares can be bought for them or it can be sent back for a service.

Dusk they used to be all made in the UK but now produced in China and assembled in the UK iirc, still good quality but they shifted production some time back! MbK has a bad reputation for customer service (as it was one guy doing everything so lots of enquiries were just ignored) but maybe they’ve since improved, I’m not sure.

@Teaboy I’d personally recommend 1zpresso, they have a good quality to cost balance compared to Commandante and Kinu. Even their mid tier range seems to grind faster than MBK and Commandante.

LMSC

I have a JX Pro. It’s great and well made. This was my daily driver for 2.5 years both for espresso and filters. I have the Niche Duo now.

Cuprajake

Can usually get seconds knock grinders on eBay too.

Teaboy

Cuprajake I will look on eBay, I just had a look at their website and everything is sold out, are they still making grinders?

MWJB

Teaboy The Barn in Berlin has 2 iterations of the compact MBK Aergrind in stock.

FadedFrontiers

Teaboy yeah their grinders go in and out of stock quite frequently, their seconds are good value just check what version you’re buying first as they often sell older stock with different burr coatings etc.

MediumRoastSteam

Also, machina in Edinburgh: https://machina-coffee.com/collections/hand-coffee-grinders/products/made-by-knock-aergrind-hand-grinder-black

Teaboy

FadedFrontiers thank you I am also trying to find out more about commondante c60, I don’t make espresso at work and usually have to do more than one grind as I often make one for a friend.

FadedFrontiers

Teaboy not seen an RRP for it yet but the C60 is likely to be very expensive, probably comparable to the Mazzer Omega if not even more and there’s just so many good grinders out there for a lot cheaper.

Your optimal choice depends on what features are most important to you (eg grind speed and ease, ability to do both espresso and filter or one method better than the other, quality of build, portability, value for money). No grinder will tick all boxes even if you’re paying a premium!

Teaboy

DavecUK hi Dave, I explained everything to BB and they said they order them from China and that there was not another iteration due and what was I to expect from ‘hammering’ a £99 Chinese grinder. BB suggested it would probably fare better with light use. They were very understanding though, great customer service, I can’t fault that, what a polite firm too.

The motor used to lock in without issue, it is a shame.

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