Re: Zassenhaus grinder woes
Ok, cheers. Not wanting to lug around a 25kg espresso machine I think Ill stick to plunger style while away. Its probably the one time when Ill be prepared to sacrifice a little on the quality if it means being very compact and easy to haul around. The "traditional" box style would be an absolute non-starter for where I need to use it unfortunately.
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Zassenhaus grinder woes
Collapse
X
-
Re: Zassenhaus grinder woes
"Im interested in the "quite small" one you have as I do a lot of travelling."
Yes this is an old thread ...
Our small Zass is not exactly tiny, but smaller than the others.
Its a model 105, W 7.8cm x H 11cm x L 11cm (16.5 inc handle).
Not new ("made in Western Germany"). Grinds very nicely.
Mostly for travelling we use an Italian BG round knee-grip grinder.
This doesnt have quite the adjustment finesse of the Z but is fine
for non-espresso grinds. The waisted knee-grip design makes it
easier to handle. Similar dimensions.
The smallest grinder we have is a Czech item called "Tramp".
Mid 50s, bakelite, in a cardboard box 12.5 x 9 x4cm. Never
dared use it, but recently my wife found a slightly damaged one
on e$ay, a bit rusty, she is currently restoring it for use,
indications are that it grinds quite nicely, burrs are certainly good
quality.
- Flag
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Zassenhaus grinder woes
Saw its an old thread but seems like the same characters in this episode.
With the internet these days the "tyranny of distance" has been reduced somewhat. Indeed I get a bit POed with local "distributors" who think that theyre going to make their living selling bugger all of [insert niche product here] by marking them up all heck and justifying it on the basis of [insert BS excuse here] only to come up with some creative reason why the "local warranty" they said youd get shouldnt be honoured when your widget, for which you paid a 50% premium to support the local retailer who sells through the internet anyway, goes up the snuff!!
Anyway, ask me what I really think about the excessively long supply chains weve tolerated for far too long here in Australia ;D
- Flag
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Zassenhaus grinder woes
Hi Pete,
just in case you hadnt twigged it is a 2 year old thread as well
There is currently no consistant supply of Zass grinders in Australia.
A few members here have purchased via Sweetmarias in the US and there is a few turn up on Ferralbay. Ones to avoid are the plastic bodied and also most of the so called antiques from china :
Genuine Zass or there is a few Dutch or Italian brands that are similar that work fine for plunger/syphon or Drip.
- Flag
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Zassenhaus grinder woes
Im interested in the "quite small" one you have as I do a lot of travelling. Would be used with a plunger.Originally posted by 6E677C64636768060 link=1190843000/7#7 date=1192952711"Please advise outcome. "
Well I did the test with most of our grinders, two Italian BG grinders
and three Zassenhaus of various sizes (including one quite small
that I use for travelling). I omitted the Spong no 2 because that will
grind anything. All at finest possible grind.
No problems at all with any of them. I also used some Nicaraguan
Maragogype, which are monster beans. No problems again.
Im very surprised at the problems youre having.
- Flag
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Zassenhaus grinder woes
A manufacturing defect is possible - especially in view of the upheavals at Zassenhaus.Originally posted by hazbean link=1190843000/15#17 date=1193483225
Now if you look at a (not very good) pic of the 169dg burrs here
http://www.sweetmarias.com/zassenhaus/zas169dg.burrs.jpg
they seem to be more deeply recessed. This may be just adjustment, but its
hard to tell what that same gap would be. **Maybe it is a trickier design to get
right, and yours has a manufacturing defect?**
At least the "sweetmarias" photo is the correct model - unlike the "coffeegeek" photo.
One last observation - which may give a further clue.
My old Zassenhaus grinder is designed to be held between the knees and works very well. The 169dg model is designed to rest (flat?) on the table and be held down. This works badly. But if - when the drawer faces me - I tilt the grinder by resting the left edge on a book (about 1 inch thick) the beans fall into the hopper and are ground at a reasonable speed.
Felix
- Flag
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Zassenhaus grinder woes
Felix, out of curiosity I tried to compare the construction of the burrs
on your 169g with our largest one, which would be the closest
reasonable comparison. Below is a picture showing both the burrs and the grinder.
The burrs are locked up i.e. as fine as possible. I measured
the gap shown to be 0.83cm at the narrowest point. Should be adequate for most
beans I think.
Now if you look at a (not very good) pic of the 169dg burrs here
http://www.sweetmarias.com/zassenhaus/zas169dg.burrs.jpg
they seem to be more deeply recessed. This may be just adjustment, but its
hard to tell what that same gap would be. Maybe it is a trickier design to get
right, and yours has a manufacturing defect?
- Flag
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Zassenhaus grinder woes
I am having second thoughts about the reliability of the reviews posted at the "coffee geek" URL; the grinder - if the image of the reviews is relevant - has only a passing resemblance to my ginder of the same model number.Originally posted by Lizzi link=1190843000/15#15 date=1193313518ok, you have got me curious... i will Zass-grind a shot for espresso tomorrow and count my lucky stars...no, turns!! ;D
L
137??? wow...
However, my real discovery is elsewhere.
As mentioned, I think Zassenhaus (Germany) has undergone a major overhaul. Their web-page now displays only _one_ coffee grinder - made of stainless steel and looking like the coffee grinders that itinerant Arab traders have loaded onto their camels for the past 1200 years or so.
So my new coffee grinder may turn into a priceless antique - even if its coffee-grinding ability leaves something to be desired.
Felix
- Flag
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Zassenhaus grinder woes
ok, you have got me curious... i will Zass-grind a shot for espresso tomorrow and count my lucky stars...no, turns!! ;D
L
137??? wow...
- Flag
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Zassenhaus grinder woes
137 turns for a shot?
Sounds like you need a cordless drill Felix.
- Flag
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Zassenhaus grinder woes
If Zass US exists, then they do not have a web-page.Originally posted by Lizzi link=1190843000/0#12 date=1193100028in that case i would write an email to **Zass US** and put it to them....you never know!
L
But my search did turn up the following up-to-date review:
http://www.coffeegeek.com/reviews/grinders/zassenhaus_manual_mill/fugue137/4466
which includes the following quote:
"With a fine grind I find that I need 137 turns for a shot--this is the Fine Structure Constant, so I believe that the Zassenhaus is trying to tell me something fundamental about the nature of the universe every time I grind".
Felix
- Flag
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Zassenhaus grinder woes
in that case i would write an email to Zass US and put it to them....you never know!
L
- Flag
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Zassenhaus grinder woes
Alas!Originally posted by Lizzi link=1190843000/0#10 date=1193013876Felix, if you bought it new, i would go back to the supplier and put the situation to them....
it just doesnt sound right...
L
Easier said than done.
The new Zassenhaus was a present brought by a visitor from the US :-( .
I fear that it is a lost cause. Zassenhaus (Germany) has undergone some recent internal turmoil. I am unclear what the story is, but I suspect that the company is now under new management and selling somewhat different products (after lacking a web-site and being reported as "out-of-stock" by US and Australian suppliers for some 18 months).
Thank you for the interest.
Felix
- Flag
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Zassenhaus grinder woes
Felix, if you bought it new, i would go back to the supplier and put the situation to them....
it just doesnt sound right...
L
- Flag
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Zassenhaus grinder woes
Originally posted by hazbean link=1190843000/0#7 date=1192952711"Please advise outcome. "
Well I did the test with most of our grinders, two Italian BG grinders
and three Zassenhaus of various sizes
grind anything. All at finest possible grind.
No problems at all with any of them. I also used some Nicaraguan
Maragogype, which are monster beans. No problems again.
Im very surprised at the problems youre having.
Bad news. It looks as though my new Zassenhaus is a lemon. It took 14 minutes to grind 40g of (very large) coffee beans.
The problem flagged in "grendels" reply is relevant:
" SOmetimes the width at the top of the funnel does not allow for larger beans to be easily caught by the burrs".
But my new Zassenhaus needs more than a prod to coax the beæns into the funnel opening. No such problems with my old Zassenhaus!
Felix
- Flag
Leave a comment:

Leave a comment: