Vintage Coffee Grinder for spices?

[raymo76]

Hey gang I was wondering if anyone had any experience with vintage coffee grinders and any input on using them for grinding spices. I'm thinking about blindly trying one if I can find a good deal on ebay. Been looking at models with the side crank, manual grinders, something like this

http://www.coffeedetective.com/vintage-manual-coffee-grinder.html

 

[chef jimmyj]

They are nice and I'm sure they will work fine...But what is the cost and how easy will it be to clean and once you start running spices through you can't use it for coffee, unless you like Cumin, Glove, Cayenne, Flavored Coffee...K-mart, Walmart and such carry electric models from companies like Rival that are cheap,compact and easy to clean.  I would like a Classic Grinder for Coffee...They are pretty cool...JJ

 

[tjohnson]

The Vintage Coffee Grinders you found would work, but Jimmy is correct, that you would not be able to use it for anything else + they take up some space.  Most of us use a cheap coffee grinder, that's EZ to clean.

I've got one similar to this that i got for $10

They also make a DC version

 

[mballi3011]

Fresh ground spices are always better.

 

[scarbelly]

I have one similar to Todd's and it works great. 

 

[larrym]

Hmmm, dang more ideas :)  I had one that brought from Italy , years ago.  Was thinking the other day that I could get all the dried tendrils from my grapevines and grind them up into dust.  Would take a bunch but should work in AMNPS okay.

 

[raymo76]

Haha Larry just rub it in that you got what I'm looking at.

I realize that any grinder I buy I would only use with spices. I get into these old school/traditional moods sometimes and I figured I'd grind with a hand grinder instead of an electric one. I mean I shave with a straight blade (if my blades not sharp a double edge razor), shave soap and brush, not a can of gillette and a mach 3. Sometimes I just get in these moods, haha, my wife thinks its weird that I must have an old soul.

 

[venture]

Todd seems to have a picture of mine?

Just don't use them for both purposes.

Then again, if you feel like spending money for that cool toy, go for it!

Good luck and good smoking.

 

[tjohnson]

Save Them Grape Vines Larry!

They will burn very well, and leave a sweet aroma on your food.

Don't get too crazy with running them thru your grinder.  They can be tough on things.

Go Slow and STOP if things start binding up.

Also, dry the heck out of them first

TJ

 

[SmokinAl]

This is the grinder I have & it produces a very uniform grind.

http://www.cuisinartwebstore.com/detail/CUI+DBM-8

 

[moikel]

I had a big manual grinder that you bolted to the bench top. I  was making harrisa ( Morocan chilli paste) & curry pastes in big quantities for a high end  providore.No fancy packaging just as is. The thing just got jammed up when I  did cumin ,mustard seed,coriander.Mind you I was doing it in big grinds but it just wasnt nor the tool for the job.Better off with the electric ones at the price if you burn the motors out over time your still in front.

Theres an East Indian manual one that I keep hearing about but havent eyeballed it myself,designed just for spices.Mine is in attic somewhere the hopper would take 4-5 cups of spice way more than the one in  photos here but the wheels just kept gumming up. It wasnt pretty either all cast iron & steel really looked the business but just didnt cut it.

 

[moikel]

PS I also jammed one similar to Smoking Als but it may have been a cheaper model. You need to be able to access the wheels to hit them with wire brush. Its the oils in things like mustard seed that give you the grief just turns stuff to sludge.

In season I  make 10kg curry paste at a time,mines thai style sort of but I use habaneros still in front using those little electric grinders.Been making curry paste for 15 years wife goes to friends,dogs go hide in backyard I where gas mask ,heavy rubber gloves no joke.

 

[daveomak]

This is the one I have been looking at. It is a crank but for the amount of spices I think I will need, it might be OK.

Haven't pulled the trigger yet....

Below is a description... just one I pulled from Google.. not a recommendation.. I have found many places that sell them and all about the same price.

http://www.veggiesensations.com/batobagrmi55.html

 

[moikel]

 Dave,As long as you can get at the grinding wheel/teeth to give them a brush now & then ,sure.

 

[raymo76]

Maybe I will just start off with an inexpensive electric one. Thanks for the thoughts and input fellas.

 

[raymo76]

Al I was looking into that burr mill, would you recommend it easily? Can you give me a quick review on it, I like two things about that model, its adjustable and its a burr mill. I was trying to stick to burr's and that's why I was primarily looking into manual models.

 

[SmokinAl]

Al I was looking into that burr mill, would you recommend it easily? Can you give me a quick review on it, I like two things about that model, its adjustable and its a burr mill. I was trying to stick to burr's and that's why I was primarily looking into manual models.

I use it mostly for coarse grinding pepper. It is the only grinder that I have ever had that would actually produce CBP. If you are just going to grind a couple of teaspoons of spice then the hand grinder would be fine, but for me I usually grind a cup or so of pepper at a time, and hand grinding takes a long time. Whatever you decide I think an adjustable burr grinder is the way to go.

 

[raymo76]

Does it do fine grounds pretty good?

 

[SmokinAl]

Yes it will grind it down to dust if you want.

 

[raymo76]

Thanks Al, we have some gift cards to bed bath & beyond I can probably cash in.