The German Zassenhaus is, without doubt, the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of manual coffee grinders. If you are interested in buying a manual coffee grinder, this German firm should be the first place you go.
In this article, we are going to dissect in detail the whole range of Zassenhaus coffee grinders, and we are going to tell you what the peculiarities of each one are so that you don’t miss out on your purchase. Let’s start with the typical characteristics:
When buying a Zassenhaus grinder, you should know that they all have a series of common characteristics, which unmistakably define this brand. A Zassenhaus coffee grinder is always manually operated (there are no electric coffee grinders as yet).
Moreover, these are products of enormous quality in manufacture and often use noble materials (olive wood, beech, metals) in their manufacture. For this reason, a Zassenhaus coffee grinder is considerably more expensive than the average. Its price range can vary from 50-60 pounds of the most affordable models to more than 100 pounds that a copy of the famous Zassenhaus La Paz coffee grinder can cost.
There are no essential differences between the different Zassenhaus coffee grinders. They all have steel grinders, allow for manual adjustment of the grinding thickness, and have similar storage capacity. The only difference between them is the external appearance and the material they are made of.
In this sense, we can divide Zassenhaus coffee grinders into two broad groups: those of colonial design and those of modern design. As you read the list below, you will be able to identify which one belongs to which group.
So, to sum up, Zassenhaus grinders are:
- It’s always hand grinders.
- Highest quality of manufacture and materials.
- Above-average price (from 50 pounds upwards).
- The grinding mechanism of all Zassenhaus grinders is guaranteed for 25 years.
As a curiosity, all Zassenhaus coffee grinders are named after a South American capital. The Zassenhaus spice or salt grinders, on the other hand, are named after some important German cities (for example, we find the Zassenhaus Stuttgart pepper grinder, Zassenhaus Berlin, Zassenhaus Frankfurt, or Zassenhaus Konstanz, to name a few).
- Zassenhaus Berlin Salt Mill Lacquered Beechwood Dark Stained Finish 12 cm
- Zassenhaus Frankfurt Pepper Mill, Wood, Brown, 9 x 12 x 16 cm
Zassenhaus Santiago
Of the entire range of Zassenhaus coffee grinders, Zassenhaus Santiago is possibly their flagship. The most recognizable, most popular, and best-selling element of the entire brand. It is made of varnished beechwood, and the wall lights are made of stainless steel. Its dimensions: 14 x 9 x 20 cms.
It stands out for being presented in two variants: one in black, with silver metallic wall lights, and another in dark brown (mahogany) with gold finishes.
Zassenhaus Montevideo
The Zassenhaus Montevideo mounts two different types of wood to create the main body of the grinder, thus giving origin to an attractive grain in the corners that gives it a great personality. The ends of the grinding mechanism and the handle are made of polished stainless steel, and their dimensions are 10 x 10 x 18 cms.
Zassenhaus Caracas
The Zassenhaus Caracas is a rare bird in the extensive range of Zassenhaus grinders. Its body is cylindrical and is made entirely of stainless steel. It has a very narrow waist with an ergonomic grip thanks to black plastic material. It also has some transparent plastic parts. For all these reasons, we are faced with the possibility of buying one of the cheapest Zassenhaus coffee grinders.
Zassenhaus Lima
The Zassenhaus Lima grinder belongs to the Zassenhaus group of grinders with a modern design. It is a cylindrical stainless steel tube that we have to hold with one hand while we operate the crank with the other to grind the grains. The complements or paddles of the main body of the grinder are made of plastic. Its dimensions: 31 x 14 x 7 cms.
Zassenhaus La Paz
We arrived at a real collector’s item: the Zassenhaus La Paz. Although its operation is identical to that of the other Zassenhaus manual coffee grinders, this Zassenhaus La Paz model has an unmistakable antique look, which differentiates it from the rest of the range.
The grinding mechanism and the opening for pouring the coffee beans are integrated into a spherical structure, which resembles a ball of the world. It is made of natural beech wood, dark varnished, and the tops are made of stainless steel. Great for making a nice gift and looking like a lord. Measures 14 x 23 x 14 cms.
Zassenhaus Panama
The Zassenhaus Panama is made of forged stainless steel, very robust and with a matte finish, and its most recognizable feature is the clear opening at the bottom (which is where the ground coffee beans are deposited). It is a very light manual coffee grinder (it weighs just over 500 grams), and its dimensions are 4 x 4 x 12 cms.
Zassenhaus Havanna
This peculiar Zassenhaus Havanna grinder is made of polished brass and stainless steel. It is a golden tube with carved decorations, and its handling is the same as the other cylindrical grinders of the German firm, although the appearance of this one is not exactly “modern”. It does not have accessories or plastic parts and does not weigh more than 700 grams—a different option, without a doubt.
Zassenhaus Brasilia
The Zassenhaus Brasilia model follows the same design lines as the popular Zassenhaus Santiago. It is also built with beech wood and hardened steel. The only difference with the latter is that the main body is straighter and has more pronounced edges. The final appearance of the piece is “more cubic”. Besides, it has a greater variety of colours and shades in the woods. Its measures: 12 x 12 x 20 cms.
Zassenhaus Bogotá
This Zassenhaus Bogota is a white beech wood grinder whose main body is completely cylindrical. The grinding mechanism is made of ceramic, which as experts in the field know, is a material that resists better to high temperatures than steel.
It means that it has less risk of overheating and therefore less chance of transmitting different aromas to the coffee. Its diameter is 10.5 cms, and its height is 22 cms. The Zassenhaus Bogotá is one of the most economical Zassenhaus coffee grinders (at least at the time of writing).
Zassenhaus Quito
The Zassenhaus Quito grinder imitates the concept of the Zassenhaus Panama. Perfect cylindrical body, with a clear opening at the base, so you can see the ground coffee through it. In particular, this lower part is made of satin glass. The mechanism is made of stainless steel, but the main body of the piece is covered with thick aluminium. Its dimensions: 6 cms. Diameter, and 22 cms. Height.
Zassenhaus Lübeck
We leave the exception that confirms the rule for last: the Zassenhaus Lübeck grinder follows the tradition of the best Zassenhaus hand grinders but completely transforms the usual design of the German company to present an almost futuristic look.
How does it do this? By cleverly combining black wood with glossy stainless steel trims. The result is striking and sober at the same time.
Zassenhaus Guatemala
Like the previous one, the Zassenhaus Guatemala is an option focused on the younger public that is looking for a manual grinder of the highest quality but with a more modern design. The main body of the Zassenhaus Guatemala coffee grinder is made of Wengue wood (very dark), without adornments or trims, while the base has an elegant polished stainless steel coating. It measures 8 x 8 x 17 cms.
To finish, we’re going to leave you with a couple of fascinating videos that will help you if you finally end up buying a Zassenhaus coffee grinder. You know that maintenance is a crucial part of the success and longevity of these authentic collector’s pieces:
How to assemble a Zassenhaus grinder after cleaning
You know that to clean the interior of a grinder in good condition, it must be almost completely dismantled to be able to access the grinding mechanism with all guarantees. The problem comes when, when it is time to reassemble it, we are not sure of any step, or we have any spare part. In that case, we hope this video guide will serve as a reference:
How to use a Zassenhaus coffee grinder
And if this is the first time you’ve had access to a hand grinder of this kind, it wouldn’t hurt to take a look at this demonstration of use to learn how it works and how it behaves:
