Collecting an Antique Coffee Grinder

Coffee grinders have been around for a very longmanufacturers such as those of German
time, as coffee was being brewed before electricitymanufactured made models that were instantly
was invented. In fact an antique coffee grinder willidentifiable as they changed the design every couple
date from before nineteen fifty, as this was whenof years. A Dutch brand made their coffee mills out
these hand powered machines ceased production,of glass and decorated them with artwork, and
and may have been produced as early as eighteenthese can be dated by identifying when the artwork
fifty.was produced.
All of these older models will have a handle, and willAmerican coffee mills can be found dating back to
be made of wood, cast iron or glass. Some machineseighteen sixty, and are most likely to be made of
have been manufactured to look old, but if theycast iron. There were two major manufacturers in
have not been made in these kinds of materials andthe United States.
are maybe instead made from plastic, then they areMost brand names can be found on the front or
definitely not antique. It is possible to find theseback of a machine, and there may also be a serial
coffee mills from both European and Americannumber so that the precise year of manufacture can
manufacturers.be looked up. These machines are quite popular as
In England these were made primarily by twocollectors items with many being in working order.
different companies. Some grinders were made outThe ones that have been constructed out of cast
of cast iron from eighteen fifty to nineteen fifty,iron are obviously the most durable. Perhaps the best
during which time the basic model did not changereason for buying an antique coffee grinder is that
very much meaning that dating these is bestthey are an attractive ornament that may still have a
achieved by researching the serial number. Otheruseful purpose.