Akirakoki Manual Coffee Bean Grinder Wooden Mill with Cast Iron Burr, Large Capacity Hand Crank, Portable Travel Camping Adjustable (Brown wood)

I purchased this manual grinder after my previous one broke, and I wanted it to be easier to load beans into (i. e. , not having to disassemble the top to load beans). It appealed to me because I love cast iron and real wood, and because the hinged lid makes loading easier, and because I am also a huge fan of the look and durability of all those things. Having the ability to adjust the coarseness of the grind was a major factor for me because I use a french press. It's important to grind the coffee coarsely, and any powdery fine coffee will just slip right through the steel mesh filter, resulting in a bitter cup of coffee. As soon as it arrived, I disassembled and examined its top and how it fits together. I adjusted the grinding to just shy of the coarsest setting (the My previous grinder was already loud enough to make it hard to hear a TV or person talking over it (which was already loud enough to make it difficult to hear a TV or person talking over). I loaded it and started grinding. I was amazed at just how much louder this one is. Many of the sounds I heard sounded like metal on metal and not like beans being broken up between the An issue is that the metal tab that is part of the top assembly (the part that goes through the cog where the coarseness adjustment gear is mounted) is rubbing against the metal top This scraped off the left side of the cast iron lid immediately around the top of the lid where these surfaces were in contact. I imagine this will create metal flakes, which will fall inside the grinder. Not only does this create a lot of noise, but it also produces metal flakes. The metal tab grinding up the top also gets stuck in a crack between where the hinged lid meets it, which makes grinding much more difficult. In looking at the beans, I saw chunks mixed with finer powder, an undesirable and uneven consistency, and worse than what my previous grinder (at half the price of this one) was capable of producing. I thought maybe the grinder would perform better/rub less at a more medium grind setting, so I set the coarseness accordingly and tried it I found the grind to be a little more consistent, but it is finer than the grind Metals play a critical role as well Despite the grinding of the metal on the lid, it continued. As a result, even though I find particular aspects of this grinding attractive, I think the design generally has something to be desired. Is there any way to bend, file down, or re-form this friction point tab? Could another washer or two be added somewhere beneath it to raise it up to the point where it does not rub against anything? The noise and metal flakes may be fine if this is how it is supposed to work? Or maybe this is intended to happen, and the noise and metal flakes are the norm?.

Harley Cameron

| Sep 27, 2020

There is a learning curve involved in hand grinding, so be patient and strong. Several minutes of grinding two ounces of beans on a medium coarse setting is what it took me to grind two ounces. My opinion is that the grind came out well, but the effort required to obtain it was a bit high. As close a comparison as I can make is grinding pepper for several minutes at a time. Doesn't make sense, but you can do it. I like the build quality and the aesthetics of it as well.

Zoey Rhodes

| Oct 19, 2020

While the adjustments are a little more cumbersome than with some other grinders, the heavier iron grinds a lot smoother than the better-priced thin stainless steel grinders that can be adjusted more easily.

Ariella Flynn

| Apr 30, 2021

It is the best grinder I have ever used. Material, construction, weight - all these things matter My opinion is that this is a quality product. It grinds evenly, although I think it does a better job at finer grinds than very coarse ones. A very fine powdery grind for espresso or pour-over coffee can be achieved with this grinder That's it. My preferred method of French pressing my coffee is to get a medium/course grind from my French press. The amount of coffee needed for a single cup can be ground quickly with minimal force and time. Be sure to do a few tests grinds with the adjustment setting after a few minutes. My understanding of this grinder is that the most challenging aspect of using it is the adjustment process. Remove the handle and the nut, turn the notched washer into the desired position, and then put the handle back on. You don't have to worry about it if you're like me, with a favorite grind size. The grind you use every time you brew will become a hassle if you constantly change it.

Halo Reyes

| Oct 13, 2020

Then I used an electric grinder to grind fresh beans and put them I recommend stainless steel), soak hot water and beans for 4 minutes, and then In order not to "burn" or scald the bean, I would lightly grind the beans (not overgrind) with the electric coffee grinder, and I quite enjoyed this method and In view of the above, using this manual grinder as opposed to an electric grinder opens up a MUCH more smooth and chocolatey result This flavor (using the same beans and french press) is based on the same ingredients. I cannot describe how amazing it is! The parts that move or make up the grinder movement are made from This is a quality product you can feel. There is a little top weight in the middle of the staircase as the majority of the 'movement' is in the upper half while the bottom half of the staircase is empty. Although it is meant to be used as a grinder, the entire unit is not too large where it will fall over at all unless it is really bumped. This is a sturdy thing that should not be dropped because the weight of the cast iron and a hard fall could damage the As far as I can tell, I quite like the wood chamber, as it has a natural appearance and feel. There is an earthy vibe to it, and it feels like a living energy that should be cared It's not something you want to carelessly bang around like a glass The wood is probably not something you want to wash with soap as that may prematurely dry it out. (You may consider coating the wood with mineral oil, like you would with a wood cutting board, every now and then, to help keep the wood healthy and to keep it from cracking or drying). Although I plan to let the natural coffee grinds settle into the wood, rinsing would be okay. Coffee beans have a nice oil in them, so letting them sit on the wood would be fine. I enjoy making my coffee using this quality grinder and it has added to the earthy vibe.

Overall, I think adding this has been wonderful. I love the manual grind process and how it makes my coffee. As long as you take good care of the outer wood shell, you should be able to use this cast iron grinder for years to come. Anyone who loves coffee should give this a try.

Tiffany Kane

| Feb 03, 2021