Great price, true quality grind - couldn‘t be a better combination/solution.
Positive Product Points
Pricepoint is a plus. The Zassenhaus takes up little space, is portable and does as well as, or better than, most of the burr grinders I have come across.
Negative Product Points
Slow. It can take a bit of time if you are trying to grind beans for more than one person. If buying a used one, watch out for the true age - 14+ years may mean that the burrs are worn down as to prohibit grinding beans for espresso. Everything else will work fine.
Detailed Commentary
Although some could mistake this product as medieval torture, I think it is absolutely the perfect solution for those wanting a true espresso grind - good enough to plug most espresso machines - and not having the money to spend on the truly good machine grinders (like the Rocky, MDF, etc). I was skeptical as to the ability of the Zassenhaus to do the job of getting an even and fine enough grind for espresso, but I was blown away once I received my first one. (Bought off Ebay for 1/3 of the price of a new one - US$60.) The craftsmanship is superb! I have not had the problems mentioned by another user with getting coarse enough grinds for press/drip machines, but I also use it primarily for espresso. With regards to time, I would say it adds 2 minutes to the overall time needed to pull a double - in comparison to using a machine grinder. Unless you are absolutely concerned with the amount of time you spend making espresso, I would recommend this to those who even have an automatic grinder.
Comparison: Better than a blade grinder, comparable to a burr grinder like the Rocky, MDF, etc.
Used with: Bodum Presspot, Delonghi Bar 19, Rancilio Silvia (not mine)
Who should buy: Those interested in antique-like products, concerned with price but needing quality, wanting something portable and having little space, etc. I.E. most everyone. Do not buy it if time and labor is an issue.
Price: (used) US$20+, (new) US$60+
