Start an Antique Coffee Grinder Collection

Do you love coffee? Are you looking for a fun and unique collection that you can start? Why not try collecting antique coffee mills? Starting a coffee grinder collection is a great hobby and can be a lot of fun - especially when you track down the perfect piece to add to your collection.

Antique coffee grinders, also called coffee mills, have many advantages over more modern alternatives like buying your coffee already ground or using electic coffee grinders. First, if you buy your beans already ground you miss out on the amazing aroma of fresh ground beans.

Second, old hand-powered coffee grinders don't heat up the beans like modern electric grinders do. The problem with many electric coffee grinders is that the blades get so hot that they wind up burning the coffee beans. This can leave your coffee tasting a bit on the burnt side. Hand ground beans, on the other hand, don't get overheated during the grinding process which provides a better tasting cup of coffee.

There are many different styles of antique coffee mills that you can collect. Some models sit on the counter while other mount on the wall. Different eras throughout history each had their own unique style as well. For instance, Art Deco coffee grinders from the 1920's tend to have sleek lines and more simple designs, while other grinders can be more ornate and decorative.

When you are starting your collection you might want to pick a theme for your collection. For instance, you might focus on collecting mills from a specific time period or you could choose to collect only wall mounted coffee grinders. This can help to give your collection a nice, cohesive look and at the same time allows you to become an expert on a specific style of grinder.

Of course, if you prefer you don't have to stick with a theme. Many people just buy any antique coffee grinder that catches their eye. Collections of different styles of coffee mills can be a wonderful way to showcase how the mills changed throughout history.

If you plan to use your coffee grinders to grind beans you should check to make sure that they are still functional before you purchase them since many older grinders no longer work. Even broken grinders can be beautiful display pieces, though, so if your main purpose is to create a collection for display then you don't need to rule out a grinder simply because it isn't functional.

Shop at yard sales, flea markets, estate sales, antique malls, thrift stores or at online auctions or classified ad websites to find unique pieces to add to your collection.

If you want to connect with other antique coffee grinder enthusiasts and share your latest finds you may want to consider joining the Association of Coffee Mill Enthusiasts, a non-profit club for people who love and collect antique coffee mills.