Zassenhaus 041064 Panama Stainless Steel Manual Coffee Mill

Note: Skip to the bottom for a simple pro/con list.Let's address the elephant in the room first. The retaining/grind adjustment nut doesn't look like the one in the official pictures. Another reviewer has suggested this means it's a fake, but I don't agree. The grinder is very solidly built, with well-machined burrs. If this thing is a fake, it's a really good one. My guess is that this is a second (or third) generation design. Looking at the pictures, I like this design better anyway. Simpler and less prone to failure. The nut gives good, solid, clicks when it's turned and holds the bottom burr in place beautifully. I can't really ask for more from it.With that out of the way, let's talk about the grinder itself. It is a very well constructed grinder that is much heavier than you would expect for its size. The grind, so far, has been fantastic. I've only tried grinding for pourover/aeropress, but I do intend on trying with espresso and french press. I'll update this review when I do. It's a little harder to turn than my previous grinder, but it's so much faster. What used to take 3-5 minutes, now takes a little less than a minute. That said, I wish the turning knob was a little rounder. It digs into my hand a little while using it, but not really bad enough to take a star off.If this grinder had a fatal flaw it would be size. I know many other people have said how small it was, but I was still picturing it bigger than it is. It's closer to the Porlex mini than it is to the full size Porlex. I've managed to get about 18 grams of light roasted grounds in the collection cup, but just barely. If you're only brewing one cup at a time, it's great. If you want to make coffee for more than one person, maybe look at something else. Then there's the static. Because this uses steel burrs instead of the ceramic ones on the cheaper grinders, it generates a lot of static while grinding. That's just one of the trade-offs for the more precise burrs that steel allows. Adding those two things together results in a potential mess whenever you pull the grounds cup off, be prepared for that. I'm looking into workarounds for both the size and the static issues, and will update if I find any.Even though I wish it were a little bigger, I really like this grinder. You'll just have to decide whether the tradeoffs are worth it for you. As promised, here are the pros and cons.Pros:Solid ConstructionSteel burrs give a more precise, even grindGrinds 18 grams of coffee in no time flatTravel SizedPrettyCons:Small grounds cupSteel burrs create more staticTurning knob digs in while grindingFinal Thoughts: If you want to grind a cup's worth of beans really fast and well, and can deal with a little static, get this. If you need more than one cup or static is a problem, maybe skip it.

This is easily the best made portable hand grinder available. The handle turns very smoothly because of ball bearings in the axle, where it attaches to the lid. The burrs are stainless steel and are therefore much sharper than the typical ceramic burrs you see in, for example, the Porlex Mini. The adjustment mechanism is sturdy and clicks into place easily. It disassembles easily for cleaning. It is also a nice, small size, making it good for travel. As far as I can see, all the components are very well made. I am very impressed.However, there are a few complaints:1) As others have said, the grounds catcher is stuck in with a friction fit, and not a strong one at that. It is actually fairly easy for the thing to fall out during normal use. It seems like they could have used some kind of threaded container that screws in, even if just half a turn. You can hold it with the little finger on the bottom easily enough, but the force you need to use to grip the body strongly enough to grind makes the pressure a bit uncomfortable. Not a huge price to pay, honestly, for such a high quality portable grinder. I only mention it to confirm what other reviewers have said, and frankly would be easily overlooked if not for (2):2) At the end of the day, what I wanted was a hand grinder that was just as consistent, or very close, to my electric burr grinder. While there is definitely less inner burr wobble than the typical hand grinder I've seen, this grinder still produces more fines than I would like to see, and unfortunately I do taste a difference. Again, to be clear, it is definitely more consistent than my Porlex Mini, where I feel like I have to make a bunch of mods just to get it to make decent grinds. This, out of the gate, makes noticeably better grinds. But I think it needs to be a bit better to be a true substitute for a counter-top burr grinder.In sum, if the grind consistency were better, I would have give this 5/5 stars. You definitely get what you pay for in terms of quality, this being one the most expensive travel grinders you can get. I simply wish the grind was just a bit better. Then this thing would be top-notch.I have uploaded some images; One is a side-by-side with a Porlex Mini to show size. The other shows the lid/handle component off the the body to show how it connects to the grinding axle. Notice the beveling on the hex axle. A nice touch, and makes it easy to add and remove the lid/handle component. Again, this is a very well-made, thought-out product.

It works.I ve tried and looked at other coffee manual grinders (including the Porlex, Hario skelton, Hario clear grinder) : this one beat them.Good :- pretty even grind (best that I saw in this price range)- the design idea (minimal, big ball bearing on top as lid)- possibility to use with a power screw driver : when you remove the top screw there is a hexagonal bit head (even though i would not recommend it on a daily basis, specially not on fast speed. But it is a nice possibility to just plug in your bit holder)- it fits in a AEROPRESS!To improve :- the sealing of the ball bearing could be more tight- the centering/parallel/stability of the axle could be further improved (but it is already pretty good, specially compared to other of the same category)- it is not made for fine espresso grind (or you have to grind the burrs against each other, which is why it is not really designed for it.)- the plastic receiver for the grind get loose after just about 2-3 weeks and fall while you're grinding! This is seriously a default and could be easily fixed if Zassenhaus would be serious enough to redesign it. (before production!). But you can grind with the receiver against your belly and it's solved.- the handle thing that you grab to turn could be improved as well to feel more confortable and for best travel/aeropress fitting.- after a few years the burrs are getting unsharp and even after contacting Zassenhaus about this they never responded. So : bad after service and their "warranty" doesn't actually work.All in all, until the commandant C20 come out (and depending on its price), it is the best I could find to fit in the Aeropress for travel.Perfect for dripping, moka pot and aeropress, also small french press. Grinder fits up to 18gr, but better not more than 16gr.

Man steckt dieses Standardkugellager 6203RS von CODEX auf die Welle und dreht mit der Hand oder dem Handschrauber.Mit der Porlex Handmühle habe ich einen Espresso nur aus röstfrischen Bohnen für den Siebträger hinbekommen. Für Siebträger mit Cremaventil (die meisten Consumermodelle) schafft es diese Panama-Mühle auch lässig. Sie ist vielleich etwas gröber. Etwas schlechter ist sie deshalb nicht.+ Gute Einstellung des Malgrades (Klick)!+ Espressomahlgrad wie beim gemahlenen Supermarktespresso (für Cremasiebe)+ French Press (wie bei Porlex etwas Satz, der mich nicht stört)+ Mahlgut viel kälter, als bei Porlex!o nicht so gefräßig wie die porlex (man muss mehr Umdrehungen mahlen): aber Accuschrauber (Hitze)- hat hier schon mal einer geschrieben: das unterhalb des Kugellagers nicht klar ist, wie lange das hält?... (Abwertung)Die Panama ist zu Unrecht verschrien. Sie ist eine Designmühle, die nicht schlechter mahlt, als viele andere. Ihre Schwäche liegt langfristig in der Lagerung des Mahlwerks. Ihre Stärke liegt im Entwurf. Und sie funktioniert.Wer dringend 70 EU ausgeben muss, sollte sich mir anschließen.Im Ernst: Die Rezensionen über Hario, Porlex und Zassenhaus haben mich motiviert. Die panama unbedingt sammeln; die porlex benutzen; die hario wegen häufiger produktionsfehler vorläufig meiden.

I've used both the Hario Mini Slim and the Porlex. Even though they are both fairly cheap and do a decent job of grinding for stove top and at a pinch, espresso, they both suffer from severe wear on the centre spindle where the handle attaches. For these reasons I decided to spend a bit more money on the Zassenhaus.On opening, the difference was immediate! Apart from being smaller than the above, it is considerably heavier - giving it a feeling of quality. As far as design is concerned, the handle incorporates a ball bearing where it attaches to the centre spindle. This spindle is supported at the lower end, therefore negating any wobbling of the centre burr. The actual burrs are steel which is sharper than the ceramic type. They have a very fine degree of adjustment facilitating grinds from coarse to dust! Actual grinding time appears to be less with this machine.In my opinion, this is a product that gives the impression of being "engineered" and not just assembled. And the result - beautifully ground coffee to a nice fluffy and consistent quality with hardly any dust.Those were the "pros" and now for my "cons"!The grind receiver is mainly of plastic construction and is a magnet for static! Particularly on fine grinds, removing the receiver must be done with care to ensure the coffee doesn't spill! Others have also commenting on the fact that 14gm is the maximum recommended load. Grinding 16-18gm obviously means splitting the grind!However, the resulting superior grind and superbly flavoursome cup of coffee enables me to thoroughly recommend the Zassenhaus Panama.

I had high hopes of the Panama, as Zassenhaus is known for high build quality and grind consistency. Unfortunately a few key design flaws make the Panama difficult to use, and have made me regret my purchase.1. The acrylic catchment fits into the stainless steel body by way of beveled edges. I have owned the panama for less than a year, and the bevels have already worn down so that the catchment know requires me to hold it in place as i grind.2. Again due to the grinding and acrylic catchment, static electricity builds up, and the grinds spill out from the full catchment, regardless of how carefully and slowly you remove it.3. Grind consistency is pretty darn average. In a Grind off with the Hario Skerton and Porlex Mini, it beat the Hario at fine and coarse grinds. The Porlex however was equal to the Panama at coarse grinds, and maybe even a little better at finer grinds.On the other hand, the hopper size is measured for a single shot out of the aeropress, which is very convenient, and the aesthetics of the grinder are excellent.I would recommend that you save $50 and go with the Porlex mini as its WAY lighter, and performs just as well.

A great quality product, made by a German company, so no real surprises there. I just love the use of a sealed bearing to resist the forces of your eager spinning of the handle whilst grinding your favourite beans of the moment. The adjustable steel burrs produce a wide range of coffee grinds from espresso to a French press/cafetiere consistency.The only downside is the capture housing in which the grinds collect. I'd prefer a complete stainless steel housing instead of the plastic.steel mix as it is at the moment. You do get a little static which means that the edges keep a small amount of coffee almost 'stuck' there even with a few taps against your vessel which the grinds are to be used in.