On 2006-09-14, Sheldon > wrote:

> Nothing is modified, they grind coffee beans and peppercorns equally
> well.

Atlas modified them by removing the traditional container cup and
putting on a bell shaped ring so they would stand upright without the
cup. These were the first to hit the general market back when Jeff
the Perv started mentioning them on his cooking show. The cheapest
model available was $75.

> You exaggerate... the biggest Turkish grinders are about $55.

I didn't elaborate, but one can find them now for even less. I have
one I paid only $39 for. Good burrs, but it does not have a threaded
grind adjustment, using instead a difficult and imprecise slide
adjustment held by a hex head set screw. It also has no table stand
ring. You want niceties, you pay for them.

> The Zass grinder is about 1/20 the capacity
> of the Turkish grinder and 1/20 the quality.... a cheap chunk of wood
> with chintzy pot metal and plastic parts...

Sorry to hear it. Perhaps that's part of the current availability
problem. Zazzy went cheapo and lost it's customer base. The good ol'
Zazzy coffee mills were of excellent quality. My birch knee mill has
machined and hardened steel conical burrs in a glued and dovetail
jointed hardwood box. It's a precision tool and grinds better than my
$200 electric Ibiteral espresso grinder. It would be a shame if
Zazzy's coffee mills went down the crapper.

nb