Vintage cast iron coffee grinder
They are typically made of durable materials like cast iron with a wooden handle for the crank and sometimes a wooden base or drawer to collect the ground coffee, using a burr grinding mechanism that ensures a consistent grind with adjustable fineness for brewing methods such as espresso, French press, or drip coffee.
Brands like Spong & Co. Ltd., Enterprise, and Landers Frary & Clark (LF&C) were prominent manufacturers of these grinders, with models such as the Spong Model 1 from around 1875–1880, and while many are now valued as decorative antiques, some remain fully functional for grinding coffee beans or spices.
