CoffeeGeek takes a quick and dirty (yet pretty thorough) look at a new consumer knockbox coming out of Australia, the Grindenstein, which is available in a wide variety of colours. Check out our take on this product.
Had mine for a year and it still looks brand new! If you only make a few drinks a day (i.e. 80% of most coffeegeeks, I would guess) then the size is no problem...it easily holds 6 pucks from my 57mm pfs...
...a few times when lots of guests have been over the frequent trips to the trash can were a little bothersome.
i never regard mess or splash an issue because i would always line the knock box with say a garbage bag "for the massive ones" or say in the grindstein a simple plastic bag.
like stick a plastic bag in it and then feed the rubber bar through and that usually works great. though if you were enviromental you may not approve.
i've also had friends which have a drawer in their kitchen as a knock box. where they would duct tape the edge of one side of the drawer to bash onto to that.
MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 4,668 Location: Vancouver Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Frankenstein'ed LM Linea Grinder: Anfim Super Caimano Vac Pot: 1922 Silex Drip: Krups Moka Brew Roaster: Hottop
Posted Sat Apr 22, 2006, 12:19am Subject: Re: Grindenstein Knockbox
Just an update to this review. I mentioned in it that Grindenstein was doing some updates to their products (I am, in effect, reviewing an old model), and those updates are done. Unfortunately, size is not one of them (I want a Grindenstein XL! ;)), but here's what Alexander from DreamFarm wrote to me:
We have a recently increased the Grindenstein range to include a Chocolate (brown) and Steel Wool (silver) and have made some remarkable improvements to our design. Notably, Grindenstein now has a solid steel core throughout its dump bar (making it truly impossible to break), we now use the incredibly durable thermoplastic rubber, Santoprene, and have replaced the ‘four feet’ with a non-slip inserted ring on the base of Grindenstein. We are extremely proud of our new design and would love to send you a free sample of each of the colours in our new range to give to your subscribers.
Very cool stuff. Now instead of two Grindensteins for giveaways on the CG Podcast, we'll have four or more! Woot!
Jasonian Senior Member Joined: 8 Aug 2005 Posts: 3,831 Location: Lubbock, TX Expertise: Professional
Posted Sat Apr 22, 2006, 12:45am Subject: Re: Grindenstein Knockbox
MarkPrince Said:
Just an update to this review. I mentioned in it that Grindenstein was doing some updates to their products (I am, in effect, reviewing an old model), and those updates are done. Unfortunately, size is not one of them (I want a Grindenstein XL! ;)), but here's what Alexander from DreamFarm wrote to me:
Very cool stuff. Now instead of two Grindensteins for giveaways on the CG Podcast, we'll have four or more! Woot!
I'll come up with better ways to give products away on the podcast. One idea I was thinking about - some sort of trivia question, but also a timed submission - you can only submit an email answer on this so and so date, between these so and so hours (probably 3-4 days after the podcast). And if there's multiple right answers, we'll randomly pick a name out of a hat. That kind of thing.
iginfect Senior Member Joined: 8 Dec 2003 Posts: 252 Location: herkimer new york Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: vetrano/rancillio silvia Grinder: mazzer mini/rocky doserless Vac Pot: yama 5 cup Drip: melior french press Roaster: gene cafe
Posted Sat Apr 22, 2006, 3:28am Subject: Re: Grindenstein Knockbox
Great review, it is perfect for my office with an Olympia Cremina/49mm pf and no counterspace. The review compares it to the knockbox I have at home which isn't as bad as it was made out. The rubber grommets that hold the bar in place have been replaced several times, they last about 6 months and are very cheap. The rubber on the bar has also been replaced several times but lasts me about a year. I use 7/16"od x 5/16"id vinyl tubing bought at Lowe's, also very cheap.
MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 4,668 Location: Vancouver Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Frankenstein'ed LM Linea Grinder: Anfim Super Caimano Vac Pot: 1922 Silex Drip: Krups Moka Brew Roaster: Hottop
Posted Sat Apr 22, 2006, 10:13am Subject: Re: Grindenstein Knockbox
I like the look of the square metal knock box (as well as the rounded version Starbucks sold for some time), but when you have parts failing on it after a few weeks' worth of use, it has issues. The rubber melting in the dishwasher was the worst. It created quite a mess that was difficult to clean up. We had melted rubber on forks and knives and spoons, and it probably gummed up the dishwasher's workings as well.
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