Customer Reviews

Bodum 5679-01US C-Mill Blade Grinder, Black

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

This coffee grinder is very inconvenient to use--getting the ground coffee out of the machine is difficult and messy. Removing the coffee requires a tiny spoon or a brush, and even then is incomplete, leaving dregs in the grinder to turn rancid and spoil the flavor of future coffee, and a mess on the counter. I've used several less expensive models that were lots less trouble. Also, the body of the grinder is too fat to pick up securely with one hand, creating a tendency to drop it and make an even bigger mess. It looks like very little thought went into this design.

I purchased this coffee grinder in July of 2003. I love the design and the color matches our other teal accented kitchen items perfectly. It does a decent job of ginding coffee, but after only 5 months, of once a day use, it started to develop vertical stress cracks in the plastic casing around the top. As of right now (January 2004), more cracks have developed and the initial cracks have become even longer (going down below the interior stainless steel "bowl"). Because of all the cracks, the lid now fits very loosely, and I'm afraid that with more use, the cracks will continue to extend downward, rendering the entire unit unusable. The stainless steel cased version may be the way to go, but since we don't have any stainless steel accessories in our kitchen, I will be replacing my grinder with another brand.

I've had nothing but good from this grinder and would recommend it. I AM drinking more coffee because it produces such a fine smooth cup. I shake it around as it hums and tap it out into my Bodum French Press and, man, what a good cup of coffee. It has made me move up the coffee bean path (via Whole Foods) from my good old family standard. Ethiopian beans, fresh ground with this machine, fresh shaked into the press and zapp! I'm awake to sip and enjoy my morning. It's been the good machine you'd expect from Bodum and presents a pleasant experience. I fresh grind all my coffee now.

We bought this grinder for our office, and used it for about 2 months, grinding at most 2-3 times a day on weekdays, and then the part that holds the blade onto the center axle cracked and fell off, leaving the axle spinning uselessly while the blade didnt move. We assumed it was a one-time fluke since Bodum is normally an excellent company, and purchased the same model again. Guess what? The second one lasted maybe 3 months, and then the SAME problem occurred, with the main attachment for the blade just falling apart and eventually flying off and leaving us with another useless hunk of plastic and metal. We purchased both grinders at Whole Foods, I dont know if they distribute a different version of the same model or what but its really a poor excuse for a grinder, especially considering that Bodum is a company that specializes in all things Coffee and Tea.

On the plus side, it did grind the coffee nicely...while it worked.

This coffee grinder is very inconvenient to use--getting the ground coffee out of the machine is difficult and messy. Removing the coffee requires a tiny spoon or a brush, and even then is incomplete, leaving dregs in the grinder to turn rancid and spoil the flavor of future coffee, and a mess on the counter. I've used several less expensive models that were lots less trouble. Also, the body of the grinder is too fat to pick up securely with one hand, creating a tendency to drop it and make an even bigger mess. It looks like very little thought went into this design.

I bought this grinder after seeing it recommended on another site. Unfortunately, I quickly discovered that this grinder does not do a good job of fine grinding. Also, the lid is a little finicky going on and can't be used to hold the ground coffee. If you need your coffee ground fine, and don't want to shell out the bucks for a burr grinder, try the Braun KSM2.

I selected this item as an incentive for subscribing to a coffee service. I find that I am using much more coffee now than when I was using ground coffee from the store. The coffee must be stirred in order to get a uniform grind, otherwise, the coffee in the bottom of the grinder is extremely fine and the coffee on the top is rather coarse.
Nainie

I received the grinder and decided to use it before my trip to test it. To test, I ground 20 grams of coffee in my burr grinder at a medium setting and 20 grams of the same coffee in the Bodum. I then screened the two grinds and visually examined the results. The Bodum had about the same amount of 'fines' as the burr grinder. Too little to weigh on a scale sensitive to 1 gram. The grind itself was a bit of what you would expect from a whirley blade, much less consistent is size than the burr grinder. However, it was quite usable for traveling, which is what I had bought it for. Tasting the cups produced by the two grinders brewed in an Aeropress did show a difference, but not one that would make it a bad choice. The Bodum's cup was a bit thinner, and was less defined than the cup produced with the burr grinder, losing a bit of the range produced by the burr grinder. Again, for travel use, not bad at all.

Now, the downside. The Bodum arrived with the 'retractable' cord unable to be extended. No matter what I try, the cord will not come out and I will need to return it for service. This makes it next to useless for the purpose for which I bought it, which was to have a portable grinder with which to travel. The other thing that bothers me in using this for it's intended purpose is it's weight. (which is not a bad thing if you use it as your primary grinder) it weighs a bit more than it looks like it would, and as travelers know today, weight becomes an issue. Minor issue really, but an issue.

Update 10/30/2010:

I no longer use this for coffee and have relegated it to spice grinding. For my travel needs, I use a Hario hand cranked grinder with ceramic burrs. Hario Coffee Hand Grinder Skerton I just finished a trip to Thailand, and had fresh ground home roast every day I was there. It takes a bit of elbow grease to grind the 20 grams needed for the Aeropress, but it is not all that bad...about 90 seconds of vigorous cranking does the job.

The blade broke off this unit after less than two years of light use. Inspection of the flimsy plastic that attaches the blade to the motor shaft reveal that breakage is basically inevitable. This is a very poor design.

The Bodum is a poorly designed coffee grinder. The lip that extends from the lid into the body is far too short: it is impossible to open the grinder without spilling grounds on the counter. The button is a flimsy plastic that sometimes catches on its tracks, feeling like it's going to break if you push it. The cord winding base is also quite flimsy, easily popping out when you're trying to place it on a surface. Overall, the whole thing is an embarrassing exercise in industrial design. Get the Krups: it's the same or less money, is a simple pleasure to use and clean, and will last for many years. This Bodum should be placed in the landfill directly from the factory to prevent emotional anguish. Krups 203-42 Fast Touch Coffee Grinder, Black