Customer Reviews

Peugeot PM19495 Amboine 4.25 Inch Nutmeg Grinder, Chocolate

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I wrote this review for the clear acrylic version of this shaver, copied and pasted here:

I just want to write a counter-review to the one star review posted [see clear acrylic version] that has been voted as helpful. Though I agree this grater has some faults, it does not merit a one star review in any way.

In two years of using the walnut wood colored version of this grater (there are many color option for the bottom half of the grater), I have found 3 minor faults:

1) Incomplete shaving - After shaving halfway thru a nutmeg, you will need to open the shaver and flip the nut over (rounded side down) in order to shave the other half down. Even then, after you finish the second "half" you will be left with a wafer of nutmeg about 3/32" thick that it will no longer shave. On the other hand, if you were to grate by hand you will also end up with an unusable piece unless you're very fastidious and careful. (Also, if you do it by hand, you will likely be grating not shaving - maybe a small distinction, but important to some people) Either way, I don't really count this as a fault. I just toss the little wafer in the compost and move on without regret. It's still much easier to use than a hand grater.

2) The opening and closing of the shaver is actually simple and easy in itself. Unless, you want to keep nuts in the clear dome portion for visual impact. Then, it becomes a balancing act of keeping the bottom half level while you compress and twist the top half down. This is because there is only a very small lip on the bottom half keeping the nuts from rolling out before putting the two halves together. But seriously people, it's NOT that hard to do. Put the bottom half on the counter, load your nut in the middle, load the "ornamental" nuts around the perimeter, then, push the top half down and twist 1/10 of a turn. If that's too hard, just store the ornamental nuts somewhere else. Does not warrant a 1 star review of "useless"!

3) No one else has mentioned this but the screw on top that holds the twisting lever kept loosening on mine. I merely applied a little thread lock compound to the screw (a year ago) and have never had a problem since.

The actual shaving mechanism (and this IS a shaver, NOT a grater) is unquestionably good. Very fine shavings come off releasing a delicious amount of aroma adding flavor without encountering distractingly coarse chunks. You can evaluate the appearance yourself from the picture, but as far as these things go, I think the appearance is exceptional no matter what color you choose. Four stars, minus one star for three minor faults.

UPDATE: 12/26/09: bought some new nutmegs and received a couple really large nuts that did not fit in the ornamental dome casing. They DID fit in the hole where the shaving action takes place but not in the storage area dome. Another fault to this device but I still think it is a four star product.

Bought with high hopes. Worked great at first with excellent shaves BUT soon the spring got weak and it quit working. Handle frequently came loose.
Too great a price for a lemon.
Bought another acrylic from Amazon for about $19.00. It works just as well - so far it continues to shave the nut perfectly
Finally found Peugeot home page. Emailed them to see if their life time warranty on the grinder was true. No response yet..

My first grinder was acrylic. Worked but did not shave the nutmeg. Produced granules. Plastic locking mechanism broke so a search began for a replacement.
The Peugeot Amboine Shaver has been used twice and is "as advertised". It makes very very thin shavings without the hard granular nutemeg I had been getting.
Be careful when you pick it up. The first time I did, it slipped from my dry fingers and landed on the tile floor. Fortunely, it did not break.
The hardened steel mechanism and lifetime warranty may make the high price ($55.00) less unpalatable.