Customer Reviews

Toastmaster 1119 Push-Button Electric Coffee and Spice Grinder

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I bought this product because it's the least expensive model sold here in Amazon. I figured how bad could a relatively simple device with a singular function be? While the unit does grind coffee, it is relatively loud, messy, and takes longer.

Noise: It's (relatively) loud. This isn't a big deal if you're just at home but I use this in an office setting and I don't want to attract too much attention. No model is whisper quiet but the motor and beans produce quite a cacophony.

Mess: The design of the top fitting into the base isn't thought out. The plastic safety top fits around the base instead of going into it. As a result, there's some slight spillage of grounds when you take the top off. In addition, you'll be hard pressed if you want to pour the grounds into the top after grinding and then measure the grounds from there because there's a indentation in the top that prevents easy scooping, thereby producing more mess.

Grind quality: There is something is the blade design (I think because the blades sit a little higher from the bottom of the container) that prevents it from producing a fine grind no matter how long you hold the button.

The better models are those from Krups and Black & Decker. They are about $5 more but are worth it in terms of the above considerations.

This grinder is powerful for such a small one. If you press the button repeatedly to give it a pulse action, you will be able to grind your beans finer. I recommend giving it a tap (tap the top of the grinder while the platic top is still on)between every 10 pulses to release the oily grinds from the walls to maximize grinding, then hold button for 10 seconds at the end. This made my coffee perfect (althought with any grinder you'll find the occassional lump), and it was very flavorful. I used the Cafe Altura Organic beans in Dark Roast. VERY SMOOTH.

I'm on a flax seed kick and needed something to grind the seeds with. I looked at those tiny seeds and thought, should I just try to smash them up?? I read where people used coffee grinders. I have one but I could never get the coffee oils and taste out, so I decided to buy a new one. The price on this was reasonable and it works perfectly. I grind some flax seeds and put on oatmeal for breakfast. In the evening I get my grinder out and grind some more flax seed to put in yogurt. It's easy to use and quickly store.

I have used this coffee grinder for several years. My spouse has purchased expensive grinders only to return them because they do not work as well as this one. When it plays out, we will purchase another one juse like it.

I've used this now several days for my morning cup of joe. I freeze my beans and drop them into the grinder frozen to make my grind. There is a button to press while keeping the chamber closed which is nicer than models which start when you close the chamber. It lets you press the button 3 times while letting the big beans settle back to the bottom to be cutup. I normally grind, stop, shake, grind, stop, shake, grind, stop empty. Cleanup is really easy to remove residual powder in the grinder with a paper towell. Cord storage is also very easy because you can wrap the extra cord in the base of the grinder. It arrives with the ENTIRE cord stored in the base of the grinder (about 2.5 feet). For safety I always clean any grinders with the cord unplugged.

As for the motor, it is smooth running, the blades are well balanced, and I expect a long life. I had to buy a new grinder because my older brand name unit broke the top when dropped. I did not like the top cap being used as a switch on that older brand name unit because it would let grounds escape when I use my 3 step grind to get all the big pieces down to the blades.

The grind size is proportional to how long you hold the button down - about 3 one second bursts are sufficient to make beans into grinds for a drip maker. A little more might make cappucino (sic?) grinds, but I'm not that exotic. It's a great price and a bargain compared to what I paid for a worse design years ago!

Toastmaster Coffee Grinderi am really surprised by this grinder, it is well worth the money. i use it several times a day to grind my coffee beans. it will grind very fine and i would buy this product again

i received my grinder in a very timely manner. it works well and was surprisingly versatile. it grinds herbs too. will use it for years to come. thanks

Considering the low price, I was kind of scared of whether or not it would be able to grind my beans fine enough for my espresso maker. I am a struggling college student, so a more expensive machine was not an option. When I got home, it was too late for a late so as I was checking my email on one browser I was looking at online reviews on another. I looked at reviews for more expensive machines where people complained that it couldn't grind fine enough, so if those pricier ones couldn't do it, nor could mine I thought. Wrong! It can and I am very happy with my purchase.

I have owned a Toastmaster Coffee Grinder for 2-1/2 years. I probably used it less than two dozen times before the motor seized up and would not turn. Rather than throw this appliance away I decided to take it apart and try and fix it. I diagnosed the problem as lack of lubrication of the motor bearings. This can be solved with a light application of oil, just a drop, on each of the two motor sleeve bearings. I use small amount of Radio Shack's contact cleaner and lubricant spray for this purpose, because it leaves behind a very light weight oil, but any light weight household oil should work.

To disassemble the grinder you will need a phillips head and a flat head screwdriver. 1)Unplug the grinder from the AC wall socket. 2)Remove the two phillips head screws and set them aside. 3) Pull out the bottom of the grinder exposing the bottom of the motor assembly. 4) Fit the flat head screwdriver into the exposed slot in the motor shaft. Turn the screwdriver counter-clock wise, while holding the blades of the grinder from turning. The grinder blade assembly will loosen and can then be unscrewed and removed. 5) Pull out the motor assembly until it is mostly free of the grinder case. 6) Locate the motor shaft bearings and apply a small amount of lubricant to each bearing. Rotate the motor shaft with the flat blade screwdriver while holding the motor and and the shaft should start to turn freely after a few turns. 7) If the plate that contains the on/off switch has separated from the metal bowl and the spring has fallen off of the shaft of the push rod that actives the switch, don't panic. 7a) Push down on the metal bowl and it should disengage from the grinder housing. Now you can see where the push rod and spring installs between the bowl and the housing. 7b) To keep the spring from falling off of the plastic push rod piece remove the push rod and wrap a small piece of electrians tape or duct tape around the base of the round push rod shaft, use just enough tape so that when you slide the spring onto this shaft it stays in place. 7c) Slide the pushrod with spring attached into the slot of the case so that the tip of the push rod is visible and flush with the lip of the case. 7d) Reinstall the metal bowl, then reinstall the plastic plate that holds the switch, being careful to align the switch so it lines up with the pushrod piece. Note: If the switch is not correctly aligned with the push rod the unit won't operate when you put the cover in place and engage the push rod. 8) Slide the motor into the case so that the end of motor shaft where the blade assembly connects protrudes through the plastic plate that holds the on/off switch and extends into the metal bowl. 9) Install the blade assembly and tighten using the flat blade screwdriver to hold the shaft from turning. 10) Install the top of the coffer grinder and place it inverted on a flat surface so that the lever of the cover is depressing the push rod assembly. The push rod should depress easily, otherwise check to make sure that it is installed correctly and that the switch plate is properly aligned with the push rod. 11)Reinstall the bottom plate so that it aligns with the bottom of the motor housing and so the power cord can be threaded though the cut-out notch in the side of the grinder case at the base of the grinder. 12) Re-install the two Phillips head screws being careful not to overtighten these screws. 12) Test the action of the push rod when the cover is installed, the push rod should depress easily and return when pressure is released. 13) Remove the cover and make sure the blade assembly is securely tightened to the shaft, if not you can reach the slot in the base of the motor shaft through the opening in the base of the unit with a small flat blade screwdriver to make sure that the blade assembly is securely mounted onto the motor shaft. 14) Plug in the unit into the AC wall receptacle. 15) Install the cover and very briefly depress the lever on the cover to engage the pushrod, just for a second. The motor should power up and spin freely. If the unit does not operate unplug and verify that the plastic plate with the switch is properly aligned with the push rod.

Cleaning tip: When cleaning the Toastmaster Coffee Grinder I unplug the coffee grinder from the wall outlet and invert the unit over the sink. Then I use the spray attachment of my kitchen sink faucet to quickly flush out and clean the metal bowl and the blade assembly. Then dry the grinder thoroughly with a paper towel. Improper washing, i.e. getting the motor assembly wet, may have been what caused the motor bearings to freeze, so definitely try and minimize any exposure to water when cleaning.

I ordered this grinder after reading how good ground flaxseed was for you. This grinder was reasonably priced, and the grinding was so easily accomplished. Cleanup is easy, and the grinder fits nicely in the cabinet.