Waking up in the morning to the smell of freshly ground, roasted coffee beans is something to look forward to every morning. Nothing contributes more to the "coffee experience" than the perfectly ground coffee beans. For many discriminating coffee lovers, there is no better way to grind coffee beans than with antique coffee grinders.

Some coffee lovers collect them for their looks or historic value, but at the end of the day, coffee grinders are arguably the way to go when it comes to grinding the perfect coffee bean. Other than nostalgia, why would you want to buy a manual coffee grinder? Consider the following and judge for yourself:

• The noise factor - Electric coffee grinders can be very loud when they are grinding coffee beans. That's not such a problem when using antique coffee grinders.
• The temperature - Grinding in the old style coffee grinder does not appreciably raise the temperature of the coffee beans and so does not impact their flavor.
  
• The amount of coffee - With a vintage coffee grinder it is very easy and convenient to grind just the right amount of coffee for your cup.

If you are not very familiar with grinding coffee yourself, then "What Can a Coffee Grinder Do For You" is worth reading.

Antique coffee mills can be purchased from a variety of sources. 

• They can be found pretty easily on some of the Internet's most popular auction sites.
• There are specialty websites that sell a variety of antique coffee grinders at relatively affordable prices.
• They can also be purchased from antique shops and stores that specialize in coffee-making memorabilia and collectibles.

In terms of mounting and placement, antique coffee grinders can be found in the form of:

• Box or Lap Grinders - These are designed to be held by a person while grinding.  Most come with a handle to make sure the grinder is secure during the process.  This type of grinder is extremely convenient, since it allows you to grind coffee from any location.  In addition to ease of movement, box or lap grinders can also be put away when they aren't being used.  This is especially useful for small homes and kitchens with limited space.
• Upright, Post, and Side Grinders - These grinders are designed for permanent attachment to a wall, table, or counter.  Their permanent attachment makes them sturdier during the grinding process - making for a better grind on your coffee beans.  Unfortunately, these grinders have to be permanently attached, and so you are limited as to where you can grind. Wall mounted coffee grinders are particularly popular, but unfortunately they are quite hard to find.
  

For the dedicated coffee drinker or for the true coffee grinder collector, there are a few brands of coffee grinders that are extremely popular and sought after. Whether they are being used to complete a collection or to actually grind coffee beans, these models represent the crown jewels of antique coffee grinders:

• Enterprise Manufacturing Co.
• Landers, Frary & Clark Manufacturing Co.
• Arcade Manufacturing Co.
• Wrightsville Hardware Company
• Simmons Hardware Company
• Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co.

A word of advice, especially if you're new at collecting these antiques: some antique coffee grinders are not designed to grind coffee beans at all. Some are either so expensive or so old, that they only serve as decorations. Additionally, you should also be careful to find out if the coffee grinder or mill you are purchasing has been restored or not. An antique coffee grinder can represent both an investment and an addition to your home. Do your research and soon you'll be grinding coffee like they did in the good old days.