Historical information

Many people used their spice grinders or a mortar and pestle to grind the roasted beans into a powder. Japy Freres & Co were mostly known as watch and clock movement makers, they also manufactured coffee grinders. The company ceased in the 1930s.

Physical description

A square wooden and metal antique hand operated French coffee grinder mill, manufactured by Japy Freres & Co (Beaucourt Paris, France). The grinder has a wooden body and an iron lid and mechanism with a metal turning handle and knob. The metal top is attached by screws. It has a broken brass knob on the pull out wooden drawer below. The moveable lid allows the beans to be poured into the funnel to be ground by the internal mechanism.

Inscriptions & markings

'Japy Freres & Co B.E. S.C.D.G.' is stamped on a brass plate at the front top of the grinder attached by two screws.