Why are the coffee and matcha stone mills different？
"The coffee mill is designed to avoid grinding the beans into completely fine powder. T
he grind size can be freely adjusted from coarse to fine by the way the beans are added.
For matcha, the mill is structured to prevent excessive tea leaves from entering the interior of the mill.
It is crafted to produce a perfectly fine powder, regardless of who operates it."
Can I grind matcha with a coffee stone mill?
"Unfortunately, they cannot be shared.
Each requires a different grind texture, so the internal sharpening of the stone mill is designed differently.
Even if sharing were possible, coffee beans contain oil, and the oil absorbed by the stone mill would transfer to the tea leaves."
What makes the highest-grade black granite different?
"Standard black granite already has a significant presence, but the highest-grade black granite stands out with its exceptionally uniform density. When polished, it becomes deep black, exuding a sense of weight and luxury.
Standard black granite comes in a variety of types, with slight differences in color. Therefore, we recommend checking the color samples in the catalog before making a purchase.
Additionally, the difference in the price of the raw stone is reflected in the final product price."
How is it different from cheaper stone mills?
"Although they may look like stone mills in shape, inexpensive stone mills are products that cannot be used as proper tools.
As tools, their primary requirement is stable usability, but there are irresponsibly made products that prioritize low cost above all else.
Some of these mills are designed to be too light in order to save on materials, and the milling grooves are often crudely carved without precision.
To produce a reliable and functional product, sufficient weight, precise craftsmanship, and experience are essential, which is why high-quality stone mills are more expensive."
>Is the stone sourced from Japan?
"No, the stones are imported from overseas.
Currently, the production of stone materials in Japan is very limited, and most of the stones available domestically are in lighter shades, so they are not used."
Does coffee ground with a coffee stone mill taste good?
"Coffee ground with a stone mill is exceptionally delicious.
Because the stone mill grinds coffee beans slowly without generating frictional heat, the delicate aroma and flavor compounds in the coffee beans are preserved.
This allows you to enjoy a rich, deeply flavored, and highly aromatic cup of coffee."
How is matcha ground with a stone mill different?
"Most commercially available matcha is labeled as stone-milled.
While it is true that the matcha is milled with stone mills, the time it takes from being milled to being packaged (which can span several hours in a factory setting) exposes it to air.
During this time, oxidation causes the vibrant green color to fade and diminishes the aroma.
When you grind tencha leaves with your own stone mill, you can enjoy the true color, aroma, and flavor of matcha, which is completely different from store-bought matcha."
How should I place an order?
"Please open the 'Contact Form' and send us the product name, postal code, address, name, and phone number."
Is it possible to visit the workshop directly and make a purchase?
"Yes, please contact us in advance.
For items in stock, you can purchase them on the spot.
If the item is not in stock, it will be made to order."。
Is it possible to pay with a credit card at the workshop?
"Yes, you can use credit cards.
We accept five types of cards: JCB, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, and Visa."
>How long does it take for the item to arrive after placing an order?
"The delivery time depends on whether the item is in stock.
If the item is in stock, it will be shipped from the workshop within 1?2 days.
If the item is out of stock, the delivery time will vary depending on the current order volume, and we will notify you via email.
If the suggested delivery time is inconvenient, we may ask you to cancel your order, so we appreciate your understanding.
Once shipped from Japan, UPS will deliver the item within 6?10 days."
Can I place an order from overseas?
"Yes, orders can be placed from anywhere in the world.
However, we cannot accept orders from overseas through the shopping cart, so please use the contact form instead."
How is shipping to overseas handled?
"We use UPS for shipping.
Your order will arrive approximately 7 to 10 days after it has been shipped."
What about customs duties for orders from overseas?
"Import duties may apply depending on the destination country or region.
We are unable to investigate import duties from Japan, so we kindly ask for your cooperation in handling them upon arrival."
What type of coffee beans are suitable for the coffee stone mill?
"Basically, any type of coffee bean can be used, but there are some beans that are less suitable.
It is not about the type of bean but the degree of roast. Extremely lightly roasted beans (with a pale brown color) are harder to grind.
The degree of roasting correlates with the bean's brittleness; the more the bean is roasted, the easier it breaks (and thus easier to grind).
For lightly roasted beans, use a smaller amount of beans per rotation. On the other hand, for very darkly roasted beans, increase the amount per rotation.
The stone mill presses the beans with the weight of the upper stone. For beans that are harder to break, the upper stone may float, while for beans that break easily, it may press too hard. This requires some adjustment in the grinding technique.
For regular blended beans, there is usually no issue, but blends with extremely lightly roasted beans can be challenging.
The stone mill performs best when grinding single-origin beans."
>Does the type of stone affect the taste of the coffee?
"No, not at all.
If the stone material itself were to wear down and mix into the powder, it might affect the taste, but that does not happen."。
It seems heavy; is it safe to use on a standard table?
"It’s fine.
Most commercially available tables can support a person’s weight, so even a maximum of around 20 kilograms won’t be an issue.
However, be cautious with conference tables that have caster wheels for mobility. When turning the stone mill, the table itself may shake."
How should I clean the mill when switching between different beans?
"No special cleaning is necessary.
Only a few grams of residue remain, so unless you are extremely meticulous, it’s not necessary to clean after each use.
The grooves on the upper millstone have been designed to minimize the amount of powder left in the 'mating surface' that doesn’t get discharged.
If used once a day, any leftover powder inside will be replaced with fresh powder during the next use."
Please let me know if there are any precautions when grinding beans
"My coffee stone mills are designed with a special sharpening technique, so even if they are spun empty without any materials, they won’t be damaged. It’s perfectly fine for children to spin them for fun.
When placing coffee beans on the upper millstone, be careful to ensure that the beans don’t fall into the feed hole.
Use your left hand effectively and try to keep the mill spinning while adding beans, without stopping the rotation.
If you stop after each rotation to add beans, the powder inside may not move smoothly, which could result in uneven grinding.
As you get used to using the mill, many people tend to grind faster, but it’s important to spin it slowly and carefully.
Grinding too quickly can lead to coarser grounds, and powder might scatter from the grooves of the lower millstone onto the table.
When you’ve finished grinding, you’ll notice the absence of the sensation of beans breaking, and the sound of the mill will change after an additional 2?3 rotations. That’s the right point to stop.
Continuing to spin beyond this point won’t damage the mill, but the leftover powder inside will be ground into fine particles. These fine particles could mix with the next batch of coffee grounds, potentially affecting its flavor.
If you’re grinding multiple servings consecutively, you can add beans at any stage, but make sure to add them before the current grinding process is complete.
Adding beans at the final stage, as described above, can generate fine particles with each batch, which is not ideal for coffee grounds.
Since the stone mill does not generate heat, you can grind dozens of servings consecutively without compromising the coffee’s flavor."
Can it be used for espresso as well?
"Yes, it is possible to achieve finer grounds by grinding a small amount of beans at a time.
Even with a stone mill designed for medium grind as the default, adjusting the amount of beans added can make fine grinding possible.
Specifically, for a standard medium grind, 4 to 5 beans are ground per rotation. To achieve a fine grind, reduce the amount to 2?3 beans per rotation. This increases the time the beans remain inside the mill, resulting in a finer grind.
Additionally, by adding 2?3 beans and rotating the mill twice for each batch, you can achieve an even finer grind. The degree of fineness can be adjusted according to your personal preference."
How many servings of beans can be ground at one time?
"You can grind as many servings as needed by adding more beans.
The upper part of the upper millstone can hold about 20 grams of beans at a time.
However, you can continue grinding by adding more beans to the top of the upper millstone before the current batch is fully ground.
Since there is no frictional heat generated like in a mechanical mill, it’s not an exaggeration to say that you can grind continuously without compromising the flavor, almost indefinitely."
How long does it take to grind beans for two servings?
"It takes about 10 to 15 seconds.
The time required depends on the state of the coffee beans. For beans that are brittle and deeply roasted, you can add more per rotation, while for harder, lightly roasted beans, you need to add fewer beans per rotation.
Because of this, it’s difficult to give a precise answer as it varies with the condition of the beans.
However, the grinding process itself?turning the mill with your right hand and dropping beans into the hole with your left hand?is very light and effortless. It often feels like the process is over before you know it, as you enjoy the act of grinding."
I would like to purchase it at a cafe; is that possible?
"We highly recommend it.
It is perfect for cafe owners who want to express their passion for coffee.
It allows you to grind coffee beans without disrupting the quiet atmosphere, while the sound of grinding and the aroma of coffee beans fill the space.
In fact, many cafes and restaurants have purchased it for use in their establishments."
>I would like to see the actual product; is there a place where I can view it?
"Unfortunately, you will need to visit our workshop.
While some customers have purchased our products for use in their shops, we do not have permission from them to share links, so we regret that we cannot provide any."
Is it possible to request a loan of the product?
"Yes, it is possible, but limited to nearby areas.
We have one stone mill for grains available for use in activities such as children’s food education.
It is available for free rental, so please contact us.
As for coffee-related products, we are currently considering a leasing option. Please inquire for more details."
Can it also be used to grind SOBA in addition to coffee?
"No, it cannot.
Soybeans, SOBA, and tea each require their own specific sharpening design.
Some vendors advertise that a single stone mill can grind a variety of materials such as coffee beans, soybeans, soba, and tea. However, as a stone mill artisan, I find this hard to understand.
When a stone mill is specialized for a single function, it can perform that function flawlessly, but it becomes entirely unsuitable for anything else."
>Can I order a stone mill for grinding SOBA?
"We are not currently producing them.
In the past, we have made stone mills capable of handling various materials, but unfortunately, we are no longer accepting such requests."
Is it possible to make a specially small stone mill?
"The size we are currently producing is the optimal size.
Smaller sizes are not very practical except for use as interior decor.
If you still insist, we can make it, but please note that even for smaller sizes, the processes of shaping, polishing, and sharpening are exactly the same.
In fact, the smaller the size, the more difficult it becomes to craft, so the price remains the same."
Is it possible to have text or designs engraved?
"We are sorry, but we do not accept requests for engraving text or designs."
>Can it be sent in a wooden box?
"We can set a separate delivery address, but we are sorry, we do not provide gift boxes."
Does it need re-sharpening after long-term use?
"No, it is not necessary.
For the coffee stone mills I produce, there is absolutely no need for maintenance.
They can be used as-is, virtually indefinitely."
How often should the attached brush be replaced?
"The stone mill I use at home has been in use for 10 years.
For replacement, cut a 30mm-wide brush, which is available at home improvement stores, and insert it as a replacement."
How often should the SAKURA wood handle bar be replaced?
"It will likely last for several decades as it is.
With continued use, the surface will develop a sheen, becoming even more beautiful over time."
Can it be handled comfortably by women?
"When moving the stone mill, please handle the upper and lower millstones separately.
Moving them while stacked together is very heavy and can be dangerous."
