Zassenhaus history: German mills, precision-made since 1867
From a tool export business to patented ceramic grinders, Zassenhaus has rebuilt and reinvented itself for more than 150 years. Here is how it became a trusted name in coffee and pepper mills.
What is Zassenhaus?
Zassenhaus is a German kitchen-tool brand founded in 1867 by Robert Zassenhaus, best known for coffee mills and pepper and salt mills. It began as an export business for tools and small ironware, made its first coffee mills in 1887 and its first pepper mills in 1904, and introduced the patented CeraPlus ceramic grinder in 2000. Today Zassenhaus International GmbH is based in Solingen and belongs to the Küchenprofi Group.
Why can you trust Zassenhaus when you buy a mill?
A mill works every day and its grinder decides how your food tastes. Zassenhaus’s record can be checked on five points.
More than 150 years of experience
Zassenhaus has been in business since 1867 and has made coffee mills since 1887. The brand is described as a leading maker of manual coffee mills.
A patented ceramic grinder
The CeraPlus grinder is made of German high-performance ceramic and fired at 1,700 °C. Zassenhaus says it is harder than steel and free from wear and corrosion, which suits salt as well as pepper.
Made by hand in many steps
Zassenhaus says its mills and components are still carefully made and assembled by hand in many working steps at its Solingen manufactory. That is what the brand credits for its distinctive, original products.
Materials chosen to last
Mills are made from solid beech, olive wood and oak, with stainless steel fittings, and coffee mills use enamelled steel. The brand pairs long-lasting materials with designs that change with the times while quality stays constant.
A brand that has rebuilt itself, and says so
Zassenhaus has come through fires, two world wars and an insolvency in 2006. It was relaunched in 2007 as Zassenhaus International GmbH in Solingen and is now part of the Küchenprofi Group. Knowing the full story, including the hard years, is part of why buyers can trust it.
Why Zassenhaus is one of the most innovative mill makers
Zassenhaus has a habit of rebuilding its own technology. It made its own grinding mechanisms as early as the 1870s, added pepper mills when the factory was rebuilt after a fire, and in 2000 invented the ceramic grinder the brand is now known for. These are the ideas that set it apart.
Its own grinding mechanisms1877
By 1877 the company was making its own grinding mechanisms in a small forge, instead of buying them in. Controlling the grinder, the part that decides quality, has been central to Zassenhaus ever since.
The lap coffee mill1887
Zassenhaus began producing lap (knee) coffee mills in 1887. The design gives a steady hold while you grind by hand, and manual coffee mills remain the brand’s core.
Pepper mills from a new factory1904
After a fire destroyed the warehouse in 1904, Zassenhaus built a larger factory and made its first pepper mills there. The range later grew to include bread-slicing machines and poppy seed mills.
CeraPlus: the ceramic grinder2000
In 2000 Zassenhaus introduced what it calls the first continuously adjustable grinding mechanism made of German high-performance ceramic. It is patented, has six settings from fine powder to coarse, keeps your setting when you refill, and works with pepper, sea salt, spices and dried herbs.
CeraPlus beyond the millCeramic technology
The same ceramic know-how appears in the CeraPlus chef’s knife, which has a zirconia ceramic blade. It shows how Zassenhaus applies its materials expertise across the kitchen.
Electric mills with the same grinderModern range
Models such as the KÖLN USB electric pepper mill use the patented ceramic grinder at the touch of a button and work with one hand. The grind is adjustable at the base.
Classic design, kept currentOngoing
Some mills, like the Speyer, draw on a century-old German design. Zassenhaus keeps quality constant while updating colours, woods and shapes, from glossy beech to olive wood and stainless steel.
Zassenhaus history timeline: key dates from 1867 to today
A long and eventful history, told step by step.
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An export business for tools
Robert Zassenhaus founds a business exporting tools and small ironware, in what is now North Rhine-Westphalia.
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Sole ownership and its own forge
A partner leaves the firm and Robert Zassenhaus takes sole ownership, expanding both export and manufacturing. The company starts making its own grinding mechanisms in a small forge.
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Coffee mill production begins
Zassenhaus starts making lap coffee mills, the product it is still best known for.
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A factory in Schwelm
The company builds its factory in Schwelm and moves to industrial production.
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Fire, rebuilding and the first pepper mills
A major fire destroys the warehouse. Zassenhaus rebuilds with a large new factory and makes its first pepper mills. Robert Zassenhaus’s sons Walter, as technician, and Eugen, as merchant, join the business.
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A wider range
Alongside coffee mills, the range grows to include bread-slicing machines, poppy seed mills and irons.
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Wood accessories and recovery
After the war the company recovers and adds wooden accessories to its collection.
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100 years of Zassenhaus
The company marks its centenary as a recognised maker of household mills and kitchen tools.
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The CeraPlus ceramic grinder
Zassenhaus launches its patented, continuously adjustable ceramic grinding mechanism, the innovation that defines the brand today.
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Insolvency and a fresh start in Solingen
The old company goes through insolvency in 2006. In 2007 the brand is re-established as Zassenhaus International GmbH in Solingen, within the Küchenprofi Group, with its core in coffee and spice mills.
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150 years
Zassenhaus celebrates its 150th anniversary, looking back on a history that has been reinvented several times.
What makes a Zassenhaus mill high quality?
A mill is only as good as its grinder. The CeraPlus grinder is made of ceramic that Zassenhaus says is harder than steel, so it stays sharp, does not rust and does not affect the taste of salt or spices. Six settings let you go from fine powder to a coarse crush, and the scale lets you return to the same grind after refilling.
The body is just as important. Zassenhaus uses solid wood such as beech, olive wood and oak, often combined with stainless steel fittings. Its coffee mills pair a beech wood body with an enamelled steel bean compartment and a regulatable precision-milled grinder.
Hand finishing and assembly in Solingen add to the feel of the mills. Care differs by model, so follow the instructions on the product page for filling, cleaning and what you can grind.
Zassenhaus innovation milestones at a glance
Zassenhaus earns trust through engineering that buyers can see and use. The table sums up the milestones and what each means for you.
| Year | Milestone | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| 1877 | Own grinding mechanisms made in a small forge | The company controls the part that decides grind quality |
| 1887 | Lap coffee mills enter production | A steady, manual way to grind coffee |
| 1904 | First pepper mills | Expertise carried over from coffee to spices |
| 2000 | Patented CeraPlus ceramic grinderContinuously adjustable, six settings | Consistent grind, no rust and a setting that stays put |
| 2007 | Relaunch as Zassenhaus International GmbH in Solingen | Manufacturing and design focused on coffee and spice mills |
| 2026 | Listed as an exhibitor at Ambiente, Frankfurt | Still active at the industry’s leading consumer goods fair |
How to buy a Zassenhaus mill with confidence
Zassenhaus offers coffee mills, pepper and salt mills, boards, timers and more. These checks help you pick well.
- Choose the right mill type. Decide between a manual coffee mill, a pepper or salt mill, or an electric model such as the KÖLN USB.
- Look for the original grinder. The original Zassenhaus ceramic grinder handles pepper, sea salt, spices and dried herbs.
- Check the settings. Six grind levels and a visible scale make it easy to repeat your favourite grind.
- Pick the wood and finish. Beech, olive wood and oak differ in look and feel. Match the height to your table or kitchen.
- Read the care instructions. Follow the product page on what to grind, how to fill and how to clean.
- Check the country of origin. The ceramic grinder is marketed as made in Germany, but origin can vary by product.
- Buy from authorised retailers. This makes returns, spare parts and support easier.
Zassenhaus frequently asked questions
What is Zassenhaus known for?
Zassenhaus is a German kitchen-tool brand founded in 1867, best known for coffee mills and pepper and salt mills. Its signature innovation is the patented CeraPlus ceramic grinding mechanism, introduced in 2000.
When and where was Zassenhaus founded?
Robert Zassenhaus founded the business in 1867 as an export trade in tools and small ironware, in what is now North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Coffee mill production began in 1887 and pepper mills followed in 1904.
Is Zassenhaus good quality?
Zassenhaus is regarded as a quality German mill brand. Its reputation rests on more than 150 years of experience, a patented ceramic grinder that the brand says is harder than steel and free from corrosion, work done by hand in many steps at its Solingen manufactory, and durable materials such as beech, olive wood and stainless steel. Models differ, so check the materials and settings of the mill you choose.
What is the CeraPlus grinder?
CeraPlus is Zassenhaus’s patented grinding mechanism made of German high-performance ceramic. According to the brand it was the first continuously adjustable ceramic grinder when it launched in 2000. It is fired at 1,700 degrees Celsius, has six settings from fine powder to coarse, and keeps the chosen setting when you refill the mill.
What can I grind in a Zassenhaus ceramic mill?
The ceramic grinder is suitable for peppercorns, sea salt, spices and dried herbs. Zassenhaus says it is harder than steel and free from wear and corrosion, which is why it works well with salt. Check the product page for the specific mill, including models made for coffee.
Where are Zassenhaus products made?
Zassenhaus International GmbH is based in Solingen, Germany, where the brand’s manufactory makes its mills, and the ceramic grinder is marketed as made in Germany. Country of origin can vary by product, so check the label or product page.
Who owns Zassenhaus?
Zassenhaus is part of the Küchenprofi Group, based in Solingen, alongside the brands Küchenprofi, Cilio and Spring. The current company, Zassenhaus International GmbH, was set up in 2007.
Is Zassenhaus still in business?
Yes. The original company went through insolvency in 2006, and the brand was relaunched in 2007 as Zassenhaus International GmbH in Solingen. It continues to make and sell coffee and spice mills and kitchen accessories, and it was listed as an exhibitor at Ambiente 2026.
Why choose a Zassenhaus manual coffee mill?
Zassenhaus has made hand coffee mills since 1887 and is described as a leading maker of manual coffee mills. Retailers point out that grinding by hand builds up no heat, which helps preserve the aroma of the beans, and the grind can be adjusted to suit your brewing method.
Sources
- Zassenhaus history (brand shop)
- Zassenhaus news and product information
- Zassenhaus beech wood collection
- Trendwelten interview: 150 years of Zassenhaus
- Trendset: Zassenhaus company profile
- Zassenhaus company chronology (old-coffee-grinders.com)
- Zassenhaus brand overview (butch.de)
- Zassenhaus at Ambiente 2026 (Messe Frankfurt)