Etzinger, Inc.

February 22, 2025 - How does an aircraft engineer become a pioneer in grinding technology? Christian Etzinger has done just that. In this interview with him, we learn more about technology, innovation, and the pleasure that comes from quality.

The Basics of the Mill: Ring and Cone

Christian Etzinger: “Every mill has two parts: one turns, the other stands still, and in between, the grain is ground. When humans began to grow grain, they also had to grind it. Thus, milling is as old as settled human civilization and an essential part of our evolution.”

The quality of the ground product is determined by the technical sophistication of the grinder. If the base material is of poor quality, it is nearly impossible to improve it during further processing. The base quality is crucial. That is why I believe that the best grind quality can only be achieved with the best equipment.

From Aircraft Manufacturing to Grinding Technology

I began my professional career as an aircraft engineer. After specializing in custom machine building, I automated numerous industrial processes, ranging from the food industry and electronics to cable cars and steel construction.

It was a coincidence that led me to the grinding industry: A customer brought me two parts and asked if I could design and build a production machine to manufacture them. After a brief conversation, I knew this was the path for me. At the time, the technology in the grinding industry was still in its infancy, and there was hardly any innovation. I realized that I had the necessary knowledge and that this challenge was a perfect fit for my technical background.

Automation: The Key to Perfection

It quickly became clear to me that if I wanted to manufacture in Liechtenstein, production would have to be fully automated. Today, we produce one million grinders a year—with just five employees. By comparison, other companies need three to four times as many people and machines to do the same.

The secret? The more processes are automated, the fewer errors occur and the higher the quality. I’ve applied my expertise in automation technology and aircraft manufacturing to perfect our production process. We have 14 machines that run fully automatically 330 days a year.

Our development work was a long process. We scrutinized every aspect of the milling process. This dedication and precision ultimately led to the creation of the etzinger © mills.

Why cutting is more important than grinding

"Grinding" is actually the wrong term. Our grinding mechanisms actually cut the ingredients. The small teeth ensure that the ingredients are cut precisely. The better these teeth cut, the more essential oils and flavor compounds are preserved.

“Grinding fresh—whether it’s coffee or spices—is essential, because the freshly ground product always has the best flavor.”

Expertise and enjoyment from Liechtenstein

Christian Etzinger is proud of his family business’s achievements. “We manufacture electric coffee grinders, hand grinders, and pepper and spice mills—all right here in Liechtenstein. Our core products, the Ring and Kegel, are manufactured on-site. That’s our expertise. When it comes to grinding technology, we are the global market leader.”

Our coffee grinders were the first to include a weighing function. We’re constantly testing and refining our products because the grind has to be perfect.

When we eat out, we often encounter mills that don’t perform as well as one would expect from a good mill. That’s what ultimately prompted me to develop pepper and spice mills as well. Our etz-IU universal mill (for pepper, spices, grains, dried herbs, or coffee) and etz-IP pepper mill can be filled and adjusted quickly and easily (from super-fine to extra-coarse). The output is approximately 0.2g per turn (depending on the setting). The perfect grinding mechanism geometry guarantees gentle grinding with a maximized flavor experience.

The Shop-Café in Eschen: Bringing the Grinding Process to Life

One of our highlights is our Shop-Café-to-go in Eschen. Here, customers can see for themselves how adjusting the grind settings affects the quality of the coffee and spices. You can smell and taste the coffee, and the flavor experience begins with freshly ground coffee.

I enjoy explaining to our customers what our products can do and why they are special. Direct contact is very important to us, because that’s where we can really show what’s possible. Our products are positioned in the premium segment. It’s all about quality—a holistic approach that appeals to all the senses.

Moments of indulgence from Liechtenstein

Our collaboration with Liechtenstein Marketing is a partnership that suits us perfectly. Together with Demmel Kaffee, we have created our own coffee blend, and we see it as our mission to raise awareness among coffee lovers about consistent quality in every cup by bringing easy-to-use solutions to the market, such as the world’s first fresh-grinding system compatible with Nespresso machines, the etz-Icare. This allows every quality- and environmentally-conscious customer to grind coffee by hand directly into reusable capsules, which not only supports local roasters but also guarantees sustainability.

“People are paying more and more attention to coffee these days. Knowing that our grinders are helping to improve the quality of coffee, pepper, and spices around the world fills me with great joy. And the best part is: each of our grinders carries a piece of Liechtenstein out into the world.”