Coffee/Spice Mill, which do you use or recommend

[Gracie]

Have been rolling around the idea of getting one of these. Just looked on e-bay, and they have some reasonable hand crank varieties, which believe would be our best choice. Please, what are you all's thoughts, suggestions or recommendations on these. Or do you have another appliance that can also grind coffee and spices/herbs. Thanks You All.:)

P.S. If this has already been discussed, I couldn't find it in the search, but didn't go through all it's pages.

[NCLee]

I'm currently using one of these. Got it with a 20% off coupon.
Does a good job. http://www.bedbathandbeyond.ca/product.asp?SKU=100211&RN=4688&

It's better to have one for spices and another for coffee. However, you can use either bread or rice (can't remember which one off the top of my head) to remove the oils of one in order to use it for both coffee & spices.

I'm also on the look out for a hand grinder for spices and, coffee, too. Woud love to find a Turkish coffee grinder, but I doubt I'll run across one that I can afford. Under stand they make a great pepper mill. Which, in turn, should make it a good spice grinder.

Oh, and don't forget to get a nutmeg grater. I have several of those, bought a flea markets and such. One has a compartment to hold the whole nutmeg. BTW, you can use a woodworkers rasp for those, too. Lee Valley's micro plane is now found in kitchen supply shops and well as woodworking stores. :wink:

Lee

[Junie]

I have two of the cheap coffee grinders from Walmart - one for coffee and one for spices. I think I paid around $20 for them, maybe less. I've had them a while, so I don't remember exactly.

For SHTF, I try to stay really low (or no) tech. I have a mortar and pestle for then, although I use it for some things now. I ground some fennel seeds and bay leaves in it just last week.

[MEBrian]

We acquired a free Krups coffee grinder many years ago. It works great for both coffee and spices. You know the type, it's a sort of mini blender.

Rice. Put rice in it to clean it.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

I just have an electric Black and Decker. It is a cheap one that I paid just under $40. It works great to grind small amounts of coffee, rice, wheat, spices, etc. It is one of the electric ones, though.

[Gracie]

Thank You All, for your suggestions, and tips and price ranges. Maybe the electric would be the way to go for now, to get the feel for how they work, and maybe consider the hand crank version later on. There's just something I like about the vintage-looking hand crank mills, but would think each would work a bit differently.

[Laura]

We acquired a free Krups coffee grinder many years ago. It works great for both coffee and spices. You know the type, it's a sort of mini blender.

Rice. Put rice in it to clean it.

Thank you for the rice tip!!

[iowasue]

We love this grinder - I found it elsewhere on line for 1/2 off - the ceramic burr grinders work really, really well. And it's adjustable to get the grind you want. I use it every day - I like that I don't need to plug it in - I can just keep it in the cupboard, not on the counter.

I don't think I'll need another grinder for years, it's so well made and the top will fit on a regular mason jar if you break the bottom.


I didn't buy mine here, but it has a good description and photo.
http://www.sweetmarias.com/sweetmarias/hario-skerton-hand-crank-coffee-mill.html?___store=default

[dademoss]

Mine is a Zassenhaus Box Mill.
(http://www.sweetmarias.com/sweetmarias/grinders/manual-grinders/zassenhaus-box-mill.html)

[Gracie]

Iowa Sue, That's a nifty grinder, I really like the idea that you can replace the base, if necessary with a canning jar.

Dademoss, Have looked @ several of the German-made grinders, they are beauties, if were a little less pricy, sure would consider buying one.

Thank you both for your suggestions...the options are increasing, and sure do appreciate them all!

[sbemt456]

I have an old fashioned coffee grinder with the hand crank that hubby got me many years ago that we use still. Then last year at a yard sale I found an electric spice grinder for 50 cents, new still in the box. This is the one i use to make onion flakes, to chop dried carrots, peppers and celery to make seasoning blends and of course for spices. For herbs I use a lil cheap hand crank herb grinder that essentially shreds the dried herb into flakes that are perfect. I think I found it at wally world for just a few bucks. And for a gift I had gotten a marble mortar and pestle some years ago. I do use all of these things, depending on what I am doing and the mood Im in. lol


Have a great day!

stella

[Gracie]

Stella, Thank you for your suggestions, too. Thanks to you all's input, have a better idea of what would work best for us. Gonna' have to pick one up pretty soon, as DH purchased a bag of coffee beans, not ground...maybe he is trying to tell me something...:eek: lol