Spice Grinders

Burr grinders consist of two revolving components with abrasive surfaces, called burrs, set at a distance from each other through which food passes resulting in its grinding or crushing. An advantage of this type of grinding is that friction is minimized, if not eliminated, thus preserving the taste and aroma of the food item, whether it be coffee or spices. This is one of the advantages of the Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder.

The solid conical steel burrs of the Capresso Infinity are precision-cut with the aid of computers. This guarantees a smooth revolution even when the burrs, which are adjustable, are set close to each other. The motor has multiple gears which means that you can set the speed of the burrs’ revolution. This can be as slow as below 450 rpm resulting to less generation of heat and also less noise.

The adjustability of the burrs allows the setting of grounds from extra fine, through fine, regular, to coarse. Each of these settings can further be fine-tuned up to four levels. This means that there are 16 possible adjustments for fineness.

The hopper is made of clear plastic giving you full view of its contents. Ground coffee beans or spices fall into another clear container that fits snugly within the body of the grinder. To keep grinding safe, the hopper needs to be locked in position before the motor can start running.

Unlike other grinders where you need to hold a button down to keep them running, the Capresso Infinity Grinder is equipped with a timer that allows you to program it to operate from 5 to 60 seconds. While it is grinding, you can go get the coffee maker ready or the bowl for the spices.

The Capresso Infinity is available in three variations –metal with stainless steel finish, ABS plastic in stainless finish, and ABS plastic in black.

Plenty of people prefer freshly ground spices to season their food in much the same way that they prefer freshly ground coffee to jolt them awake in the morning. With the Toastess DLCG-559 Coffee and Spice Grinder, they can have both in a single machine.

The grinder is outfitted with a powerful yet quiet motor that spins precision blades. The blades slice through coffee beans and practically all types of spices quickly and uniformly. This avoids the build up of friction adversely affecting the beans or spices, and provides for a consistent texture. They are made of stainless steel which makes them easy to clean and maintain.

The grinding chamber is also made of stainless steel. It is removable for washing in a dishwasher, a feature that is important if you opt to use the same machine for grinding your coffee and spices, although the ideal would be to have one for coffee and another for spices as a less than thorough cleaning might result in spicy coffee or coffee-flavored spices. A transparent lid covers the grinding chamber and allows you to peer into it.

It is easy to operate the DLCG-559. One button will activate the blades. Before you do that, though, you can choose the texture of your grounds by rotating a dial on the face of the grinder. One end of the dial is labeled “coarse” while the other is “fine”. If you are grinding coffee beans, you can also program the grinder to process just enough for 2, 4, 8, or the maximum 12 cups using a slider just below the dial adjusting ground texture.

With its gray body and a stainless steel grinding chamber visible through the transparent lid, the Toastess DLCG-599 can be left on display on your kitchen counter. The power cord will not clutter up the counter as it is retractable.

There aren’t too many electric grinders that were originally intended to mince and mill spices but, fortunately, there are plenty of coffee grinders that can adequately and efficiently grind them to the desired consistency. One of these is the DeLonghi Electric Coffee Bean Grinder KG40.

Using durable stainless steel grinding blades, the KG40 grinds cinnamon, coriander, cumin, peppercorn, basil, rosemary, mustard seed, bay laurels, and other spices. These are contained in a hopper that is covered by a lid with transparent sidings allowing you to see into it. And yes, it also grinds coffee beans.

The top of the lid incorporates the switch that activates the grinder. As a safety measure and to prevent the spices from getting strewn all over your kitchen, the lid has to be properly closed before the switch can be pressed and held down to start grinding. If the grounds reach the desired consistency, simply let go of the switch, otherwise, keep on grinding.

The hopper is removable so you can pour out the ground spice instead of scooping it. A brush, which is stored inside the casing, is supplied for a quick clean. You will need to wash it thoroughly with soap and water though if, after grinding spices, you want to use it for coffee beans.

The DeLonghi Electric Coffee Bean Grinder KG40 is encased in a sleek black cylinder with a tapered waist. The electric cord can be wound and concealed within the casing. It stands 9 inches tall with a diameter of approximately 5 inches. This grinder, therefore, is not only functional but also a fine appliance to display on your kitchen countertop.

Some grinders need to be held fast while grinding because they vibrate almost violently while doing their job. Others use a flash switch that needs to be continuously depressed to activate the machine. Not so with the Hamilton Beach Custom Grind Model 80365. Indeed, it is touted as a hands-free coffee and spice grinder.

Model 80365 is a cylindrical grinder with a diameter of approximately 4.8 inches. The casing bulges slightly at its top where the grinding chamber is encased. This chamber is covered by a transparent lid giving you a full view of its contents.

Although intended primarily for grinding coffee beans, this Hamilton Beach grinder is quite capable of processing spices such as peppercorns, cumin, cinnamon, allspice berries, and coriander. And it does its grinding in silence.

A dial on the grinder casing allows the adjustment of the texture of the grounds. The markings above the dial betray the appliance as a coffee grinder. These are “Percolator”, “Drip”, and “Espresso”. The percolator setting produces coarse grounds while espresso is for fine consistencies.

A measuring cup comes with the grinder but again it is marked for coffee making indicating how many cups a certain level of coffee beans can make. The grinding chamber along with the steel blades is removable and is dishwasher-safe.

The 4.8-inch diameter of the Hamilton Beach Custom Grind Model 80365 minimizes its footprint. With a height of 8.3 inches, it is a small kitchen tool that can be left on your counter or work table. With a cord storage area at the base where it could be wound when not in use, it does not clutter your counter.

A lot of coffee grinders have assumed the duty of grinding not only coffee beans but spices as well. One of these is the Krups F203 Electric Blades Grinder. Like its other siblings, the F203 Coffee Grinder and the GX4100, it can grind cinnamon, cumin, peppercorn, coriander, basil, mustard seed, rosemary, and bay laurels.

The F203 Electric Blades Grinder uses stainless steel blades to cut and grind coffee beans and different spices. A 160-watt motor spins the blades effortlessly to come up with either a coarse or fine consistency of the grounds in just a few seconds.

The hopper has a capacity of three ounces. When grinding coffee beans, this would be enough for 15 cups. It has a transparent lid so you can see if you still have enough coffee or spices remaining in it. This lid activates the safety switch, that is, the machine will not run unless the lid is properly closed. This safety feature eliminates the possibility of starting the machine while the hopper is open, or while you are still filling it and your fingers might even be inside.

As the electric grinder measures only 17 cm high, 7.8 wide, and 9.2 deep, it does not occupy a large area on your countertop. You can actually just leave in on your counter as additional décor. With a choice of either black or white, it will definitely complement your other appliances.

The Jura Capresso 503 Cool Grind is a compact grinder that is available in two variations of its housing. One is made of ABS thermoplastic that is colored black, which is a sturdy, rigid, and lightweight material. The other is housed in stainless steel with black accents. Both models look stylish and sleek making them a great addition to your work table or counter.

The Cool Grind uses stainless steel blades to process coffee, spices, or herbs in a grinding bowl that is also made of stainless steel. This bowl can contain as much as a hundred grams. In the case of coffee, this is good for 15 cups. A low-heat 100-watt motor powers the blades for a speedy grind without overheating the grounds. This helps preserve their flavor and nutrients.

Activating the motor is a single push-and-release switch. For a continuous grind, simply push and hold it. For pulse-like grinding, push and release it. The finer you want your grounds, the longer you will have to hold the switch. Holding it for more than 10 seconds, though, is not recommended as this could heat the blades up, adversely affecting your grounds.

You cannot activate the motor unless the see-through safety lid is properly set in place. The quick stopping action of the blades also enhances safety as it stops them from spinning within a second of releasing the switch.

Since the lid is see-through, you can clearly see inside the machine to check the texture of your grounds.

Another convenient feature is the recess at the base of the grinder that serves as a cord storage area. When not in use, simply wind the electric cord around it for a clean and tidy storage.

It weighs less than one kilogram and stands about 20 cm with a diameter of 10 cm.

The Trudeau Graviti Pepper Grinder is a stylish and elegant grinder that harnesses electrical power from six AAA batteries and gravitational forces to make it run. When flipped upside down, the grinder starts working.

Pepper, or any other dry spice, is contained in a clear acrylic tubular hopper that is housed in a plastic casing which could be finished in chrome, black, silver, or red. The upper portion of the acrylic hopper is left uncased so you can check the level of any remaining spice. The case, the hopper, and the grinder all add up to a height of approximately 20 cm.

The Graviti Pepper Grinder consists of a ceramic grinding mechanism that remains free from rust even if moistened with steam when used over a pot of boiling liquid. Also, it sharpens itself guaranteeing a long useful service. The grinders first cut the spices to extract the oil, then grinds them to your desired texture. This maximizes flavor. A knob at the top of the grinding mechanism allows adjustment of the fineness, or coarseness, of the grounds.

Gravity sensors inside the casing detect the position of the grinder. When a certain angle is reached as the grinder is turned upside down, they activate the grinders. As this can be done with only one hand, the other is freed to stir the pot or mix the spice with the food. When done pouring simply turn the grinder back up. The sensors will take care of the rest.

This Italian-made mincer and grinder is a very versatile piece of kitchen tool. It can cut, chop, mince, and puree. It does all these with its stainless steel blades that are spun by a 550-watt motor.

The Miracle Exclusives Mincer & Grinder T30 is cylindrical in shape standing 25 cm tall with a diameter of 16.5 cm. It has a lid made of clear plastic while the rest of its body is in white. Pressing this lid activates the machine. Since it is transparent you can see inside into the milling chamber to check for the grounds’ consistency. The finer you want your grounds, the longer you will need to press the lid.

This system of switching has the advantage of totally eliminating the possibility of starting the machine without the lid on. This means you will never cut your fingers while pouring food into the milling chamber by accidentally turning it on. It also means no food flying all over your kitchen.

When you are satisfied with the fineness of your grounds, simply remove the lid and lift the milling chamber out. This makes dispensing easy, after which you can wash them in your dishwasher. The chamber can accommodate a little over 225 grams.

The Mincer & Grinder T30 can grind spices, seeds, nuts, beans, and even grains to extremely fine textures. It can also mince herbs, vegetable, cheese, and even meat into very fine pieces. Since it can take both dry and oily food, it can make flour, peanut butter, cornmeal, and hummus.

A cord storage compartment is provided at the bottom of the grinder for an uncluttered work table when not in use if you opt to leave it on your work table.

The Toastess Coffee and Spice Grinder features a powerful yet quiet motor that unobtrusively grinds coffee beans and spices while your other appliances whirr and whine in the background. It spins the blade at high speeds thus grinding the beans and spices quickly and uniformly in just a few seconds. It is because of this quick grinding that heat build-up is minimized thereby avoiding burnt grounds.

The TCG-357 grinds coffee beans, allspice, peppercorns, celery seeds, cardamom, coriander seeds, as well as mustard seeds. Simply scoop these into the grinding bowl which holds up to 50 grams of beans and start grinding. The machine’s pulse feature allows you to choose the kind of ground texture you want, from coarse to fine. With a clear plastic domed top, you can see inside the bowl to check if the beans or spices are ground to your satisfaction.

A safety mechanism prevents the machine from operating unless the lid is properly shut. A lock and unlock icon indicates whether the lid is in its right position. This avoids beans and spices flying all over the place if accidentally started before the lid is on.

To keep your table or counter uncluttered, a cord wrap is provided. Standing at a shade over eight inches with a diameter of approximately four inches, the TCG-357 is not a huge appliance. With its brushed stainless steel case that is accented with black plastic, it actually looks sleek. You can leave it standing next to your coffeemaker or spice racks, ready to do its job whenever you run out of coffee or spice grounds.

The Elite Cuisine Coffee and Spice Grinder ETS630B is one several kitchen grinders that was originally designed to effectively and efficiently grind coffee beans but was discovered to just as effective and efficient grinding spices and nuts.

This grinder features stainless steel cutting blades that cuts and crushes coffee beans, spices, and nuts. It can easily process peppercorns, flax seeds, coriander, cinnamon, cumin, and all spice berries in a matter of seconds.

Grinding is easy. All you need to do is pour the coffee beans, spices, or nuts you want to grind into the grinding bowl that can accommodate as much as 36 grams. Close the lid and depress the safety switch to activate the blades. The blades are spun by a 150-watt motor that is housed at the bottom of the grinder. The longer you press the button, the finer your grounds will get.

The grinder stands seven inches. It is cylindrical in shape with a diameter of approximately 4½ inches. Its base is flared, while the lid at the top is domed. It is made of clear plastic allowing you to look into the grinding bowl to check the consistency or texture of the grounds.