Spice Grinders

If your kitchen is decorated along modern design concepts, and you have appliances and tools finished in shiny stainless steel or chrome, the Mr. Coffee IDS Chrome Coffee Grinder would make a complementing addition.

The device, born as a coffee maker but adaptable to grinding and crushing spices, is sleek and stylish. Its clear and transparent lid sits atop a gleaming cylindrical main body. The cylinder broadens at its bottom end for increased stability. For even more stability, rubber feet are installed.

The grinder, however, does not merely look attractive. It is quite effective whether grinding coffee beans or peppercorns, allspice berries, flax seeds, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, or even parsley and other herbs. With its heavy-duty steel blades, the grinder can last for years.

The grinding chamber is made of stainless steel, which makes it easy to clean. Simply scoop in whatever it is you are grinding, secure the transparent lid in place, and press the on/off safety switch that is mounted on the lid to get the blade running. Take care to secure the lid properly otherwise, the blade will not spin. This is a safety measure to prevent your coffee or spices from flying out of the grinding chamber, and, more important, to keep your fingers from getting accidentally minced by the blade.

With the grinding chamber’s round shape, the consistency of the texture of your grounds is assured. If you are satisfied with the texture of the grounds, just remove the lid and pour them out into another container. The chamber is large enough to hold enough coffee beans to make 12 cups.

Oils from coffee can remain on the surface of the grinding chamber and may contaminate the taste of your spices. The reverse is also true, so in order to avoid having coffee-flavored pepper, or pepper-flavored coffee, throw in a piece of bread into the grinder and spin the blades. Better still, use one exclusively for coffee and another for spices.

The Mr. Coffee IDS59 Chrome Coffee Grinder has a diameter of approximately 4 inches and height of 7 inches.

Although advertised as a coffee grinder, the KithenAid BCG 1110R Blade Coffee Grinder is just as effective grinding coffee beans as grinding spices, including allspice berries, cinnamon, peppercorn, flax seeds, coriander, and cumin among others. Most users, however, recommend a thorough washing of the grinder’s bowl when switching from coffee to spices, and vice versa, to avoid mixing their flavors. Even better, use one exclusively for coffee and another for spices.

Unlike most blade grinders, the KitchenAid grinder is not excessively noisy. It has a bowl made of brushed stainless steel with a capacity of 4 ounces of coffee beans, enough for grinding up to 12 cups. Within the bowl is a stainless steel blade that is spun by a powerful heavy-duty 160-watt motor.

Operating the grinder is safe and easy. You need to position the bowl over the motor housing, aligning the motor’s shaft with that of the blade, and lock it into place by rotating it clockwise. Once you have filled the bowl with the spices you need, cover it with the transparent top lid. Make sure that its latch aligns with the base of the motor housing. All you need to do now is press the cover. In case the bowl and the lid are not properly set into the place, the machine will not start.

Cleaning the grinder is a breeze. The blade, bowl, and top lid are all dishwasher safe. The motor housing, while it cannot be immersed in water, can be cleaned with a damp soft cloth.

The KitchenAid BCG 111OB Blade Coffee Grinder is cylindrical in shape. The motor housing or base as well as the latch of the top cover are made of brushed stainless steel with onyx black highlights. A variation of the design is the 111ER. ER stands for empire red for this color replaces the stainless finish of the motor housing.

The grinder stands 8-1/2 high, with a diameter of 3-3/4 inches. The latch protrudes about 1/4 inch. Weight is approximately 2 lbs.

Consisting of a pedestal made of brushed stainless steel with black highlights on its bottom and top sections, a transparent lid that reveals the grinding bowl, the Cuisinart DCG-12BC Grind Central Coffee Grinder is a fine addition to any kitchen counter. It sports a modern design with a minimum of embellishments making it suitable for most kitchens.

Although labeled as a coffee grinder, it can process more than just coffee beans. Indeed, the grinder can easily handle allspice berries, peppercorn, cinnamon, parsley and similar herbs, coriander, flax seeds, and cumin among others. Just be sure to wash and clean the grinding bowl thoroughly when switching from spices to coffee to avoid mixing their flavors. Throwing in a piece of bread and running the machine will help absorb any residual oils from the spices, herbs, or coffee.

The grinding bowl is crafted out of stainless steel, which greatly facilitates cleaning. It can be removed from its perch atop the pedestal for dishwashing. Inside it is the stainless steel blade that spins on an axis in the middle of the bowl. The blade is sharp and durable thus easily cutting through coffee beans or spices, even when used daily. Indeed, it was intended for such use, as coffee aficionados recommend that coffee beans should be ground daily for maximum freshness. The bowl is large enough to hold 90 grams of coffee, which is roughly equivalent to nine tablespoons.

The blades are rotated by a heavy-duty electric motor encased inside the pedestal. It draws its power via an electric cord that is retractable for a neat storage when not in use. A clear transparent lid covers the bowl while grinding, allowing you to peek inside it to check the texture of your grounds. In addition to this, the lid also fulfills the safety function of not allowing the blades to run unless it is properly seated or closed. Equipped with a storage lid, you can keep unused spices inside the bowl until needed.

Measurements of the Cuisinart DCG-12BC Grind Central Coffee Grinder are approximately 4″ W x 5″ D x 8″ H. Weight is less than 3 lbs.

Looking neat and elegant in white, the Salton CG7W Coffee and Spice Grinder is a fine addition to your kitchen countertop. It is cylindrical in shape with a bottom that flares outward for added stability. Its top is a transparent lid, through which you can peer inside the machine. It is fastened to the grinder’s main body with plastic and wire clamps.

Visible through the clear lid is a receptacle for coffee beans or spices for grinding. Inside the container is a blade that is spun by a powerful motor in high speeds to reduce coffee, peppercorn, flax seeds, cinnamon, cumin, parsley, coriander, or allspice berries into tiny pieces. With a pulse control, you can easily choose the texture of your grounds, from coarse to extra fine.

The motor is concealed beneath the coffee or spice container. Although powerful, it runs quietly. All the noise you will hear when operating it comes from the beans or spices being thrown around inside the container. When they are cut in smaller pieces, all you will hear is the soft purring of the motor.

When grinding coffee beans, it can hold up to 65 grams, which is enough for 10 cups of a nice hot java. It may not be advisable to use the same grinder for your coffee beans and spices though. Their flavors may mix and the phrase “hot cup of coffee” may acquire a new meaning.

As a safety feature, the Salton CG7W Coffee and Spice Grinder stops running if its lid is removed. This does not only prevent the beans or spices from getting thrown out of the container, but also keeps your fingers from getting accidentally caught in the blades.

Freshly ground or chopped spices, herbs, and other food are always better than the dried and processed varieties. It is for this reason that food choppers and grinders are very useful tools to have in the kitchen. And it is even better if you can have them in a single device. This is precisely what you get with a Waring Commercial WCG75 Pro Prep Chopper Grinder.

The machine consists of a rectangular cuboid base housing a powerful motor, and two bowl and blade assemblies. One of the bowls has blades designed for chopping while the other is for grinding. To use the bowls, simply set them atop the base.

The motor is a high-speed 2-pole induction type that has a capacity of ¾ horsepower enabling it to spin the blades of the bowls at speeds of up to 3,450 RPM. At this speeds, whatever is inside the bowl is immediately reduced to shreds or grounds. In spite of its power, the motor runs quietly.

Both bowls have a capacity of ¾ quart, and are see-though thus providing you with a clear view of the food inside. Their blades and covers, however, differ. The chopping bowl has only two blades, compared to three for the grinding bowl. The former is intended for cutting chocolate, garlic, onion, shallots, and leafy herbs; while the latter can easily grind allspice, celery and mustard seeds, coffee beans, nuts, peppercorns, and Parmesan and Romano cheeses.

The cover of the chopping bowl has two openings allowing you to pour liquids or oils into the bowl even when the motor is running. This is perfect when making creams, sauces, or toppings. The grinding bowl’s cover, on the other hand, is completely closed to prevent ground food from flying out while grinding.

For a convenient and space-saving storage, the two bowls can be stacked. Although the bowls and blades are designed to last, in the event that they are damaged, replacements can be purchased separately.

The Waring Commercial WCG75 Pro Prep Chopper Grinder is 5 inches wide and 8½ deep. Along with a bowl mounted on the base, it is 10 inches high.

Sesame seeds are known to be a good source of Vitamin B, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. They also contain healthy fats, protein, and phytosterols that prevent the absorption of dietary cholesterol. Having a rich nutty flavor, they can enhance the taste of most foods. Sesame seeds are often mixed with other food, such as breads, buns, salads, pasta, soba noodles, hummus, and sushi rolls among others. They may be mixed whole or ground. Nutritionists, however, say that to maximize the absorption of their nutrients, they should be eaten ground. To grind them, you can use the Zojirushi CB-AA10 Sesame Seed Grinder.

The sesame seed grinder is a small piece of cylindrical equipment measuring a shade less than 7 inches tall with a diameter of 2.38 inches. The upper third is a removable transparent lid while the rest is colored white. A bright yellow square button protrudes from the cylinder. This is the on/off button which is mounted exactly where your thumb rests as you grip the grinder.

On one side of the cylinder is the spout through which ground sesame seeds are poured. This is neatly pushed back into the body of the grinder when not in use, but can be easily flicked and popped out when needed. The base of the grinder is a ring colored with the same yellow of the power button.

The grinding chamber is large enough to hold 45 grams of seeds. Underneath it is the motor that runs the blades. It is powered by four size AA batteries.

Texture of the grounds can be adjusted to three settings –fine, medium, and coarse. Grinding is quick, and will not clog the grinding mechanism.

The Zojirushi CB-AA10 Sesame Seed Grinder, however, is designed to work only with roasted sesame seeds. You may get unsatisfactory results if you use it to grind other seeds or even unroasted sesame seeds.

Crafted for chopping or grinding small amounts of food or spices, the Cuisinart MM-2M Mini Mate Chopper/Grinder can be used by persons who live alone cooking only for themselves. Families who might want to have a supplemental grinder right on their tables instead of bringing the big one from the kitchen would also appreciate the small machine.

Although small, the machine can perform big functions. It chops, grinds, and grates all kinds of food and spices. You can put in celery, cinnamon sticks, garlic, ginger root, herbs, horseradish, nutmegs, nuts, olives, onion, pepper, and peppercorns into it and they will come out either chopped, ground, or grated according to your preferences.

The Mini Mate has a cylindrical body that stands 8 inches. Its bottom section is a large clear Lexan work bowl with a capacity of 9 ounces. It rests on an opaque white base, and constitutes about half of the machine’s body. As it is transparent, you can clearly see if the food inside is properly chopped or ground. The upper half of the chopper/grinder is the housing for the appliance’s motor, and, like the base of the transparent bowl, is also made of white plastic.

Dangling from the motor is a stainless steel shaft that connects to a removable blade assembly. This assembly is designed in a way that the leading edge of the blade can be reversed. One edge of the blade is sharp, while the other is dull. You use the former when cutting celery, garlic, or herbs, while the latter is used for grinding cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, or peppercorn.

Cleaning is basically easy but because the many parts of the Cuisinart MM-2M Mini Mate Chopper/Grinder require disassembly for a thorough cleaning, it may take a little time.

Plenty of grinders now used for spices began life as a coffee grinder. Perhaps some chef with carpal tunnel syndrome couldn’t crank the manual grinders for whatever he was cooking, coincidentally caught sight of a coffee grinder, and decided to give it a try. Thousands of other chefs and cooks soon followed his example. Indeed, some manufacturers began calling their coffee grinders “coffee and spice grinders”. Although its creators have not included “spice” in its name, the Nesco BG88PR Professional Coffee Grinder is, nevertheless, also popular as a spice grinder.

The Nesco machine is a burr grinder that uses two revolving abrasive surfaces to reduce coffee beans or spices into grounds. The distance between the two surfaces can be adjusted allowing you to choose the size and consistency of your grounds. The machine has 17 grind settings you can choose from, from extremely fine (think coffee grounds for espresso) to coarse (like coffee for a French press). You are likewise assured of grounds that are of uniform sizes.

Unlike grinders that use blades that cut through coffee beans, peppercorns, or flax seeds at very high speeds thus generating high levels of heat, friction from the Nesco burr grinder is minimal. This helps preserve the aroma and taste of your spices.

The Nesco BG88PR Professional Coffee Grinder has a large hopper. It comes with a safety lid preventing your spices from spilling out while grinding. As it is transparent, you can clearly see its contents. It can hold as much as 8.8 ounces of coffee beans or 13 ounces of black peppercorn. Ground spices fall into a bin below the grinding mechanism. Like the hopper, it is also transparent.

In order to keep the grinder firmly grounded on your countertop, it is equipped with a vibration-free base that resists slipping and sliding.

As clearly indicated in its own name and manufacturer, the Mr. Coffee IDS55 White Blade Coffee Grinder is originally designed for grinding coffee beans. Some ingenious homeowners, however, perhaps seeing that their spice grinders have broken down or that they do not have any, began using the IDS55 for spices. It must have worked because plenty of people now use the machines for the purpose. In fact, even Mr. Coffee now calls its versatile little machine the White Blade Grinder, dropping the “Coffee”.

The grinder is small and cylindrical with a diameter of 4.8 inches and a height of 9. It has a large transparent plastic lid, which is used to transfer ground coffee or spices to the brew basket or spice holder. The cylinder widens slightly at the bottom providing a stable base for the grinder. For further stability, and to prevent it from dancing around your countertop while it is in use, it is fitted with rubber feet.

Since the grinding bowl of the machine is made of stainless steel, it is easily cleaned thus minimizing the cross contamination of coffee and spice flavors. You can also throw in a small piece of bread into the bowl and grind it after processing either coffee or spices to absorb any remaining oil.

The on/off safety switch activating the machine is mounted on the lid. With this design it is impossible to turn the grinder on unless the lid is securely in place, thus there is zero possibility of accidentally cutting your fingers with the blades or of coffee beans and spices flying all over your kitchen.

The blades inside the grinding bowl are capable of grinding not only coffee beans but also allspice berries, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, flax seeds, parsley and other herbs, and peppercorns. Made of heavy-duty steel, they are expected to keep on cutting up and grinding for years.

There are two other variations of the Mr. Coffee IDS55 White Blade Coffee Grinder –the IDS57, which is colored black, and the IDS59, finished in chrome.

There are food and beverages that get better with age such as wine, spirits, cheese, and even beef. Spices, however, do not belong to that class, at least when they are ground. This is because ground spices are more quickly oxidized than when they are whole, thus rapidly losing their flavor and aroma. For this reason, it is best to keep your spices whole, grinding only when you need to flavor your food, whether while in the pot or pan, or while on your plate. For this, you need a grinder such as a Salton CG-114 Coffee and Spice Grinder.

The Salton CG-1174 is a compact grinder that is about the size of a large coffee mug. Indeed, it is shaped like a coffee mug without the handle. It is made of stainless steel with a brushed finish and accented with a black ring at the lid. Near the bottom is the large round on/off switch that is hemmed in with a chromed ring. These are both surrounded by a black oval, at the upper end of which is the name “Salton.” The base of the grinder has a small gap that serves as a wrap for the power cord, thus avoiding a cluttered look when not in use.

With the grinder’s powerful yet quiet motor driving sturdy and sharp grinding blades, coffee beans, herbs, and spices are easily and quickly ground or shredded into small pieces. Using the pulse control switch, you can choose the texture and consistency of your grounds, grinding longer for a finer texture or shorter for coarser.

As a safety measure, the grinder will not run if the lid is not properly closed and locked. Neither will it run unless the control switch is depressed.

You can grind allspice, cardamom, celery seeds, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, and peppercorn with the Salton CG-1174 Coffee and Spice Grinder for more flavorful spices. However, it is not designed for moist, rubbery, and very hard foods including candied ginger, chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, nuts, and whole nutmeg.