Spice Grinders

There are some spices that can keep their flavor for quite a time after grinding such as cinnamon and curry powder mixes making it all right to buy and store them ground. Most, however, do not have this quality. When ground, their surface areas that are exposed to air are increased. This, called oxidation, greatly increases the rate at which they lose their flavor. It for this reason that, for most spices, it is better to store them whole and grind them only when needed. It is also for this reason that a Hamilton Beach 80333 Coffee and Spice Grinder is a useful and handy tool to have in your kitchen.

The Hamilton Beach 80333 is a compact and lightweight kitchen appliance measuring 7.2 inches tall. It is a white cylinder that tapers at the bottom end. Its top has a diameter of 4.3 inches while the bottom narrows to 3.8 inches. A clear lid covers the top through which you can see the ground coffee beans or spices. A small rectangular lock with rounded ends keeps the lid in place. At the bottom portion of the cylinder, there are grooves or furrows around which the electric cord can be wound when not in use. Weighing less than two pounds, it is easy to maneuver and pour out its contents.

The grinding chamber of the machine consists of a clear plastic bowl whose inner lower end in lined with stainless steel. This is removable for ease of cleaning. Using hardened stainless steel blades, coffee beans or spices are quickly reduced to grounds. Lengthening grinding time results to their finer consistency and texture. As all parts are either in stainless steel or plastic, the grinder is impervious to rust.

Multi-function appliances are often useful in small kitchens. These versatile gadgets can save valuable space while at the same time allowing you to perform all the tasks needed to be done in a regular kitchen. The Cuisinart Elite Collection Chopper and Grinder can be classed among these devices.

The chopper and grinder combo is designed to chop, grind, puree, dice, and prepare food for your baby. It consists of a clear acrylic bowl with a capacity of four cups. The bowl is equipped with a lid that has two holes through which you can pour oil or any other liquid while processing food. For ease of handling, it is fitted with a black plastic handle.

Inside are two blades that are mounted on a vertical post, which can be locked into the appliance’s motor through the bottom of the bowl. An exclusive BladeLock system whose patent is still pending secures the blades while chopping and grinding as well as when pouring.

The bowl sits on a die cast casing that houses the motor. Mounted on it are two buttons –one for chopping and another for grinding. Chopping is used for fresh herbs, nuts, and soft spices, while grinding is intended for harder substances as peppercorn or nutmeg.

With the patented SmartPower Blades, the rotation of the blades reverses depending on the function chosen. If the chop button is pressed, the blades rotate in a way that their sharp edges slice though the food. On the other hand, if the grind button is pushed, the other side of the blades, which are blunt, strikes at the food.

After chopping or grinding, you can easily wash the bowl along with its lid and the blade assembly since they are dishwasher safe. The unit even comes with a spatula and a recipe book. Electricity is supplied through a 33-inch power cord.

The Cuisinart Elite Collection Chopper and Grinder measures 8.25″ W x 5.5″ D x 9.75″ H. It weighs 18 pounds.

Trudeau is a company that traces its roots to a Montreal bazaar founded in 1889 by two French merchants. From an importer and distributor of houseware and giftware, it has since expanded to the manufacture of quality kitchen products, among them the Trudeau Elite Graviti Pepper Mill.

The Elite Graviti mill looks plain and simple. It is a cylinder standing 8 inches tall with a diameter of 2 inches that tapers at the neck then broadens again before it reaches the top. The bottom half of the cylinder is made of soft-touch plastic, which can either be in shiny black or brushed stainless steel finish. The former is labeled Model 0716926 while the later is 0716925. The upper portion, on the other hand, is constructed from clear acrylic. This is a sturdy material that resists impacts and even chemicals and oils. As it is clear, its contents are visible letting you know if it is time for a refill.

Inside the cylinder is a set of ceramic grinders. This is adjustable which allows you to set the consistency and texture of the grounds. All you need to do is rotate a knob at the top of the mill. Since the grinders are made of ceramic, they are impervious to rust or corrosion. It is for this reason that, although Trudeau calls this kitchen tool “pepper mill”, it can also be used to grind salt as well as other dry spices. Also, as they are self-sharpening, they will continue to be useful for a long time with a minimum of maintenance.

The grinders are activated by a battery-powered small motor embedded inside the plastic casing. To switch it on, you only have to flip the mill. The motor and gravity take over and you can just simply wait for your ground spices to start sprinkling over your food. As you can do this with a single hand, your other hand is free to stir the stew or throw in another spice or ingredient.

The Trudeau Elite Gravity Pepper Mill is an attractive kitchen aide that can be totally at home even on your formal dining table. You can use the black model for peppercorns and the stainless steel for salt to complete the pair.

While some salt and pepper mills are plain looking containers from which you get spices to add flavor to your food, the William Bounds Stainless Steel Baton Salt and Pepper Mill is a classy and sophisticated device that looks more like it contains things much more valuable than rock salt or peppercorns.

The 8.5-inch long tube with a diameter of 3 inches consists of three parts: a stainless steel cylinder in the middle, and two black plastic cylindrical caps on both ends. The contrast between the lustrous and shiny steel and the deep black of the caps give the mill a striking appearance that makes it a great addition not only to your kitchen but to your dining table as well.

The caps are perforated for an easy sprinkling of the ground contents of the mill. The letters “S” and “P” are inscribed at either end of the stainless cylinder, indicating which side contains salt or pepper. A holding rack comes with the salt and pepper mill preventing it from rolling over when laid on the table.

It is necessary to keep the mill in a horizontal position because it is equipped with a gravity-activated switch that automatically sets the grinders in motion if it is held vertically. With its miniature yet powerful motor, the mill can process ground salt or pepper more quickly than most other grinders. The grinding mechanisms are housed inside the plastic caps. They are made of ceramic thus they do not generate heat that could adversely affect the taste of the spices. Also, they are impervious to rust and will not be affected by the corrosive effects of salt.

The consistency of the grounds can be adjusted by merely twisting the caps. You can opt for coarse, medium, or fine grounds depending on whether you are pouring them on food that is still cooking in the pan, or that is already served on your plate.

Burr grinders have the advantage of minimizing, if not totally eliminating, friction and heat while crushing spices or coffee beans. This is important because heat from other types of grinders can affect, often adversely, the taste of food.

For this reason, chefs and coffee aficionados often prefer burr grinders such as the DeLonghi KG89 Electric Burr Grinder. With this grinder, the spices are pressed against rotating wheels. As the rotation is slow, only a negligible amount of friction is generated. Also, the texture of the grounds is guaranteed to be uniform, as they will have to pass through the same opening before they can fall out of the grinding chamber. An electronic grind selector allows you to choose ground consistency from fine, through medium, to coarse.

The machine can also be set to grind a specific amount of spices. Although the quantity of grounds is programmed for coffee beans, grinding just enough for 4 – 14 cups of coffee depending on the setting, you can experiment with your spices setting them at different quantity control levels.

As a safety feature, the machine shuts off automatically after grinding. Also, it will not run if the lid covering the fresh spices and the receptacle for the grounds are not in their proper places.

The DeLonghi KG89 Electric Burr Grinder is housed in a stainless steel box with black beveled trims on its corners. The top of the box includes a smaller transparent plastic box which contains the fresh spices or coffee beans. Its lid is another transparent box. On the remaining free space in front of the container is the on/off switch.

The face of the grinder carries the company logo and right below it is the cup adjustment knob. The bottom half consists of the transparent receptacle for ground spices or coffee beans. On the right side of the grinder is another knob that adjusts the consistency of the grounds.

With measurements of 5″ W x 6.3″ D x 10″ H, the KG89 will easily fit into your kitchen counter, and with its stainless steel and black trim, it can complement your other kitchen tools and appliances.

Form and function merge into the MIU France Stainless Steel Salt and Pepper Mill Model No. 90603. This pair of 2-inch diameter tubes standing at 7-inches tall is made of brushed stainless steel giving it a subdued elegance that is quite at home both in the kitchen and dining room.

At the lower section of the mills is a clear acrylic window showing their contents and indicating if they need refilling. At the bottom is a small light that illuminates the amount of pepper or salt that is poured out so you will never have an excessively spicy or salty meal again. The top end holds a button that activates the grinding mechanisms. This button allows a single-handed operation of the mills. Instead of holding one part of the mill and cranking the other, all you need to do is push the button with one hand, and continue stirring whatever you are cooking with your other hand.

The grinding mechanism of the pepper mill is made of tough and wear-resistant carbon steel. The salt mill, on the other hand, because it tends to corrode steel, has a grinding mechanism that is made of ceramics. These materials assure the mills’ longevity. The grinders are set in motion by a small motor that is powered by three size AAA batteries. As soon as the switch is pushed, the motor immediately comes alive and starts the grinding.

The upper section of the tubes can be turned to either open or close the ground spice dispenser. In this way, you can choose to immediately pour the pepper or salt after grinding, or save them for later use. There are arrows with labels on the mills showing directions for opening and closing the dispenser.

The mills are not dishwasher safe thus it is recommended that they be cleaned only with a piece of damp cloth.

Using two revolving abrasive conical grinders to mill coffee beans or spices instead of a spinning blade, the Breville Conical Burr Grinder BCG450XL does not generate heat that can destroy the aroma and taste of the coffee or spices. In order to further guarantee that heat is kept to a minimum, the rotation of the grinders is kept slow. Coffee and spices are forced in between the two grinders where they are crushed with only negligible friction. The distance between these two can be pre-set by the user thus determining the texture or consistency of the grounds.

An additional advantage of burr grinders is that as the food is squeezed, it releases its oil making them more flavorful.

The grinder has an attractive design combining a stainless steel body with a vertical black trim and a polymer base. The clear plastic hopper rests at the top while another clear receptacle at the bottom right of the grinder catches the grounds. The hopper can hold up to half a pound of coffee or spices and it is removable making it easy to clean or wash. The receptacle at the bottom is likewise removable. At the base of the grinder is a storage area where you can keep the electric cord when not in use.

A grind selector control is mounted just under the hopper which allows the setting of the grounds’ texture, from super fine to coarse. Near the bottom are the power on/off button and a knob for setting the time for grinding. This can be as long as 30 seconds.

It is advisable, however, that if you use the Breville Conical Burr Grinder BCG450XL to grind spices, you have to clean it thoroughly before using it to grind coffee. Better yet, have one exclusively for spices and another for coffee.

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.