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.