If you’re a keen cook you’ll know the difference freshly ground spices can make to a dish, from curry powders to meat rubs. Store the spices in air tight containers and they can bring a whole host of smells and flavours to your meals that you just can’t achieve with pre-ground options.
From manual spice mills to electric spice grinders we’ve put them through their paces. While some are best suited to seasoning meals directly on the plate, others can tackle more substantial spices in larger batches, and even coffee beans - so you can enjoy an extra special brew first thing in the morning with all the aroma and flavours that’s intended.
Prices start at under £20 for nifty, handheld, compact solutions and range right up to £60, offering storage, stainless steel blades and dishwasher friendly parts to help make life in the kitchen easy.
So if you’re looking to whip up a fragrant Thai green curry paste or create a spice blend to give meat an extra kick, check out our favourite selection to help you cook up your favourite meals in no time!
Tried and tested | Which spice grinder is best?
- Best budget spice grinder Salter electric coffee and spice grinder
- Best overall spice grinder Cuisinart Spice Grinder
- Best compact spice grinder Amazon’s Dr Mills DM-7445 electric dried spice and coffee grinder
How we tested the spice grinders
We considered everything from packaging and how easy they are to use, their performance as well as value for money. We ground a 5 spice mix that included cinnamon sticks, star anise, whole cloves, fennel seeds and whole black peppercorns, as well as coffee beans where possible.
- Features (6 points): capacity, electric/battery | speed, grinder settings | Accessories - multiple bowls etc
- Results (3 points): capacity - is it able to cope with small and large amounts | Lid air-tight storage for spices? | Easy to clean? Removable plates/dishwasher safe?
- Value for money (1 points): Price | Warranty | Quality
The best spice grinders for 2024
Cuisinart spice grinder
Score 9.5/10
Pros
- 2 removable bowls
- Air tight lids
- Bowls are dishwasher safe
Cons
- Price
Although the most expensive of the grinders I tested, I felt the Cuisinart model was stylish, well built and tough enough to tackle everything I needed it to.
Once I had cleaned the bowls out, as recommended, the Cuisinart spice grinder was ready to get to work. It is mains powered and its capacity varies depending on what you’re grinding - for instance, it’s 90g for ‘some’ spices, 75g for nuts, and for any nuts larger than a peanut it’s 45g.
I operated the grinder by adding the bowl to the grinder, then placing the lid over the bowl and, with it plugged in, pushing the lid down and holding it there while it was grinding. There is no speed control or different grinding settings – I simply maintained the pressure on the lid until the consistency was reached.
Does it have any special features?
The spice grinder came with an instruction booklet, which also included some recipes for you to try with the spices, which makes a nice touch and showcases what the product is capable of. Also in the box are two bowls with sealed lids for use with the grinder which is a really handy addition.
Not only can the bowls be removed for a thorough clean, in the dishwasher (whoop!), but it means you can avoid cross contamination across spices and nuts or coffee beans which is a big plus point if the machine is used for both on a regular occasion. The bowls and their lids can also be used to store any unused spices which is another great touch as it helps reduce the plastic containers and lids floating around in my kitchen drawer too.
How well does it grind spice?
The Cuisinart is a lovely grinder to use, the design is sleek and so is the operation. The deep, narrow bowls took 60g coffee beans easily and tackled them with as much ease as it did the smaller spice mix - the cinnamon sticks and star anise were no problem for the stainless steel blades.
After use the black base and lower part of the stainless steel bowls were both a little warm due to the operating, so it’s best to keep to the grinding suggestion amounts and times to ensure the motor doesn’t overheat.
The grinder operates on one speed and grinder setting, but with the clear bowl lid I could easily keep an eye on the contents and stop or pulse when necessary to get the finish I wanted.
I was really impressed that the Cuisinart grinder came with two bowls, as well as air tight lids to store the contents until needed. As it can tackle spices, nuts and coffee beans I found it best to allocate one bowl for spices and the other for coffee beans so that there was no cross contamination.
Although the stainless steel bowls can go in the dishwasher, I did hand wash them after the first use in warm soapy water and could still smell the strong spice mix afterwards. At this point I was thankful for there second bowl, ensuring I didn’t compromise my husband’s morning brew! Phew!
Does it offer value for money?
Although the most expensive of the grinders I tested, I felt the Cuisinart model was stylish, well built and tough enough to tackle everything I needed it to.
It was the only model that came with 2 bowls and air tight lids to save you on storage space and buying additional storage containers.
It was also the only grinder that had a removable bowl that, in addition, was also suitable for cleaning in the dishwasher. This features, plus its 3 year guarantee helps to justify the price tag and makes it a best buy in my eyes!
FinaMill pepper mill and spice grinder in one
Score 8/10
Pros
- Sleek & stylish design
Cons
- Restricted on types of spice it can grind
- Spices got stuck
The FinaMill pepper mill and grinder is an attractive gadget that has the capabilities to be a versatile addition to the kitchen and dining table.
The FInaMill pepper mill and spice grinder is powered by three AA batteries which simply slot into the handle. It has a capacity of 48g and claims to grind whole spices from smaller poppy seeds to plus-size peppercorns with the PRO Plus Pods.
Also available to buy is the FinaPod Max for use with the FinaMill which boasts the capabilities to grind allspice, caraway seed, dried basil and rosemary, crushed red pepper and coffee beans. This pod can be purchased for an additional £12.95 and really opens up the possibilities for use in the kitchen and at the dinner table. The pods can be used to grind and store the suggested spices and then popped into the mill when you want to add them to a dish or in your cooking - neat, right?
Does it have any special features?
On each pod there is a small dial that allowed me to select a fine or more coarse grinding style, so I could tweak it to suit the spice or my preferred finish.
Straight out of the box, the FinaMill comes with two PRO Plus Pods, an instruction leaflet and some spice labels that can be used on the pods if I wanted to use them for storing the spices, which is a nice touch. The brand also sell stackable trays, for the pods to slot into, which would make storing the spices in my kitchen cupboard neat and stylish - win!
The FinaMill is available is six different colours so I could easily choose one that looks good on the worktop when cooking, but also co-ordinates with the tableware when using it at the plate.
How well does it grind spice?
The PRO Plus Pods have a capacity of 45g for peppercorns, but this varies depending on the spices you’re grinding. It tackled large and small amounts well, but with less in there I could hear the peppercorns bouncing around, these also frequently got caught up near the grinding blades which I would have to manually remove. Small particles of ground spice also got stuck around the base making it very difficult for me to adjust the coarseness of the grinding - so once I’d found the right one for me I decided it was best to stick to it!
The FinaMill comes with 2 PRO Plus pods, but you can buy additional ones for £10.95 each. The brand also sell stackable trays so I could allocate a spice mix per pod and have it stacked in the cupboard ready to go whenever needed. The pods can’t store the ground mix, so I had to use as I went, but that keeps it nice and fresh so I was happy with that.
The PRO Plus pods didn’t grind the cinnamon sticks or star anise in my 5 spice mix, they simply bounced around in the pod, so I had to remove them. I then tested the spice mill and grinder with just peppercorns to see the difference the coarse dial made - there was a clear difference which makes it a versatile mill. I found that the ground ingredients weren’t fine enough for making powders, but would be great for meat rubs.
You can easily clean the clear plastic bowl part of the pods, where as the base should be cleaned with a damp cloth - this was a bit more fiddly but not something you would have to do often if you have a selection of pods for the different spices.
Does it offer value for money?
The FinaMill pepper mill and grinder is an attractive gadget that has the capabilities to be a versatile addition to the kitchen and dining table. It’s at the higher end of the price range we tested and comes with a reassuring 2 year guarantee. I loved the different colours it’s available in and how it can be used as a mill to season dishes on the plate directly or used during cooking to make full flavoured meals.
The addition of the Max pods so that I can grind coffee beans transforms this gadget and makes it a great bit of kit. However, I did get frustrated with the coarse dial on the bottom and how easily it got stuck, it also seemed quite slow to grind and disperse the spices with a loud noise too.
If you regularly make curry powders to pack a punch at meal times this might not be the best choice for you, however if you’re after a versatile mill and grinder to use to season dishes on the plate (and you have space in the cupboard for multiple pods!) the FinaMill would be worth considering.
Dr Mills DM-7445 electric dried spice and coffee grinder
Score 7.5/10
Pros
- Price
- Brush tool to help clean
Cons
- Fixed cup
It was smaller than some of the other models I tested which meant it didn’t take up too much space on the worktop or in the cupboard.
This dried spice and coffee grinder boasts a capacity of 50g in its built-in, SUS304 stainless steel cup with stainless steel blade. The brand says this should yield up to seven cups of coffee and that it can also tackle dried spices, herbs, nuts, seeds and grains. The cup itself has a ‘max’ line so that, if you’re not in the habit of measuring out your spices or coffee beens, you won’t over fill it and compromise its functionality.
Out of the box you simply need to wipe clean the the stainless steel cup and dry it thoroughly before use. The gadget is mains powered, 150W, 230V, 60Hz, so once plugged in it’s ready to go.
Does it have any special features?
The Dr Mills DM-7445 grinder operates on one speed and you can view the contents through the clear lid so you can easily stop the grinder once the spices or coffee beans reach the desired consistency. The instructions advise you not to use the grinder for longer than two minutes at a time, through risk of overheating or overloading, after which the unit should be allowed to rest for 10 minutes after each cycle of use.
Along with the instruction manual, which covers usage and how to clean and care for the device, there was also a brush and scoop to use with it - I thought this was a great addition which none of the others had and helped to clean under the blade at the end of each use.
How well does it grind spice?
Although this grinder seems more compact than some of the other similar grinders, it has a good capacity, taking 40g of coffee beans at a time - this was slightly less than some of the others but plenty enough for use. It tackled the coffee beans in no time, whipping them into a finer mix in around 25-30 seconds.
The 5 spices in our spice mix were no problem either and the clear lid made it super easy to see when I had ground them enough.
I also liked that the lid has to lock into place before it will operate and also that you press and hold the large button on the front to begin grinding and simply release it to stop, a great safety feature and prevents the unit from being left and overheating too.
Unfortunately there is no storage for ground spices or coffee beans with the Dr Mills electric grinder, so it’s best to either only grind what you need to use straight away or have some air tight containers that you can easily decant these into.
The brush tool that comes with this grinder definitely helps to brush out some of the ground spices or coffee beans left behind after pouring out the contents, helping to get under the blades before giving it a wipe down. I would have preferred for the cup to have been removable to help cleaning, but the brush is definitely a welcome addition.
On the base of the grinder is the facility to wrap the power cord around inside, which is great for keeping the cord short when in use and neatly tucked away when in storage.
Does it offer value for money?
I thought the Dr Mills electric grinder was well priced given its capacity, durable materials and strength to tackle dried spices as well as coffee beans and even nuts without a problem.
It was smaller than some of the other models I tested which meant it didn’t take up too much space on the worktop or in the cupboard.
The addition of the brush and scoop was a really nice touch and made this a great, affordable grinder.
Salter electric coffee and spice grinder
Score 6.5/10
Pros
- See-through lid
Cons
- Can’t remove the bowl for a thorough clean
Despite this product’s drawbacks and given it’s 1 year warranty I think this is a great, budget-friendly spice grinder with value for money.
The Salter coffee and spice grinder is mains powered with a powerful 200W to get its contents ground quickly and effectively. The stainless steel bowl boasts a 60g capacity and it has a stainless steel blade to help it stand up to the demands of a busy kitchen. It can grind coffee beans, as well as spices and even nuts.
With the grinder out of the box, I gave the bowl and blade a wipe with a damp cloth, as advised in the instructions, and we were ready to go.
Does it have any special features?
This grinder has one speed setting, I simply had to press and hold the button to operate the gadget, viewing the contents through the see-through lid - waiting until the beans and spices had reached the consistency I was after. The instructions stipulate that you shouldn’t operate it for longer than 30 seconds, so you should reach a fine consistency before that time.
The Salter grinder came with a small instruction leaflet that talks you through care and maintenance and usage. It did not come with any additional accessories to complement the product.
How well does it grind spice?
Salter’s electric coffee and spice grinder has a good capacity, it managed 60g coffee beans and ground them to a fine mix in just under the 30 seconds limit.
It also coped equally as well with the small 5 spice mix I tested it with.
The see-through lid was a great feature for monitoring the contents while I was operating it. It’s worth noting that if filling to capacity, bear in mind that some of the contents puffs out when the lid is removed, so I found it better to fill under capacity to avoid the mess and creating waste.
Operating the grinder is done via the button on the front, I simply had to push it down to begin grinding and release it once I was finished - another reassuring safety aspect on these devices.
This grinder doesn’t come with any storage for the ground spices, coffee beans or nuts, so I found it best to only grind what I needed or I had a few smaller pots that could store any excess contents.
Unfortunately the stainless steel bowl is fixed in place, so there was no easy way for me to clean it between uses.
Bearing in mind the grinder’s capabilities to grind nuts, spices and coffee beans being able to add the bowl to the dishwasher or give it a thorough hand wash would help to avoid any cross contamination between ingredients, which is especially important with food allergies. The spices left a strong aroma in the bowl even after I had wiped it clean.
Does it offer value for money?
Despite this product’s drawbacks and given it’s 1 year warranty I think this is a great, budget-friendly spice grinder with value for money.
If you’ll only be using the product to grind coffee or spices then you won’t have the concerns about cross contamination, which can be a sticking point for a grinder with a fixed bowl. It’s sleek design ups its style stakes to make this a grinder definitely worth considering to add to your kitchen.
Microplane Spice Mill 2-in-1
Score 6/10
Pros
- Compact
- Neat storage compartment
Cons
- Not great for larger amounts
At just under £20, the Mircoplane spice mill was the cheapest model I tested. It comes with a 30 day guarantee and I felt confident with the strength and durability of the product that it was built to last.
The Microplane Spice Mill is a neat and compact gadget which features a soft touch coating which makes it nice to touch.
This spice grinder is manually operated and you simply pop the spices into the mill and turn the top section to grate the contents, more like your traditional salt and pepper mill. The box says it can tackle nutmeg, cinnamon, long pepper, peppercorns, Tonka beans and nuts - no coffee with this one!
Does it have any special features?
As the mill is handheld and hand operated it is small, but I managed to fit a respectable amount in the grinding chamber and 3 cinnamon sticks in the handy storage pot at the top.
The mill came with a cover for the bottom to protect the blade and prevent any spices falling out unnecessarily. Inside the top section, which you turn to grate the spices, there is a storage pot which allows you to keep a decent amount of spices to hand ready for grinding next time.
How well does it grind spice?
I was surprised with the amount of spices I managed to fit in the mill for grinding which was great, however, as this mill is manually operated the larger the amount you add to the mill, the longer the grinding takes.
Even though I loved the soft touch finish to this mill, after a few minutes of use my hands did begin to ache, so I would suggest this mill is better for smaller amounts. The durable, stainless steel blades did a great job and created a fine spice mix for cooking with.
The Microplane Spice Mill tackled all of the spices in my 5 spice mix without a problem - even the larger, tougher pieces which was impressive.
It is possible to use the storage compartment at the top of this mill for carefully storing the ground spice mix so it’s ready for use in meals in an instant. However, they would have to be ground into a separate dish before being decanted into this compartment, so I preferred to use this handy addition for storing whole spices so they’re close to hand when you need to add them in a hurry - this is also what the brand recommends you use it for too!
The Microplane Spice Mill comes apart for easy cleaning, warm soapy water and a running tap did well to clean away left over spices in no time.
Does it offer value for money?
At just under £20, the Mircoplane spice mill was the cheapest model I tested. It comes with a 30 day guarantee and I felt confident with the strength and durability of the product that it was built to last.
Given that this isn't electric, it's better for more occasional use if grinding up more complex, larger batches of spice or keep it as an everyday seasoning addition at your cooking station or dining table.
FAQs
What is the best spice grinder?
The best spice grinder is one that is versatile, not too noisy and easy to clean too. Many grinders feature fixed bowls which can make decanting and cleaning awkward, and also increases the risk of cross contamination - no one wants their morning coffee tasting like last night’s curry!
But there are a few on the market that eliminate this issue completely by offering multiple bowls or pods, and enabling these parts to be cleaned in the dishwasher - what’s not to love?
Some grinders also have the durability to tackle coffee beans and nuts, as well as spices, making them a great all-rounder, justifying its place in your kitchen cupboard several times over. So look out for a spice grinder that can tick all of these boxes and you’re on to a winner!
Here at YourHomeStyle.UK HQ, we like to spice things up with a variety of spice-related features, including best spice racks, and recipes for a tasty spiced chocolate pots and spiced espresso martini.
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