Steve Harford Posted August 27, 2017 Share Posted August 27, 2017 Can anyone recommend a spice grinder which is man enough to grind black peppercorns? They just whizz around in mine without breaking down. If it will do green herbs as well, so much the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted August 27, 2017 Share Posted August 27, 2017 I burned out several coffee grinders over the course of 6 months before I took the plunge and went for a professional grinder. I talked to a friend in a local restaurant and he recommended the Waring CD409. It is a little pricey at ~£158 but has already saved me money over the 2 years I have had it. Peppercorns are no match for it and it turns cinnamon sticks into dust in a matter of seconds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Harford Posted August 27, 2017 Author Share Posted August 27, 2017 1 hour ago, Wade said: I burned out several coffee grinders over the course of 6 months before I took the plunge and went for a professional grinder. I talked to a friend in a local restaurant and he recommended the Waring CD409. It is a little pricey at ~£158 but has already saved me money over the 2 years I have had it. Peppercorns are no match for it and it turns cinnamon sticks into dust in a matter of seconds. Wow. Great bit of kit ! I might find the price a little hard to justify though. Hmmmm thinking Chr****as wish list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valve90210 Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 For a cheaper option you could give the James Martin Wahl Grinder a try, it's £21.99 at Argos. I got one a week or so ago and have found it to be great thus far. I'm not doing anything like the quantities Wade does , so not quite so much risk of burning it out as long as I'm sensible with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 I had one of those but it only lasted me about 3 months before it burned out . Maybe I was just pushing it too hard... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Harford Posted August 29, 2017 Author Share Posted August 29, 2017 3 hours ago, valve90210 said: For a cheaper option you could give the James Martin Wahl Grinder a try, it's £21.99 at Argos. I got one a week or so ago and have found it to be great thus far. I'm not doing anything like the quantities Wade does , so not quite so much risk of burning it out as long as I'm sensible with it. Thanks, that is one of the ones I had been considering but some of the reviews had said they burnt out. But then I only need it for occasional use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valve90210 Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Much the same as me, I figured I only need it for the occasional rub etc so thought I'd give it a try. Also noticed a lot of warnings in the packaging about not using the special attachment for any small quantities unless you were literally only grind a teaspoon or so. My guess is a lot of people destroy them but over using that attachment, or using for much larger quantities if making up a big batch or two in one session. I went for it from Argos because I knew if it died on me it should be simple to get it replaced/refunded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurence Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 I've had one of these for years https://www.amazon.co.uk/Revel-CCM104CH-Wet-Dry-Grinder/dp/B004LS43BY?th=1 There's a few stories of people saying that it rounded out the drive gear (it IS plastic but still) but I think that may just be from overloading it? Anyhoo, it grinds peppercorns just fine. And fresh herbs etc. Because the grind compartment is sealed you can actually use it to blend small batches of paste/marinade etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genevieve Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 I've always heard that you really want a burr grinder. I have a Kuhn Rikon vase spice grinder with replaceable canisters, but it's a hand grinder. Not sure if you're only looking for electric? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Harford Posted September 1, 2017 Author Share Posted September 1, 2017 6 hours ago, Genevieve said: I've always heard that you really want a burr grinder. I have a Kuhn Rikon vase spice grinder with replaceable canisters, but it's a hand grinder. Not sure if you're only looking for electric? It is an electric one I'm looking for as I get fed up with my mortar and pestle especially on larger quantities Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn Catanach Posted September 3, 2017 Share Posted September 3, 2017 I use a cuisinart grinder, had it 3 yrs , got it from Currys for 20 quid 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Mortar and pestle. Easey Pease. Granite one is best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Harford Posted July 9, 2018 Author Share Posted July 9, 2018 Justin, they are ok. I use one for small quantities but if making up a decent amount of rub then a grinder saves a lot of work. Especially with peppercorns which otherwise have a tendency to fly all over the kitchen. Also with coriander seeds a mortar and pestle doesn’t pulverise those pesky husks like a grinder does. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Yes, for small quantities the mortar and pestle is fine but when preparing rubs etc in 500g-1Kg batches they are not practical. One of the only things I have not been able to fully grind is Szechuan Pepper, even with my professional grinder. Most will grind to a powder however there are a lot of thin wispy bits that just whizz around in the grinding chamber but stay whole. I end up having to grind the Szechuan Pepper separately and then pass it through a fine sieve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 I suspect the difference between commercial and hobby is defining on things like this. Point taken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Yes - Initially i was buying cheap coffee grinders to do the job but was surprised how quickly the motors would burn out. I then bit the bullet and went for a commercial one - which has already served me well for a few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 I saw that in the forum, well done. you need something like that of course. Thanks Wade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Harford Posted July 9, 2018 Author Share Posted July 9, 2018 Oh yes. Sechaun pepper ! I forgot about that one. I always dry fry it before grinding now. Much easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest homer Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 (edited) got one of these, nice small foot print so lives out on the worktop, has a small wet grinder and a dry one..with a glass blender as a bonus, wet one is great for ginger, garlic, chilli etc and use the dry one for whole spices, really well made piece of kit, my one has been hammered for 3 years and still going strong, simple push click to lock the tops on and has never leaked problem i found with electric hand held pepper grinders is there were just too slow for me and would eat batteries can grind about 6 tbs of pepper corns in the little dry grinder without straining it had one of the james martin "coffee grinders" or as i like to call them coffee bean wreckers, this tefal one is a world apart..not that i would use either for coffee of course https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tefal-BL142A42-Fruit-Sensation-Blender/dp/B00FRJTFUK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1531173049&sr=8-1&keywords=tefal+fruit+sensation Edited July 9, 2018 by homer y not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 The James Martin grinder with the insert was good for very small quantities but I burned it out in about 3 months ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest homer Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 On 8/27/2017 at 8:51 AM, Steve Harford said: Can anyone recommend a spice grinder which is man enough to grind black peppercorns? They just whizz around in mine without breaking down. If it will do green herbs as well, so much the better. on another note of just whizzing around..a friend of mine who for the purpose of this post shall remain anonymous ? made some strawberry jam a while back after spending the morning picking the buggers..it wouldn't set after using the correct amount of jam sugar..boiled it up a few times and still the same..few glugs of pectin and still nothing..£80 of strawberries here? so lots of pectin added and it set..IT SET ? so much that an attempt to make a strawberry milkshake in the blender the next day..added milk and good spoon of the "jam" wizzed away for about 60 seconds and spoon of jam was untouched still clinging to the blade..did make "my friend" laugh much to the amusement of the other half Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Trip to the WI is on order! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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