10 best spice grinders to add some extra flavour to dinner time

The supermarket shelves are full of packets and jars of ready-made mixes and ground spices which are helpful for adding flavour in a hurry to family dinners.

If you want to step things up though, you really can’t beat grinding up your own spices and creating your own mixes at home. Starting with whole spices and grinding them up when you’re ready to cook with them keeps the gorgeous aromas and flavours wonderfully strong and will make a big difference to your cooking.

There are lots of different options when it comes to spice grinders, from traditional pestle and mortars to powerful electric machines.

Whether you just want to be able to grind your own fresh pepper or you want to go all out and make your own fragrant curry pastes, there’s a spice grinder to suit you.

Here are the best spice grinders to buy in 2022.

1. Best overall spice grinder: Revel Wet N Dry Grinder

Price: £54.32 | Buy now from Amazon

“[Go for a] grinder every time. Revel CCM104CH Wet N Dry Grinder from Amazon is highly recommended as you can add ginger, garlic and liquids as well as dry spices.” (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user gowgow)

The Revel Wet N Dry Grinder is a serious bit of kit that would make an extremely versatile addition to any home cook’s kitchen.

It’s a mains-powered grinder that can easily grind up all your favourite spices. Not only that, but it can also handle herbs, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and coffee beans too.

The real beauty of the Revel though is that it can also be used with wet ingredients. So you can use it to make yoghurts, dips, sauces and chutneys.

You do need to be careful not to run the grinder for too long – this will create heat and release some of the aromatics from the spices that you want to keep in until you start cooking. The instructions do make this clear though, and advise users to run the grinder in short, five-second bursts.

Pros

• Can be used for more than just spices

• Easy to clean with dishwasher-safe parts

• Stylish chrome design

Cons

• On the expensive side

Key specs

• Materials: Chrome

• Motor: 280 watts

• Dishwasher safe: Bowl and cover are dishwasher safe

• Dimensions: 9.6 x 9.6 x 19.3 - cup capacity 45g

• Electric or manual: Electric

2. Best budget spice grinder: Wahl James Martin Mini Grinder

Price: £18.99 | Buy now from Amazon

“James Martin spice grinder (electric). Winner for grinding whole spices.” (Vetted by Mumsnet user ForestDad)

We were really impressed with this James Martin by Wahl Mini Grinder, especially considering you can get it for under £20.

It’s small and compact, with a specially designed cable tidy system so you can stash it away neatly in the cupboard when you’re not using it.

The thing is, you might end up using it more than you think you will because it’s also really versatile. You can use it for all your dry spices, as well as for things like coffee beans, rock sugar, and chickpeas. It can also be used with fresh herbs like mint, so you’re not limited to just using dried spices and herbs.

The powerful motor makes light work of whatever you put it in, but it’s still super safe to use thanks to its safety system that means it will only work when the grinding bowl is properly locked in place.

You can decide how finely you want to grind up your spices by either holding down the on switch or pulsing it. And you can see how things are progressing through the transparent viewing window.

Pros

• Compact size

• Safety locking system

• Versatile

Cons

• Can’t be used with wet ingredients

• Not dishwasher safe

Key specs

• Materials: Stainless steel

• Motor: 150 watts

• Dishwasher safe: No

• Dimensions: 11 x 11 x 24cm (70g capacity)

• Electric or manual: Electric

3. Best compact spice grinder: Andrew James Electric Coffee Grinder

Price: £17.99 | Buy now from Amazon

“I use this one - it's good.” (Loved by Mumsnet user foodiefil)

The Andrew James grinder is the perfect size to hold in one hand, so it's super easy to use and takes up hardly any space.

Its stainless steel blades make grinding up spices, coffee beans, nuts, and seeds a breeze and the generous 70g basin means you can grind up a lot in one go.

There’s also a two-year warranty with this grinder which gives great peace of mind if it’s something you’ll be using a lot.

Pros

• Powerful and easy to use

• Compact design

• Large 70g milling capacity

Cons

• Harder to grind up small amounts of spices

• Can’t blend wet ingredients

Key specs

• Materials: Stainless steel and plastic

• Motor: 150 watts

• Dishwasher safe: No

• Dimensions: H18 x W11 x L11 cm

• Electric or manual: Electric

4. Most stylish spice grinder: Cuisinart Style Collection Electric Spice & Nut Grinder

Price: £59.00 | Buy now from Amazon

“If you want to make a paste, rather than just grinding dry spices, you need something like this.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user GCAcademic)

Cuisinart is one of the big names in the kitchen appliance world and this spice grinder more than lives up to their reputation for great quality.

It looks incredibly stylish and is just as impressive to use.

It’s robust and sturdy, effortlessly grinding up spices, herbs, nuts, and coffee beans. It can also be used to mix up dips, pestos, and hummus as well as being great for creating pastes for curries and stews.

All you need to do is put your ingredients in the bowl, pop on the lid and then press down for a pulse action or hold down for continuous grinding.

What makes this grinder particularly useful is the fact that it comes with two bowls (with lids) so you can use one exclusively for coffee beans and the other for spices. It also has a large 90g capacity so it’s brilliant for creating bigger spice blends.

Pros

• Stylish design

• Easy one-touch control

• Includes two chopping bowls with lids

• Can be used with wet and dry ingredients

Cons

• Heavier than other options

• Powder sometimes escapes from the bowl

Key specs

• Materials: Stainless steel

• Motor: 200 watts

• Dishwasher safe: Grinding bowls are dishwasher safe

• Dimensions: H20 x W9.8 x L9.8cm

• Electric or manual: Electric

5. Best grinder attachment: Kenwood Mini Chopper/Mill Attachment

Price: £30.11 | Buy now from Amazon

“I have a thing that attaches to my Kenwood which is perfect for this.” (Vetted by Mumsnet user Gladioli23)

If you already have a Kenwood stand mixer and don’t want to add a whole new appliance to your kitchen, then this grinder attachment is a brilliant idea.

It fits on to the top of the mixer and easily grinds up spices, herbs, nuts, and coffee beans.

You can also use wet ingredients with this so it’s perfect for whizzing up baby food, dressings, and purées.

The mixing bowl is made with glass that feels super solid and sturdy, and you actually get three additional bowls that you can then use as jars to store your creations until you’re ready to use them.

Pros

• Comes with three additional jars

• Can use with wet and dry ingredients

• Durable and hard wearing

Cons

• Can only be used with compatible Kenwood machines

Key specs

• Materials: Glass and stainless steel

• Dishwasher safe: Jar, lid, and base are dishwasher safe

• Dimensions: H15.01 x W10.01 x L10.01 cm

• Electric or manual: Electric

6. Best high-end spice grinder: Secura Electric Coffee Grinder & Spice Grinder

Price: £88.99 | Buy now from Amazon

The most expensive grinder on our list might not look all that special at first glance, with its simple stainless steel design. But when you take a closer look you realise what makes it stand out from the others on the market.

It comes with two separate bowls – one with two blades for grinding up dry ingredients and one with four blades for blending wet ingredients. This means you can grind up your spices in one bowl and then whizz up a pesto in the other.

The bowls are fully detachable from the main unit so you can easily pour out your ground spices and then clean the bowl in the dishwasher.

Pros

• Can be used with wet and dry ingredients

• Easy to use and to clean

• Two-year warranty

Cons

• Quite noisy

• Expensive compared to other options

Key specs

• Materials: Stainless steel

• Motor: 200 watts

• Dishwasher safe: Removable bowl is dishwasher safe

• Dimensions: H25.2 x W22.5 x D13.69 sm

• Electric or manual: Electric

7. Best one-touch spice grinder: Krups Coffee Mill

Price: £25.49 | Buy now from Amazon

“I have a Krups one with little knives I use for grinding spices. It is ace.” (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user confusedandemployed)

“I have used a Krups coffee grinder for more years than I care to think of - it's still doing a great job.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user bookbook)

Grinding up your spices is made so easy with this Krups grinder.

Its stylish, ergonomic design means it’s really comfortable to hold and the single speed system gives you great control over the end result – if you want a finer powder, just hold the button down for longer. The large viewing window at the top lets you keep a close eye on your spices so you know when to stop grinding.

This grinder looks sleek and will sit nicely on your worktop, but still has an impressive 75g milling capacity.

So if you want to grind up a good amount of spices in one go, this Krups grinder is a great option.

Pros

• Ergonomic design makes it easy to use

• Built-in safety switch

• Large viewing window

Cons

• Can be tricky to clean

Key specs

• Materials: Plastic with stainless steel interior and blades

• Motor: 200 watts

• Dishwasher safe: No

• Dimensions: H10 x W10.5 X D21 cm

• Electric or manual: Electric

8. Best spice mill: Microplane 2-in-1 Spice Mill

Price: £21.93 | Buy now from Amazon

If you’re looking for more of a simple spice mill than a grinder with lots of bells and whistles, then take a look at this one from Microplane.

It’s perfect for grating and storing hard spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. You simply lift the cap and put your hard spices in the base, then push the top back down firmly and twist clockwise to start grinding.

There’s an airtight compartment in the top section that you can use to store your spices between uses and a silicone cover to pop over the bottom to avoid mess when it’s not in use.

Pros

• Comfortable, ergonomic design

• Ultra sharp stainless steel blade

• Includes airtight compartment to store spices and silicone cover to put on between uses

Cons

• Not very versatile

Key specs

• Materials: Stainless steel and plastic

• Dishwasher safe: Yes

• Dimensions: H13.6 x W5 x D5 cm

• Electric or manual: Manual

9. Best manual spice grinder: Oliver Hemming Ceramic Spice Boy Grinder

Price: £37.40 | Buy now from Amazon

This award-winning spice grinder looks stunning but works as easily as your trusty pepper grinder.

You just put your spices into the funnel-shaped bowl at the top, release the stopper so they fall into the grinder, and then twist to grind everything up.

There’s a dial on the base that lets you adjust how coarsely your spices are ground up, so you can choose how fine you want your spice mix to be.

It’s also worth noting that the grinder mechanism is guaranteed for five years, which is great for peace of mind.

Pros

• Easy and intuitive to use

• Practical mixing and filling bowl

• Adjustable for coarse and fine grinding

Cons

• Relatively small capacity

• Not as versatile as other grinders

Key specs

• Materials: Ceramic

• Dishwasher safe: No

• Dimensions: H20cm

• Electric or manual: Manual

10. Best pestle and mortar: H&S Pestle and Mortar

Price: £18.99 | Buy now from Amazon

These kinds of spice grinders have been around for centuries and are still really popular today.

This particular set from H&S is made from granite and would make a stylish addition to any kitchen.

It’s one of the larger pestle and mortar sets we looked at, which means you can grind up more spices in one go with the textured mortar interior and perfectly shaped pestle.

It does take a bit of elbow grease to grind up spices in a pestle and mortar, but it’s worth it for the way it releases all the aromatics from the spices. Another big plus is that you can use both dry and wet ingredients with it, so it’s perfect for things like pesto and curry paste.

Pros

• Looks beautiful

• Heavy duty and robust

• Can grind dry and wet ingredients

Cons

• Takes a bit of effort to grind ingredients

• Large size might make it tricky to store away

Key specs

• Materials: Granite

• Dishwasher safe: No

• Dimensions: Mortar - 16cm diameter, 8cm height; Pestle - 17.5cm length, 4.3cm diameter

• Electric or manual: Manual

What is a spice grinder?

Spice grinders are also sometimes known as spice mills, and they’re tools used to grind spices into powder. A lot of them are like the salt and pepper mills you might use for your dinner, but you add your own spices each time depending on what you need for the recipe you’re making.

Types of spice grinders

There are three main types of spice grinder to choose from and they all have their own pros and cons.

Manual spice mill

These are most like the pepper mill you’d have on your dinner table. You put the spices into the mill and then turn the top to grind them up.

They’re perfect for when you just have a small amount of spices to grind up, and they don’t take too much effort to use.

The main limitation with manual spice mills is that you can only use them for dry spices, so they’re no good if you want to create any kind of paste.

Electric spice grinder

These are more like mini food processors that work at the push of a button to grind up spices. They have a bowl that you add your spices to and a set of blades that spin around to chop and grind them up.

They make light work of grinding spices and can generally be used with wet ingredients too.

Electric spice grinders are also great for chopping things like nuts and grinding up coffee beans.

Pestle and mortar

If you’re not in a hurry to grind your spices up, then a classic pestle and mortar can be a good option.

This method of grinding up spices has been around since the Stone Ages and is made up of a bowl (the 'mortar') and a crushing/grinding tool (the 'pestle'). You put your spices in the bowl and press down on them with the pestle to grind them up.

It does take a bit of effort but the results are worth it. You can also use both dry and wet ingredients with a pestle and mortar so they're surprisingly versatile.

What can a spice grinder be used for?

You can use your spice grinder to create spice blends to use as rubs for meat and vegetables or make your own garam masala to use in your curries.

The more versatile spice grinders can also be used to make dips and sauces like hummus and pesto.

A lot of grinders can be used to grind up coffee beans too, as well as nuts to use in baking.

Can you use a coffee grinder for spices?

A lot of coffee grinders can also be used to grind up spices. The main thing to keep in mind though is that you’ll need to be able to clean the grinder thoroughly if you want to use it for both coffee and spices, so you don’t end up with strangely spiced coffee.

Can you grind spices in a blender or food processor?

You can grind spices in a food processor but the results won’t be as good.

The blades in most food processors are too high to be able to properly grind the spices into a powder, so you won’t get the consistent results that you can achieve with a dedicated spice grinder.

How to choose the best spice grinder

When it comes to choosing a spice grinder, here are a few things you might want to take into consideration:

• Speed and efficiency - You want to find a grinder that works quickly to make sure that your spices don’t get heated while you’re grinding.

• Versatility - Some grinders can handle both dry and wet ingredients, while others only work with dry ingredients. So think about what you want to be able to use your grinder for.

• Capacity - If you want to be able to grind up enough spices for a family meal or to make a batch of curry paste, then you’ll need a grinder with a good size mixing bowl.

• Manual or electric - Do you want to grind spices at the push of a button or are you happy to work a bit more for it with a manual grinder?

What's the best way to clean a spice grinder?

Some spice grinders have parts that can be removed and put through the dishwasher to clean which makes the whole thing nice and easy.

For non-dishwasher safe grinders, you can wipe them out with a damp cloth.

Additionally, to really get every last bit of spice residue out, you can try grinding up some clean uncooked rice, tipping it out, and then wiping the grinder down with a damp cloth.

How we chose our recommendations

We have thoroughly researched and weighed up the pros and cons of the different types of spice grinder that you can buy in 2022 and picked out the best ones for you. Our research includes tried and tested experiences from a wide range of reliable, trusted sources. Here is how we carefully chose the best products.

Recommendations from real Mumsnet users

You can always trust the Mumsnet community to give their honest opinions of the products they use and love, so we’ve searched through our forums to find the spice grinders that come highly recommended.

Expert opinions

If you’re going to add another bit of kit to your kitchen, you want to know that it’s something that will actually do the job you’re buying it for. So we have researched the thoughts and opinions of both home cooks and professional chefs to find out which spice grinders they use and recommend.

Authentic customer reviews

The last thing we did was visit a mix of retailer sites and read all the reviews there, to find out the pros and cons of each product from the people who’ve put them through their paces.

Why you should trust us

We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.