Spice grinder

[fracmeister]

I have a blendtec...think magic bullet on steroids

[clkq4]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I'm really leaning toward the Krups F203.

[Dr ROK]

Cook's Illustrated chose the Krups F203 as their favorite.

The test kitchen standard for grinding spices is an inexpensive blade-type electric coffee grinder (which we use for spices only, reserving a separate unit to grind coffee). We assembled a variety of models, looking for a grinder that would produce the most delicate, uniform powder and that was easy to both use and clean.
They were all easy to use. The only physical exertion required to use them was pressing a button. No stress, strain, or sore forearms, and they produced consistently good results on all of the test spices. And it only got better: They were easy to brush or wipe clean (just mind the blade!), and we could control for texture of grind simply by adjusting the amount of time we held down their power buttons.
To narrow the field, we ground on to compare the four models' performance grinding spices in three amounts: small (1 teaspoon), medium (1 tablespoon), and large (1/4 cup). Each electric grinder whizzed through the tests with flying colors, producing fine powders from each amount of each spice.
The tests did leave us concerned about overheating from the spinning blade of an electric grinder would affect the spices’ flavor. Taste tests of chutney and cardamom cake showed only very subtle differences between spices ground by hand and those ground in electric grinders. We concluded that there's no need to worry about overheating spices in an electric grinder.
METHODOLOGY:
We tested 4 electric spice grinders. We fine-ground whole spices of varying hardness, density, shape, and oil content—cumin, coriander, cardamom, and chipotle chiles (torn into rough 1/4-inch pieces)—in each and evaluated them according to the following criteria.
EASE OF USE

We rated each model on how easy it was to fill, use, and clean.
QUALITY OF FINE GRIND

Our most important test, based on the composite of performance scores earned for fine-grinding each of the test spices (in amounts of 1 teaspoon, 1 tablespoon, and 1/4 cup). We preferred grinders that produced the highest percentage of uniformly powdery particles fine enough to pass through a 40-mesh laboratory screen, but we did not necessarily mark down a grinder when only a small percentage of particles was left in the screen. If, on visual and tactile inspection, the fine-ground spices were judged exceptionally coarse or uneven, the grinder was marked down.





Electric Spice Grinders

• WINNER
  RECOMMENDED
  
  Krups Fast-Touch Coffee Mill, Model 203
  
  
  Exceptionally fine grind of all spices, leaving very little in lab screen. Even material left in lab screen was fine enough to use.
  
  More Details
  • FINE GRIND
  • EASE OF USE

[surfdog]

Burr grinders are MUCH better IMO...and much more consistent than trying to guess what's going on in a spinning grinder.
I used the Krups grinder for years. Consistency was a crap shoot at best. Now I use burr grinders for coffee & spices. (Though not the same grinder.) I still recommend the Krups type because it's simple & generally works well...and it's cheap. But after seeing the Kyocera that MBMorgan posted...I might need to rethink that. Also might need to order one...

[MBMorgan]

surfdog ... I concur completely about burr grinders. In fact, I've got a couple of pricey Rancilio Rocky burr grinders (formerly used for espresso) that I'd like to repurpose for spices ... but the thought of trying to get all those coffee grounds out of them has kept me from acting on the impulse.

[7x57mm]

I'm disappointed with my newly purchased Kyocera Everything Mill. The two pics show fine grind and the coarsest setting available. I was hoping for grind differences as shown in @johnecc post. Other than the minimal size grind change from fine to coarse, it operates VERY smoothly.

[RonB]

I have an electric and manual coffee bean grinder, but when I want to grind spices, this is what I use:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10152875/

The Ikea spice grinder is so cheap that I have several so that I don't get the wrong flavor spice from what's left over in the grinder. The "guts" are ceramic, and the fineness of the grind is adjustable. If you want to make do with one, you can buy extra bottles and leave the spices in the bottle so that all you have to do is put the grinder on a different bottle.

[Mickeylou5]

I also use a coffee grinder for spices. You can almost always find them at garage sales for $5 or less because they are too messy for grinding coffee