The 10 Best Spice & Herb Grinders
Updated by · How we research
Ten spice and herb grinders compared, from electric blade models to cast-iron, ratchet and battery mills. The Krups F203 wins on price, speed and simplicity. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Many electric spice grinders are coffee grinders under another name, and that's fine: a spinning blade chops cumin and peppercorns as well as beans. The catch is flavor carryover, since cardamom and chili oils cling to the bowl. This list is for home cooks who grind whole spices, from a pinch of nutmeg to a jar of curry powder.
Editor's Notes
October 26, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
We put the Krups F203 first, because a simple blade machine at a modest price handles most kitchen spice jobs, and its fixed bowl is its only real trade-off. The Cuisinart SG-10 is the pick if you want a bowl that goes in the dishwasher, and the Secura SP-7412 is for anyone who grinds coffee and spices and wants them kept apart.
This page is now about the kitchen. The earlier version was built around hand-twist grinders sold mainly for smoking, including the Kannastör GR8TR V2, Cali Crusher, Golden Gate 4 Piece, Santa Cruz Shredder and Golden Bell 2-Inch, and none of them turned up for sale. The Jamie Oliver Mortar and Pestle and the Kuhn Rikon Vase are unavailable, and the Westinghouse Select Series now points to a different machine. The Kuhn Rikon Ratchet stays, and the Krups Silent Vortex takes over from the older Ultimate Silent model.
The most useful outside evidence was a UK five-spice grinding comparison by YourHomeStyle. Beyond that, we weighed makers' warranty terms against a clear pattern of motors dying in the first months, and a recall search turned up no grinder recalls for any brand here.
September 09, 2020:
We still think the Santa Cruz Shredder offers excellent usability and reliable quality, but we've removed the Wooden Classic at this time, as we're concerned about its long-term durability. Instead, we've added the Kannastör GR8TR V2 on the strength of its modular design and strong value for the cost. At the other end of the budget/quality spectrum, we selected the Golden Bell 2-Inch. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the former, such as a travel bag, but it's dependable enough to get the job done. And, conveniently, both choices come in several colors.
As for electric models, we replaced the Epica Electric with the Westinghouse Select Series. The latter is made to higher quality standards, although it does have one drawback — the cord is hard to maneuver into the base, even though it was created to do so. This doesn't affect how the machine operates, but it's a minor annoyance that could be a dealbreaker for some. But whether you choose this combo spice and coffee grinder or another, such as the Krups Ultimate Silent, you'll probably want to use it for one or the other. Even with careful cleaning, a grinder can retain smells from the spices, which could adversely affect your morning cup of joe.
March 01, 2019:
Because we know that manipulating items by hand can be tough for some users, we decided to replace the Space Case 4-piece set with the Santa Cruz Shredder; the latter has great texturing that makes it much easier to turn. It's something of an investment, though, so it may not be for everyone. That's why we also added the Golden Gate 4 Piece, which is priced much lower but still offers high-quality construction combined with usability. Then, we kept two electric models, which probably offer the lowest effort in use, as well as a traditional mortar and pestle from Jamie Oliver, for those who enjoy the throwback to a simpler time. Plus, this last's granite design is both attractive and eye-catching.
Special Honors
Tom Dixon Stone Pestle and Mortar For pastes and spice blends without a motor, Tom Dixon's mortar is turned from a heavy block of white marble, and some versions pair it with a brass pestle around an iron core. Its rounded lip gives a firm grip while you work. It's costly and very heavy, and acidic cleaners can mark the stone. tomdixon.net
The Spice House A grinder is only as good as what goes into it. The Spice House sells whole spices, from nutmeg and cinnamon sticks to cumin and coriander seed, along with blends, so you can buy small amounts and grind them fresh. thespicehouse.com
Blade, Mill Or Mortar: Match The Tool To The Spice
It chops, so the powder comes out a little uneven, and a coarse result takes short pulses and a shake between them.
An electric blade grinder doesn't mill anything. It chops, so the powder comes out a little uneven, and a coarse result takes short pulses and a shake between them. That's fine for curry powder, cumin and peppercorns. A burr mill crushes between two surfaces at a set gap, which gives an even size; that matters more for coffee than for spices, and our burr grinder list covers it.
Manual tools trade speed for control. In a five-spice comparison, YourHomeStyle found the electric models better for larger batches and the hand mills better for small amounts. A ratchet or twist mill with a ceramic stone suits seeds and pepper at the stove. A rasp mill like the Microplane handles whole nutmeg and cinnamon sticks, which a small blade bowl can only rattle around. A mortar and pestle is slower still, but it makes pastes and doesn't heat the spice.
The stacked, hand-twist grinders that many people call herb grinders come in two, three and four pieces. The extra pieces add a storage chamber and then a screen with a catch tray. They're made of zinc, aluminum or stainless steel, with stainless the hardest and heaviest, according to Wikipedia. They do best on dried leaves, not on hard seeds.
Keep Coffee And Spices Apart
Spice oils cling to plastic lids and steel bowls, and a pot of coffee ground after cardamom or chili will taste of it. The simplest fix is two bowls: the Secura SP-7412 ships with a pair, so one can stay with beans. A low-cost second machine kept only for spices does the same job.
Removable bowls are much easier to clean. Cuisinart's SG-10 page lists the bowl and lid as dishwasher safe, and it sells replacement lids and cups. A fixed bowl, like the one on the Krups F203, can't go in the sink, because water would reach the motor. Unplug it, brush out the dust and wipe the bowl with a barely damp cloth. Grinding a spoonful of dry rice or bread is a common trick for lifting oils, but read your manual first.
Turmeric and dried chilies stain light plastic. A steel bowl and a quick wipe right after use help.
Short Bursts, Dry Spices And Other Safety Habits
Small motors heat up fast. Run them in bursts of a few seconds, let them rest between runs, and don't fill past the line, or the powder puffs out around the lid. YourHomeStyle's test notes that some makers set a run limit of around 30 seconds, then a rest. Heat also dulls the aroma of the spice you're grinding.
Keep liquids and oily pastes out of electric bowls. Wet ingredients can leak into the base, and nuts turn to butter if you run them too long. Every plug-in unit on this list has a lid or bowl switch so the blade only turns when it's covered, but it's still a sharp blade: unplug before you reach in. Let chili dust settle for a moment before you lift the lid.
Cast iron, ceramic and aluminum hand tools should be washed by hand and dried right away. We searched the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall database for every brand here and found no spice or coffee grinder recalls.
How we researched this
We compared 26 spice and herb grinders, including every model on the earlier version of this page, read makers' specs and warranty terms and a UK grinding comparison, looked for patterns in owner feedback, and checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Frequently asked questions
Can I grind coffee and spices in the same grinder?
Yes, but flavors carry over. Use a model with two bowls, keep a second unit for spices, or clean the bowl well between jobs.
What's the difference between a blade grinder and a burr grinder?
A blade grinder chops with a spinning blade, so the grind is a little uneven. A burr grinder crushes between two surfaces at a set gap, which gives an even size. For spices, a blade is fine.
What is a herb grinder?
Usually a round, hand-twist grinder with rows of teeth in two halves, made in two to four stacked pieces. It shreds dried leaves such as oregano or basil, but it's slow on hard seeds.
Which spice grinders are cheap but built to last?
Manual mills have the least to break: cast iron and ceramic last for years with care. Among electric models, look for a long warranty, since early motor failure is the most common complaint.
How do I clean a grinder whose bowl doesn't come out?
Unplug it, brush out the powder, then wipe the bowl with a barely damp cloth. Never pour water in or put the base in the sink.
Is a mortar and pestle better than an electric grinder?
It's slower but gives more control and doesn't heat the spice. It's the better tool for pastes and small amounts; an electric unit wins for big batches.
