Choosing the best spice grinders can be challenging, especially since there are so many good options out there today.
Don't go for pre-ground spices if you want to get your spices fresh. Getting a spice grinder will allow you to grind spices for cooking and maintain the best taste and aroma.
In this review, I'll talk about the top 10 options for the best spice grinders you can get on the market in 2023. I'll even give my favorite picks at the end.
The 10 Best Spice Grinders Available Today
I've classified each of the top 10 spice grinders into a specific best category. Pick one depending on which set of features you value the most.
What I like
- Decent capacity
- Quiet operation
- Great performance
- Dishwasher-safe bowl and cover
- Comes with a storage lid
What I don't like
- Not ideal for grinding lightweight fresh herbs
- Meant only for nuts and whole spices
I picked out the Cuisinart Electric Spice and Nut Grinder because it is an electric grinder with a decent capacity, a powerful grinder, a 200-watt motor, and a large removable cup.
Combining these three things means that grinding large spices into a fine powder is a breeze, and you can grind a multitude of whole cloves or spices at a time.
From various tests, it isn't loud compared to other electric grinders from various tests, which can annoy your housemates, especially early in the morning.
Unfortunately, this electric grinder doesn't have the best performance at grinding spices that are smaller. It's best suited for whole spices.
Oftentimes, the two-blade grinder bowl design would make lightweight herbs fly away, which resulted in an uneven grind.
Size: 5 x 6 x 9 inches | Weight: 1 pound | Capacity: 90 grams | Removable bowl: Yes | Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe removable cup
What I like
- Great value for the price
- Hidden cord storage
- Decently quiet motor
- Slim design
What I don't like
- Mostly plastic build
- Small capacity
At around $20, this Hamilton Beach electric grinder undercuts many spice grinders on this list by $10-$20 without sacrificing too much.
If you're looking for electric spice grinders that get the basics right, the Hamilton Beach spice and coffee grinder should be on top of your list.
The Hamilton Beach spice and coffee grinder gives a fine and consistent grind. It does well when grinding coffee beans, peppercorns, cardamom, nuts, cinnamon sticks, and more.
When testing, it operated quietly despite delivering impressive results. When you're done, the grinding bowl can be removed easily too.
However, unlike when you grind coffee with a capacity of 127 grams, it only has a capacity of 56 grams for spice grinding.
Size: 3.74 x 3.54 x 7.13 inches | Weight: 1.3 pounds | Capacity: 56 grams for spices, 127 grams for coffee | Removable bowl: Yes | Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe removable cup
What I like
- Stylish design
- Works with most herbs and spices
- Very cheap
- Multiple color options
What I don't like
- Fixed bowl
- Grind consistency could be better
This may be the best budget spice grinder you can find. At $17 and regularly going on discount, it undercuts other brands even more than the last spice grinder.
The design is fresh and doesn't look like other generic electric grinders. You have a black and mint blue option, and the design looks right at home in any kitchen.
It is decent at spice grinding multiple types of spices, both whole spices and smaller spices. It can also grind coffee beans if you need it to.
However, the slightly weaker 150-watt motor means it can only do medium-fine to coarse grind, which is lacking compared to more expensive models.
Unfortunately, this electric coffee and spice grinder doesn't have a removable grinding bowl, so cleaning it will have to be done by wiping it down.
Size: 13 x 9.6 x 9.6 inches | Weight: 1.61 pounds | Capacity: 113 grams | Removable bowl: No | Care instructions: Clean with a damp paper towel
What I like
- No need to plug it into the wall
- Can carry on for traveling or camping
- Has a consistent grind
- Easy to operate
- Easy to clean
What I don't like
- Incompatible with anise, nutmeg, and cloves
If you're looking for the best manual spice grinder that allows you to still get freshly ground spices without needing electricity, then the Kuhn Rikon Ratchet Grinder is for you.
This is one of the most straightforward spice grinders to operate. It has a door on the front of the body where you can place one or multiple spices to combine them when grinding.
The nature of this manual grinder means that it does well when it comes to consistently making a fine powder. However, it's not compatible with all types of spices.
If your spice and nut grinder needs include star anise, nutmeg, or cloves, you should avoid this one and look at other manual grinders.
However, this is a great option if you're grinding cinnamon sticks and peppercorn or need salt and pepper grinders.
Size: 2.5 x 2.5 x 9 inches | Weight: 0.4 pounds | Capacity: 90 grams | Removable bowl: No | Care instructions: Clean with a damp cloth
What I like
- Multiple grinding bowls
- Dishwasher-safe bowls and lids
- Easy to use
- No need to clean out grinding bowl after each use
What I don't like
- A bit pricey
- Spice dust can get into the base
If you're looking for a combination of a coffee and spice grinder, this Kitchenaid grinder is the one to get. The headlining feature is the use of more than one grinder bowl.
It uses three grinding bowls - two stainless steel bowls for grinding spices and the other for grinding coffee beans. No more using one bowl for both spice and coffee beans.
This means that you can keep any leftover spices if you've ground too much without having to transfer them to another container and wash the bowl if you want to use it again.
After testing, I noticed that this electric coffee and spice grinder also doesn't have the effect of transferring flavors between ground spices and coffee beans.
However, one downside is that the spice dust can sometimes get inside the base, requiring some disassembly and thorough cleaning.
Size: 4.2 x 3.9 x 8.7 inches | Weight: 2.3 pounds | Capacity: 113 grams | Removable bowl: Yes | Care instructions: Yes, for the removable parts
What I like
- Dual adjustable grind settings
- Acrylic see-through containers
- Slim design
- Can handle the toughest rock salt and peppercorn
What I don't like
- Doesn't grind "wet" salts well
If you need a salt and pepper grinder, then Eparé's 2-in-1 grinder might be one of the best spice grinders for you. The headlining features are its see-through acrylic containers.
These containers can handle the toughest spices, like rock salt and peppercorn. Both containers have decent capacity and allow you to see when you need to refill them.
A neat feature during testing I noticed is that both the salt and pepper sides have adjustable grinders. This allows you to set the blade grinder setting for each independently.
This means that you can customize how delicate your ground spices will be for the two different milling bowls. You can grind the pepper mills finer or coarser without affecting the salt.
However, you can fill each grinder cup with spices other than salt and pepper, with fresh herbs like cumin seeds, fennel seeds, or small cinnamon sticks.
Size: 2 x 2 x 8.9 inches | Weight: 0.6 pounds | Capacity: 272 grams | Removable bowl: No | Care instructions: Not dishwasher safe
What I like
- One of the most silent electric grinders
- Dishwasher-safe removable parts
- Included storage lid
- Can handle both heavy and lightweight herbs
- Massive capacity
What I don't like
- Lid can be difficult to clean
Even compared to the more quiet spice grinders on this list, this KRUPS model is silent. It's perfect for those who grind in the morning or have babies they don't want to disturb.
The patent-pending Vortex Spin technology uses all the grinders to help pull ingredients toward the blades. This makes it both quiet and efficient.
Most spice grinders only use two blade grinders and are, therefore, louder and as efficient as the KRUPS when grinding lighter spices like mint.
Like the Kitchenaid model, this KRUPS model also has a removable cup bowl with a lid so you can store it to the side if you have any extra ground spices left over.
However, the lid can easily collect spice dust and be tricky to remove. Thankfully, it's dishwasher safe, so you can run it under a faucet.
Size: 4.33 x 4.02 x 8.46 inches | Weight: 2.42 pounds | Capacity: 2880 grams | Removable bowl: Yes | Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
What I like
- Great for grinding dry and wet spices
- Dishwasher safe bowls
- 200-watt motor
- Compact for its power level
What I don't like
- A bit noisy
- Struggles with lightweight herbs
This electric grinder from Secura is excellent for grinding spices that are either wet or dry. This is because of the two-blade grinder connected to the powerful 200-watt motor.
It also has two separate milling bowls - one for grinding dry spices like cumin seeds and another for wet spices or whole spices like cinnamon sticks.
The electric spice grinder also has measurement markings inside each milling bowl so that you don't have to measure using a separate utensil each time you add spice blends.
The clear plastic cover on top prevents ingredients and spices from flying out and also gives the electric grinder a unique and sleek look.
However, the two blade grinders on this electric spice grinder aren't as good at grinding lightweight herbs like mint as they would cause them to spin around instead.
Size: 10.12 x 5.47 x 5.39 inches | Weight: 2.77 pounds | Capacity: 70 grams | Removable bowl: Yes | Care instructions: Wash removable parts only
What I like
- Sleek design
- Top-notch grind consistency
- Easy to operate
- Powerful blades
Cinnamon sticks and nutmeg are some of the toughest spices to grind, but these spice grinders from Microplane can easily handle them.
When grinding whole spices, this grinder slices through them effortlessly using special blades. I could feel the large whole spices turning into ground spices while twisting the grinder.
The ground spices these manual grinders produce are also of high quality and very fine. This is great if you need that level of grinding for your cooking.
Additionally, there's a small compartment on top to store any extra ground spices you might have afterward.
The downside to using this spice grinder is the longer time to grind compared to most electric grinders. It takes twice the amount of time to use.
However, because the quality of the finished product is so good, it's still a product I highly recommend.
Size: 7.87 x 6.3 x 2.36 inches | Weight: 0.26 pounds | Capacity: 71 grams | Removable bowl: No | Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
What I like
- Highly durable
- Versatile uses
- Easy to clean
- Natural "old school" method
What I don't like
- Can be tiring to use
- Long seasoning process
If you're looking to really get into the old-school manual grinding process, this mortar-and-pestle spice grinder set from ChefSofi is an excellent option.
Grinding using this mortar and pestle is very versatile because you can grind almost anything using it, from wet and dry spices to garlic cloves, you'll use when cooking.
Using the mortar and pestle is a more hands-on experience. It gets tiring to grind spices after a while, but you can control how ground you want them to be using your strength.
Cleaning this spice grinder is relatively easy because the whole thing is safe to wash. It will also last a long time because of the premium materials used.
However, it involves a long process to season the mortar and pestle. This involves grinding rice and a mixture of spices before you can make full use of it.
Size: 6 x 6 x 6 inches | Weight: 7.05 pounds | Capacity: 400 grams | Removable bowl: No | Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
Quick Comparisons Of Spice Grinders
What is a Spice Grinder?
A spice grinder is a tool or machine that uses blades and other methods to grind or crush spices from their full size into smaller, finer pieces.
It's a tool that you'll need if you buy fresh herbs and spices instead of getting the ones already ground. It's always better to grind your own spices because they're fresh.
There are manual grinders and electric grinders. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Manual grinders are more versatile and can usually handle harder-to-grind spices. Meanwhile, electric grinders are more convenient and have a lot of high-tech features.
Why Use a Spice Grinder?
Grinders are useful for using fresh spices and turning them into fine powder. Getting a grinder is important if you want to save time and have more convenience in doing so.
Using a spice grinder is a small investment at the start, and depending on the model, there might be a slight learning curve.
However, as you use it more often, you'll notice how much time you save both in making your dishes and cleaning up when you're done.
How I Tested Spice Grinders
Next, I'll explain how I tested the best spice grinders that you can buy.
Large Spice Testing
The first thing I did while testing these spice grinders was check how well they performed when grinding larger spices.
The ones that performed the best were the ones with larger blades, more powerful motors, or the manual spice grinders where you can either hand grind or use a mechanism.
The spice I used specifically was cinnamon in its stick form, which I got from my spice rack. Getting the fine powdery version of it is essential for many recipes.
Small Spice Testing
Next, I tested how well each spice grinder did when grinding smaller spices like cumin seeds. The opposite was true for the grinders that succeeded in this test.
Lighter spices usually get thrown around and are not ground properly when using overly large blades. Therefore, those with smaller blades or clever features were better.
The Cuisinart Electric Spice and Nut grinder struggled a little during this test, but if you sift through the cumin and grind in shorter bursts, you'll still get decent results.
General User Experience
The last thing I tested was the general user experience. I checked how easy it was to attach and detach bowls on the models that supported them.
I would also check if spice dust easily got into other parts of the machine or if cleaning a non-removable grinding bowl was difficult and why.
Finally, I would see how long the whole process took from start to finish because being time-efficient is really important when it comes to cooking.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Spice Grinder
There are a few factors that you should consider when you choose a spice grinder to assist you in creating your favorite meals. Here are the most important ones.
Manual Spice Grinders vs Electric Spice Grinders
The first consideration you should have when choosing a grinder is whether you want it to be manually operated or electrically operated.
Manual grinders are usually more versatile and have blades that are effective at grinding both smaller and larger spices. However, they can be tiring to use and take longer to grind.
Electric-powered grinders are more convenient to use and can have cool features that can help make your life easier. However, they aren't as versatile and are more complicated to clean.
Whichever one you choose should be based on what you prefer when cooking. If you have the time and energy, then manual is the way to go. If you want convenience, go electric.
Capacity
Another consideration you should make when choosing a grinder is how much spice it can carry. If you're grinding large amounts at a time, smaller-capacity grinders won't cut it.
On the other hand, if you don't need the extra capacity, you can save a lot of money by going for cheaper models that don't have large grinding bowls.
Look
How a spice grinder looks is also important because it's a part of your kitchen and is something you'll be using a lot.
Similar to how coffee grinders help make a coffee shop look complete, a stylish grinder that's also functional can make your kitchen look a lot more homely.
I recommend getting one that's made with stainless steel and has clear windows. This classy look will fit most kitchens, and the premium materials also serve a functional purpose.
Noise
How noisy a spice grinder can get is an important consideration to make, especially if you like to grind in the morning and you don't want to disturb sleeping family members.
There are spice grinders that are both quieter and more effective at grinding spices. However, they usually come at a more premium price.
Meanwhile, a grinder like the KRUPS Silent Vortex Electric Grinder is a great option if you really need silent grinding.
Versatility
As I mentioned earlier when comparing manual and electric spice grinders, manual grinders are more versatile because they can easily grind both larger and smaller spices.
However, the most versatile of all grinding systems is the good old mortar and pestle. It doesn't just do spices. It can do things like garlic cloves too.
Whether this versatility will be useful depends on the types of spices you grind. You're better off sticking to electric ones if you're not grinding all the spices in the world.
Durability and Feel
You'd get annoyed if you bought an expensive grinder just for it to break after a few months of use. Durability is an integral part of many products.
Fixed cup grinders generally last longer than removable cup grinders because they have fewer moving parts and fewer cracks for any dust or spice particles to get into.
On some removable cup grinders, these particles get into the detachment point and seep into the machine, hurting it in the long run.
This is why it's important to also check customer reviews to see if they've had any issues. If worse comes to worst, then you should contact customer service.
Ease of Use
A spice grinder is a tool that's supposed to make your life easier. This is why ease of use is one of the most important considerations when buying a grinder.
The mortar and pestle are the least convenient to use because it requires you to use your own strength and skill in grinding the spices.
On the other end of the spectrum, high-tech grinders are the most convenient because all you need to do is put the spices in and press a few buttons.
Ease of Cleaning
Part of the ease of use of any spice grinder is how easy it is to clean after you're done using it. This is where models with a detachable grinder bowl are more convenient.
For those models, you can remove the bowl. Some have a lid so you can just store it directly in your pantry, while others require you to place it in another container.
The bowls are also usually dishwasher-safe, meaning you don't have to put so much time and effort into cleaning them right after usage.
Finally, there are manual grinders. They're straightforward to clean because most are wash-safe as a whole since they don't have any electronic parts.
Personal Use Case
If you'll be using a coffee and spice grinder mostly for coffee beans, then I suggest getting a dedicated coffee grinder with a burr grinder instead.
This is because burr grinders that are used in these grinder types are more effective at the task than combo grinders. A burr grinder allows you to control your coffee blend better too.
You'll also want to avoid cross-contamination. I don't think anyone wants to taste cumin in their coffee.
My Top Picks
In this section, I'll give you my top three picks for the best spice grinder. I've divided them into three categories.
For those on a tight budget, the $17 Brentwood grinder is a great option. It does all the basics well while keeping the price down as much as possible.
The best value-for-money pick goes to the Hamilton Beach Fresh grinder. This is because it doesn't sacrifice anything compared to more expensive options.
The grind quality is consistent and performs on par or better in some ways than other, more expensive picks on this list. That says a lot for a grinder that costs under $20.
The crown for the best grinder overall goes to the Cuisinart grinder. It allows you to create freshly ground spices conveniently.
It has many features which provide you with a great consistent grind while being easy to clean. The finishing touch is that it looks great in any kitchen.
Spice Grinder FAQs
After reading about spice grinders, you might still have more questions about spice grinding. I’ve answered the most commonly asked questions below.
Getting fresh herbs and spices instead of getting store-bought ground spice is important if you value freshness and a stronger taste.
This is because when you grind it yourself, there are no preservatives or additives that they have to include in the store-bought variants to keep them from clumping together.
Additionally, you can customize how fine you want the spices to be ground, which isn’t something you can do when getting store-bought ones.
The best way to clean a spice grinder depends on the instructions stated in the manual of your spice grinder.
The rule of thumb is that it’s not dishwasher safe if it has electronics. If it has detachable bowls, then take them off and place them in the dishwasher.
You might be considering buying a blender if you want to grind things other than spices. For example, if you want to blend protein shakes for your pre-workout.
Nutribullet and Vitamix are two great brands when it comes to blenders. If you’re set on Vitamix, the 7500 or the 5300 are great options.
Conclusion
Whichever type of spice grinder you choose, get one that fits the spices you know you'll be grinding. There's no need to get the most expensive one with all the features.
A grinder is one of the crucial parts of a kitchen, aside from your pots and pans, an egg cooker, and kitchen utensils.
Get one that fits your use case and within your kitchen situation. Some might prefer the simplicity of mortar and pestle grinders, while others prefer electric convenience.
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