Best spice grinder 2023: Grind cinnamon, peppercorns, tonka beans, nuts and more

Investing in a spice grinder for your kitchen can be a gamechanger, making it easier than ever before to incorporate delicious fresh spices into your favourite dishes. Some of the best spice grinders are even suitable for grinding nuts and coffee beans, making the gadget a bit of an unsung kitchen hero.

Whether you’re looking for a classic spice mill or are a foodie on a quest to find the perfect gadget to help you make your favourite curry or crumble, a spice grinder is a must-have appliance for any kitchen.

But which one should you pick? Style, function and price all play a part in finding your favourite but if you’re not sure where to start, don't panic. We’ve done the research and tested some of the very best, so you don't have to.

Keep reading for our guide to the features you should look out for when buying a spice grinder, followed by our edit of the best spice grinders to buy in 2023.

A spice grinder is used to crush spices down to powder, typically to add them into recipes. They offer a fuss-free way to access the full flavour of the spice, without running the risk of unwanted debris making it into the dish. Spice grinders can also be used to grind nuts and seeds, make pastes, and prepare coffee beans.

Similar in purpose to a food processor, they give you more control over what does – and doesn't – make it onto your plate, meaning that unwanted husks can be easily identified and discarded. You can also gently toast your spices in a frying pan before you start grinding them, to help to unlock their flavour.

Spice grinders come in many forms, with the pestle and mortar dating back thousands of years to the Stone Age. Fast-forward to the present day, though, and there are also more modern takes on hand-operated spice grinders available, as well as electric models that make it even easier to release the flavour of your favourite seasonings.

Some spice grinders can be used for:

Some spice grinders will tick all the boxes, while others have a more limited range of functionality. Ahead of making your purchase, give careful consideration to what you want to use yout spice grinder for and choose accordingly.

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If you have a smaller kitchen, it's worth taking size into account. Unlike some kitchen appliances, spice grinders aren't typically bulky gadgets, but you might still need to give it some thought if countertop room or storage space isn't on your side.

The functionality of the product will often be influenced by its price and vice versa. Hand-operated models can tend to offer a more minimal approach in terms of what they can do, while electric options will be more expensive.

For example, if you’re looking for a basic pair of salt and pepper grinders, you can buy them for less than £10 on the high street or via Amazon. If you’re looking for an electric spice grinder that can also grind coffee beans, prices will naturally be higher.

There are several different types of spice grinder, with each having its own different pluses and minuses for purchasing.

A spice mill is hand-operated, with the user typically twisting and turning it to grind spices. Typically more limited in functionality than electric spice grinders, they’re a great choice for cooks who are looking to precisely grind small amounts of spices on a regular basis.

A pestle and mortar– also known as a mortar and pestle – comprises a bowl typically made of stone or wood and a heavy, rounded club-like tool used to crush spices. It can be used on both wet and dry ingredients and despite being old, is still used in modern kitchens due to its excellent ability to unlock flavours.

Electric grinders are the height of convenience when it comes to grinding spices in your kitchen. Able to handle everything from hard spices to coffee beans, they’re a great pick for busy cooks. They lack some of the precision of hand-operated spice grinders but offer a quick, easy alternative to what can be quite a physically demanding task.

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Price: £59 | Buy now from Very

Almost more like a food blender than a traditional spice grinder, Cuisinart's Spice and Nut Grinder is a great pick for anyone who wants total versatility. Its mighty motor made short work of coffee beans, almonds and cinnamon sticks and we were really impressed with the evenness of the results, as well as blown away by the scents that were released. It can hold up to 90g too, making it ideal for family-sized recipes.

Cooks who like to get their food prep out the way before following a recipe will also appreciate that two dishwasher-friendly grinding bowls are included, which boast air-tight lids for keeping that all-important flavour in. Using it feels almost too efficient compared to manual grinding and the only real downside is the higher price point compared to others on our list – but as the old adage goes, you get what you pay for.

Key details – Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.8 x 20 cm (LWH); Electric: Yes; Colours available: Midnight Grey

Price: £25 | Buy now from Amazon

As with any intricate and sharp grinder, we did find cleaning the base a fraction fiddly. However, the results were impressively even. We also liked that the product has a built-in storage area, giving you somewhere to keep ground spices until you need them. Measuring in at just over 11cm tall, it's also incredibly unobtrusive, and can be easily stowed away in a kitchen drawer or cupboard until needed again.

Key details – Dimensions: 4.4 x 4.4 x 11.4 cm (LWH); Electric: No; Colours available: Black or black-and-silver

Price: From £21 | Buy now from Le Creuset

Le Creuset is synonymous with high-quality kitchenware and tableware, and these salt and pepper mills are as practical as they are elegant. They’re available to order in a rainbow of colours, meaning there's a set to match almost any kitchen colour scheme, and they look great in any dining space.

Of course, as salt and pepper mills, these aren't exactly the products to grind cinnamon sticks and tonka beans with. However, for seasoning pre- and post-cooking, they’re perfect. Their ceramic grinders can be adjusted according to whether you prefer your salt and pepper fine or coarse. This can be controlled by twisting the dial on the base of each mill and while we struggled with this on our first attempt, we were able to master it eventually.

Key details – Dimensions: 6.18 x 6.18 x 21 cm (LWH); Electric: No; Colours available: 18 to choose from

Buy now from Le Creuset

Price: £25 | Buy now from ProCook

Foodies will adore this stylish pestle and mortar set from ProCook. A pestle and mortar is the original (and some would argue the best way) to release fresh flavours from spices and other ingredients. We found it oddly therapeutic to use it to crush garlic, as well as chillis, for a fiery arrabbiata sauce.

While you don't need to be strong to use a pestle and mortar, a certain degree of physical input is required – as is time. If you’d prefer a spice grinder that you can use as and when in a flash, an electric model might be better for your needs. If you’re happy to enjoy the more satisfying experience of doing it by hand, a pestle and mortar could be the one – and they look great, too.

Key details – Dimensions: Available in three widths: 9.5cm, 13cm and 16.5cm; Electric: No; Colours available: Chocolate

Buy now from ProCook

Price: £20 | Buy now from Very

Caffeine devotees will love this multifunctional spice grinder, which can be used for coffee beans, as well as spices and nuts. We liked that it came with a clear lid, which makes peering into the bowl to monitor progress easy, especially if you’re eagerly awaiting that first cup of the day. It blitzed our coffee beans well and made short work of spices for a fruit crumble, too. It's worth knowing that Salter recommends using it for dry ingredients only.

This product is great value for money on the whole and can tackle a range of spices and beans without issue. The main downside is that it's tough to clean. The bowl can't be removed from the machine, which makes giving it a post-use scrub a lot harder to do. The bowl is also smaller than the other electric model on this list, with a recommended max capacity of 60g.

Key details – Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.3 x 18.3 cm (LWH); Electric: Yes; Colours available: Silver

Price: £38 | Buy now from Harts of Stur

While it doesn't offer the capacity or versatility of other models on this list, it's a great all-rounder if you’re looking for a high-quality spice grinder to use with smaller quantities. Its award-winning design also means it can bring a certain aesthetic edge to any kitchen. This grinder isn't dishwasher safe, but it does come with a five-year guarantee.

Key details – Dimensions: 21.5 x 9.5 x 9.5 cm (LWH); Electric: No; Colours available: Red, white and black

Buy now from Harts of Stur