Our Editors Put 21 Pepper Grinders to the Test, and These 5 Crushed the Competition

Our Favorite

The Latent Epicure Battery Operated Grinder Set proved to be an overwhelming favorite among editors. In terms of price-to-performance, it provides superior value. It was the only grinder on our shortlist to achieve a perfect rating across the board, from size and design to ease of use and grind consistency. And the best part is it’s a set of two, so you can easily grind both salt and pepper and keep these mills on your kitchen counter for everyday use.

Our Tests

We bought 21 of the most popular pepper grinders on the market, including manual and electric models, and sent them home with our editors to try in their own kitchens. Each of our testers followed the same methodology and provided detailed insights for each step of the process. 

Right out of the box, we made general observations of the grinders, noting any special features, the size, the comfort in our hands, the weight, and the overall quality. Next, we assessed everything from grind output to consistency. For manual mills, we put the grinder on the finest setting and used a scale to measure 3 grams of cracked black pepper. While doing so, we recorded the number of turns it took to produce 3 grams, how consistent the grind was, and the volume measured in teaspoons. Then we repeated this step twice more on the medium and coarse settings. For electric options, we observed the grind consistency of whole black peppercorns for varying times from 10 to 30 seconds. We also looked at design features that make grinding easier and flaws that might make the grinding process more difficult.

Factors to Consider

Types of Pepper Mills

There are three main types of pepper mills. Most work with twisting motion, which works well in almost any application. Some have a crank which can be easier to operate for kids or those with arthritis or carpal tunnel issues. Some small versions for tableside work with a pump button mechanism, which is great for the last flourish, but not useful for recipes. Finally, battery-operated or rechargeable electric versions can make grinding a lot of pepper for recipes easier or can be great for people with motor function issues.

Grinder Material

One of the most important elements of a pepper mill is the grinding mechanism. Most mills operate with either metal or ceramic grinders, which are preferable to the less expensive plastic grinders. Plastic grinders can chip, flake, and get dull quickly, making your pepper grind inconsistent. Metal grinders work well, but can sometimes be prone to rust, so it is important to care for them well, and opt for stainless steel whenever possible. Ceramic grinders provide consistent grinding without maintenance issues, and many of the top-rated grinders use ceramic grinders.

Body Material

The body of your grinder is purely an aesthetic decision since no one material is better than others in terms of the functionality of grinders. They come in wood, plastic, metal, ceramic, and in a variety of styles. Once you find the other functionality you want in a grinder, you will have many options for a grinder that will look as good as it works.

Coarseness Settings

This is one of the most important features of any grinder and should be a major part of your decision-making. Some grinders have only one level of coarseness, some have as many as ten. Being able to control how coarse or fine you can get your pepper is a key part of using your grinder. Finer particles will give an even peppery heat to your dishes, a coarser grind will give intense pops of crunchy fire. Ease of adjusting between levels of coarseness can be achieved with a knob, lever, or button.

Other Pepper Grinders We Tested

Strong Contenders

Peugeot Paris u’Select 9-inch Pepper Mill ($55 at Amazon)

This grinder excelled at fine and medium grinds, producing extremely uniform ground pepper. However, there was some inconsistency with the coarse setting. We love it as an everyday spice grinder but wouldn’t recommend it for tasks that require thicker pieces, such as a rub for prime rib. 

Fletchers' Mill Federal Pepper Mill ($55 at Amazon)

This pepper grinder has a beautiful wooden design and feels comfortable to hold. Its simple design makes it easy to use, and it performs well. If it weren't for the stain chipping on the bottom, this pepper mill would seem like an heirloom piece. But, because it arrived with this damage as well as knicks near the bottom, we couldn’t give it five stars.

Cole & Mason Lincoln Duo Salt and Pepper Grinder Combo ($25 at Amazon)

The grinds were very consistent, especially on the finest setting, and it feels like a high-quality product despite its mere price. Our only issue was that adjusting the coarseness was harder than expected due to the confusing control knob and absence of instructions. With that said, we recommend finding the size you like and leaving it there.

OXO Good Grips Pepper Grinder ($28 at Oxo)

It was easy to use, had a generous capacity for peppercorns, and the ceramic grinder won’t absorb flavors, meaning you can use it for various spices. We took off a few points because it’s not very attractive to leave on a table or counter, and it didn’t produce consistent results.

What Didn’t Make the List

A pepper grinder might seem like a product you could buy without researching, but after testing 21, we can assure you there are models out there you don’t want to waste your money on. The ones that ranked the lowest were the Crystalia Manual Black Pepper Grinder, the Zassenhaus Speyer Pepper Mill, and the Dreamfarm Pepper Grinder. The common issues included being difficult to use, uncomfortable to hold, and poor performance overall. With the Zassenhaus grinder, we had to keep shaking it and turning the coarseness dial to get anything to come out. Then it ended up falling apart during the third round of testing.

Our Expertise

Clarissa Buch Zilberman is an acclaimed food writer with nearly a decade of experience. She has written for Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Visit Florida, and more. For this piece, we tested 21 different pepper grinders and mills to find the best ones. Using our culinary and product testing expertise, we assessed different sets in terms of performance, value, and design over several weeks.