Schlader loves this Oxo grinder for a number of reasons, but chief among them is its “built-in intelligent scale” — which means you won’t lose extra money or counter space buying a separate one. The feature “simplifies the process of grinding coffee for your average home brewer and cuts down on equipment,” he says. Enter the number of cups you’re going to brew and your preferred coarseness for whatever coffee-making method you employ, and the grinder spits out exactly what you need. “It’s an incredibly thoughtful product,” he says. Looking unsurprisingly like the excellent Dremel 4000, there are a few differences that make this cordless tool extremely easy to manoeuvre. Weighing in at a mere 270 g, it’s lighter, and you of course do away with the power cord. The power comes instead from a 3.6 Volt Lithium-Ion battery that is charged with a standard Micro USB cable. Our tester liked that each end has an adjustable grinder, so you can select the desired fineness or coarseness of your spice. It's attractive enough to keep on the table for mealtimes or stash next to the stove to use while cooking. Many spice grinders are also advertised as coffee grinders, but make sure the manufacturer explicitly states that it is suitable for that use. Some grinders are specifically designed only for spices and might not deliver the ideal grind for coffee. A few models on this list come with multiple bowls that can be swapped out for coffee, spices, and/or wet ingredients, like fresh herbs, onions, and garlic.

Rotary tool kits are available in corded and cordless versions. Corded rotary tool kits give you as much power as you need but do have the disadvantage of trailing cables and being unusable in areas without a power source – such as the bottom of the garden. Cordless rotary tools offer convenience and mobility but of course, they do need charging which can interrupt your workflow. However, powerful lithium-ion batteries mean most rotary tools can last for long periods. Corded models tend to weigh a little more than cordless ones. Unfortunately, most decent coffee grinders — even those made specifically for home use — cost a very pretty penny. We’re talking hundreds of dollars. So to figure out which models are worth the investment, I asked baristas, roasters, and coffee shop owners about the versions they keep on their own kitchen counters (and sometimes in their suitcases because apparently, good coffee never takes a vacation). The design of this grinder makes it an excellent choice for anyone with manual dexterity problems, especially since, instead of pressing down on an on/off button, you can activate the motor by pushing down on the entire lid instead. T o regulate the speed look for a thumbwheel for variable-speed models or a dial with up to 6 settings for fixed-speed operation. Unlike other grinders, which can be obnoxiously loud, the Krups Silent Vortex Electric Grinder was designed with quiet in mind. If you’re an early morning cook or need something that gets the job done during a child’s afternoon nap, this model from Krups is probably the best choice for you. It comes equipped with patent-pending Vortex Spin Technology that helps pull ingredients into its blades for grinding that’s as quiet as it is efficient. It has a one-touch button that you can hold down for continuous grinding or tap to pulse.You can choose from six different speed settings using a roller on top of the device, and the long power cord means you can get it to where you need it without resorting to a flex shaft. That’s probably for the best because you don’t get one included in this set.

The first thing I like about this tool is the soft grip. The soft rubberised material used helps to cut down on vibration and means you can use it for long sessions without hurting your hands. The rotation speed is controlled by a slider and there’s a bright LED work light perched on the front for working in dark corners. It weighs just 660 g. Out of all the best spice grinders on the list, the Kuhn Rikon may also be the easiest option to clean. Instead of hand washing or putting it through the dishwasher, all you have to do is add some coarse salt to the chamber and grind it to clean the blades.

My Top Recommended Rotary Tools

Starting with how VonHaus have designed this rotary tool, they’ve gone for a slightly angled end that I suppose means you can switch it on and off with your little finger. I’m not sure it makes it more ergonomic as it’s not the most comfortable tool to hold, but there are a few rubbery bits to make it a bit more grippy. You’re not limited to just salt and pepper, though. You can fill the chambers with any dried herbs or spices that are a staple in your kitchen for easy access to fresh grinding. The handle part that you use for carving or grinding sits at the end of a 90 cm flex shaft. This means the part you hold is kept to a minimal size and weight for extra manoeuvrability. The shaft has a decent amount of rubber to it thanks to Ryobi’s patented GripZone over-moulding. It means you could use this for extended periods of time without getting too tired. Rotary tools come with a variety of attachments that are suitable for cutting, sanding, polishing, grinding, engraving and more. They can be used on metal, wood, glass, ceramic, and even plastic. Combine this versatility with the powerful motor, fast speed, and compact size and it’s easy to appreciate how useful rotary tools can be in most homes.

Lindsay Boyers is a certified holistic nutritionist with extensive nutrition knowledge and cooking experience. She’s developed over 1,000 original recipes and is constantly on a mission to find the best kitchen gadgets, at the best prices, to help make life in the kitchen more streamlined and efficient. Our tester found this model to work best with spices (vs. dried herbs) and required at least a tablespoon of each ingredient to get a proper grind. Since the bowl is removable, it's easy to get every last granule of ground spice out with a few taps. It comes with a coffee spoon that has a brush on its handle to help whisk away any residual dust or powder. The manufacturer recommends hand washing the lid and bowls and advises against placing them in the dishwasher. The Shardor Coffee and Spice Grinder was expertly designed to be the perfect multitasking tool. It comes with two stainless steel bowls. The first is a two-blade grinder bowl that handles dry items, like spices and coffee beans. The other is a four-blade chopper bowl that can wet-grind garlic and herbs, like basil, eliminating the need for manual mincing as you cook.Several times a year, Cary Wong, a member of the Partners Coffee education team, attends trade shows to try lots of new products. This grinder left such a lasting impression that he still recommends it years later. The Niche Zero is a stepless grinder, which means you have infinite grind-size settings as opposed to having to choose from predetermined ones. That feature, Wong says, “really allows you to grind fine enough coffee to make great espresso.” While it’s only single dose, that makes its footprint smaller than most — ideal for if you have limited counter space or want to store it in a cabinet. “I love that it comes with a nice dosing cup with a perfect size for your portafilter,” Wong says, “which makes it easy and allows for no mess.” Other pluses he points out are its sleek design, well-built construction, and the fact that it’s quiet, “perfect for early-morning coffee drinkers.” Whether corded or cordless, most rotary tools feature incredibly wide speed ranges – anywhere from 5,000 to 35,000 rpm. This makes them incredibly versatile and perfect for small cutting, grinding, cleaning, and polishing tasks. Famous for their bright green power tools and brilliant ONE+ battery systems, Japanese tool brand Ryobi are a DIYers favourite. With a slightly different take on a portable multi-tool, the R18RT-0 18V ONE+ Rotary Tool is a really impressive piece of 18 Volt kit.

Doing away with both power cables and tiny little 3.7 Volt battery systems, this rotary tool calls on Ryobi’s powerful 18 Volt system to power a portable rotary tool station. You get a control unit that houses the ON/OFF switch and variable speed controller, and a place to store a whole bunch of different bits. I’ll be honest: I’m not a coffee snob. Give me a cup — pretty much any old cup — and I won’t complain. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate a particularly good one. And as any actual coffee snob will tell you (trust me, I’ve talked with a lot of them), your coffee is only going to be as good as your beans. And your beans won’t be any good at all if you’re not grinding them yourself right before brewing.There are several great spice grinders out there, but the Secura Electric Coffee and Spice Grinder earned the best overall spot for a few reasons. One of the biggest is that it has two separate milling bowls: One for grinding dry ingredients and the other for chopping wet ingredients. The bowls also have measurement markings on the inside, so you can easily add what you need without using separate measuring spoons. This grinder includes a clear plastic cover that sits on top of the stainless steel bowl to keep ground ingredients from flying out as the blades spin. With many appliances, we often want to know their maximum capacity, but when it comes to spice grinders, minimum capacity is an important piece of information, too. If you're only planning to grind a teaspoon or so at a time, you'll want to make sure your grinder can manage such a small amount. It's also important to differentiate between a grinder you can use for larger spices such as nutmeg versus something finer like peppercorns or rosemary.