We’ve found the best pepper mills for you, whether you’re a seasoned home chef or just someone who enjoys some fresh cracked pepper on their eggs. Our experts researched 24 of the top-rated pepper mills on the market, purchasing 9 of them for side-by-side testing. We ground a lot of peppercorns, carefully examining the consistency of the pepper flakes and ease of grinding. We also inspected quality of construction, how many peppercorns each design can hold, and considered the appearance of each mill. From stylish mills you’re proud to display on a dining room table to fully adjustable models to dial in just the right amount of spice, our review will help you find the perfect pepper mill for your kitchen.
Our team of culinary experts knows how to cook up a well-seasoned dish, and they also know that having the right tool for the job can make all the difference. Whether you’re looking for an heirloom-quality mortar and pestle to hand-blend spices, would rather speed up the process with an electric grinder, or just want to keep it simple with a set of the best salt and pepper shakers, our in-depth reviews have you covered for all of your cooking needs.
1.Best Overall Pepper Mill – Peugeot Paris u’Select
The Peugeot Paris u’Select (Best Pepper Mills ) won over our testers with its consistent grind, ease of use, and quality construction. Like many pepper mills, this one requires a funnel to fill. We used a coffee filter shaped like a cone that allowed the peppercorns to fall into the center shaft, which holds 1.2 ounces of peppercorns.
The Peugeot Paris u’Select was the only pepper mill we tested that featured a two-stage grinding mechanism. The case-hardened steel grinding mechanism first breaks open the peppercorns and then uniformly grinds it producing a super consistent grind each time. The grind size selector is on the base and simply requires a twist. We found selecting the grind size to be easy with both dry and wet hands. On each half rotation, the pepper mill dispensed a fraction of a teaspoon of pepper, allowing the user to precisely control the amount of pepper added. Our testers also appreciated the minimal pepper residue left behind after use, giving them less of a mess to clean up. If you’re looking for a well-constructed, easy-to-use pepper mill with a consistent grind size, look no further than the Paris u’Select.
Best Overall Pepper Mill – Peugeot Paris u’Select
2. Best Bang for Your Buck – Trudeau Seville 10-Inch
The top cap of the wooden Trudeau Seville 10-Inch (Best Pepper Mills )pepper mill is easy to remove, so it was a quick and easy task to fill it with a funnel. It holds a little over an ounce of peppercorns. Our testers with various hand sizes all found the top knob easy to turn, and it doesn’t require much hand strength, making it a great choice for many users.
We found the carbon steel blades quickly and easily ground our black peppercorns in sizes running from fine to semi-coarse. However, we could never achieve a true coarse grind with this mill. Like most top knob pepper mills, once you change grind sizes, it can be difficult to obtain the same grind size again, but we found that we could repeat grind sizes more readily if we twisted the knob one-half turn at a time. For anyone on the hunt for a budget-friendly pepper mill, the Trudeau Seville 10-Inch is a solid choice.
Trudeau Seville 10-Inch
3. An Excellent Value – Kitchen-Go Grinder
The Kitchen-Go Grinder (Best Pepper Mills) is basic, with a glass peppercorn holder that screws onto a steel base containing a ceramic grinding mechanism. We appreciated the large opening of the glass jar, which makes filling it a bit easier than some of the taller and narrower models. The grind size adjuster is on the underside and produces a fine to semi-coarse grind, but the dial’s design makes it trickier to replicate the same grind after changing the settings.
This mill comes with a cap to cover the underside of the Kitchen-Go Grinder, which is great for catching any excess pepper that leaks out of the base. We found that this grinder is tough to use with greasy hands as they slipped on the glass jar. Overall, this model is quite basic and best for someone who will only use it occasionally.
Kitchen-Go Grinder (Best Pepper Mills)
4. Best with a Top Cap Grind Adjuster – Fletchers’ Mill Border Grill- Best Pepper Mills
Handcrafted in Maine, the Fletchers’ Mill Border Grill pepper mill is made from solid cherry and has a much more modern look than many grinders on the market. Our testers appreciate that the entire grind mechanism is removable for easy cleaning. Thanks to its shape, the top knob design is easy to turn for both small and large hands.
The Fletchers’ Mill grinder is easy to fill with a funnel but has the smallest peppercorn capacity of our test bunch; in a high-use kitchen, it will need more frequent refills. According to the manufacturer, its locking nut grind adjuster has 33 different grind sizes. We were not able to discern 33 different grind sizes but could find a variety ranging from fine to coarse. However, we were disappointed in how easily the finely ground pepper clumped when it came out. Once the grind size was set to coarse, we found it was not as simple as just twisting the locking nut back towards fine grind. To get back to a fine grind, we first needed to grind out the peppercorns in the grinding mechanism and twist the lock nut, repeating the process many times. If you prefer a top nut design for grind size adjustments, the Fletchers’ Mill grinder is worth consideration.
Fletchers’ Mill Border Grill
5. Eparé Battery Operated Pepper Mill – Best Pepper Mills
Eparé Battery Operated Pepper Mill – Best Pepper Mills
Its ceramic grinding mechanism produces consistent results with the push of a button. And like our top pick, the Eparé has a generous capacity, holding up to 5 tablespoons of peppercorns. The drawbacks: It requires four AA batteries, which make the pepper mill slightly top-heavy and get in the way of refilling. And, as with most electric models, finer settings take longer to grind.