Sure, you could use a pestle and mortar, but there is nothing more convenient than an electric grinder. Crushing whole spices, seeds and nuts becomes completely effortless. Pre-ground spices often lack the complexity of freshly ground flavours, so owning one of these nifty gadgets will make your life easier and improve your cooking.
If you're stuck with where to start when shopping, you've come to the right place. This buying guide will walk you through every decision you need to make to ensure you pick the right one for you. We've also gathered a list of the 10 best electric spice grinders available in the UK from Amazon and John Lewis to start your search. Enjoy!
The first thing you need to think about when shopping for a spice grinder is the capacity. If it's too small, there's a chance you might overload it, resulting in an uneven grind. Your spices also won't end up the same size, which can cause issues during cooking. Too large, and you'll be left with a surplus amount that won't stay that fresh.
Getting the right size will make sure you preserve the quality and freshness of the spices, ensuring they stay flavourful and aromatic for a longer time. We recommend going for something in the middle, with a capacity of around 70 g.
Keep your seasonings on-hand and organized with a fillable spice rack.
The next thing you need to consider is the wattage. The level of wattage essentially tells you how effective the grinder's abilities are to handle tough ingredients. It also signifies the speed at which it grinds as well as how much it can handle.
The minimum you should look for is 150 W, however, the higher the wattage is, the better it can do its job. Our top 10 list includes products with between 150 W and 250 W, but bear in mind that a higher wattage usually means a higher price.
Lastly, you need to make sure the grinder can handle the types of ingredients you plan on using with it. For example, not all grinders have enough power to be able to turn tough cinnamon sticks and star anise pods into powder, so you'll definitely need to check this if you cook with these spices often.
Some grinders also have the capabilities to grind down coffee beans, seeds, nuts, onions and garlic, and even wet ingredients for making chutneys, jams and sauces. Others, meanwhile, are only really suitable for dried herbs and softer spices. So, make sure you pick one that suits your needs.
Consider a pestle and mortar for authentic pesto and curry pastes.
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
KRUPS - Silent Vortex Electric Grinder for £59.16
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of electric grinders for spices available and understand how our ranking was determined.
This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
Image | 1 ![]() KRUPS | 2 ![]() Cuisinart | 3 ![]() Wahl James Martin | 4 ![]() KRUPS | 5 ![]() VonShef | 6 ![]() SHARDOR | 7 ![]() DR MILLS | 8 ![]() UUOUU | 9 ![]() FinaMill | 10 ![]() Duronic |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Coffee, Nuts and Spice Grinder | Electric Spice & Nut Grinder | Mini Grinder | Silent Vortex Electric Grinder | Electric Grinder | Coffee & Spice Grinder | Electric Dried Spice and Coffee Grinder | Spice Grinder with Stainless Steel Blade | Electric Grinder | Grinding Mill |
Features | A Well-Designed, Market-Leading Option That’s Effortless and Energy-Efficient | Compact Grinder That’s Easy to Maintain and Excellent at Crushing Hard Spices and Nuts | Budget-Friendly Mini Grinder Suitable for Crushing a Wide Range of Ingredients | A Quiet Option With Stainless Steel Blades That Makes for an Easy and Quick Grind | Sleek, Modern Design With a Transparent Lid and a 60 g Capacity | Features Two Removable Bowls and Blades for Both Dry Spices and Sauces | A Smart Grinder With a Clear Viewing Window to Check on Your Progress | Affordable Option With a 200 W Motor That Can Grind 2 oz in 20 Seconds | Unique and Compact Device Ideal for Creating Coarse Spices | With a Powerful 250 W Motor That’ll Powder Ingredients in Seconds |
Price | £25.84 | £59.00 | £17.25 | £59.16 | £17.99 | £35.99 | £18.59 | £25.99 | £39.99 | £20.00 |
Suitable For | Coffee, nuts, herbs, dry spices | Dry or wet spices, hard spices, nuts, seeds, chocolate, coffee beans | Coffee, nuts, hard and soft spices, dry ingredients | Coffee beans, soft and hard spices, cheese, dry herbs | Coffee, nuts, spices | Coffee, spices, seeds, dried fruits, onions, garlic | Dried spices, coffee, herbs, nuts, seeds, grains | Coffee, seeds, nuts, herbs, pepper, grains | Soft spices, dry herbs, salt and pepper | Nuts, spices, herbs, seeds, coffee beans |
Power | 200 W | 200 W | 150 W | - | 150 W | 200 W | 150 W | 200 W | - | 250 W |
Capacity | 75 g | 80 g | 70 g | - | 60 g | 70 g | 50 g | 57 g | - | 75 g |
Dimensions | 10 x 10.5 x 21 cm | 9.8 x 9.8 x 20 cm | 11 x 11 x 24 cm | 24.8 x 11.1 x 11.1 cm | 9 x 9 x 19.5 cm | 30 x 12.9 x 12.7 cm | 10.7 x 10.7 x 17.5 cm | 19.6 x 11.2 x 11 cm | 8.8 x 8.8 x 22.8 cm | 10 x 10 x 21 cm |
Link |
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£25.84
Suitable For | Coffee, nuts, herbs, dry spices |
---|---|
Power | 200 W |
Capacity | 75 g |
Dimensions | 10 x 10.5 x 21 cm |
£59.00
Suitable For | Dry or wet spices, hard spices, nuts, seeds, chocolate, coffee beans |
---|---|
Power | 200 W |
Capacity | 80 g |
Dimensions | 9.8 x 9.8 x 20 cm |
£17.25
Suitable For | Coffee, nuts, hard and soft spices, dry ingredients |
---|---|
Power | 150 W |
Capacity | 70 g |
Dimensions | 11 x 11 x 24 cm |
£59.16
Suitable For | Coffee beans, soft and hard spices, cheese, dry herbs |
---|---|
Power | - |
Capacity | - |
Dimensions | 24.8 x 11.1 x 11.1 cm |
£17.99
Suitable For | Coffee, nuts, spices |
---|---|
Power | 150 W |
Capacity | 60 g |
Dimensions | 9 x 9 x 19.5 cm |
£35.99
Suitable For | Coffee, spices, seeds, dried fruits, onions, garlic |
---|---|
Power | 200 W |
Capacity | 70 g |
Dimensions | 30 x 12.9 x 12.7 cm |
£18.59
Suitable For | Dried spices, coffee, herbs, nuts, seeds, grains |
---|---|
Power | 150 W |
Capacity | 50 g |
Dimensions | 10.7 x 10.7 x 17.5 cm |
£25.99
Suitable For | Coffee, seeds, nuts, herbs, pepper, grains |
---|---|
Power | 200 W |
Capacity | 57 g |
Dimensions | 19.6 x 11.2 x 11 cm |
£39.99
Suitable For | Soft spices, dry herbs, salt and pepper |
---|---|
Power | - |
Capacity | - |
Dimensions | 8.8 x 8.8 x 22.8 cm |
£20.00
Suitable For | Nuts, spices, herbs, seeds, coffee beans |
---|---|
Power | 250 W |
Capacity | 75 g |
Dimensions | 10 x 10 x 21 cm |
Household goods
PC and cameras
Home appliances and electronics
Cosmetics and skincare
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Travel
Smartphones and mobile phones
Music
Smartphone applications