I was looking to see what was out there on the pepper mill market. I own a small Trudeau brand model that grinds nicely but have to fill it often. Not a huge deal, it works.
The gold standard to me was always Peugeot mills. You can get one for $50 or so, depending on size.
Just the other day, I’ve noticed a new player pimping an aluminum mill for $200:
What we bought: How a $200 pepper mill became my favorite kitchen gadget | Engadget
If you wait long enough in any industry, someone will come up with a high end product that supposedly solves an irritant. In this case, it saves you multiple turns compared to a regular mill.
What I’ve also learned is that Peugeot have amazing mills but if you grind peppercorns too close to a steaming or hot dish, the steam will eventually screw up the grinding mechanism. And that Peugeots have 6 settings so you can really set the size of your flakes.
But, do I really need to buy a Peugeot or that aluminum one? Not until my trusty little mill keeps working.
How important is a quality pepper mill in your kitchen?