r/bifl • u/Antpitta • 1d ago
Pepper mills: inverted design, and ceramic mechanisms?
Hi folks,
I'm curious why ceramic mechanisms aren't more popular, and why inverted mills aren't more popular? Our current mill is a Cole Mason w/ a glass jar and an inverted design. I like the fact that there is no counter top mess w/ the inverted design. I like that it is glass. I like seeing how much is in the mill, it seems pretty perfect other than the mechanism being in poor shape after 6 or 7 years.
No interest in the high-output meat-bro or professional use type mills like Unicorn/TreSpade or the more expensive Pepper Cannon or Hexmill. Of all those, though, the Hexmill perhaps appeals the most due to the stainless mechanism. I don't mind if it's only 90% as good as carbon steel if it has a chance of lasting 2x as long. I like carbon steel knives but carbon steel in a mill seems a poor match for our use over steaming food and pots.
I see a Crushgrind mill called the Kala that looks like a good replacement for our Cole Mason, but with a ceramic mechanism. On the one hand I'm happy to just buy it and see how we get on with it. On the other hand I ended up here looking for info so thought I'd ask for opinions, and am happy to be persuaded in other directions, but please keep in mind we are never going to need to grind pepper faster and aren't cooking meat / making rubs.
Cheers for thoughts.