# Self-measuring pepper grinder

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-measuring-pepper-grinder/570483>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 7, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-measuring-pepper-grinder/570483 "2011-02-07T03:08:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-measuring-pepper-grinder/570483/1 "2011-02-07T03:08:24Z")

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My pepper mill finally broke down, and I’m searching for a new one. It occurs to me that it would be very useful to be able to grind a specific amount of pepper; that if the grounds fell into a small graduated container, I’d know exactly how much to grind. Does anyone make such a grinder?

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**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-measuring-pepper-grinder/570483/2 "2011-02-07T04:34:27Z")

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I couldn’t find any googling, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any. Good luck on your quest!

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-measuring-pepper-grinder/570483/3 "2011-02-07T04:42:16Z")

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Here’s a [spice grinder](http://www.amazon.com/Prepsolutions-Progressive-International-Measure-Mill/dp/B00292BKKQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1297053704&sr=1-1) that might do the job.

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**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-measuring-pepper-grinder/570483/4 "2011-02-07T04:55:56Z")

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That’s a great idea **runner pat**! I never even thought of looking for a spice grinder.

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-measuring-pepper-grinder/570483/5 "2011-02-08T00:10:50Z")

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You can buy such a pepper mill at Trader Joe’s for about three dollars. It is just a bottle of peppercorns with a plastic grinder in the top, but it is better than my $20 wood and metal mill I bought at the kitchen store. It has the cap you want so you can grind pepper then measure it. It is the perfect coarse grind for most cooking. They last a couple of years before breaking, but are cheap enough to replace when necessary, and are refillable until then.