Have you used this for grinding spices or fresh herbs (like coriander / cilantro, mint), fresh ginger, garlic?
1658606
I have only used it for grinding dry spices/herbs (and it works very well for this). Cumin seeds, whole dried chiles, sugar into powdered sugar, peppercorns. It's done everything I have needed. I have not ground fresh herbs or garlic and would personally not do so unless someone else tried it with their first. ;)
1658607
I've ground up dry spices before, but not anything that had moisture to it. We also had it pretty full with the spices when we did it (about half way filled). It worked really well for it, but did require a bit more cleaning than just wiping it out like with the coffee.. The flavor of the spices will linger if you don't clean it out right away (although that was kind of awesome when we ground nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves because it gave the slightly mediocre coffee we had left a really nice flavor).
1658608
No, I have only used it for coffee. I think that grinding moist substances, like ginger and garlic, would not work well unless it was fully loaded. I wouldn't do this with my mine.
1658609
That is exactly why I bought this grinder. I wanted to grind my own spices. I would not get them any more ground then about the size of half a mustard seed. Then it stopped working.
450050
No grinding spices unless they were small and hard (like pepper). Nothing 1 or 2 inches would make it inside the grinding opening. The beans have to make several turns before they drop into the grinding area. Great for coffee beans and it would work for peppercorns but I don't see how it could work for something like cinnamon or nutmeg.
1846057
Yes, I have been using it to grind rice. It just takes a little while to produce but the result is good. Though it is not as powder-y as the rice flour you can buy in the store, it works for what I am making. After few uses I felt like I needed the motor so I went ahead and ordered it and I am excited to get it soon.
1742246
I would think so, though I can't see a definte "YES!". But I have heard of all kinds of spices and herbs and things being grind with this mill...!
916891
Would not try to grind fresh ginger, ginger should be grated by hand. Dry spices work best for this type of grinder.
602347
sorry have never bought those spices. I use mine to store a set of measuring cups. The 1 cup fits in perfect sideways.
1003669
I routinely chop garlic, ginger and shallots in the Mini Mate. It does an excellent job very quickly. I usually use the larger mini prep for parsley and basil.
540334
I own this unit and use it for a variety of things, including nuts. I've used it for almonds, however I don't feel it grinds as fine as the end result of a store-bought almond flour. To ensure freshness I use a spice grinder for my flax seeds; the amount I choose to grind is too little for such a big machine. That being noted, I believe the Braun would do a fine job pulverizing a large amount of flax seeds. I hope this helps!
69807
Yes..you certainly could! It might be a bit tricky like you'll have to cut the cinnamon sticks in pieces first THEN grind it, same as the cloves. The teeth of this grinder is extremely sharp so i warn anyone using this grinder on not throwing caution to the wind..it could cut you without you even knowing it so be very careful using this. Other than that it's a superb and finely made grinder. I have used mine for many things including herbs like thyme and rosemary, whole peppercorns and big seeds. A highly recommended product and you cannot possibly go wrong getting this for yourself for it comes in handy. I hope I answered your question. :)
1264085
I have not attempted to use this grinder for cinnamon sticks and unless the cinnamon sticks were reduced to small pieces about the size of pepper corns I can not imagine it working. I use a small coffee grinder for those sort of grindings.
1646778
I have never tried it, but if it grinds the pepper which is very hard, I'm sure it will have no problem grinding cilantro seeds
1451035
while you probably could use this to grind spices it would be very difficult for you to clean making it not that useful for spices. I'm not sure you could grind cinnamon sticks in it at all
711607
It produces fairly finely ground pepper, like any other typical pepper mill. There is no way that I'm aware of to adjust the grind. For your purpose, you may want to purchase an inexpensive coffee grinder and use it exclusively for grinding spices and herbs.
1778439
Without a problem. I use it to grind all of my spices, even hard to grind seeds like flax seed and chia seeds. It really handles everything I have put in it- including peppercorns!
1596186
It will work fine as a spice grinder as long as you don't try to grind hard spices such as nutmeg or cinnamon. The top half of the grinding bowl is plastic and will break.
32141
gee, I never thought about grinding saffron, its so fine and wispy to begin with. Well the mortar and pestle fit nicely in the bowl for grinding pepper corns & coriander seeds which is mainly what I use it for. the mushroom pestle fits nicely for this but I don't think the tolerances are close enough to grind something as fine as saffron. I have another mini mortar and pestle of more traditional shape - don't remember how I acquired it but the bowl is about 2 dia. I bet that would work. Maybe look for mini M&P.;
372078
I personally have not used it for spices. But you can vary the grind size to our choice so I don't see why not