This is the first pepper mill I've ever owned. For years I avoided buying one because the nice ones—well-made, comfortable to hold, easy to crank—can be relatively pricey. Finally I gave in and purchased this while shopping at Whisk in Brooklyn. Granted, I have no comparison, but this classic model from Peugeot has been excellent.
I love the traditional look of this pepper mill. It's not too modern, which isn't my taste, and it looks like what a pepper mill should look like, in my opinion (I feel like this is the style of pepper mill being twisted over every plate of pasta in every restaurant in America).
The wood is smooth and soft and wipes clean if I grind with dirty hands (the finish almost feels like it's being seasoned over time). It never clogs or catches when I crank it, and it's pretty easy to fill by unscrewing the cap, lifting off the top, and pouring peppercorns into the body.
I also love that the company, which is French, also makes cars. A purely trivial detail, really, but it's cool. And Peugeot guarantees the grinding mechanism for life.
Two more observations:
1. I didn't realize until recently that turning the brass cap on top dictates the size of the grind. A totally new-to-me feature, and I've had this thing for two years! The knob is small, and turning it too much in the "coarse" direction makes it feel a bit loose, but still a nice design feature.
2. Sometimes I wish I had the 9-inch model (mine is 7 inches). I think the grinding motion might feel more comfortable with more room for leverage.
• Buy this Peugeot Paris 7-inch Pepper Mill
$35 at Whisk New York
$35 at Amazon
Related: A Little Color: Peugeot's 200th Anniversary Pepper Mills
(Images: Elizabeth Passarella)
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Spending the $$ is worth it for a good pepper grinder. I have purchased 2 cheap ones (less than $12 each) and neither one lasted more than a few months. Next time I'll splurge on something like this one.
I have the yellow lacquered model of this pepper grinder. Love it. It also grinds varying degrees of pepper, from powdery, fine pepper to big chunks. Never realized how awesome the variety was until I had it :) No turning back now...
One tip I've heard: look at the bottom and make sure the grinding mechanism is all metal. A lot of cheap ones use plastic parts, which just don't hold up.
Peugeot also used to make bikes! I've got a touring model of theirs from the 70's.
Gilt.com is having a sale on them right now, actually!
I have a Unicorn Magnum Plus. Not as pretty as the Peugeot, but it's the best pepper mill I've ever used. It has a huge storage capacity, a BIG hole for easy refilling, an all-metal adjustable grind mechanism, and it's super fast!
@kristiane, thanks for the tip. I just bought a Peugeot from Gilt.com!
I definitely agree on the all metal parts being something I look for.
I have lost too many pepper grinders with plastic parts keeping them too close to the stove.
What a funny coincidence. I have a Peugot pepper mill as well, and it's the first one I've ever had that didn't wear out and need to be replaced in a few years.
I just wish someone would invent a large (LARGE) capacity one that wasn't a a foot tall.
Mine needs refilling constantly.
I have a wonderful William Bounds pepper mill that a friend gave us as a wedding gift. Love it. Definitely want a big one. One thing about the Bounds is that it has a lifetime warranty. When it did break (after 7 years of heavy use and a few too many drops on the floor), I sent it to them and they cleaned and repaired and sent it back, like new!
I've been very pleased with my oak Olde Thompson pepper mill, which is made with metal and is still going strong after 6 years. Eventually, I'd like to replace it with a red lacquered one, but I'm in no hurry.
I have a Peugeot grinder that I found at, of all places, Tuesday Morning for $8! It's identical to the ones they sell in nicer stores (looks like the one pictured above, exactly). And I love it. If this one ever broke, I'd shell out $35 for another one! My parents have a steel Peugeot that they also love. Good grinders are worth it.