I use a mortar and pestle and it's great.

How any list of best pepper mills could omit the Unicorn Magnum Plus is absurd. I love this pepper mill so much I bought my grandparents one, who in turn bought themselves a second one (one for kitchen, one for the table). It is the pepper mill against which all pepper mills must be judged.

I agree with bamber. I've had several pepper mills and the Unicorn Magnum Plus is the best. My mom loves it and she has a problem with hand strength and arthritis.

No love for the Vic Firth mills? I have a green one- I think it's from the Mario Batali endorsed line, and I love it.

I too have a Vic Firth mill it's orange and I love it.

I received a handcrafted Space Needle-shaped pepper mill for my birthday last year. There's nothing special about the pepper grinder mechanism itself, but I truly love how striking the mill is as a display piece. It's one of my favorite things in my kitchen.

http://www.madeinwashington.com/product_information.cfm?ID=1813

I'd love to see a related post on different types of peppercorns!

I'll third the Unicorn Magnum Plus.

Unicorn Magnum is my all time #1!!

Vic Firth. Maine made. Ex-percussionist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Works beautifully. And IS beautiful.

What's not to like?

Nthing Unicorn Magnum!

Are we talking about the very small Vic Firth mill? I have both the brushed stainless steel salt and pepper "Pump and Grind" mills and I love them. They don't hold a lot so they need to be refilled often but they have a nice feel and heft. I also have a pair of Peugeot mills and they're great as well.

I with all on the Unicorn Magnum Plus....I have not looked back. I love wooden mills for the aesthetics, but the Magnum is so easy to clean, and fill, and the perfect mechanism is unmatched.

I have bought two peugot grinders in the last two years and neither of them work. desperately sad. they don't build things like they used to.

I know a few things about pepper mill as I have personally handcrafted over 2,000 of them. They are visible at if you are interested. My comments as follows:

1. The Magnum is indeed an excellent mill. I use one when I want a lot of pepper in hurry. However, it is ugly and I never put in on the table.

2. Peugeot invented the purpose-built pepper mill and they are one of the best, but they do not adjust to very coarse, and the American market prefers a coarse grind, or at least a mill that has the capability.

3. Any mill will occasionally need cleaning. If you have a quality mill and it is not working, dump out the peppercorns (discard them if they are damp or soft). Replace with uncooked white rice and grind that until no more dark specks are coming out the bottom. Dump the rice and replace with pepper and your mill should be like new. FYI, better quality peppercorns tend to be oilier and more prone to plug a mill.

4. My mills are meant to be heirloom pieces or "jewelry for your dining room table". I meet people all the time who still have a peper mil that they received as a gift 20, 30 or even 40 years ago. Why not buy a quality piece that will last a lifetime?

I hope someone finds this information helpful.