adjusted to set the fineness of grind. Manual mills can be used for grinding other food products than they are intended for, but mills designed for pepper grinding are inappropriate for producing finely-ground flour. Laura Ingalls Wilder's novel The Long Winter describes a family grinding wheat in a coffee mill to make flour during months of hardship. The first coffee grinder was made by Richard Dearmann, an English blacksmith from Birmingham, in 1799. This grinder was widely distributed in the US, where Increase Wilson patented the first wall coffee grinder in 1818. Peugeot of France patented a pepper grinder in 1842. The mechanism of case-hardened steel cracked the peppercorns before the actual grinding process. The grooves on the Peugeot mechanism were individually cut into the metal and then case-hardened, making them very durable. Materials There are several types of materials used in pepper mills, each with its own particular advantages. Corrosion-resistant materials are used to grind salt. Stainless steel: One of the most suitable and durable materials for grinding peppercorns and coffee beans. The male and female sections of the grinding mechanism are usually made from sintered metal. This material is preferred by professional chefs. The teeth of the grinder are machined to cut spice or beans. Stainless steel is not suggested for grinding salt. Zinc alloy: Perhaps the most common mechanism found in pepper grinders, zinc alloy is composed of a mixture of metals, primarily zinc, often with chrome plating to resist corrosion. It is a good choice for grinding pepper but is not suitable for grinding salt. Carbon steel: An extremely hard metal, carbon steel provides the sharpest edges and most efficient grinding capability. Carbon steel is not suitable for grinding salt. Ceramic: Ceramic is extremely hard and provides the best performance for multi-use grinding. It does not corrode and is suitable for grinding coffee beans, pepper, salt, and spices. Acrylic: Durable and low cost, acrylic is a non-corrosive material suitable for grinding salt and spices. Electric grinders Electric burr grinders are powered by electricity from a battery or mains supply. An electric motor drives the grinding elements against each other. Electric grinders grind faster than manual grinders with no effort, but friction and waste heat from the motor may heat the ground product slightly. See also Salt and pepper shakers – for salt grains and pre-ground peppercorns References Further reading Articles containing video clips Food grinding tools