The Best Pepper Grinders, According to Our Testers (2025)

When it comes to finishing a dish, freshly cracked black pepper can pull the whole meal together. But not all pepper mills are created equal. Some jam mid-turn. Others scatter pepper dust like confetti and leave a mess on your counter. The worst ones require a full upper-body workout just to season your eggs.

If you’ve ever found yourself furiously twisting a cheap mill while your pasta gets cold, you’re not alone. I tested the internet’s favorite pepper grinders to find the ones that made seasoning my food easy, and I chatted with professional chefs for their tips on what to look for in one. Whether you’re in the market for a sleek electric model or an old-fashioned grinder that gets the job done, these are the best pepper mills worth buying.

Bon Appétit’s top picks

Best overall: Männkitchen Pepper Canon

What we love:

I didn’t want to love this pepper mill because I cannot justify spending $200 on a kitchen gadget; however, it’s the real deal. The packaging alone—a sleek, matte black box—feels luxe straight out the gate. That high-end feel carries over to the Pepper Canon itself, which looks like something you’d see in a Michelin-star kitchen.

Designed with precision and performance in mind, it cranks out pepper at an absurd rate—up to 10 times faster than a typical mill—thanks to its high-carbon stainless steel burrs and generous internal capacity. You’ll feel the difference the moment you pick it up: This thing is hefty, crafted from a solid block of aerospace-grade aluminum and finished with a hard anodized coating that resists corrosion and wear. It’s also incredibly versatile and has more than 40 grind settings, ranging from chunky cracked pepper to dust.

I particularly liked the top, which just pops off with the press of a button for quick refills. Many of the other grinders I tested require a twisting mechanism to refill the mills, but this one pops on and off with ease. Like I said, I didn’t want to like this thing based on the price tag alone, but alas, I love it. It’s an investment, sure, but if you use pepper every day, it’ll pay for itself. And it’ll get you tons of compliments when your friends come over for dinner.

What we’d leave:

It’s $200, which is, well, exorbitant. Unless you go through pepper like a professional, or are a professional, the cost is hard to stomach. It’s also heavy compared to other mills I tested (just over 1 pound), which makes sense given the high-end materials used.

Best electric: Zwilling Enfinigy Electric Pepper Mill

What we love:

I love this electric grinder’s efficiency. As someone who doesn’t necessarily fall for a rechargeable gadget (I can barely remember to recharge my phone, let alone my pepper mill), I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to use and charge. There’s no manual grinding or twisting; just press the button on top, and the mill kicks into action.

A ceramic grinder ensures your peppercorns stay fresh and flavorful, while the adjustable spin dial allows you to go from cracked to fine depending on what’s on the menu. It’s thoughtfully designed, with a minimalist black finish that looks good enough to leave on the table. One full charge powers it for up to six months of regular use, and refilling is relatively mess-free—just pop off the bottom, fill up the base (which is clear, so you can see exactly when it needs to be topped off), reconnect it, and grind. And since it uses ceramic burrs, it’s compatible with salt and other spices.

What we’d leave:

It doesn’t hold nearly as much pepper as other grinders on this list. The base hopper holds only a ¼ cup of peppercorns, which isn’t a ton. Also, the grinding mechanism is small and, so it can be tough to turn if you have limited mobility.

Most stylish: Le Creuset Pepper Mill

What we love:

I’m a sucker for Le Creuset’s candy-colored enamel cookware, and now, its pepper mills. With its glossy finish, curvy silhouette, and signature Le Creuset colorways, it feels more like a statement piece than a utilitarian tool. Of all the pepper mills I tried, this was the one I wanted to leave out on my counter the most.

Fortunately, it grinds as good as it looks. Is it as technical as the Männkitchen or Zwilling models? Definitely not. But it is straightforward, so if you’re someone who wants to get the peppery job done, it won’t disappoint. The grind size is adjustable via the metal knob at the top; just twist it for finer or coarser results. If you’re someone who loves to match your Dutch oven to your kitchen towels (no judgment), this is your mill.