How to Choose the Best Grain Mill for Your Needs

Choosing the best grain mill isn’t easy, as there are several types of mills. Manual and electric, with some having options for both, or even bicycle power. I’ll start by covering the basics, some options, pros and cons for each.  Each type of mill can handle different grains or seeds, so depending upon what YOU need the answer can differ.

Electric Stone Mills

1. Nutrimill Harvest – often the lowest price point, and a decent countertop mill. I haven’t tested this mill yet, but some people I know have and love it.
2. Mockmill – the 100 starts around $320, with the 200 coming in about $100 more and milling twice as fast. The Lino models are the same in milling speed as the 100 and 200 versions. Twisting of the hopper for adjusting coarseness of grind and a wooden exterior are different. The price point reflects those additions.
3. Mockmill Professional – includes a cooling fan so the motor doesn’t overheat. Allows extended milling and keeps the flour at an ideal temperature. That’s the most expensive of the Mockmill stone mills.
4. Mockmill KitchenAid Attachment = this has very mixed reviews. Milling on coarse before milling on fine may be your best bet.  Good but only if you are milling once in a while and small amounts.
5. KoMo  – the result of a German-Austrian collaboration by Wolfgang Mock and Peter Koidl. I haven’t had the pleasure of testing any of them yet. Features pretty wooden casing, therefore a higher price point and I believe they offer a longer warranty.

Pros/Cons of Electric Stone Mills

This mill is ideal for those who want to grind coarse grains as well as fine flour, with minimal cleanup. Grinding happens directly into a bowl placed under the spout, making it low maintenance. If you prefer less frequent milling, around once or twice a week, and storing your flour in a cool place, consider Impact Mills instead.

Impact Mills

These are electric mills that basically pulverize the grain into oblivion, and blow the flour into a collection chamber. You will get fine flour with impact mills, and although you can change the speed and coarseness, it’s limited. These impact mills can mill popcorn kernels, however stone mills can not (they can only mill dent corn). Oily seeds or beans (such as coffee) cannot be milled in either type of mill. Some impact mills to consider:

1. Wondermill has been around for a very long time, and prior versions were called Whispermill. The parts are interchangeable, so if you buy the old one you can get parts from Wondermill. The flour from this one comes out so fine, folks were mistaking it for confectioner’s sugar. DO NOT MILL SUGAR in your grain mills.
2. Nutrimill Classic – a great mill for starting out on a budget. These have a bigger counter-top footprint, but work well and hold up.

Pros/Cons of Impact Mills

Impact mills are great if all you want is flour and are not interested in adjusting the coarseness too much. They are more work in that they require cleaning out filter cups after milling, and the flour collection chamber. If that extra step of cleaning up will keep you from milling, go with a stone counter top mill instead.

Manual Mills

These require milling several times before you get super fine flour unless you get a better model. Even so, it’s no joke on the manual effort. If you like this option and getting in your workout for the day, go for it! Great for backup in case the power goes out. Although more affordable grain mills exist, many of them are designed for brewing and produce a coarser texture, not suitable for baking fine flour. Here are a few to consider:

1. Wondermill Jr Deluxe – good price point for a decent manual mill. Many cheaper mills don’t actually get fine flour, and are meant for beer making.
2. Country Living – very highly rated, and in the $600 range. Easier to use than the Wondermill Jr, though.
3. Grainmaker – made in the USA and been around forever, this is a mill I’d consider getting. A friend has one, and they motorized it and mounted it to a cabinet.
4. Diamant –  a great alternative to the Country Living, without having to pay for extras to do the same thing.
5. Green Power Mill – I would LOVE to try this one and see how it compares to some of the other manual mills on the market.  The price point is an advantage, and it seems they worked hard to make it one of the best around.

Pros/Cons of Manual Mills

Some have motor add-ons or the ability to connect to a treadle or bicycle for manual power with a boost. Pros are saving on electric, getting a good workout, and these mills will outlast you AND your children! These also have options to mill grains, beans, seeds (including the oily ones), and even coffee! Cleanup will be more involved, and it will take longer to get fresh flour. These would also be quietest on the ears.

High Powered Blenders

I would be remiss if I didn’t add this option – especially if you already have one in your kitchen. If you do, buy some grains and get milling! It’s great for those who do not like single use products, but cleanup is more involved (wet flour turns into glue, folks!). I milled gluten free grains for years with my Vitamix and Blendtec blenders about 15 years ago.   My Pampered Chef Deluxe Cooking blender milled Einkhorn and other grains for six months before purchasing a counter top Mockmill.

1. Pampered Chef Deluxe Cooking Blender – I LOVE this one because it was less expensive than the others in this category, and the Grind setting milled my wheat perfectly. let it run the FULL cycle, even if you think it’s fine enough. I promise it’s worth the wait.  This is not my pampered chef account, but I buy from her.
2. Vitamix – these high powered beasts of blenders have been around for a VERY long time. I’ve used the wet container that comes with it, since I didn’t have a dedicated dry container – and it worked very well. I did 3 minutes on high speed. 
3. Blendtec – this blender is also powerful enough to handle milling fine flour. Check out this handy chart by Blendtec for grinding grains into flour.
4. Ninja blenders DO NOT WORK – unfortunately, friends have tested theirs only to get maybe grits consistency. Good for hot cereal, not good enough for bread or pastries. Sorry folks!

Pros/Cons of High Powered Blenders

High powered blenders can be even more affordable if you buy them pre-loved on marketplace or from a second-hand shop. Keep your eyes peeled for good deals.

Conclusion

Choosing the right type of mill for your needs is what will get you the BEST mill FOR YOU!  If you want to grind everything including coffee and peanut butter, look for a manual mill.  Want to grind popcorn (instead of dent or field corn)? Look at the impact mills.  If the convenience of the least amount of cleanup matters most, go with a stone mill.

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