How easy is the Cole & Mason Stadhampton chilli & spice mill to use?
The top flips off easily, revealing a wide mouth, making loading spices of all shapes and sizes easy. The base holds the adjustment screw to change the grind size, which is accessible thanks to the wide base of the mill, and there is a discernible click at each turn. Once the spices are in, there are sharp blades to break the spices down, then send them through the grinder. All we had to do, though, was to keep turning the top. The harder spices like cardamom were unsurprisingly more challenging to grind, but as they broke down, turning did become more manageable.
Results
We saw good results across the whole test. The cardamom was difficult to grind, but the results were some powder and great texture; the peppercorn was excellent, from fine (powder) to a tasty, chunky, coarse texture. The cumin, when on fine, some half seeds still got through, so the results were a little patchy, though the coarse grind made an excellent texture for a spice mix. We especially liked the results with the cinnamon stick; it took a bit of turning of the grinder, but what came out was lovely soft, powdery spice.
Conclusion
The Cole & Mason Stadhampton chilli & spice mill is an impressive spice mill working well across most spices. Some may take some effort, but the results are worth it. This is a lovely-looking, versatile mill at an astonishing price for the quality. Plus, the mechanism has a lifetime guarantee.
Key specifications
Wattage: n/a
What can it grind? Most spices except nutmeg
Accessories: none
Dimensions: 16.5 x 6.6 x 6.6cm
Capacity: 100ml
Recipes with spices
Green curry paste
Basa Gede (Balinese spice paste)
Lamb vindaloo
Tom Kerridge's madras curry paste
Jerk spice mix
Ras el hanout spice mix
Five-spice mix
Garam masala spice mix
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