Choosing the best grinder

The grinder was invented in the United States in the early 1900s. It has been making itself indispensable ever since. Aromatic herbs, tobacco, weeds, garlic and so on: depending on what you use it for, some grinders work better than others. Here is a closer look.

Choosing a grinder according to its material

The plastic grinder

This is the most affordable grinder. It is well suited to tobacco or aromatic herbs. These are excellent stopgap accessories, but they remain very fragile and not very effective, as the teeth are often short and also made of plastic.

The wooden grinder

Much appreciated for their more “natural” looks, these are often made from fine woods. Over time, however, they become harder to handle. It is therefore better to keep one as a memento or as an ornament.

The aluminium grinder

This is the grinder you can buy with your eyes closed, as it is extremely effective. Generally affordable, it becomes more expensive as the number of compartments increases. It is well suited to regular use.

Some cocktails also go well with shisha, such as rum flavoured with exotic fruits, or sangria.

Choosing a grinder according to the other features

Size

For discreet use, there are very small grinders. For regular use at home, on the other hand, a larger accessory is a better choice.

The teeth

The more teeth there are, the better your grinder will perform. Diamond-shaped teeth are the most effective. Spiked, fin-shaped or pyramid teeth are also popular, but remain more fragile.

The compartments

Two-part grinders are the most common, but three-part models are widely appreciated. If you are looking for a grinder for pollen, choose one with four compartments and a sieve. It is the best-selling grinder of all.

other advantages

Electric grinders are ideal, but more expensive than manual ones. For a traditional result, the mill-type grinder is preferable.

As for looks, anything goes. The choice is yours.

For more on how to choose a grinder, see our advice article: How to choose a grinder?