Description
From the brand
Our story
How we got our start
Zassenhaus was founded over 150 years ago. In 1887, we made our first coffee mills, almost 120 years ago we developed our pepper mills. We now offer a variety of high-quality kitchen accessories.
What makes our product unique
Nothing is worse than big chunks of pepper when you want fine, and vice versa! That’s why we invented the first continuously adjustable grinding mechanism made of high-quality German ceramic.
Why we love what we do
We believe happiness starts in the kitchen. The aroma of freshly ground coffee or spices fill the home and create memories. We love providing top quality products that give the best memories.
Product information
Technical Details
Manufacturer Zassenhaus Part Number 76080 Item Weight 10.6 ounces Product Dimensions 3.3 x 0.3 x 3.5 inches Item model number M076080 Is Discontinued By Manufacturer No Size 3″ Grinder Color Black Material Cast Iron Item Package Quantity 1 Number Of Pieces 1 Included Components grater, lid Batteries Included? No Batteries Required? No
Additional Information
Manufacturer Zassenhaus
Part Number 76080
Item Weight 10.6 ounces
Product Dimensions 3.3 x 0.3 x 3.5 inches
Item model number M076080
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer No
Size 3″ Grinder
Color Black
Material Cast Iron
Item Package Quantity 1
Number Of Pieces 1
Included Components grater, lid
Batteries Included? No
Batteries Required? No
ASIN B01B4KQXKK
Best Sellers Rank #28,016 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining) #73 in Herb & Spice Mills
Date First Available April 29, 2016
About this item PROFESSIONAL GRADE: Whenever you use our Zassenhaus Cast Iron Spice Grinder Set, you become a creative chef in your own kitchen. This grinder is a state of the art design, and the perfect tool for making short work of grinding and pulverizing fresh spices, dried peppers, or anything that needs to be crushed! You can even store unused spices under the beech wood lid. FUNCTIONAL STYLE: This attractive, functional, high quality grinding set will live permanently on your countertop because you will use it often. This manual spice grinder comes with 3 pieces: the outer cup, the inner grinder, and the lid. The bowl and grinder are made of traditional cast iron, and the lid is made of beech wood to securely store ground spices, herbs, and seeds. Simply place herbs or spices in the cup and twist to grind, pour into the outer cup, then put the lid on top to store. CAST IRON DURABILITY: It’s quick and easy to grind herbs and spices to a coarse texture or fine powder with this cast iron grinding tool. The durable construction and the perfectly balanced ergonomic design make it easy to grind your own fresh pepper, flax seeds, or fresh herbs in a matter of minutes. This is a kitchen tool that is made in the tradition of quality and long lasting durability. CARE AND USE: This grinder comes pre-seasoned with soybean oil. To lengthen its lifespan and to keep this herb grinder performing at its best, hand wash only using hot water and a stiff brush. To remove stuck-on spices or seeds, scrub the cast iron with a paste of coarse kosher salt and water. Re-season as needed. This grinder measures 3.5″ in height, 3.1″ in depth, and 2.8″ in diameter. ZASSENHAUS TRADITION: Founded in 1867 as an export store for small steel goods and tools, Zassenhaus has become the epitome of high quality spice and coffee mills. They know that enjoyment and quality of life are more related to the kitchen and cooking than almost anything else. That’s why Zassenhaus combines classic, timeless styles with reliable functionality and innovative design. › See more product details
LMI –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Sturdy, No-Mess Spice and Herb Grinder
I use this in place of a mortar and pestle. Because it’s an enclosed system there’s no spillage and it does a great job grinding herbs and spices.
Jose R. Gaztambide –
5.0 out of 5 stars
The perfect tool for crushing spices
Solid and beautiful kitchen piece
Joni –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kind of expensive
I bought this for my sister for Christmas. She cooks all the time. I was looking for something unique to give her that she didn’t already have. I came across this and thought it was interesting. It is HEAVY. I mean really heavy. While I haven’t used it, it’s easy to see that with dried herbs it will work fantastic. Very little effort needed to grind it. And the fact that the top part can be used to store what you grind makes it dual purpose. Should be super easy to clean too. Hope she likes it. I wanted to keep it for myself. It is a little on the pricey side but should last forever.
3 people found this helpful
Linda –
4.0 out of 5 stars
works well, but small quantities are tough to grind without damaging the unit
It’s easy to use the grinder, doesn’t require much pressure, and it looks nice on the counter. I purchased it for grinding up small quantities of spices for baking (only enough for the day), and from that perspective, it’s less than ideal. In order to grind very small amounts – in my case, allspice balls – one ends up pressing each of the metal grinding “teeth” against each other. Some wear began to quickly show. For me, the solution to this problem was to add all of my spices into the grinder, including those that were purchased ground already, to provide a layer while the allspice was pulverized. One other slight downside is that slight brushing is needed to remove the spice from between the metal teeth; easily solved with a basting brush or paint brush used for cooking. I would buy again; manual grinding is my preference, and freshly ground spices provide much better flavor.
7 people found this helpful
CSahlfeld –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very useful
Works exactly as advertised and expected.
Kindle Customer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love this pepper/herb grinder!
I thoroughly enjoy using this. I was tired of cheap grinders that broke within a short time. This is a lifetime usable product. Plus, because of its design, you can grind other things in it. I’m not limited to pepper. Since I do use it for pepper, I store the peppercorns in the top and only grind what I need each time. I had to learn what that was. The first few times I ground too many peppercorns. Lol.
island girl –
5.0 out of 5 stars
best grinder!
I saw an Instagram chef using this and he was specific to pick this one. I am so glad that I followed his advice! I love the fact that I can completely control the quantity and the grind. I make a golden latte with four peppercorns and I can pick four and grind to the finest of powders, conversely I can grind a nice cracked pepper to top meals! It is simple, a great size and feel in the hand, has a great look to keep on counter. It is definitely going to be a gift for many people!
5 people found this helpful
Thomasina R –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of Effort-Little Result
Just get a pepper grinder. This is a high effort/little result tool. It’s cute. It’s rustic looking. But not very functional.
One person found this helpful
MN SwedeMN Swede –
4.0 out of 5 stars
German name, but made in China!
I bought this because it was half the price of the similar Skeppshult Grinder that is made in my native Sweden. I’m not planning on using it daily, so I figured the quality would be good enough for my needs.I bought it for making food recipes that call for teaspoons or tablespoons of fresh-ground pepper. Rather than twisting my pepper mill dozens of times, i measure the desired amount of peppercorns and add to the grinder. It takes a while for it to start grinding, because the peppercorns act like dozens of little ball bearings. A little downward pressure is required to crack the peppercorns. I like that you can stop grinding early and get a very course grind that’s good for making peppercorn steak. Or keep grinding to get a finer grind.I added 3 stick-on silicone “feet” to the bottom, so the cast iron won’t scratch my countertops.
17 people found this helpful
Visions of Beyond –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great pepper grinder except for the removal of the top layer of coating
I really like this pepper grinder. It’s more pleasing than a mill and the aromas of pepper are really released by doing a fresh batch each time. My only complaint so far is the black coating comes off where the grinding takes place and it isn’t clear from the reviews or the company website what that is. Some reviewers seem to think it is the actual cast iron grinding off, and others seem to think it is an oil seasoning baked onto the iron. I haven’t been able to figure out the answer to that yet, but I keep trying periodically. I hope it’s something non-toxic! Another issue brought up in reviews is rust if it gets wet or damp, but I’ve been keeping it dry and haven’t encountered that yet.
11 people found this helpful
kneadtherapy –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cast iron mortar
I love cast iron but using this to grind some spices I had to clean it using a toothbrush, scrubber and hot water only, it did rust. So I cleaned it again then reseasoned it with oil and it’s as good as new again. I really like this piece of cast iron.
4 people found this helpful
Anthony Ford –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect little grinder
It’s a little heavy but you get use to it. Nice high quality construction. The outside has a nice smooth cast iron finish.The wood lid was VACCUM sealed on and for a moment I thought it didn’t detach from the base but we managed to get it off. I wouldn’t leave anything inside but it’s a nice option to have.I am very worried about washing it and the potential of rust so for now I’m not blending spices I’m only using it for black pepper. May buy a back up they are very nice
One person found this helpful
Peewee L. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must have for home cooks
The product is quite robust and sturdy. It’s weight is perfect for the job of grinding spices. The birch cap with a silicon seal extends the freshness of the ground spices. I have similar grinder with a cork cap and I think this one is an upgrade.
One person found this helpful
Rebecca LeeRebecca Lee –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Package looked like it was a returned item
I opened my Amazon package today to find the product’s box looking like this. Clearly seems to be a returned item that was sent to me. I was worried that the product may be damaged but thankfully it looks like it hasn’t been used at all. Not how I expected to receive it though. I tested the grinding of the pepper corns and it works great for me. No longer needing to pull out a mortar and pestle when needing a small amount for my cooking!
4 people found this helpful
Johnny J –
4.0 out of 5 stars
As good as can be!
Well made. Modern/Old school-what was old is now new product. Should last a lifetime. The only downside is the ground peppercorns kind of fill in the teeth that do the grinding. I havent yet, but will have to get in there with a wire brush of some sort. every second or third use just to “revitalize” the teeth.
5 people found this helpful
Swampfire –
5.0 out of 5 stars
I like it
Happy I got this. Takes a minute to find your ideal pressure and grinding technique, but a handsome and ideal tool for getting fresh ground cumin, coriander, etc. that is bursting with scent and flavor. What I was looking for (after several disappointing products with very limited capabilities).
3 people found this helpful
T. Weber –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Small Wonder
This works, plain and simple. Ideal for making smaller batches of your favorite spice blend or any dried spices. If you only need a small amount of spices then why grind up a big batch that will sit unused in a jar and become stale? I like it for making garam masala for a single dish. Fresh every time. Also perfect for grinding my spices for various bean and chicken dishes.This is easier for me to use than a traditional mortar and pestle because of the weight of the grinding piece and its efficiency in keeping the items being ground in contact with the grinding surface. Well made, great finish and easy to clean.
6 people found this helpful
Dave Lyle –
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not very effective for grinding tougher spices like whole black peppercorns
Bought this because the design looked like it would be effective for course-grinding items such as black peppercorns. I was very disappointed at how ineffective it actually was for that specific purpose. It was hard to apply enough force to get hte grinder to actually break the peppercorns apart. Even tried just sort of pounding the top half straight down onto the whole peppercorns, but still wasn’t impressed. I haven’t used it yet for softer leafy things like dried leaves of oregano, basil, or herbs like that. It might be ok for that, but sure didn’t do hte job I’d anticipated with harder items like hte peppercorns. I really do like hte storage aspect of the upper half of the grinder and the nice beechwood gasket top for storing extra herbs you might have left. Overall, though I like hte design and feel and astethics of this grinder, it was pretty ineffective at actually grinding whole black peppercorns, which was my reason for purchasing it. My regular granite mortar and pestle did a much more effective job. It was hard to smash the top half of the grinder down forcefully enough to break up the peppercorns, maybe if the top half was a bit taller, or had an overhanging lip to make getting a good grip on the top for rotational grinding, it would work better. This little grinder is beautiful to look at, and may do well with softer items, but I was disappointed with it’s actual performance, and wouldn’t really recommend it for peppercorns , star anise, and other tougher ‘woody’ items.
One person found this helpful
Margaret L.Margaret L. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy and efficient grinder
The Zazzenhus cast iron grinder is the best method I’ve found (superior to a mortar and pestle) for grinding small seeds like caraway, mustard, etc. Just a few turns of the grinder are all it takes. It will handle the smallest amount of spices and seeds so it’s easy to always have fresh-ground ingredients. Made of heavy duty cast iron with a lovely wood top covering the storage chamber. In appearance it is unique so I leave it on the kitchen counter, and use it frequently. Love it!
7 people found this helpful
Sugarpop –
4.0 out of 5 stars
A little heavy.
It worked well but it’s heavy.
Amazon Customer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
simple and effective
works great!!!
Oliviasgonwilde –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quality grinder and spice storage tool
Have been looking for a manual spice grinder and came across this product. It came highly reviewed and I was excited to find a grinder made out of cast iron. Feels good in the hand and the lid/grinding tool gets a good grip on the products being ground. I will be using this for a variety of spice grinding. Lastly, the sub-50 dollar tag made for an affordable and hopefully long lasting product.
9 people found this helpful
June –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect for small batch herbs
I’ve used this spice grinder on dried herbs and spices and am very happy with results. For better tasting meals, it makes it easy to grind small batches of herbs and spices as needed for recipes. Merely by applying pressure, you reach as coarse or fine a grind as you wish. Excellent gift for home chefs!
Remodeler –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Grinds tough spice to powder
Effective. Efficient. Great for spices
One person found this helpful
Jim19 –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for cast iron lovers
I bought this for my father-in-law as a Christmas gift. He and I both love cast iron, and he was thrilled with this grinder. It will work for use in home and in the field while camping. The lid on the storage vessel is very difficult to remove, which is good for preservation but takes away slightly from ease of use.
One person found this helpful
Lisa Woodruff –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Works well to finely grind spices.
Grinds herbs and spices into a fine, fine powder. Works well. DO NOT leave wet as cast iron rusts easily.
One person found this helpful
Allan Bushko –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice product, simple design/operation.
They ask about sheerness, not sure what that means. Was lily adjusts from course to fine by how much I choose to grind. I’ll use this 4-5 times a year for certain dishes, but already worth it for the two dishes I’ve made where I needed to grind whole spices.
GIGI –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Grinder
This small spic g under works so well with seeds, pods and fresh dried herbs. It is heavy and the weight actually aids in crushing and grinding spices and herbs
Kai Roberts –
2.0 out of 5 stars
Generally disappointed
This is a heavy, attractive spice grinder. I typically don’t need to grind large quantities of spices, so I thought this would be a good alternative to having to pull out my electric spice grinder for every small job.. When I was trying to grind a scant tablespoon of peppercorns, I was very disappointed in the result. It just didn’t do the job. I thought perhaps I had put in too many, so I reduced the amount and I tried repeatedly, but the peppercorns remained pretty much intact, even those on the bottom. They were slightly crushed, but certainly not ground. Perhaps for some other spices this grinder will perform better, but I still had to resort to my electric spice mill, thus defeating the whole purpose. I am pretty much scuttling the grinding insert of this product and will use the bowl and wooden lid to store spices I have ground with my electric mill.
86 people found this helpful
Sandra –
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite kitchen tool!
Did this item meet my expectations? Absolutely! In fact, it did more than I expected. It’s quick, easy to use, and just the right size for those smaller portions. I love it! Thank you so much.
Brenda C. –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Super gift!
Like the weight of this and looks very durable. Have used it for pepper and mixed spices. Like how controllable the grind is. My only complaint; I have weak hands so must use a silicone grip to use it. Wish it had a grip ring at the top.
Simone de Winter –
5.0 out of 5 stars
This spice grinder works so well!
Love this thing. It’s easy to use and it looks good too. Sits right next to my stove. Also easy to clean with a dry cloth or brush. Haven’t used it yet for something wet or oily, but it easily grinds down whole spices and seeds. Not to a powder, but small pieces, which is how I like it.
ann e hoffman –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great substantial tool
This is a smart, low tech, small counter space gadget
taichi girl –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Zassenhaus Cast Iron Spice Grinding Set
I was looking for something to smash Chia seeds and this grinder works well! It is a hand grinder, so you do have to use some wrist work, but nothing else I tried would grind Chia seeds. It is made of cast iron, so it is a little heavy, but not so much that you cannot easily use it. There is a chamber, under the beechwood top where you can store your additional ground spice, if you choose. It is German made, not from China. I am very happy with this item.
jhl423 –
5.0 out of 5 stars
She loved it
I bought this for my sister and she loved it. I will eventually buy one for myself.
Charié Holt –
1.0 out of 5 stars
Grinds Off Black Chips Into Food!!
I had high hopes for this grinder, but the black coating grinds off into the food!When I realized, I immediately stopped using it, but I’d already eaten a meal with some of the ground spices. I’m very sensitive to chemicals, so I don’t knowingly put anything sketchy into my food, but my body will react strongly if I accidently ingest something sketchy. After my dinner, I didn’t feel right, my stomach felt weird and uncomfortable. I was confused what I could have eaten to give me a reaction because everything else I had was within the norm for me. When I finished emptying the grinder and realized the coating had come off into my spices, it all made sense.I would have returned the grinder anyway from the coating come off into the food, but my hyper-sensitive stomach is a good litmus test for those of you out there who aren’t so sensitive. Can confirm it’s sketchy and not doing you any favors being in your food…
2 people found this helpful
Sharon Dressen –
4.0 out of 5 stars
great for those harder spices
when a mortar and pestle would be too difficult, this gets the job done easily and stylishly. It’s cast iron, so it has a nice heft to it. The design doesn’t lend itself to easy cleaning, though – bits get caught in the crevices. I typically only need it for baking spices like cloves, so it’s not a huge issue for me.
Louis Rivera –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Super easy to use and clean!
I really liked how easy it was to use and clean. Definitely worth the purchase!
Siri –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Average
Need to put more pressure to crush peppers. But it’s okay for garlic.
Stori –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Flippin love it!
Super LOVE this cast iron pepper grinder! Fun to use
AZJake –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Useful, Cute, Expensive
Actually, I haven’t used this yet but I’m sure it will do a good job. It’s a hefty little tool weighing in at 2 1/4 lbs. The price is also hefty. I would expect it to last a lifetime since it’s heavy cast iron. Hopefully, the wooden top will be equally as durable. It’s one of the few kitchen tools that I have that doesn’t take up a lot of counter space and it’s cute!
flidav –
3.0 out of 5 stars
O-Ring Too Big
With the exception of the provided o-ring this thing is great. When I received it the o-ring was either the wrong size or it had relaxed so it didn’t fit the groove properly and the top would not seat. Since I have a nice selection of imperial and metric size o-rings, I grabbed the correctly sized one and put it in. Since then it has been a welcome addition to my kitchen toys and gadgets. I garb it rather than the mortar and pestle for the harder spices that like to fly around. I will still go to the mortar and pestle if I need to get something super fine.
2 people found this helpful
Nancy –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great little crusher
I never knew the reason morter and pestles were so big. I still don’t. This cute, well made crusher does the trick with ease. Simple to use and clean. Takes very little space. It’s all I need, and now I have more counter space.
One person found this helpful
Liralen Li –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Solid Grinder
It’s heavy, it’s great a grinding. It’s hard to clean and if you’re in not nearly as arid an environment as Colorado, do oil it to keep it from rusting, but here I’ve not had any problems with the cast iron rusting at all. I’m not so sure of the storage option? But the lid does seal quite solidly.One of the things it asked me to rate it on was “sheerness” And it’s not sheer at all, it’s HEAVY. But it does grind things to a very good powder.
Holistic Nutrition for the Whole You –
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love this grinder
So easy to use and dose a great job grinding spices, fresh and dried herbs and course salt. So handy I bought two!
One person found this helpful
JeffM –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not great at grinding
Well, it’s my own fault. Cast iron put away wet is a throw away (no way to get rust off all the nubs). If that were the total problem I wouldn’t have reviewedThis spice grinder does not do a passable job grinding spices. Period.
Amazon Customer –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Flax – No; Peppercorns and Cloves – Yes.
Flax seeds, not at all; Peppercorns and Cloves, with a little effort, yes. was looking for something to grind a small quantity of flax seeds daily… will have to stay with the spare coffee grinder for that. Meanwhile, this is useful for dried leaf herbs and maybe some hard seeds…. has a handy storage area under the lid… a small stiff-bristled brush would be very useful as an accessory. if you like cast iron, this is a nice conversation piece for the kitchen, but the price doesn’t match the usefulness…
2 people found this helpful
John Schmitt –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty good
I want this to be my spice grinder. I wish it could grind a little finer, but it’s still good.Season it like cast iron, pretty easy to do. Do not put it in the dishwasher unless you want to strip it to re-season it. Wipe the pieces with a cloth or paper towel. Any rust spots means it must be seasoned immediately.
2 people found this helpful
ajj –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing!
I wish I could give this 10 stars. I have multiple manual spice grinders, I save electric ones for larger quantities. NOTHING works like this. I use a lot of spices not just in cooking and am constantly trying to find the perfect grinder. Now I have! A few twists and my spices are powder! i don’t fine it difficult to use at all and to clean I just rinsed under water. I will apply an occasional light coating of oil as the directions suggest. I could not be happier with this grinder.
4 people found this helpful
S. Knotts –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heavy duty
I LOVE the weight of this grinder. It makes it easy to grind hard spices. I would buy a brush to help clean out the spices from the bottom. You don’t want to wash this as it will rust.
RainStorms –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heavy duty
I dehydrate a lot of veggies from my garden and this works great
One person found this helpful
moxxie –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best thing ever
I use for cracked black pepper and whole spices if need I love would buy again and again
Hava –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great idea for having in a moment fresh ground in any level of black peper
A great idea for having in a minute fresh ground black pepper or any other dry spice. I love it.
mimi –
4.0 out of 5 stars
a wonderful product
a bit pricey, but absolutely perfect for the small amount of spices i want to grind, without the need to plug in an appliance and make lots of noise. my only qualm is that the tips of the grinding “teeth” are no longer black. makes me wonder how much iron shavings I’m consuming. also would be better if a cleaning brush was provided. I’m using an old toothbrush and it’s hard to angle it right to get it clean properly.
One person found this helpful
Aaron –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Cool idea pain to clean
It’s fun but cleaning is a pain and rusts easy around the little grinding teath.
3 people found this helpful
NVD –
3.0 out of 5 stars
not effective for small qty of spices
I mostly cook for one and this isn’t ideal for a grinding a small quantity of spices. The metal rivets and grooves that do the grinding are too deep to grind the spices that get caught in between them. This would be better for a large quantity of spices.
One person found this helpful
Wolfgang Baumgartner –
1.0 out of 5 stars
rusts like an old ship
The idea, the form and the design are great. The material however is a deal breaker. Mine came already with a fine layer of rust. The hands get an iron rust smell from using this. Probably not food safe either (except if you have an iron deficiency). Over time, any sweat or unintentional moisture will make it worse. This will turn into a rust bucket. Had to return it.
Rebecca –
5.0 out of 5 stars
So easy and effective
Such a practical kitchen tool. My only advice — volume of spices should not total more than 2 Tablespoons to avoid overflow
2 people found this helpful
westsidenerd –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Useful, worthy, and good-looking too
This is a truly unusual kitchen device for me and being seemingly unique, hitherto unfamiliar, and as now indispensable. For dry spice grinding I doubt I will ever use a mortar and pestle again. The weight and hand scaled form factor lend the device myriad uses, unexpected and beyond what is advertised. I have smashed ice cubes, broken down whole grain kernels, and pulverized rock sugar. Even if you use a mortar and pesto only occasionally, if this product has caused you a bit of curiosity and interest, I would recommend trying it. One last thing: it is a beautifully rustic object. I don’t know of anything like it, certainly nothing it could be mistaken for. When guests see it on the kitchen, it proves to be a conversation-piece too.
9 people found this helpful
Denise –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kitchen Must Have
I don’t know how I ever lived without this grinder! Super easy to use, great storage compartment and takes up minimal space.