Spice grinder
An electric blade or burr mill for powdering spices at home, best used in short bursts.
Also: coffee grinder, masala mixer, burr mill, electric grinder
A spice grinder is a small electric mill. Blade models chop spices into a powder in seconds, while burr mills crush between two rough surfaces for more even particles. Many home cooks use a dedicated coffee grinder, with spices and not coffee, because oils linger. Short pulses prevent heat build-up, which drives off aroma. Sticky or oily spices such as cardamom, nutmeg and cloves are ground with a bit of sugar or salt. After use, grind a spoon of raw rice to pick up residue. Grinding a day's worth of spice, no more, keeps flavour near its best, and most cooks sieve to remove husk.