Here’s what this grinder produced after five turns of the lid. This is a non-adjustable mill, and produces a nice medium-coarse grind. The consistency is a little less even than the Peugeot, and less pepper comes out per turn, but it’s much easier to twist. Restaurants love Peugeot mills because they know how remarkable the mechanism is for extracting flavour (and how durable they are).’

So - you’ve decided it’s time to invest in a really good pepper grinder. Since pre-ground pepper isn’t your thing, you’re obviously someone who cares about food. And as all foodies know, having the right tool for the job really can make a difference to your cooking. That said, I do love the weightiness of all three cast iron grinders. In particular, the Skeppshult grinder with the solid cast iron body is a really striking design, with its satisfying heft combined with a very minimalist look. It has only four parts, so there’s not much that can go wrong. It looks and feels indestructible. This is very much down to personal preference, as there are a wide variety of styles and aesthetics to choose from. However, the appearance of a mill can have a few practical pros and cons too. Our fourth and final pepper mill is our model by Peugeot, who make the wooden Paris grinder - and instead, this one has a coated cast iron body. Inspired by traditional Chinese cast iron teapots, the Bali Fonte is an attractive and compact design. Weighing in at 540g, it’s our lightest iron grinder, but still offers a satisfying heft.The Mignonette mills are finished in hallmarked silver-plated metal of the highest quality. They add a particular class to a table setting and make a luxurious gift for the entertainer who has everything. If you’re struggling to decide on a lifetime pepper mill companion, I think most cooks would be happy with any of the four I’ve just compared. All these pepper grinders look great, offer excellent functionality, and are designed to last many years of everyday use. They’re a world away from the disposable plastic grinder, and testing these products made me realise just how pointless it is to put up with the throwaway version.

Ease of Use and Maintenance: Peugeot pepper mills are designed to be user-friendly and hassle-free. Their intuitive grinding mechanism ensures effortless operation, while their easy-to-maintain construction guarantees long-lasting performance.

Our roundup of the best pepper mills will help take your dinners to the next level

Firstly, for adjustable grinders, don’t over-tighten them. Forcing the peppercorns to be crushed through too small of a gap can damage the mechanism. You may find that the grinder loosens over time (to a coarser grind) and needs to be tightened every so often, which is normal. The expert functionality, ergonomics and technical prowess of each salt mill will easily stand the heat in any kitchen, making it the perfect companion for hearty homecooked food as well as sophisticated fine dining, cosy homes or Michelin-starred restaurants. At the table, the Peugeot salt mill stands proud, willing everyone gathered around to experience their own enjoyment of seasoning food to personal taste. The Elis electric mills are ergonomically designed to make it simple to grind pepper and salt thanks to the incorporation of touch-sensitive technology. Tap the touchpad on the top and hold the body of the mill to dispense the right dose of pepper/salt. The mills have an adjustable grinding system and come with the Peugeot mechanism that is guaranteed for life. At the heart of Peugeot’s success is their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to using only the finest materials in their products. This attention to detail is on full display in their extensive range of pepper mills, which have become a staple in kitchens worldwide. The brand offers a diverse selection of pepper mills, each characterized by their unique design, quality construction, and unrivaled grinding mechanisms.

As a note, my grinder is nearly two years old, and has seen a lot of use in the meantime. Oily cooking hands have turned the walnut lid dark and shiny, but it still works just as well as the day I got it. Let’s put it to the test. Skeppshult’s foundry is the last one in Scandinavia still producing cast iron cookware, and it runs on green electricity from wind and hydropower. Their products carry a 25 year guarantee on the cast iron - and this pepper mill certainly gives off an air of indestructibility. It’s our most expensive grinder, but if you use it five times a week for 20 years, its cost per use works out very similarly to a disposable grinder. The history of the pepper mill began in 1874 at the Peugeot family steel factory in Doubs, France, with the creation of the first table pepper mill, the Z model. It is still setting the standard today for its ease of use and expression of flavours and is now available in numerous exclusive collections. Whether you choose the Paris line, which has reinvented the art of grinding, or the Bistro model, a symbol of the French joie de vivre, the Madras mill with its skillfully refined lines, or the acutely modern, translucent Daman, each mill promises to stimulate all the senses through a combination of unique materials, sensual lines, galvanizing sounds, satisfying aromas and sublime flavours. The five twists test yielded an impressive amount of pepper, ground to an even texture. I like the action of twisting the base instead of the lid, though you need to get a firm grip. When it came to adjusting the coarseness, I found the knob on the Peugeot grinder a little easier to use than the plastic dial on this one. However, this grinder seemed to have a slightly wider range of coarseness.

A style icon and a symbol of renewed ingenuity, the Peugeot pepper mill expresses an exceptional know-how and contemporary design that is admired by food enthusiasts, epicureans and the most revered chefs worldwide.

The Bali Fonte carries a lifetime guarantee on the grinding mechanism, and although it’s a bit pricier than the Paris, its sturdy build does inspire confidence in its durability. If you were to use this grinder five times a week for 20 years, its would cost 1.05p per use - somewhere in between the Paris and the disposable grinder.