HexClad | HexMill Pepper Grinder
A Serious Upgrade for Your Kitchen
There are certain simple upgrades you can make to your kitchen that change everything. A decent water filter is one. A sharp, balanced set of knives is another. But one of the most overlooked is the humblest of seasonings: salt and pepper.
If you’re like most home cooks, your seasoning drawer is a mess. Odds are it contains decade-old bay leaves, a brick of forgotten allspice, something even weirder undoubtedly demanded of you from a recipe book you once tried out, and the ubiquitous Trader Joe’s “Everything but the Bagel” mix. And for pepper? Chances are you’re still using the plastic grinder that came from the grocery store. It says “refillable,” but who has ever actually refilled one? In a world where we worry about microplastics leaching into our water bottles, should we really feel comfortable grinding actual minerals with a $2 plastic mill?
Why Pepper Was the Turning Point
My own journey toward better seasoning started with pepper. For years I thought my store-bought grinder was just fine. It only offered one level of coarseness – pretty rough – and I lived with it. It was my kid, of all people, who called out the “grittiness” of it one night at the dinner table. And once I noticed it too, I couldn’t un-notice it.
Like any rational parent trying to prove their child wrong, I went to the internet. That’s when I discovered the Pepper Cannon. A hulking, grill-adjacent tool aimed squarely at manly men who spend their weekends cooking brisket for a small army. The marketing was clever – if you’re paying over $100 for a pepper mill, at least it should sound like it should live in a gun safe. But I wasn’t looking for a functional novelty. I wanted something a little elevated too.
That’s where HexClad entered the picture. You’ve probably seen Gordon Ramsay yelling enthusiastically about their hybrid cookware. Their signature “hex” pattern has become almost iconic. What you may not know is that HexClad now makes mills too – and they’re excellent.
Design and Build Quality
Each HexMill is carved from a single block of aluminum and finished in matte black or dark gray. The result is a tool that feels closer to a precision instrument than a kitchen accessory. Pick one up and you immediately know it’s going to be with you until long after the kids have moved out.
At about 8 inches tall, with a hexagonal cross-section, the mills are easy to grip and turn. That geometry isn’t just for looks – those six flat faces and 120° angles give your hand a secure, torque-friendly grip. Where round mills sometimes slip, this one locks into your palm like it belongs there.
The Business End
This is where HexClad shows real attention to detail. The salt mill uses a ceramic grinding mechanism, while the pepper mill uses stainless steel. That’s not a random choice.
Ceramic is ideal for salt because it’s non-reactive and resistant to corrosion. Salt attracts moisture, which can rust metal over time and compromise flavor. Ceramic doesn’t corrode, ensuring clean-tasting salt for years.
Stainless steel is best for pepper because it’s tougher and sharper than ceramic. Peppercorns have a hard outer shell and oils that release flavor when cracked. Stainless steel cuts through them cleanly and efficiently, giving you maximum aroma and intensity without dulling quickly.
So yes, the materials really do affect flavor – ceramic keeps salt “pure,” while steel extracts the full character of pepper.
Functionality and Adjustability
Both mills feature a cleverly engineered top cap: press the button and the lid pops off with a tactile click. Refilling is painless, whether you’re loading chunky sea salt crystals or glossy peppercorns.
On the underside, a ten-setting adjustment dial gives you complete control over coarseness. From ultra-fine dust to cracked pepper steakhouse style, it’s all there. This flexibility has been a revelation in my cooking. Delicate salad dressinga call for something whisper-light, while a heartier braise comes alive with larger, more aromatic pieces.
And then there’s the collection cup at the base. Precision-engineered to snap into place with almost surgical accuracy, the cup doubles as a measuring tool with volume markers. You can pre-measure seasoning before adding it to the pan, ensuring consistency and accuracy. Most of the time, I season by instinct / taste – but having the option is brilliant. For the other 364 days of the year, the cup simply catches stray grounds and keeps your countertops spotless. (It’s also great when your kid wants to help season food - because it’s a risk-free way of getting them involved and having them help!)
Everyday Impact
The real test of a tool like this is whether it changes how you cook. For me, the answer is yes. I never realized how nuanced pepper could be until I started adjusting grind sizes. Sometimes it’s sharp and biting, other times it leans floral and herbaceous. Salt, too, has become easier to manage – I can season with more intention, less guesswork. And yes, I get it, salt and pepper are the punchline for bland cooking, but if you can’t get the fundamentals right, no amount of za’atar, saffron or bhangjeera is saving dinner.
Perhaps most surprisingly, my kid – who once complained about “gritty” pepper – now asks to add pepper to their food. That alone feels like a small culinary miracle.
Verdict
The HexClad HexMill isn’t just a pepper grinder – it’s a design object, a tool, and a quiet daily luxury. It’s heavy, durable, and a joy to use. With thoughtful details like the easy-refill system, collection cup, and dual-material grinding mechanisms, it proves that even the most ordinary kitchen ritual can be elevated.
6 out of 5 stars.