Frequently Asked Questions

Turn the small black dial on the top of the grinder. Turning it counterclockwise gives a coarser grind; turning it clockwise gives a finer grind. Start with a small adjustment and test the grind before dialing further.

Flip the grinder upside down so the bottom of the glass base faces up, then hold the glass base with one hand and the top portion with the other. Turn the bottom clockwise while holding the grinder over your food to grind.

Turn the stainless-steel lid on the top of the shaker clockwise to cycle through the settings: finer flow, coarse flow, open pour, or closed (to seal in freshness). Just rotate until you land on the pour rate you prefer.

No, the grinders and shakers arrive empty. You fill them yourself using the included silicone funnel, which lets you choose whatever salt, pepper, or spice you prefer.

Yes. The grinders work with a variety of dry spices and seasonings beyond salt and pepper — just make sure whatever you fill them with is fully dry before adding it to the grinder.

For the grinder, no — do not put any part of it in the dishwasher. For the shaker, only the glass base is dishwasher-safe; the stainless steel base and the adjustment dial must be hand-cleaned with a damp cloth only.

Unscrew the dial, remove the small clear nylon washer, take out the ceramic grinding mechanism, and remove the spring. Wipe all parts with a dry cloth or a dry brush — do not get the mechanism wet, as it takes about 6 hours to dry completely. Reassemble by placing the spring back in first, then the ceramic mechanism (aligning its square piece with the square piece of the metal screw), then the nylon washer between the ceramic mechanism and the dial, and finally the dial.

We recommend fully disassembling and cleaning both the grinder and the shaker twice a year. Regular cleaning prevents buildup that can cause jamming or uneven flow.

No. The ceramic grinding mechanism should only be cleaned with a dry cloth or dry brush. If it gets wet, it needs at least 6 hours to dry fully before you use or refill the grinder — and you should never fill it while any part is still wet.

Hold the glass base with one hand and turn the stainless steel top counterclockwise until it comes off completely. Use the included silicone funnel to pour your salt, pepper, or spice into the glass base, then screw the top back on clockwise. Make sure the grinder is completely dry before filling.

Hold the glass base and turn the stainless steel base counterclockwise until it detaches. Fill the glass base using the included silicone funnel (note: the funnel is not included with the single-pack variation), then reattach the stainless steel base by screwing it clockwise. Do not fill while any part is still wet.

Moisture is the most common cause of caking and jamming. Make sure the grinder is 100% dry before filling, avoid holding the grinder over steaming pots, and never let steam or water contact the grinder while it has spices in it.

A silicone funnel is included with the grinder set and with multi-pack shaker sets; it is not included with the single-pack shaker variation. You don't strictly need it, but it makes filling much neater and helps avoid spills into the mechanism.

The most common cause is moisture causing spices to cake up around the ceramic mechanism. Disassemble the grinder (unscrew the dial, remove the nylon washer, ceramic mechanism, and spring), clean all parts thoroughly with a dry cloth or brush, let everything dry completely for at least 6 hours, and reassemble. Also check that the coarseness dial isn't set too fine, which can make grinding feel very stiff.

Turn the small black dial counterclockwise to open up the grind to a coarser setting. If the problem persists after adjusting, disassemble and clean the ceramic mechanism with a dry brush to clear any packed residue, then reassemble and test again.

Missing parts (springs, nylon washers, gaskets, lids) do happen on occasion. Please open a support ticket at homeec.io/pages/submit-ticket and include your order number and a photo if possible — we'll get the right part or a replacement out to you.

We're sorry about that. Please do not try to repair it yourself — open a ticket at homeec.io/pages/submit-ticket with your order number and a photo of the damage and we will arrange a replacement or refund for you.

We make four sizes total — pick what fits your kitchen and how often you want to refill:

• Tall grinder: about 7 inches tall × 2.5 inches wide. Our most popular size and what most customers picture when they think of a pepper grinder.
• Short grinder: about 5 inches tall × 2.5–3 inches wide. Same ceramic mechanism inside, more compact — good if counter space is tight or you want a lower profile.
• Cone shaker: about 4.5 inches tall × 2 inches wide. Tapered shape.
• Round shaker: about 4 inches tall × 2 inches wide. Straight-sided shape.

Each product is also available as a single (1-pack), a salt + pepper set (2-pack), and on grinders a 4-pack. Mechanism and materials are identical across pack sizes.

The tall grinder is about 7 inches tall — taller than a typical pepper shaker, but standard for a hand grinder you can hold comfortably. If counter space or a small kitchen is the concern, the short grinder (about 5 inches tall) uses the same ceramic mechanism and is a better fit.

Yes. The grinding mechanism includes a small clear nylon washer and the ceramic grinder assembly has a plastic component. The outer body is stainless steel and glass, but if plastic-free construction is a requirement for you, please keep this in mind before purchasing.

The inner grinding mechanism is ceramic. The set also contains a small clear nylon washer and a metal spring that are part of the assembly. The outer body is stainless steel over a glass base.

Each grinder set includes the grinder(s), a silicone funnel, and an instruction and care guide. Shaker sets include the shaker(s) and a care guide; the silicone funnel is included in multi-pack variations but not in the single-pack shaker. Salt and pepper are not included — the units arrive empty.

Home EC stands behind its products. If your grinder or shaker develops a defect in materials or workmanship — including a broken mechanism, cracked glass, rust, or a lid that won't seal — please open a ticket at homeec.io/pages/submit-ticket with your order number and photos and we will make it right with a replacement or refund.

Yes. Open a ticket at homeec.io/pages/submit-ticket and include as much detail as you can (approximate purchase date, the retailer it was bought from, and photos of the issue). We'll work with you to find a resolution even without an order number.

If you purchased on Amazon, you can initiate a return directly through your Amazon account. If you purchased on homeec.io or need help with an exchange or defect-related return, open a ticket at homeec.io/pages/submit-ticket and our team will assist you within 24 hours.