My old and trusty moulinex spice grinder recently packed up after about 15 years. So I was forced to buy a new one last week. I got one from Argos for about ?13 and it does the job just fine. I'd go as far as to say that it gets the spices a bit finer than my old one did.

I'm not going to add a hyperlink because it doesn't always work (due to the spamming problem on the forum not all hyperlinks will work). Just copy and paste this link:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4237305/Trail/searchtext%3ECOFFEE+GRINDERS.htm

Even if I get six months use from it, at that price it's worth it!

Sid.

The link just automatically became click able (there's something around every corner). So just click the link, I haven't tried it but I assume it works. LOL.

Sid

Yes, I have seen it in India, my SIL has one. I thought of getting it once, but then didn't see any advantage over the one I have here.

What wet ingredients are you specifically looking to grind/blend in it that your UK ones don't do?

A few weeks ago I made Malvani Chicken, and that involved frying whole spices and coconut that needed to be blended up at the end. I just used a normal hand blender to do the job and it was fine. I once bought a cheap smoothie maker (for about ?20) that I just used for blending up strong smelling foods.

Sid

I have a coffee grinder that I keep just for spices. You grind your dry spice with coconut in it and then make a paste with water. I have on occasions ground things with a little liquid in it and it is fine. I do however make sure that I clean and wipe it dry.

I have sometimes washed it with water even, holding the grinding cup very carefully under the tap holding the mixer horizontally and cleaning it with a toothbrush (cheap/free airline or hotel one), which I keep for just such purpose. The India ones are not that great (less powerful) you know, I use them every time I am in India! My SIL bought 4 from Sainsbury's, for herself and her friends, last time she was in UK!

Mamta, I have been told that one good way of cleaning out the coffee grinders is to buy the cheapest rice you can, and just grind up a tablespoon of it and throw it in the bin. Personally I have never done that because I really hate to see anything going to waste.

Sid.

Be careful when you use a coffee grinder that you don't burn it up, I had a cuisanart one, really good, tiny and powerful...I was grinding cilantro in it to a paste but i didn't know you couldn't grind more than about 60 seconds, it was smoking one time I was lucky I didn't start a fire. It worked great until I overworked it...used it for mango too.