If you use a coffee/spice mill for coffee, you won't want to use it for spices, and vice versa. That may be what the sales person was talking about, not that the machine was incapable of milling spices; because there are lots of "oils" in coffee beans as well. I have a Bosch coffee/spice mill (electric with a blade) that I've used for many years, mostly for milling flaxmeal, but I've also used if for milling whole allspice and cloves. When it comes to milling whole nutmeg in it, it's not suited for it. You would have to hammer a whole nutmeg into tiny bits for it to be able to mill it. Milling a whole nutmeg at one time would also make a LOT of nutmeg. So if you aren't using it freshly grated, you just as well use the stuff in the can/bottle. I'd suggest a nutmeg grater - the old-fashioned steel cone, a microplane - or a nutmeg mill which is designed specifically for whole nutmeg. I have a nutmeg mill and it never did a good job - I got nutmeg "shavings" rather than ground nutmeg, so I reverted back to a grater or microplane for nutmeg. I milled cinnamon sticks (broken into small pieces) in a Krups spice/coffee mill and it ruined the plastic cover, so I'd be careful milling cinnamon sticks, as well. What I have since learned is that cinnamon sticks are made up of thin layers and you can easily mill them. Cassia sticks are much harder, made up of one thick layer, capable of damaging a spice or coffee grinder. I must have been using cassia sticks.... I also have hand-mills for salt/pepper/spices. They work fine and most have adjustable grinds on them. I also have Porkert Poppy Seed Mill which is great for milling all kinds of things, including the tiny seeds of grain such as teff and amaranth, coffee, spices, oily seeds like sesame and poppy seeds. Choices abound and no one grinder/mill does it all.... -Grainlady

I use oatmeal in my coffee grinder. Would probably work in spice grinder as well. It soaks up the coffee bean oils very nicely.

OK, I've come to a conclusion about this. As I said, I have a small Mouli spice grinder, and I got a small Zyliss one as well. The Zyliss has a hopper that is a bit larger than the Mouli. They are engineered quite differently, and I think the Zyliss is formally for grinding hard cheeses. They both work adequately for grinding dried foliage, but it takes a LONG TIME to grind gallons of it, like a season's worth of basil. A tablespon or two at a time. Confronted with a gallon or two of dried basil leaves, I said, what the hay, and filled my kitchen blender with the leaves. Floral suggested this way back when. Press go, and buzzzzzzzz, ground leaves! You have to tip and tilt the blender while it is grinding to get everything mixed, but it works! Not quite as fine a grind as the hand grinders, but very nice, nonetheless. Thank you, Floral, for the suggestion. So the answer to grinding large amounts of dried herb foliage is a standard kitchen blender. It works! I now have a quart or so of dried ground basil. That should last me a few years, and maybe I can give some away (though most of my friends grow their own basil). I think I won't be growing basil next year!

Susan ... OMG osh ... THANK YOU very much for all the FUN gifties you sent my way ... You did not need to send all those, but I really appreciate the thoughtfulness and generosity, very much appreciated! a lovely card and note ....LOVE the beautiful FLAMINGO hand towels, those are already out and hanging, the fantastic assortment of seeds in the cutest little bag, wow! I plan to get these sown probably Monday ... seasoning, flamingo luggage tag, journal, crossword puzzle book, trident gum, handcream, lip gloss set, honey vanilla chamomile tea bags - cant wait to try this! THANK YOU so much Susan .... I had lots of FUN with your herbs and spice swap Susan and enjoyed learning from your postings!