What I have. Lasted me 10 years already. Very easy to use. What the spec says: "Originally designed for the Greek Army to grind coffee in the field, these mills are strong, beautiful and work great. The patented grinding mechanism cleaves the pepper to maximize the exposed surfaces of the peppercorn that results in more pepper flavor. Pepper can be ground into the attached collecting cup to add measured amounts to your favorite recipe or directly onto food. Hand crafted in Greece.  Hand made to exacting standards  Can be used for grinding coffee beans or other spices  Grinding mechanism cleaves pepper to maximzie exposed peppercorn surface  Traditional style grinds into cup at the base  Durable all metal body" Good reviews on Amazon. Not made in China. Surprise? :-) dcarch

My main prep space is a 30" stretch of counter between the cooktop and the sink. Once I start working in earnest, I don't like to have to move far from that spot, just shift over a step to sink or stove. Always out is a cutting board (14" x 18"), held steady by a piece of that foam-fabric shelf liner stuff. Always lined up against the wall in front of me: - utensil crock [most-used utensils only] - bottle of olive oil - salt dish - pepper mill - butter bell - small utensil crock [measuring spoons, peeler, scissors] Between the cutting board and the line-up, there's a spoon rest. My motto is "be ready to cook". Nothing is out on that counter that isn't used daily, often several times a day. There's plenty to get out when preparing food without also having to get out the "infrastructure" every time. When I need something while prepping and cooking, I either reach for it right in front of me, or get it from the assembled ingredients behind me on the worktable [I'm pretty much of a "mise en place" cook]. The less-often-used utensils are all in the top drawer under the stove, in one layer, viewable and reachable at a glance. I hate riffling! It helps that I don't have many electric appliances; the immersion blender and coffee grinder are in cabinets, the little toaster and small microwave are on the worktable with a bowl of onions and garlic. The induction unit lives on a cookie sheet covering a rear burner on the gas stove, leaving three gas burners free -- a dirt-cheap way to get a "hybrid" cooktop.

Good point re the stainless, meaning that my hood is made of goodness knows what, as these little grinders don't stick to my fridge, nor my faucet. But, they do stick to my stove. Another idea- stick them to the sides of a metal spice rack, or to a strip of metal installed on the inside of a cupboard door....(my salt shaker used to topple too - I found it really annoying)

DH and I must be mismatched - I don't ever add black pepper and he dusts his food with it. We've been using the same pepper grinder for 35 years and it still works perfectly. It was very expensive - I think around $45.00 but it was a special gift to mark a very special occasion. The brand is Perfex and it's now around $80.00 but it has given my DH many years of enjoyment. He can either grind the peppercorns into a fine powder or merely crack one in half. When the company came out with a salt mill I bought him one. But the pepper mill is his favorite. They're considered classics and have a well known reputation for quality. I don't know how the company manages to stay in business because how many can they possibly sell? But they are built to last. The family owned company is located in Saint-Etienne, France. The mill is made of durable, long lasting cast aluminum and has a metal burr grinder.