I've always had Peugeot, like forever. But I was curious if they are highly rated or just what I happened to have for so many years...so I found this article and maybe it will help you:

Serious eats best pepper mills

I've had a Unicorn for years. Love it. Noticed that Serious Eats says that it isn't good for grinding to a fine powder. That may be true; I've never tried to grind finely because I like a coarse grind. It's a serious grinder and can really crank out a lot of pepper very quickly.

I bought the larger one for my son (wish I had the big one) and he was just commenting yesterday how much he likes it.

I have 2 ... a Peugeot and one made by Leeds Engineering Corp., Woodland Hills, CA. Both work for me..

My salt grinder is a Kuhn Rikon.

Thanks! I see 2 of you use Peugeots. Thought they are not listed in the serious Eats article, you must find them reliable. Which model? I see on amazon that there are many different styles.

I swear by a brass Greek mill....not the coffee grinder but a real Atlas Greek pepper mill....and I am picky about my pepper I put in it...I like pensey's tellcherry.
But i have never tried the Pugeot

Ditto exactly what Linda said. The Atlas comes in other finish colors as well. They have them for a good price on Amazon. This is a case of they really do make them like they used to. Really excellent.

I can't say my Peugeot is better than any other kind, since it's the only one I've ever had. It works fine - grinds coarse and fine grind and has lasted ??? 30 years, maybe. I also have an electric one that I use when I need a lot of pepper quickly. Too hard on my wrists to grind a lot with a twist action. My only complaint is the S and P on the top of the little ball are hard to read unless the light is just right. Not worn, been that way since they were new. There is shorter version of these, but mine are the taller, thinner ones 8.25" not the 6" ones.

I have an oxo set which I like because you fill from the bottom and grind from the top and therefore you don't have pepper (or salt) dust on your counter!

I see the same ones listed over and over as top picks. I've had the Perfex in the kitchen prep area and a Peugeot on the table...both I've had for at least 25 yrs.

pepper mills

Unicorn, Peugeot, Atlas, Perfex, and just a few others seem to always be on the top ten list. A few odd ones I've picked up at estate sales etc have just been junk. If I had a need for one again, I would purchase any of the top pics at a local SurLT or BB&B so it could get a test run and easily returned.

Perfex has a China made imposter now and probably some others.

The past few year I've been making a pepper blend in my spice grinder and keep it in the kitchen and add to the pot or when plating. I make enough for a week or two. Mostly just use finishing salts at the table.

We have had this grinder for many years. There is no brand name on it. It appears to have ceramic grinders. I most like having the handles, which makes for easy grinding.

I absolutely love this one - Martha Stewart for Macy's. It has a cover, so it stays cleaner than the regular kind. I love black pepper too & use it in almost everything! It's not super expensive either. It has a nice, solid feel/weight to it as well.

https://www.macys.com/shop/product/martha-stewart-collection-bavaria-pepper-mill-5.5-created-for-macys?ID=386711&CategoryID=31839#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D13%26ruleId%3D78%26kws%3Dpepper%20mill%26searchPass%3DallMultiMatchWithSpelling%26slotId%3D10

I've been using one like this for 35 years. Guess I should polish mine up a little.

Turkish Coffee Grinder

Thank you all again! I read reviews for various Peugeots on Amazon last night. I think he would like the style of a wooden one vs. plastic. (though seeing how much pepper is left in a glass one might be an advantage: we've never had that before). The bad reviews often said something like, “I had one that lasted for years, finally bought this new one, they are not as good as they used to be, broke quickly.” Plus repeatedly, summarized: “Packed badly, bouncing around loose in a box, arrived in separate pieces, therefore dinged and scratched.” THAT I read over and over for various models,

Sushipup, I actually have a Turkish Grinder I brought back from Turkey 9 years ago. It looks just like the linked photo but decoration is simpler. I brought it out recently when our everyday grinder bit the dust. It has some issues: we can’t figure out how to adjust the grind: it only grinds very fine. The volume ground is not much: many rotations for a small amount of pepper. It’s very difficult to set it back in the base. It’s a tight fit and takes some jockeying to get it in. If you can tell me how to adjust it that would be great.

Ideally, we should have one for the table and one for near the stove. Otherwise we are always looking in the wrong place when we need it.

I don't understand "setting back into the base." Mine doesn't come off a base. And I've never adjusted the grind, have no need to. Guess my needs are simpler.

This is like the one I have used for about 35 years
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000DI5CC/ref=asc_df_B0000DI5CC5281498/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B0000DI5CC&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167134584690&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15128304013169181569&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9017894&hvtargid=pla-274772302458
It's adjustable from cracked pepper to dust () of course it takes more turns to get a quantity of pepper with a very find adjustment), stands sturdy holds a lot of pepper and I like the no no nonsense look!

OK, mine is more like Linda's, with the flared base,.

carolb, thanks. I just ordered one for the kitchen.

With mine from Turkey, there is a cylindrical cup at the base. That removes and exposes the grinding mechanism. That projects out about an inch and there is no way to stand the grinder up, without setting it back into the cup base. It can’t stand up on its own.

Actually, picture # 2 on the link you sent shows exactly how mine is. Click on “More photos” underneath the photo. If you look closely at picture # 1, you can see the dividing line between the top and the base, right below the screw. I bought mine at a street market on a brass working street, and didn’t realize that was how it worked, or I would have chosen a different design, if they’d had one.

In retrospect, it's probably a spice mill, and that's what the cup is for. When I bought it, I saw what I wanted to see, apparently.

I've had so many over the years. The first which I bought in 1966, lasted until the holes in which the nails that held in place the grinding device, got too big and wouldn't stay in, even with a bit of glue. Since then, even pricey ones have had some plastic in them and they all broke way too soon, considering their price.

So, I've gone to the ones that one can buy at the grocery that come with the pepper/grinder all in one. They are disposable. If my husband was still living and we ate at the table, I'd spend the money for that copper one, but it's just me, eating in front of the TV and I just salt and pepper before my plate leaves the kitchen.

I have a nice sterling one that I use in the DR. It's old, but all metal. Unfortunately, the coarseness of the pepper is set, not adjustable. I like mine fairly coarsely ground. And I do like my pepper!

I have the tall, wood Peugot for grinding both pepper and salt.

I have a short, stainless grinder for the tabletop set.

Does anyone have a Zassenhaus Speyer? That came up on some reviews as being good too. Advantage of that one is the coarseness is very easy to set via a dial on the bottom. At the table we both like a different coarseness.

I should probably not spend too much, he would prefer I not spend money on him. It's easy to get carried away once you see how many options there are.

Annie1992, I realized as soon as I saw your photo that Olde Thompson was the brand my Dad liked, and what we had 2 grinders ago. Because we still have the salt shaker part of the set. It has a metal top and bottom and an acrylic center.

I have the magnum, per AnneT's recommendations and it's great.

However, I am on the lookout for a prettier tableside one, something with great presence for a grinding with a meal.

I have a stainless steel Peugeot pepper mill similar to this, but mine is an earlier sleeker model that is no longer available. I've probably had it for twenty years now, but I also have a Kuhn Rikon mill (with salt mill) that I keep on the dining table, and I have a Kotányi pepper mill that I bought to use while I was in Brazil, and it still has a few peppercorns left, but I do not think it is refillable. I think McCormick makes a similar one, but I have not tried that. I do not use a lot of black pepper, as I more frequently use chilies for heat, and I also use cayenne.

I forgot to add that I use the Turkish mill when cooking, as I can grind a reasonable amount in a short time and measure it into a recipe, most notably hummus, but also salad dressings.

Sorry, linnea, I forgot the "e", when I typed, but at least I got you the right link! (grin)

I've been happy with them, they've lasted me thought daily use, aren't too hard to turn, which is an issue with some mills due to my carpal tunnel problems, and weren't outrageously expensive.

Annie

No, what I was referring to was that in my OP, I thought the ones my Dad liked were Thompson. I had forgotten the "Olde". ;) Still, I'm amazed that I remembered that much, he's been gone a decade.

Ah. Well, it only took two of us to finally get it right. (grin) I'm amazed when I remember ANYTHING after a decade!

My Dad's been gone about the same amount of time, he died in August 2008, two months after I married Elery. It was a crazy year, I got married in May, Dad died in August, my stepdad died in September, then Dad's baby brother, my Uncle Marty, died in October. Now people remind me of things that were said or done and I have absolutely no recollection at all. I just blame age...

Annie

It turns out the Martha Stewart for Macy's recommended by carolb is actually a rebranded Bavaria by Olde Thompson.

I have a Cole & Mason, which I love. It's easy to adjust the grind, and I do adjust the grind. I like finely ground pepper on my eggs, and coarse ground pepper on salads or in soup.

Sally

FWIW, if you are interested in longevity, the Olde Thompson pepper mill has not held up well for me. I've had the pepper mill and salt shaker pair for several years and have had to send the mill back for replacement twice. They do replace it free and send a matching salt shaker free. The pepper mill seems to hold up for me about two years. I'm just tired of packaging and mailing it back (at my expense) that often. YMMV

Santa brought me a Peugeot to replace my 25 year old Peugeot......and I didn't even ask!