Brass Pepper Mill 502 8" - Alexander Handmade Mills

Alexander Handcrafted mills are the origin of the phrase spice or coffee grinder since these mills actually grind spices and coffee. The Alexander Handcrafted mill is a unique piece of Greek tradition that is functionally the best in the world.

• Durable polished brass body
• Large 70mm rotating top for easy grinding
• Open bottom
• Body diameter 50mm / 2"
• Body thickness 1mm / 0.04"
• Height 190mm / 8"
• Weight 690g
• Application: Pepper
• Made in Greece

Brass pepper mill ALEXANDER #502 has a hundred percent metal mechanism 48mm diameter with a 3DCut system, designed to really grind the peppercorns and not just smash them, maximising flavour and aroma. Common pepper mills only smash the peppercorns which severely limits the flavour release.

• Adjustable mechanism between fine and coarse grinding to suit your recipe.
• Each mill provides plenty of room for you to fill it with your favourite dry seasoning.
• Grind directly over the food.
• Hand crafted to exacting standards in Thessaloniki, Greece.
• The Alexander Mills are a tried and tested product that have been in the market since 1977.
• They consistently receive positive reviews for use and durability.
• A special tool for every kitchen.

The grinding is done in three steps (3DCut):

• 1st: Grabs and cracks each peppercorn and breaks it in half
• 2nd: Cuts them into smaller pieces
• 3rd: Sends them to the small teeth and grinds them to the selected thickness

3DCut Grinding System

• Tool metal grinding mechanism adjusts from fine to coarse
• Metal shaft 10mm / 0.4" diameter
• Metal mechanism 48mm / 1.9" diameter

Assembly

Mills 006, 022, 106, 500 and 502 are assembled ready for use. Other mill types may be sold with the handle inside the body of the mill. Unscrew the bolt at the top of the mill and remove the top, take out the handle, replace the lid, place the handle on top of this, and screw the nut down tight. Prior to first use, it is recommended to clean the mechanism by grinding a few peppercorns through the mill and discarding.

Instructions for Use

All mills listed as pepper mills are made for grinding standard peppercorns, but may also be used to grind dry spices. Generally it is not recommended to grind larger peppercorns or spices with a soft core in these mills. Salt should not be ground in a mill intended for pepper, as this will corrode the metal mechanism. Salt mills have a plastic grinding mechanism and are suitable for grinding dry sea salt or rock salt. "Wet" or "grey" sea salt as well as salt flakes should be avoided as these may clog the mechanism. Coffee mills come with a closed cup at their base to collect the ground coffee and are provided with a bigger mechanism since coffee beans are usually bigger in size.

Mills 006 and 106 have a trap door at the side for inserting peppercorns, otherwise most of the mills are filled through the top of the mill by unscrewing the top nut and removing the handle and top cap. The coarseness of grind is determined by adjusting the screw at the bottom of the mill. For a finer grind, tighten the screw clockwise. For mills 006 and 106 this adjustment is made by turning the knob on top.

Care & Maintenance

The mills can be maintained easily with care and some regular cleaning. Care should be taken to avoid excessive exposure to moisture. The mills should never be washed or submerged in water and should not be cleaned in the dishwasher. Storage in a cool dry place is recommended. Grinding directly over cooking pots is best avoided if possible since steam will dampen the salt or pepper in the mill, which may in turn clog the mechanism. It's a good idea to empty and clean and refresh the contents of the mill from time to time to prevent clogging.

To disassemble the mills for cleaning, first remove the top nut and handle and take of the top. For pepper mills remove the screws on the side of the mill and the mechanism can be removed entirely and cleaned out with a small dry brush. For salt mills, remove the two screws under the mill to remove the mechanism. Salt mills are more prone to corrosion and should be taken apart for cleaning fairly regularly. Camellia oil can be used to protect the metal from moisture, control corrosion and avoid metal parts rusting together.The outer metal casing of the mills will naturally oxidise and change in appearance with use, however, ordinary metal cleaners can be used with a soft cloth to polish and help maintain the outside of the mill if this is preferred. Camellia Oil may also be used to manage corrosion and avoid metal parts seizing together. Exposure to moisture may lead to more extreme corrosion such as bright green-blue to grey colourations or 'verdigris', which should be cleaned off using metal cleaner or camellia oil with a scouring pad then wiped clean and dry with a soft cloth.

Patina of Use

Brass and copper are naturally resistant to corrosion, but like all metals, they will slowly oxidise and change in appearance with touch and with use and through exposure to moisture and oxygen in the air. This process is part of the nature of the metal and brings with it a beautiful patina of use. Over time, the metal will darken and dull off in appearance. Copper can eventually develop areas of warm brown and red and brass will also darken to a reddish tone. More exposed areas of the material may change more quickly in different ways. The image above shows copper pepper mills as-new and after years of regular use.

Excessive exposure to moisture and other environmental conditions over time may lead to more extreme corrosion such as bright green-blue to grey colourations, which should be removed and avoided by following the care instructions below. Brass mills are slightly more resistant to oxidation. Pepper mills 402, 403, 404, 412, 413 and 414 are also lacquered, which provides some additional resistance to the oxidation process. Ordinary metal cleaners can be used with a soft cloth to polish and help maintain the outside of the mill. Camellia oil is a natural foodsafe alternative to help clean and control corrosion.

About the Company

Alexander Handcrafted Mills are products of high quality and professional functionality. They have been handcrafted in Greece since 1977 and have been exported to 22 countries since 1981.

The establishment of the Alexander Handmade Mills Company goes back to 1977.

The two owners Mr H. Ioannou and Mr G. Zarkadis have founded the company with a single but solid objective, the production of high quality mills.

The robustness of the body, the high quality materials, the detailed finishing and the final look were combined with the excellent function and the totally reasonable price, to bring a fast acknowledgement and high reputation for the company.

The increasing demand for mills and the production capability, by that time, resulted in 1989, to a further modernisation and upgrade of the equipment and the company in total as well, which in consequence lead to larger quantities of production to meet the growing market demand.

Today, the company holds a wide product range with different series of mills in order to satisfy different price levels based on different raw materials. The new equipment which was installed together with the new and modern premises of 500 square meters, located in Thessaloniki, Greece, helped to this direction.

Today the BRASS PEPPER MILL company (P. Ioannou – G. Zarkadis. Co) exports its biggest part of production in the U.S., Australia and UK, markets which due to the high quality of the products, show great appreciation in the BRASS PEPPER MILL products. However a remarkable part of the production is sold into other markets such as Canada, Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Portugal, Finland, Russia, Serbia, Romania and Ukraine.

In Greece you can find them under the name “Alexander” in various retail stores as well in the U.S.A under the Brand name “ATLAS”.

The Alexander Handmade Mill company is evolving day by day and is constantly changing, but one thing will never change, the dedication of its owners to the production of high quality, unstoppable and excellent aesthetics mills for pepper, salt and coffee.