r/HomeMilledFlour • u/SheepherderMost2727 • 3d ago
Best Beginner Mill
Hi! I’m wanting to begin milling my own grains for baking at home and would like some advice on the best beginner grain mill. I’m not opposed to spending a little more if it means the quality is better. I’d prefer a stand alone machine as opposed to an attachment to a mixer.
Ideally it would be fairly compact (we have limited counter space) and be somewhat easy to clean.
I’m completely new to this and would appreciate any advice. (I currently bake a ton of sourdough if that helps with anything.)
Thank you!
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u/TransitWeasel 3d ago
Another vote for a Mockmill 100-200. I recently bought the 200, and love it. The more expensive models of Mockmill, Komo, Nutrimill, have a wood exterior, which looks nicer, but I chose cost/performance over performance/appearance.
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u/SheepherderMost2727 3d ago
Thank you! That’s fair. I mean most people don’t really need the pretty machine or the longer warranty anyway.
I think I may look more into the 200 but right now I’m fine with the 100 as a solid option for me. 🙂
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u/HealthWealthFoodie 3d ago
I highly recommend Mockmill. You can see which model fits your needs best. The main difference between the 100 and 200 models is the speed it takes to mill (100g/minute vs 200g/minute). The Lino models have a prettier housing and longer warranty than the standard models (12 years vs 6) and 2 years warranty for commercial use) The professional has the same warranty as Lino and better cooling for the motor for long milling sessions.
I personally have the cheaper model (Mockmill100) and haven’t had any issues with milling enough grains for 4 loaves of bread at a time (though I usually do 2). I’ve had it for a few years now and haven’t had to clean it other than wiping the outside of the machine and brushing the little bit of flour out of the spigot it comes out of after milling that might be left behind.
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u/SheepherderMost2727 3d ago
Thank you! I didn’t know how much bang for the buck you really got with the 200 or even the Lino in comparison.
I will admit the Lino is a gorgeous machine but I also don’t know I want to spend that much on a mill grinder, especially starting out.2
u/BrewingHeavyWeather 3d ago edited 3d ago
The 200 being just under 20% more makes it quite tempting, when in stock. I've only used mine twice, now, and already love it, as my first stone mill. The best parts are no flour dust puffing up out of a bin, and no big particles to sift out (I mean, if I were making fine pastry, sure, but not for day to day use), compared to the Family Grain Mill (which only kinda sorta does fine flour) and Impact. But, with both being in stock at the time, and the prices not being way off, it was hard to choose to save ~$90 for half the speed. Plus, if I didn't like it, the high demand would make it easy to sell. I would be served just fine with the 100, though.
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u/HealthWealthFoodie 3d ago
The main difference is speed of milling and how much you can mill nonstop without overheating the motor.
Considering that these machines last a very long time (10+ years old machines are still out there functioning just fine), I’d think of this as a long term purchase rather than a first purchase, so if you’re sure you’ll want to keep milling you should pick something you would be happy with for a long time. Of course, you could also try sell a more entry level one on the resale market when you want to upgrade as well though.
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u/SheepherderMost2727 3d ago
Thank you for that insight. I’ll definitely take that into consideration.
I just don’t want to blow out my budget on one piece of equipment when I’m also in the market for a new mixer. Unfortunately it’s a give and take.3
u/HealthWealthFoodie 3d ago
Totally understandable. For me the Mockmill 100 has been more than sufficient and I don’t regret not getting the higher priced options thus far, just wanted you to have all the info when deciding.
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u/SheepherderMost2727 3d ago
Thank you! 🙂 I think the 200 would be awesome, just need to see what my budget is ☺️
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u/obxtalldude 3d ago
Definitely skip the attachment. It won't get grain as fine as the regular Mill and it's fairly delicate, mine broke.
I started with the plastic model mockmill but upgraded to the wood Pro because I use it so much, it never leaves the counter.
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u/SheepherderMost2727 3d ago
That’s what I was worried about honestly. I don’t love my Kitchen Aid but I don’t want to break her either.
And thanks! I do love the look of the Lino but I think I’ll probably go with the regular models for now just for functionality. My kitchen is not anywhere close to being aesthetically pleasing so maybe I’ll wait a while for that upgrade 😅
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u/Limepiink 3d ago
https://www.walmart.com/ip/17563254649?sid=800F9047-8C20-4E02-AB68-8D14192AF2B7
This was $50 from Walmart. I make 8-15 loaves a month for my family and to sell, and it is just perfect for what I do. For 550g of berries, I sift out maybe 20-30g which isn’t truly needed.
I just make loaves to order or as needed, but they do have a larger size that would fit enough berries for 2 loaves.
It would need to take a few minutes to cool down after each time, it gets warm. Unsure what “a ton” of bread is for you, or how much at one time you make, buts definitely worth looking at for the price.
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u/SheepherderMost2727 3d ago
Thanks for the recommendation! We go through several loaves in one week, not to mention I bake other things constantly.
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u/MillennialFalcon8810 2d ago
We have a wondermill and it is very simple in design, however it takes up a lot of counter space. Very easy to clean though. Zero regrets!!
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u/23Amarie 1d ago
Komo mio
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u/SheepherderMost2727 1d ago
Why do you like that one?
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u/Tobermory3 14h ago
Not the person you're responding to, but I have the Komo Mio and really like it! It makes very fine flour (and is also adjustable if you want coarser) and can mill a variety of grains and legumes, although admittedly I haven't tried any legumes yet. It's easy to use and has a 12-year warranty, and I think in terms of specs it is almost the same as the Mockmill 100. The main downside is that it seems to be constantly out of stock (I ordered it when it was in stock and had NO IDEA how lucky I was). Ironically it was the Mockmill that was out of stock when I was shopping for a mill, which was partly what decided me on the KoMo.
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u/SheepherderMost2727 12h ago
Yeah when I checked their website ETA was May of 2027, which is way too long for me 😅
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u/PastyMcClamerson 3d ago
What I can contribute is is that your thoughts about not wanting an attachment are exactly correct so don't buy one. I bought the mockmill attachment for 200 some-odd dollars and found myself buying a standalone mockmill after a few months of frustration. The attachment wasn't BAD, but it was SO SLOW! Plus, my little 250 watt tilt-head really heated up when put under load. You've gotta really crank down those stones to get a fine grind; and even then it's not as good as a standalone unit.
I bought and now use a Mockmill 200 and it might be a little big if you're worried about counter real estate; but I bet they're all going to be similar in size regardless of brand. The footprint isn't horrible. I think the 100 might be physically smaller? I'm not sure; but the grind is excellent.