Alexander Chefs Mate – pepper grinder in polished chrome-plated brass, 13.5 cm
Canadian GST/HST is collected by the carrier on delivery — most of our products enter Canada duty-free under the EU–Canada trade agreement (CETA). Shipping (DAP) calculated at checkout
Compact pepper grinder with a mirror finish
The Chefs Mate in polished chrome combines Alexander Handcrafted Mills' most compact pepper mill with a bright, mirror-like surface. It reflects the light on the table and fits kitchens where stainless steel and chrome dominate. Underneath the plating is the solid brass body that gives the grinder its weight.
At 13.5 cm the Chefs Mate is designed to stay within reach – by the hob, on the worktop or on the table – ready for a final twist of freshly ground pepper.
For pepper and dried spices
The Chefs Mate is built as a pepper grinder and is intended for whole peppercorns and dried spices. The adjustable mechanism lets you go from a fine grind for sauces and dressings to a coarse grind for steaks, vegetables and the grill. Suitable for:
- Black, white and green peppercorns
- Coriander seeds
- Cumin
- Fennel seeds
- Cardamom
- Other dried spices
Note: this model is not intended for salt. Salt needs a separate mechanism, which is why Alexander makes dedicated salt mills.
Three finishes, one mechanism
The Chefs Mate is also available in solid brass and in brushed chrome-plated brass. All three share the same adjustable mechanism; the polished chrome version is the brightest of the three and the easiest to keep looking new.
The chrome-plated surface does not patinate the way raw brass and copper do. Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth; avoid abrasive cleaners and the dishwasher.
Specifications
- Model: Chefs Mate, pepper grinder
- Material: solid brass, chrome-plated and polished
- Height: 13.5 cm
- Grind: adjustable, fine to coarse
- Handmade in Thessaloniki, Greece
Alexander Handcrafted Mills
Alexander Handcrafted Mills has made spice grinders by hand in its workshop in Thessaloniki, Greece, since 1977. The construction is simple and has not changed much: a solid metal body, a cast, adjustable grinding mechanism and no plastic parts that wear out. Many Alexander mills are passed on within the family, which says more about the quality than any marketing claim.
Rune-Jakobsen Design is the Scandinavian agent for Alexander Handcrafted Mills, and every grinder ships from Denmark. For the UK, the US and Australia, duties and taxes are calculated at checkout, so the price you see is the price you pay. Full right of return applies to every grinder.
Alexander Handcrafted Mills – Greek mills since 1977
Rune-Jakobsen Design has agency for the handmade spice mills from Alexander Handcrafted Mills.
The story behind the mills
Alexander Handcrafted Mills has been manufacturing spice and coffee grinders in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, since 1977. The company was founded by two mechanical engineers, H. Ioannou and G. Zarkadis, with a clear goal: high-quality, functional grinders, created for many years of daily use.
The grinders have been exported since 1981 and are today sold in more than 20 countries – but production still takes place in Thessaloniki, where craftsmanship, precise machining and personal quality control go hand in hand.
The traditional models are based on a portable coffee grinder that was developed for Greek soldiers in the field in the early 1900s – a simple and robust construction that has proven its durability for over a hundred years.
Materials and mechanics
All grinders are made of solid brass, copper or chrome-plated brass – the chrome-plated models with either a polished or matte surface.
The grinder is significantly larger than the mechanism in regular spice grinders and works in three stages – the so-called 3DCut technology: First, each peppercorn is cracked, then it is cut into smaller pieces, and finally it is ground to the desired fineness, adjustable from fine to coarse. The grinder thus grinds the spices rather than simply mashing them – this releases more flavour and aroma, even with larger quantities.
Pepper, spices, coffee and salt
The pepper mills also handle dried spices such as cardamom, coriander seeds, cumin and cumin. Selected models are built for coffee, and the salt mills have a special 38 mm grinder made of stainless steel and glass-fiber reinforced polyamide that resists the corrosive properties of salt.
Used by both private food enthusiasts and professional kitchens, the grinders can be disassembled, cleaned and maintained – solid tools made by people with a thorough knowledge of materials and mechanics.
Why have we chosen Alexander Handcrafted Mills?
At Rune-Jakobsen Design, we select products that are created to be used for many years – not just for the next season.
Alexander Handcrafted Mills combine solid metals, proven mechanics and local production – precisely our philosophy of fewer, better products. They are mills with a real history and a clear purpose: to function well, patina beautifully and last for many years.
If you have any questions about the grinders, Kari is available at info@rune-jakobsen.dk .
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Inspiration: Salt mill vs pepper mill – is there a difference in the grinding mechanism? · Pepper mills that grind — not mash. · Which pepper should you use for what?
Relevant products and collections
All measurements in our webshop are given in centimeters (cm). If you use inches, here is a quick overview:
cm → inches: multiply by 0.39
inches → cm: multiply by 2.54
Examples:
| cm | inches |
|---|---|
| 20cm | 7.9″ |
| 40cm | 15.7″ |
| 60cm | 23.6″ |
| 80cm | 31.5″ |
| inches | cm |
|---|---|
| 10″ | 25.4cm |
| 20″ | 50.8cm |
| 30″ | 76.2cm |
If you need an exact conversion, a quick Google search — e.g. "20 cm in inches" — is the easiest solution.
Application:
Before use, it is recommended to grind a small amount through the mill's grinding mechanism and then discard it.
In most mills, the handle is located inside the mill body and must be installed before the mill is used for the first time. Unscrew the bolt at the top of the mill and remove the top, take out the handle, put the top back on, place the handle on top of it and screw the nut on.
All mills listed as pepper mills are made for pepper, but can also grind dried spices. It is generally not recommended to grind spices with a soft core in these mills.
Salt should only be ground in mills listed as salt mills.
The coffee grinders are fitted with a removable container at the bottom to collect the ground coffee.
To insert peppercorns, coffee beans or salt, unscrew the bolt at the top of the mill and remove the top. You can determine the coarseness you want to produce by adjusting the screw at the bottom of the mill. Salt mills are not adjustable.
However, the Chefs Mate model is refilled from the door on the side of the mill and the coarseness is set on the screw at the top of the mill.
Care:
The exterior of brass and copper mills will naturally oxidize and develop a patina over time and through use.
If you want to maintain a bright and new appearance, you can polish the outside of the mill with a soft cloth applied with regular metal polish.
Never wash or immerse the mill in water as water will corrode the mechanism.
Inspiration: Salt mill vs pepper mill – is there a difference in the grinding mechanism? · Pepper mills that grind — not mash.
Relevant products and collections
Our customer service is Kari or Torben.
When you email, text or call us, it is Kari or Torben you reach — with in-depth knowledge of the products and a genuine interest in helping you make the right choices.
If you use the online chat at the bottom of the screen, you will meet an interactive chat that can answer the most common questions right away. You will also find answers in our FAQ and on the product pages.
If you would rather talk to a person, cannot find the answer in the chat, or want a product in a custom size, you are always welcome to contact Kari or Torben directly. If we cannot reply immediately, you will hear from us within a few hours on all weekdays.
Real products – honestly explained
For us, craftsmanship, materials and aesthetics come first. Our images should give you an accurate impression of what you are buying. That is why you also deserve an honest explanation of how we work with product photos.
Where do the images come from?
- Our own photos: We photograph the products from Rune-Jakobsen Woodworks ourselves. They are real, handmade products from our workshop. We also photograph part of the rest of our range ourselves.
- Photos from the makers: For some of the brands we carry, we use the manufacturer's own product images combined with our own photos.
- Customer photos: Now and then, customers send us photos and give us permission to use them. We show them exactly as we received them.
Where do we use AI?
Some of our images have been edited with AI tools. We do this to:
- show the product in a home or kitchen, so you can see it in context
- clean up the background, adjust the lighting and remove dust or distracting reflections
We do not use AI to change a product's shape, size, proportions, material or colour, and we never show AI-generated products that do not exist. Every image is based on a photo of the real product. We compare every AI-edited image with the physical product before it goes live in our shop.
Our images may inspire you – but they must never promise more than the product can deliver.
Images when choosing a variant
Many of our products come in a wide range of sizes and variants, and we do not yet have images of all of them. The image shown for your selection therefore primarily shows the wood species. It does not necessarily show the exact size or design variant.
Every piece is unique
Many of our products are handmade one-of-a-kind pieces, and natural materials such as wood, ceramics and glass vary from piece to piece. That is why the product you receive will never be completely identical to the one in the picture. This is exactly what sets craftsmanship apart from mass production.
Not sure? We're happy to help.
If you have questions about design, size, wood species or special requests, write to us at info@rune-jakobsen.dk. We will gladly advise you before you order.
In brief:
- Fixed prices all year round — no sales, no Black Friday, no discount codes. Buy 3 or more tea towels and get 10% off.
- Payment by MasterCard, VISA, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay, MobilePay and local payment methods. In-stock items are charged on dispatch; Woodworks orders are charged when production starts.
- 30-day right of withdrawal on all products — including made-to-order Woodworks products.
- 2-year right of complaint for manufacturing and material defects under the Danish Sale of Goods Act.
- Seller: Rune-Jakobsen Design ApS, Tiendemarken 14 A, Gudum, 9280 Storvorde, Denmark. CVR 46593359.
In-stock items are dispatched within 1-2 working days. Handmade products are made to order — the current lead time is shown on the product page.
We ship with Postnord/DPD, GLS, DHL or UPS, and you choose the carrier and service level yourself at checkout. Shipping is calculated by weight, dimensions and delivery address — we add no margin to shipping.
Starting price (the final price is calculated at checkout):
- Canada: From 49 CAD.
Read the full shipping policy · Customs, VAT and taxes by country
You have a 30-day right of withdrawal on all products — including made-to-order Woodworks products. Notify us at info@rune-jakobsen.dk within 30 days of receipt; you then have 14 days to return the item unused and undamaged.
You pay the cost of the return shipment yourself, unless it is a complaint. Danish customers can order a return label via Shipmondo. Once we have received the item, we refund the full purchase price.
Return address: Rune-Jakobsen Design ApS, Att.: Kari Rune-Jakobsen, Tiendemarken 14 A, Gudum, 9280 Storvorde, Denmark.
Complaints: Under the Sale of Goods Act you have a 2-year right of complaint for manufacturing and material defects. For a justified complaint we cover the cost of the return shipment.
All orders are shipped from our workshop and warehouse in Denmark.
- Canada: Shipped DAP. GST/HST and any handling fee are collected on import; goods of EU origin are duty-free under CETA.
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Canadian GST/HST is collected by the carrier on delivery — most of our products enter Canada duty-free under the EU–Canada trade agreement (CETA). Shipping (DAP) calculated at checkout
Whole pepper for your pepper mill
