There is sometimes a bit of confusion regarding the KitchenAid Grain Mill Attachment so before we get into the specifics let’s reiterate that this is indeed an attachment, not a standalone appliance.
It’s meant to be used in conjunction with your KitchenAid Stand Mixer and won’t do much of anything by itself.
That said, KitchenAid Grain Mill Attachments are designed to grind wheat, oats, rye, rice, corn, barley, millet and other non-oily, low-moisture grains into flour and.
As long as you don’t use it as a coffee grinder or try to make peanut butter , it does an excellent job.
KitchenAid Grain Mill Attachment: General Features
KitchenAid Grain Mill Attachments are the kind of appliance anyone interested baking should have in their kitchen.
It’s incredibly versatile and will open up an array of culinary possibilities that might have previously been closed to you.
1. Materials and Appearance
This is a beautiful appliance that attaches the front end of your KitchenAid Stand Mixer.
The exterior is fashioned from high-quality stainless steel and available in either a satin finish or with a high polish. Everything is built to extremely close tolerances.
There’s no jangling of loose connections or the feeling you have to hold onto it to prevent it from shaking apart, which is sometimes the case with cheap grinders.
It attaches firmly to the Stand Mixer and stays where you put it while you put it through its paces.
2. Assembly
Assembling the unit is easy if you follow the enclosed instructions carefully. Those instructions include illustrations so you don’t make any mistakes.
All that’s required is that you attach the power shaft to the threaded grinder (sometimes called the “grind worm”). Then insert the movable burr into the body of the grain mill.
Attach the front plate, making sure the adjustment knob is properly seated on the front of the shaft, then double check everything. Once you’re sure all is as it should be the Grain Mill is attached to the front of the Mixer.
3. Performance
The knob on the front of the grinder allows you to choose the coarseness of your grind, which for homebrews should be somewhere in the middle (little if any flour, but the inner meal separated from the husk).
As long as you’re sure not to overload it (that means no more than 10 cups of grain at a time) and that you give it adequate time off between milling processes (typically 45 minutes) it will deliver time and again.
4. Dependability
KitchenAid has been making top quality home appliances for decades, and this Grain Mill Attachment is yet another example of their commitment to getting things right.
As long as the Mill is not asked to do things it was not designed to do, i.e., grind coffee or peanuts or oily grains, and you keep it out of the dishwasher, it should provide years of dependable service.
KitchenAid extended warranty is also available.
Pros
- Handsome and well-constructed
- Easy to assemble and use
- Dependable and safe
- Extended warranty available
Any Shortfalls?
As we mentioned above, the KitchenAid Grain Mill KGM is not dishwasher safe. You’ll need to wash the various components by hand and make sure they’re thoroughly dry before reassembling the unit.
In fact, it’s recommended you not to reassemble the unit until you’re ready for your next grind. Also, if you don’t have a Stand Mixer, you’ll need to get one because you can’t use this KitchenAid Mill Attachment without it.
If purchasing both the stand mixer and attachment is a pain for you, you can check out our reviews on other grain mill for homebrewing units.
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
- May require purchase of KitchenAid Stand Mixer
KitchenAid Grain Mill Attachment Review: Is It Worth Buying?
If you are interested in making your own homebrew you’ll need a high-quality grinder, and the KitchenAid Grain Mill Attachment is as good as consumer-grade grain mills get.
It’s well engineered, well built, versatile, dependable and comes with a comprehensive warranty that can be extended and enhanced. (Although the odds you’ll ever need the warranty are slim.)
It’s attractive, effective (doesn’t typically spit husks out all over your counter and floor) and produces large amounts of ideal crush in a short period of time.
If you’re serious about homebrew you’ll want the KitchenAid Grain Mill Attachment.