Claims to invention tend to elicit skepticism. The case of the Atlas Pepper Mill, however, is different; its 300-year history and multi-purpose functionality lend it legitimacy. Marked by an all-metal body, distinct top crank and fluted base, the Atlas Pepper Mill has been made in Greece using traditional manufacturing methods for more than three centuries — though grinding pepper was not its initial purpose.
The Atlas Pepper Mill is an adaptation of the portable coffee mills used by Greek soldiers in battle, which, in turn, were a riff on hand-cranked Turkish coffee grinders. Hand-cut steel burrs grind, rather than crush, the contents of the mill, resulting in improved flavor extraction and uniform grounds. While capable of producing ultra-fine grounds, like those needed for brewing Turkish coffee, the Atlas Pepper Mill can be adjusted to yield a coarser grind.
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