Is the Männkitchen Pepper Cannon Worth It?
Based on tests by America's Test Kitchen (Jun 2025). How we score
Save $140Depends. Cole & Mason Derwent for most people.
Amazon prices as of Sep 30, 2:51 AM EDT (details)
Why
"The fastest pepper mill we’ve ever tested," America's Test Kitchen says: it ground a tablespoon of fine pepper in 60 seconds, where other mills took over 2 minutes. "But the adjustment dial is a pain to use": it sits underneath, with 40 unmarked settings, and the mill is heavy. ATK's winner, the Cole & Mason Derwent, earned full marks for ease of use, grind quality and grind settings for a fraction of the price, and its Best Buy, the OXO Contoured, did too. ATK's advice: "If you regularly make cacio e pepe or other pepper-heavy foods and enjoy specialty gadgets, you’ll love this pepper mill." Splurge if you regularly make cacio e pepe or other pepper-heavy foods; save if you want clearly marked grind settings.
Cheaper alternatives, scored against the Pepper Cannon
Derwent Pepper Mill, 7.5 in, Stainless Steel
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen's winning pepper mill, with full marks for ease of use, grind quality and grind settings. Thanks to its clearly marked grind settings, one tester said, "you know exactly what you’re getting." "We saw clear differences between the pepper ground using the fine, medium, and coarse settings." It isn't as fast as the Pepper Cannon. ATK didn't test long-term durability.
| Criterion | Pepper Cannon | Cole & Mason Derwent |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | 2.5/3 | 3/3 |
| Grind quality | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| Grind settings | 2/3 | 3/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Pepper Mills (updated June 24, 2025)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Pepper Mills (updated June 24, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
Good Grips Contoured Mess-Free Pepper Grinder
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen's Best Buy pepper mill, also with full marks in every category. "You simply slide a big plastic tab along a row of clearly marked grind sizes," and "It’s also a breeze to fill, thanks to a wide opening that’s about 2 inches across." Pepper comes out the top, so it doesn't leave grounds on the counter. ATK didn't test long-term durability.
| Criterion | Pepper Cannon | OXO Contoured |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | 2.5/3 | 3/3 |
| Grind quality | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| Grind settings | 2/3 | 3/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Pepper Mills (updated June 24, 2025)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Pepper Mills (updated June 24, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
Common questions
Is the Pepper Cannon worth it?
Only if you grind a lot of pepper: America's Test Kitchen found it the fastest mill it has tested, but its 40 unmarked settings are a pain to adjust. ATK's winner, the Cole & Mason Derwent, and its Best Buy, the OXO Contoured, earned full marks in every category for a fraction of the price.
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Pepper Mills (updated June 24, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
