Electric Grain Mill: How Fine Can It Really Grind Flour?

An electric grain mill is a great way to make fresh flour at home while keeping full control over quality and ingredients. One of the most common questions customers ask is: How fine can a grain mill actually grind?

Below, we explain what really matters and clear up some common misunderstandings.

Important: Electric grain mills produce whole grain flour. They do not produce refined flour such as all-purpose flour, bread flour, or cake flour, which are industrially processed and have the bran removed.

What kind of flour does an electric grain mill produce?

An electric grain mill always produces whole grain flour.

This means:

• The entire grain is milled
• All components remain included, including the bran

Very fine, sifted white flour such as all-purpose flour, bread flour, cake flour, or pastry flour cannot be produced directly with a grain mill.

Refined flour of this kind cannot be produced with a household grain mill, because the entire grain is always milled.

Some users sift the flour after milling to reduce the bran content. However, even after sifting, it still remains whole grain flour.

Do all electric grain mills grind equally fine?

Yes – within a model series, the fineness of the flour is the same.

For example, with the Schnitzer Cerealo series:

• All models (100 / 125 / 200) produce equally fine flour
• The differences are only in motor power, grinding capacity, and mill size

More power does not mean finer flour – it only means faster grinding.

How do you achieve the finest possible flour?

Fineness depends heavily on correct use.

For the best possible result:

• Start the mill empty on a coarse setting
• While the mill is running, gradually adjust to the finest setting
• Adjust until the stones begin to lightly touch, then turn slightly back
• Only then slowly add the grain

This ensures the mill is operating at its finest possible setting.

A slight grinding sound at this point is normal and helps identify the correct setting. After milling, no grinding sound should be heard while the mill is running empty.

Why does grain dryness matter?

One of the most important factors is the moisture level of the grain.

The drier the grain, the finer the flour.

If needed, grain can be gently dried using residual oven heat below 50°C / 122°F.

Which grains produce the finest flour?

Not all grains behave the same during milling.

• Finer results: Spelt, rye, buckwheat, and oats
• Slightly coarser results: Wheat, durum wheat, Kamut, and rice

Oats should not be milled on the very finest setting, as the millstones can become smeared due to the natural fat content. The flour will still be fine, but may have a softer, powdery texture.

Should you mill grain twice?

In most cases, re-milling is not necessary.

• It is only recommended for very hard or large grains such as corn or legumes
• For normal grains, it is not recommended because it can clog the mill and reduce material flow

Common misunderstandings about grain mills

Many customers compare the result directly to store-bought flour. This often leads to unrealistic expectations.

• Whole grain flour naturally has a different texture because the bran remains included
• It may feel less powdery than refined white flour
• This difference in texture is normal and expected when milling whole grain flour
• This is completely normal and does not indicate a defect

If the flour appears coarser than expected, the most common reasons are:

• The grain is not dry enough
• The mill is not adjusted correctly to the finest setting
• The grain is added too quickly

It is also important to note that different grains produce different results.

Which electric grain mill should you choose?

Depending on your needs, there are several reliable options:

• Schnitzer Cerealo Grain Mill
• Hawos Easy
• Hawos Oktagon 1
• Hawos Mühle 1

All of these mills produce fine flour. The main differences are performance, speed, and capacity.

Conclusion: How fine is flour from an electric grain mill?

• It produces very fine whole grain flour
• It is not as fine as industrial white flour such as all-purpose flour
• All models in the same series grind equally fine
• Fineness depends on use, grain type, and grain dryness
• Motor power affects speed, not fineness

These characteristics are typical for all household grain mills and are not a defect.

If these factors are taken into account, an electric grain mill can deliver excellent results for fresh flour at home.