Choosing the Right KoMo Grain Mill for You!

You're eager to get started milling your own flour at home, but where do you start? You've read the information, seen the videos, maybe even tasted the difference in fresh milled flour already. How do you know which machine is the best fit for what you need?

First, for those who may not know, there are a few different types of flour mills.

Three of the main ones you'll see on the market, are impact mills, burr grinders, and stone mills. Burr Grinders will produce a fine flour, but also tend to generate heat which can compromise the nutrients in the flour as it's ground. Impact and Stone mills do not generate as much heat and are much better for retaining the nutrient value in what you're milling. But the biggest difference between an Impact mill and a Stone mill, is that an impact mill has one setting = fine flour. Where as a stone mill, will often allow versatility in how fine or coarse you want your flour to be so you can mill a fine pastry flour, or you can leave a cracked grain blend to add into your breads.

Personally, I love the versatility and durability that comes with a stone mill! And we've chosen to use a KoMo mill in our own kitchen, because they produce an incredibly high quality, and beautiful grain mill with a great warranty policy, but also because they are a family-run business who takes pride in everything they produce. 

KoMo uses what's called a corundum ceramic stone in their mills, which embeds the mineral corundum into a ceramic base, and kiln fires into a solid and incredibly resilient stone. It's very easy to set the stones to your desired grind as well, by simply turning the hopper one way or the other. 

How do I know which KoMo to purchase?

The first, and most important question we ask, is;

 WHAT do you want to mill, and HOW MUCH do you plan to mill at one time? 

Generally speaking, there are 3 household-size categories that we can lump Komo's grain mills into, and they're each based on motor size. And the reason we start with motor sizes, is because all of KoMo’s mills have an auto-shut-down protection feature that shuts the motor off when it overheats. If this happens, don't panic! It is not critical to the machine, simply allow it to cool down and it should turn back on again. However, if this limit is hit continuously, it can be detrimental to the motor and will potentially compromise your warranty. So please read through so that you can be confident on which size fits your needs, to not only protect your investment but to offer peace of mind as you dive into all things fresh-milled!

First, you have the 250 Watt Motors.

Second, you have the 360 Watt Motors.

This size is by far the most common and most universal, and has the most model options; Fidibus Classic, Fidibus Medium, KomoMio, PK1, KomoMio Eco Plus, FidiFloc Medium and Duett 100. They’re great for households between 2-6 people, depending on how much baking is done of course! Suitable for both hard and soft grains, so you can use this mill for ancient wheats, hard and soft wheat varieties, legumes, coffee beans, etc. Generally speaking, you can run them for around an hour give or take, approx 20 lbs. of flour at a time before hitting it's limit. So consider if you plan to mill once and stock up on flour so you don't have to mill during the week, or if you plan to leave it on the counter and mill each recipe as it's needed. Personally, I have used the 360 watt in my own kitchen, with a household of 5 people, baking approx 10-15 loaves/week plus muffins and cookies - but milling only for each recipe at a time - and I haven't had any issues with overheating. If you plan to batch-mill, or want to leave your options open to mill more in the future, I would recommend upleveling to the 600 watt. 

I will also add, that the really hard grains like corn and legumes, can be especially hard and require even more motor power. The 360 watt can handle small quantities of these, but are more likely to cause the motor to overheat. If you plan to mill a good amount of these items specifically, I would recommend the 600 watt motor.

Which brings us to the third category, the 600 Watt Motors

These are the powerhouse mills that will allow you to run them for a couple hours at a time, and are great for all types of hard and soft grains, including the corn and legumes. Including the FIdibus XL and Duett 200 models, these are the best option for large households, or for those wanting to share their baking outside of the home, and anyone who wants to mill many different types of grains without limitations!

The Fidibus XL Plus, is a step up even further, as it holds a 600 watt motor, but also has a cooling fan that keeps the motor from overheating. The Fidibus XL Plus is considered a commercial-size mill along with the Jumbo Mill, as they are best suited for a small bistro or a micro bakery and as a result, carry a 3 year warranty rather than the 12 year for household use.

Anyway, once you determine which motor size you need...

All of KoMo's mills have similar design, function and milling capacity. Some of the specs may differ slightly, but the variation in prices between models in each motor size category, is a reflection primarily of the materials used to house the motor. Solid Beechwood with dovetail corners vs Beech Plywood and Recycled plastic have huge price differences. Cork hoppers are much more cost effective than Wooden ones. So which model you choose within that motor category, is entirely dependent on your budget, and aesthetic preferences.

Ultimately, making the decision to purchase a grain mill, is making an investment. For some, it's investing in your health & wellbeing, for others, it's curiosity and enjoyment in making food at home, but for many, it's also a financial investment. Keep in mind as you make your decision, that the more excited you are to see that mill on your kitchen counter, the more likely you will be to use it!

It's WORTH the investment!

If you have any questions or want specific advice, reach out to us!

We are always happy to help!