A granite mortar and pestle on a bamboo base, sized for the amounts a home cook actually makes. The bowl holds 350 ml, the pestle is long enough to grip without your knuckles reaching the rim, and the base grips the counter instead of sliding across it. Cleaning brush included.
What it's made of
Gramercy by Gütewerk. Solid granite, polished outside and left lightly textured inside, on a detachable bamboo base with silicone grip dots. At 2.87 kg the set has the mass to do the work for you: a light mortar bounces, a heavy one crushes. The stone is food-safe and unglazed, so it takes no coating that can wear through.
Why the textured interior matters
A polished bowl looks better in a photograph and performs worse in a kitchen. Peppercorns, cumin and coriander seeds skid across a smooth surface instead of breaking. The interior here is deliberately left rough so seeds stay where you put them, and the pestle head is shaped to the bowl's curve so it makes contact across the whole face rather than just the centre.
How it's used
Start with a press and twist rather than a hammer blow: you are crushing, not smashing. Whole spices go in dry. Garlic and salt together make a paste in under a minute. Basil, pine nuts and oil make pesto that tastes different from the blender version, because the stone bruises the leaves instead of cutting them. For guacamole, mash the avocado in the bowl and serve from it.
Care
Season it before first use: grind a spoonful of rice to a powder, discard, and repeat until the powder stays white. That clears the loose grit every new granite mortar carries. Afterwards, rinse with water and use the included brush. No soap, because unglazed stone holds the smell of detergent and passes it to the next thing you grind. Dry it before storing. It is not dishwasher safe, and the bamboo base should not be soaked.
Not suitable for
Large batches: 350 ml is right for a household, not for catering. Also unsuited to very wet mixtures that would slosh, to being used as a serving bowl for anything acidic left standing, and to the dishwasher. If you want to grind a kilo of spice at a time, this is the wrong tool.
Specifications
| Bowl capacity |
350 ml (1.5 cups) |
| Bowl diameter |
14 cm |
| Height |
9.9 cm |
| Pestle length |
15.5 cm |
| Weight |
2.87 kg (complete set) |
| Bowl material |
Granite, polished exterior, textured interior |
| Base material |
Bamboo, detachable, with silicone grip dots |
| Colour |
Black |
| Heat resistance |
Up to 343 °C |
| Dishwasher |
No, rinse and brush only |
| Soap |
No, unglazed stone absorbs detergent |
| In the box |
Granite mortar, extra-long granite pestle, bamboo base, natural-bristle cleaning brush, user manual |
| Model number |
MPB01 |
| Warranty |
2 years |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to season it before first use?
Yes. Grind a spoonful of uncooked rice to powder, discard it, and repeat until the powder comes out white rather than grey. Every new granite mortar carries loose grit and this clears it.
Can I wash it with soap?
No. Unglazed granite absorbs detergent and will pass the taste to whatever you grind next. Rinse with water, use the included brush, dry before storing.
Is 350 ml big enough?
For a household, yes: guacamole for four, a batch of pesto, a curry paste, spices for a meal. If you cook in catering quantities, you want something larger.
Why is the inside rough?
Friction. A polished interior lets peppercorns and seeds slide instead of breaking. The texture holds them in place so they grind in fewer strokes.
Does the bamboo base come off?
Yes, it detaches for cleaning. The silicone dots underneath keep the set still on the counter and stop the stone scratching the worktop.
Can it go in the dishwasher?
No. Neither the stone nor the bamboo base should go in, and the base should not be soaked.
What can I actually make in it?
Guacamole, salsa, pesto, curry and spice pastes, garlic and salt paste, crushed whole spices, bruised herbs. Anything where you want texture rather than the uniform purée a blender gives.
