The Grain Mill Company - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the storage life of freshly milled grains?

2009-07-06T11:33:49+12:00

Any flour milled from whole grains contains the germs. These are rich in oils (which is one of the benefits of freshly ground flour) and are prone to oxidation or – more commonly – going rancid. Depending on a few factors you can expect a storage life of 4 to 6 weeks. The main factors that influence the oxidation are:
Temperatur, radiation (light, espec. UV), and surface.

Since flour has a huge surface compared to the intact grain the oils can react much easier and faster with air. To slow down this process, the best way is obviously not to grind the flour until you need it. However, if you decided to mill larger quantaties at a time you want to make sure that the flour is stored in a dark, dry place, as cool as possible.

What is the life time of the stones?

2009-06-18T09:41:37+12:00

The life time of the stones cannot be expressed in years. It rather depends on the amount and the type of grain that you are milling. Chickpeas and rye for example are harder than wheat. Additionally, the stones last longer when using the mill mainly on a coarse setting. You can order new stones from us but before you have to consider an exchange of stones you can expect to grind appr. 1500kg of soft grain with a PICO and even 2000kg with a GRANO / VARIO.

You do not need to exchange the stones as soon as you experience the milled grain to be progressively coarse at a giving setting. You can adjust the position of the stones up to 3 times. For details on how to do that please contact us.

What are the delivery costs?

2009-01-15T11:44:28+13:00

We send most of our orders by courier/post with tracking.

The freight for Whole sacks of grain (15kg or 25kg) is already included in the price.
For everything else the current charges are:

0–5kg: $10
5–10kg: $25
10–25kg: $50
25–50kg: $75
50–200kg: $100

Please contact us for orders over 200kg.

Can one grind poppyseeds, peanuts, herbs, etc in the stone mills?

2007-07-31T00:25:37+12:00

No, the stone mills don’t work well with oily seeds. They can handle a certain amount but generally they would need to be mixed with a grain such as wheat or dinkel.

Is it possible to make quinoa or amaranth flour?

2007-07-31T00:24:31+12:00

Yes, this is no problem at all.

Is it possible to grind chickpeas?

2007-07-31T00:24:03+12:00

Yes, I have done a little test with whole organic chickpeas in the Pico and they mill no problem. It wasn’t the case with the ones I used but some chickpeas may be too large to fit through the hopper in which case they may need to be smashed first with a rolling pin in a plastic bag.

Do you sell grains?

2007-03-29T20:56:07+12:00

Yes, we now sell a range of certified organic whole grains including wheat, spelt/dinkel, rye, buckwheat and barley. Usually we also sell flax seeds (linseed) which are fantastic rolled into flakes through our hand flakers or the Schnitzer Vario. Unfortunately we are unable to source flax seeds (linseed) of good quality at the moment.
We focus on New Zealand grown grains. If you would like other organic grains (amaranth, millet, quinoa, rice etc.) or smaller quantities please contact us directly for availability and prices.
Unfortunately organic oat grain is currently unavailable.

Who is the Grain Mill Company?

2007-03-05T21:27:21+13:00

The Grain Mill Company was founded by Galen and Nicole King and is now run by Jochen and Ute Maurer.

We live in beautiful Golden Bay and will continue to sell Schnitzer and Eschenfelder mills. We like doing this because we want to make these mills available to everyone in New Zealand.

Jochen spends lots of his time making music (leading “ZING” – Golden Bay’s World Music Choir – and teaching piano and guitar), while Ute works in our local organic shop in Takaka.

Do your mills come with a guarantee?

2006-06-01T12:31:02+12:00

Yes, all our mills come with a 12 to 24-month guarantee depending on the model. Mills are guaranteed against manufacturing defects and the guarantee does not cover damage or problems caused by improper use.

How can I pay for my order?

2006-06-01T11:52:55+12:00

We accept direct deposit, cheque or credit card. Orders are shipped once payment has been received in full.