The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Electric grain mills; Mockmill, Lee S-700, KoMo or ....

Sid Post's picture
Sid Post

Electric grain mills; Mockmill, Lee S-700, KoMo or ....

Mockmill: http://pleasanthillgrain.com/mockmill-kitchenaid-grain-mill-best-attachments-accessories

Lee S-700: http://www.organicsbylee.com/HomeMillMachine/Colors

Komo: http://pleasanthillgrain.com/komo-fidibus-21-grain-mill-flour-grinder

 

After doing a lot of reading and thinking about grain mills, I have run across a couple of new to me options.  The price points are a lot better so, it makes getting a flaker at the same time easier.  However, I don't see a lot of credible reviews on them.

While the KoMo is well reviewed and a safe option for me, I am curious about the Lee S-700 which seems to be much more attractive now with its Pyrex bowl versus the flour sack on prior models and, the Mockmill looks promising considering its designer.

Is anyone actually using the Mockmill on this site?  How does it compare to the popular grinding options?  At $200 retail, is it too good to be true?  I'm sure using a Kitchenaide mixer lowers the manufacturing cost a lot and I have one so, this mill is a good potential option for me.  However, it appears that the Lee S6/S-700 may in fact offer a better grind for flour.  Finally I have the KoMo which seems to hit the middle ground in terms of price but, how does it compare to the Mockmill and Lee S-700?

 

TIA,

Sid

barryvabeach's picture
barryvabeach

Though I haven't used one, there have been a few reviews of the mock mill, and they are pretty positive.  It  won't be up to the same volume as the Komo and Lee s-700, since it uses smaller stones.   I have a Komo, and a few older Lees.  The Komo is faster in grinding grain, and much nicer looking, and will likely take up less space than the new Lee  ( it says it is smaller than the old models, but I haven't checked the specs )   When set to the finest setting, my Lees grind flour that is finer than the Komo, though it takes quite a bit longer.  Note that while the Komo will dump into an open bowl, the Lee will discharge into  a bowl that has to be covered with a dust shroud, otherwise the flour will dump everywhere.  The Komo uses a pretty heavy duty motor, and carries a very long warranty.  The Lee uses a less heavy duty motor, IIRC, the warranty is 1 or 2 years.  

Sid Post's picture
Sid Post

The Lee S-700 web page says it uses 746W while the PDF manual says it is 500W.  The "product featuers" says:

  • Stationary mill stone disc extraordinarily fine flour—verified through lab testing to mill finer than any other home flour mills. The flour produced is as fine as commercially milled flours.
  • Adjustable from coarse milling to extra fine milling
  • 3/4 horsepower US-made motor with overheat protection
  • Quieter than the original Lee Flour Mill, and quieter than most food processors
  • Easy disassembly for fast thorough cleanup
  • Washable milling disc and feed valve assembly
  • 16 quart Pyrex collecting bowl (can also be used as a mixing bowl)
  • Sized to fit under standard kitchen cabinets
  • Made entirely in the United States of America
  • Meets UL safety standards

It's dimensions are 9.3" W x 13.8" D x 17.6" H

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The KoMo classic:

Milling rate for bread flour texture8-9 oz/min
Hopper fill capacity (wheat)2 lb 1 oz (level, lid on)
Dia. of corundum-ceramic mill stones3.35"
Industrial motor electric rating, watts360W (1/2 HP)
Weight15 lb 4 oz
Max. height of bowl at spout5.5"
Dimensions (W x D x H)7.8" x 8.5" x 13.5" (including spout)
Warranty 12 years

barryvabeach's picture
barryvabeach

Sid, so it appears the Komo is more compact than the Lee.  The motor comparison is not really apples to apples for two reasons.  First, the Komo uses an induction motor, which is much more durable than the universal motor in the Lee and you can't compare a 1/2 hp induction motor to a 1/2 hp universal motor. Second,  the Komo spins one stone held very closely to a stationary stone, and the berries pass between the two stones, on the Lee, the motor spins a disc that throughs the berries against a stationary stone, and keeps throwing the remnants against that stone until they are fine enough to pass through a "screen" at the back.  It is not really a screen, but it works in a similar manner.  So even if they both used the same type of motor, the loads placed on the motor while milling would be pretty different.  I am not a fan of the photo of the Lee, since in use, there is a dust shroud that goes over the bowl. In contrast, the Komo dumps right into an open bowl. 

 

BTW,  I just checked the PHG site, and they say the stones on the Mockmill are 3.14 in diameter, which is only slightly smaller than the Komo classic, and Breadtopia claims it mills at about 70% of the output of the Komo.  I had no idea the stones were that wide, it is hard to tell the size from the photos.  

Sid Post's picture
Sid Post

Thanks Barry!  As I did my research, I became aware of the fixed stationary stone of the Lee.  I forget what it is called (atomization?) but, that put me off a little because I think metal burrs or two stones is a better option for home grinders and would allow me to tailor the flour texture better.  I doubt I would ever 'double' mill but, that isn't really possible with the Lee either.

Also, as you noted I was a bit leery of the of the motor ratings, watts of electricity usage, watts of power and, horsepower ratings.  This seemed like audio amplifiers claiming watts without specifying distortion levels or amplifier class.  The engineering geek in me starts to come out with things like this though, I'm really here for the better bread and higher nutrition I can get by making my own and starting with known ingredients.

I guess this really only leaves me with the KoMo models since I'm thinking a Mockmill is a bit limited for things I am likely to growing into with more bread making experience and, it's possible the higher volume might come in handy for weekend farmers markets.  This leaves me with a mid-priced choice KoMo or, possibly stepping up to a GrainMaker but, at over twice the price point I'm having a hard time rationalizing that option.

 

Best Regards,

Sid

Promise's picture
Promise

I've been researching grain mills as well of late. I'd love a Komo, but I'm leaning towards the Mockmill KA attachment due to cost as I just don't bake a high enough volume to justify the Komo. Just wanted to let you know, Sid, that since you're interested in getting flaker as well, is that Komo has four models of mill-flaker combinations, two that have a combined electric flaker, and two with a combined manual flaker. 

Sid Post's picture
Sid Post

The combo models are really too expensive for me.  I'm most likely going to buy the KoMo Flocino flaker.  At ~$140 delivered, its hard to beat for the volume I expect to do.  And, this leaves me with more money to spend on a great grinder which I will use a lot more.

barryvabeach's picture
barryvabeach

Sid, sorry I was not clear,   actually,  I think the Lee is the best overall design. While it does use a universal motor, that is part of the design of the feed mechanism.  With the Komo, or any other two stone ( or two steel burrs)  system, the two stones are never exactly in the same plane, so there is always a slight variation in the fineness of the flour that comes out, no matter what the setting.  The brilliance of the Lee is that the stone does not move, in essence, it keeps throwing the berries, and the  remnants at the stone over and over until the resulting flour is fine enough to fit through the slot at the back.  So the Lee, at least in theory has the best adjustment system.A used Lee is an excellent value, one recently sold for about $133.  Make sure you get an adjustable if you go that route.

snichols's picture
snichols

Hi Sid, barryvabeach and promise, 

We are working to update the version of the operator manual posted on the website - I apologize for not having the latest one available. We increased our wattage rating as a result of UL testing.

The correct horsepower rating is 746W, which converts to 1 HP. The universal motor works in conjunction with Dr. Lee's centrifugal governor. As motor load increases, RPMs drop, slowing grain flow into the chamber, which creates a consistent flour texture.

I also hope to update the website with our 15 year limited warranty - it is in its final stages of approval and will be posted soon.

Please let me know if there are any questions I can answer.

I've enjoyed reading the tread,

Steve Nichols, Lee Engineering