While I still have a pepper mill (stone based grinder), I haven't touched it once since I got a mortar and pestle.

It also has the added advantage that I can go completely overboard on black pepper and I love it!

It's a dream of mine to learn enough stoneworking to turn a pair of stones from a local river into a mortar and pestle, ideally without contracting silicosis at the same time. Much cooler than shipping granite mined and cut on the other side of the globe.

good option.

i like that too.

metal ones are also available in india, made of stainless steel and maybe other metals instead.

traditionally, people in india used a thick flat wide stone and a thick cylindrical stone grinder applied back and forth on top of the lower stone, to grind spices, onion, ginger, chilllies, turmeric, etc., into a paste or masala, which was then used in making curries, sambar, and other dishes.