Ultra Wet Grinders review

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Ultra Wet Grinders review

This post compares two Ultra wet grinders 18 years apart — the reliable old Ultra Pride and the newer Ultra Fastgrind, bought sight unseen during a short trip to India.

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This post compares and reviews two Ultra wet grinders: Ultra Fastgrind versus Ultra Pride. A review of the newer model, Ultra Fastgrind, went up a few weeks earlier — the benefits of wet grinding were also covered in an earlier post, so those details won’t be repeated here.

The older Ultra Pride model was an excellent addition to the kitchen, used for 18 years and still working despite the wear and tear. After running into a few small problems with it recently, the search began for a new model, and after a lot of deliberation, the latest technology from Elgi Ultra — the Fastgrind — was the final choice.

Reasons for Choosing the Ultra Fastgrind

It might sound silly, but after spending hours online researching different wet grinders over months, a decision had to be made quickly given a short stay in India at the time. There was also a wish to test the grinder at least once before leaving India, in case of any problems — so the Ultra Fastgrind ended up bought entirely blind, without ever seeing it in a showroom. The model specifications were studied on Elgi Ultra’s own website before ordering, and a short demo video on YouTube helped give a rough idea of how the grinder worked. No neutral reviews existed yet for this particular model at the time. In hindsight, after weighing the pros and cons, it turned out to be the right call — the extra features on this model are genuinely incomparable to older Elgi Ultra models.

Ultra Pride Wet Grinder Details

Since Elgi Ultra no longer manufactures the Ultra Pride, a similar model is included here for comparison instead. The only real difference between them is the dimensions — Ultra Pride measures 40cm wide, 25cm deep, and 25cm tall.

For Indian customers, the closest equivalent is the Elgi Ultra Micro. For US customers, there’s a 110V Elgi Ultra Micro wet grinder too.

Ultra Fastgrind Wet Grinder Details

Detailed specifications for the Ultra Fastgrind are available directly on Elgi Ultra’s website. At present, the Ultra Fastgrind seems to only be available in 230V, which is a real disappointment for US and Canadian buyers.

Comparing the Two Ultra Wet Grinders

Supplies List

Ultra Pride (18 years old)
Ultra Fastgrind (new model)
Elgi Ultra spec sheets
YouTube demo video

Instructions

Grinding Time:
The Ultra Fastgrind grinds batters in 15 minutes or less.
Batter Scraper Attachment:
A genuine plus — it constantly scrapes the batter while grinding, keeping everything moving evenly.
Timer Function:
A great feature, with a default 14-minute timer that starts as soon as the grinder is switched on — though some other Ultra models also include this.
Batter Quality:
The batter from the Fastgrind turned out fluffy, and was ground in under 15 minutes.
Counter Space:
The Fastgrind is taller and needs more vertical space on the kitchen counter than other models. Smaller, older models — like the Ultra Pride previously used here — can be tucked away inside a cabinet instead.
Water Feeding Slot:
The batter tester spatula slot doubles as an opening for feeding in water, so there’s no need to open the entire lid just for that.
Pouring the Batter:
The wedge where the grinding drum sits can also be used to pour out the finished batter, though it’s not the most stable way to do it.
Grinding Mechanism:
In other models, only the grinding drum rotates during grinding. In the Ultra Fastgrind, both the grinding stone and the drum rotate simultaneously.

More Ultra Fastgrind Recipes

The full wet grinder comparison is also covered on video, worth checking out for a closer look at both models side by side. For recipes made using the Ultra Fastgrind, idli, medu vada, and the chutney/masala feature are all worth a look.

Conclusion: Is It Worth It?

Worth it for the features: the extra functionality on the Ultra Fastgrind, like the timer and constant scraping, is hard to match against older models.
Factor in the price difference: the Fastgrind runs about Rs. 1000 more than other models, and suits a family of 3 or 4 well.
Check your counter space first: if there’s enough vertical room, storing it away isn’t a big problem — though a sleeker, food-processor-like design would be a welcome improvement.
Consider a smaller model if space is tight: plenty of other options exist, so it really comes down to price and need.