I would like to buy a mortar and pestle for a variety of kitchen tasks where a blender is too much but ordinary utensils are not enough. For example, mushing spices together, cracking peppercorns, crushing small quantities of things (e.g. a handful of nuts)... I know mustachians cook frequently and sometimes seriously, and don't like spending money on silly things, so I thought I'd ask for advice before splashing out. If it makes a difference, I have small hands and not a lot of strength.
What material should I get? The internet seems to say granite, but I just thought I'd check. My parents have a porcelain one and it kind of sucks because you can never get a good grip-n-smush action on anything because it's so light and slippery.
What size and shape should I go for? This is what I'm really struggling with. At the moment I'm just dealing with pinches or scant handfuls of things, but maybe I would want to do larger things in the future if I like it, and I don't want to end up buying a whole series. The internet is very divided as to whether a flatter shape or a taller, enclosed shape is better. My guess is somewhere in the middle...? I'm also wondering about the pestle - are some shapes or dimensions better than others?
How can I tell if one is good quality? I'm looking at second hand ones first, but I don't really know what to look for to tell if they will work and last. I'll buy new if it's worth it, though.
How do I clean them? Hand wash as normal or do they need special attention?