The mechanical behavior of dry, ultrafine cohesive powders (particle size d10m) is characterized by insufficient flowability and large compressibility. Consequently, a comparatively large energy input is necessary to promote the non-rapid frictional shear flow in powder handling practice. A micro-mechanical approach is briefly explained first. When two adhesive particles come in contact, the constitutive models of four characteristic stressing modes, namely, normal compression and detachment (tension), tangential sliding, rolling moment, and spinning (torsion) are modeled. Next, the consequences of elastic-dissipative, elastic-plastic, frictional unloading and reloading paths of normal and tangential contact forces, rolling, and torsional contact moments are discussed with respect to energy absorption. The total microscopic energy absorption comprises contributions by elastic-dissipative hysteresis due to microslip within the contact plane and by fully developed friction work when the friction limits of displacements are exceeded during contact sliding, particle rolling, or rotation. With increasing contact flattening by normal load, these friction limits, hysteresis, and friction work increase. These microscopic data are in agreement with the macroscopic specific compression and shear work of limestone powder obtained by shear tests. Thus, understanding of the micro-mechanics of particle adhesion is essential to assess macroscopic powder product quality and to improve process performance in particle technology.