UPDATE 1/4/17: After two years of so, this grinder is still holding up like a champ! I'm actually using it a lot more because I'm using this to grind my cold brew. Because cold brews use more coffee beans, this grinder is getting more exercise every week!
Why spend over $200-$300 on a burr grinder to grind coffee for yourself when you can get nearly the same results with this $33 Hario manual coffee grinder? Personally, I don't really know but if you had the money, I guess you really wouldn't care in the first place. If you are looking for one of the cheapest yet best way to grind your coffee beans each morning, look no further than the Hario MSS-1B Mini Mill. The results you'd get with this manual grinder can rival that of machines that costs double to triple the amount of this utility and in some cases, I am willing to bet those machines will lose in a grind off competition (results of grind, not speed).
Pros:
- This is perfect for those one to two cuppers like myself. I actually wanted to get a cheap electronic grinder and there are even some that are cheaper than this manual grinder! However, I think it was ridiculous to get one just for myself since no one else needs it.
- A burr grinder like this beats a blade grinder. From my knowledge, a blade grinder simply just "chops/hacks" up your coffee beans into tiny pieces. The results you'd get by using this method might not be consistent every time. A burr grinder on the other hand does not simply chop but actually "crushes" your beans. You'd get a much more consistent result. Also, because this manual grinder is powered by your hands and not an electric motor, there is less heat generated when you crush the beans. The hotter it gets when you crush/chop the beans actually decreases the quality of your cup of coffee.
- This grinder is not hard at all to grind. Please do not listen to the user reviews that claim this grinder is slow at grinding. I believe I can get a cup's worth of grinds in less than a minute or so and I didn't have to turn on super saiyan mode to do it. Although of course, the finer your grind, the more time will be needed. What I found odd was that your hand that actually cranks the handle round and round does not get tired. Instead, the hand that you hold the grinder actually gets tired! This is because you'd have to grip the grinder pretty tight in order for it not to wobble when you turn the handle. To be exact, it's your forearm that gets tired. So if you are right handed like me, then you would most likely hold the grinder with your left hand and it is your left forearm that would get tired. The fact that it has a cover helps a whole lot. I find it easier to slightly tilt the grinder while cranking away and the cover prevents the beans from flying out. While you can grind from a straight position and from a flat surface, I find that it's much harder to do it this way.
- Switching between grind levels is extremely easy as you simply hold the center of the handle with your thumb and twist the nut at the bottom of the grinder either left or right. To grind fine, you'd turn it right. For a coarse grind, you'd go left. Once you find the right combination for your drip and espresso, you'd just have to remember how many "clicks" you'd have to go for each one starting from the tightest position (rightmost position). For example, I use three clicks for my espresso grind. For my french press, I use 9 clicks. All I have to remember is which position I last set the grinder to. If its espresso, then I'd obviously just twist it to the left for 6 clicks (3+6=9) for my french press. To go back to an espresso grind, I'd twist it to the right for 6 clicks (9-6=3). It's that simple.
- The grind consistency you'd get from this grinder is very, very good. When it comes to espresso grinds, I am extremely pleased with this device. At 3 clicks, the grind is almost to a powder level and very fluffy in consistency. I can't imagine how the grinds will look like at just 1 click! Since everyone treats their coffee beans differently, you'd obviously have to play around with the settings a bit to get what you'd want. If you want absolutely control over your grinds, this is perfect for you perfectionists out there.
- Due to its small form factor, you can bring this with you wherever you go and still be able to enjoy fresh coffee every morning! Also, the noise level is at an extreme minimum. You can safely grind coffee in the morning without your neighbors thinking world war III just started.
Cons:
- The only con I can think of is the clean up process. While it's not extremely hard to do, it can be a hassle. The good news is that you can take this grinder completely apart. Each part is washable. For a good heads up video, simply search on Youtube for "Hario Mini Mill" and there is an awesome instructional video by Hario themselves showing you how to take apart as well as putting the unit back together piece by piece. The ceramic burr is a bit harder to clean because coffee grinds just cling to it, especially if you do a fine grind. Therefore, a simple "rinse" under the water isn't going to help at all. You'd need to actually soak it in hot water with some mild detergent to remove it. All the other parts you can easily rinse with water to clean if you wish. Personally, I'm not diligent enough to take apart this grinder for a wash after each grind. I'd probably do it each week or so.
As you can see, the amount of pro's clearly outweigh the con's. As long as this device holds up and doesn't break, I'd be a very happy guy. As long as you understand the audience this coffee grinder is meant for and if you find yourself fitting in that audience, you should come away satisfied as well.
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From the manufacturer
In Japanese, HARIO means 'The King of Glass'
Made in Japan,Design in Japan.
Hario Mini Mill Slim Hand Coffee Grinder
- When not in use, you can store the grinder without the handle
- Easy to clean and use
- Space save with slim design
- Sleek, slim design makes it easy for storage
- Ceramic Mill
- Beautiful ceramic mill, does not rust
- Consistent grind for perfect, fresh coffee
Videos
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4:33
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Customer Review: Used Daily... Since 2013
Kit Badger
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A coffee lovers honest opinion
The Bertz Family at Stone Harbor Resort
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1:31
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Best Manual vs. Electric Coffee Grinder #thisorthat
👌SJF Reflections
Reviews with images
Too easy and too good!
My only previous experience with a coffee grinder was an old blade style that turned beans to powder. Good for espresso I guess but was a mess in my French press. At recommendation of my children, I looked at the burr grinders and opted to try a manual model for less noise and as I am only brewing for 1. In just a couple minutes I have grounds (adjustable to make them large for my press). Recommend this!
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Top reviews from other countries
Jonathan Markevich
Easy, fast, compact and great grind
Reviewed in Canada on February 12, 2024Pattern Name: Single ItemVerified Purchase
Jonathan Hernandez Moreira
100% recomendado para empezar a calibrar espresso
Reviewed in Mexico on August 6, 2022Pattern Name: Single ItemVerified Purchase
Amazon Customer
Unbeatable for the price
Reviewed in Australia on April 6, 2023Pattern Name: Single ItemVerified Purchase
Chong jer rong
Broke within 3 uses
Reviewed in Singapore on November 8, 2020Pattern Name: Single ItemVerified Purchase
