Hario Skerton
vs
Hario Mini Mill
Hario is a popular Japanese company that was founded in 1921. They manufacture glassware products for general consumption and industrial uses. They have created a number of awesome manual burr grinders. These grinders offer great value for the cost. They allow people who are on a budget to grind their whole coffee beans and get the best tasting coffee possible.
The Skerton and the Mini Mill are two of the most popular Hario coffee grinders. They are highly portable and made so simply that you can start using them as soon as you purchase them. But many people feel that it is unclear as to which of these two is best for them. This is why we have created our Hario Skerton vs Mini Mill comparison.
In this comparison, we have collected all of the information needed about these coffee grinders so that you can make a decision as to which is best for you.
Hario Skerton vs Mini Mill
Why Use a Manual Burr Grinder?
A burr grinder is one that has a ceramic piece with grooves that grind into the coffee beans. Burr pieces are very popular with manual grinders. They are highly effective in producing the level of grind that you choose to have.
In a burr grinder, there is normally a dial which you can set to a particular grind affinity. You could choose anywhere from very fine to very coarse. The advantages of this is that you will have just the right consistency to use your particular coffee maker. For example, you might want a medium coarseness for your drip coffee maker, while a very coarse grind would be best for a French press.
There are many different types of burr grinders. Some burr grinders are electric, which can be noisy, as well as expensive. Electric burr grinders cannot be used while camping, and are cumbersome to take to work. This is where a manual burr grinder can make life so much better.
Hario Skerton and Mini Mill Comparison
In order to compare these two grinders, we are going to make a list of their differentiating features. This way, you can really tell the difference and actually decide which one would be best for you.
Hario Skerton Features
As you will see, the Skerton is the one that produces more grind volume. But it is also larger and breakable due to it being made of glass.
- Coffee volume: With the Skerton, you can grind 60 grams of coffee beans at a time. This is more than twice the amount of coffee that you can grind with the Mini Mill. If you are going to be making coffee for several people at a time, this one maybe for you. It will save you time and effort.
- Rubber boot: There is a large rubber boot at the bottom of the glass grind holder. This makes it easier to grind your coffee on an even surface. This way, the grinder will not slide and will make it easier on your hands.
- Wider and heavier: The size of the Skerton is wider than the Mini Mill. It will not fit into tight spaces the way that the Mini Mill will.
- Made of glass: The Skerton is also made of glass, and is thus more breakable than the Mini Mill.
Mini Mill Features
The Mini Mill is the smallest and lightest of the two. It also features a plastic cup instead of a glass one.
- Coffee volume: The Mini Mill can hold 24 grams of coffee beans one at of time. This means that it is half the size of the Skerton.
- Made of plastic: Since the Mini Mill is made of plastic, it is safe to take with you on a camping trip.
- Lightweight: The Mini Mill is much lighter than the Skerton.
- Storage: The Mini Mill is especially made to be compact and to fit into tight spaces. The handle of the top is also removable to make way for even more space.
- Fits into an Aeropress: The grinder fits directly into the Aeropress coffee maker.
- Even coarse grind: While both of these grinders can create fine grinds to coarse grinds, the Mini Mill is particularly good with the coarse grinds. This is due to the fact that the ceramic burr is spring loaded. We mean this in the sense that the coarse grinds will turn out more even than with the Skerton. This makes it great for use with a French Press.
Price Comparison
The prices of these manual grinders are pretty comparable. If you would like to see their current prices on Amazon, please see below:
The Verdict
The differences between these two manual Grinders is pretty clear. While the Skerton allows you to grind many coffee beans at a time, it is also the most breakable. Taking the Skerton out on a camping trip might be tricky because it is made of glass. On the other hand, the Mini Mill is made entirely of plastic and is more lightweight. But it also does not grind nearly as many coffee beans at a time.
Both are pretty comparable when it comes to quality. Perhaps the biggest difference in quality would be that the Mini Mill has a spring-loaded ceramic burr. This means that the grinds will be a bit more even than with the Skerton.
The choice to be made depends on your own personal preferences and how you will want to use it