I have a small espresso maker that I was using a looong time ago and complemented it with a Rancillo Rocky burr grinder. The grinder is heavy, loud, takes up counter space and is not portable. Not the ideal grinder for one cup at a time which is how I'm making coffee these days.
Costa Rican medium dark roast ready for grinding
The Hario Mini Mill is a hand held manual burr grinder. It has ceramic burrs which do not need sharpening and will last a long time.
It is a simple device with a few components
Back view of the grinder itself. You just twist the 3 sided nut to adjust the grind from fine to coarse.
It is easy to take apart for cleaning out the burrs once in a while.
It only produces about 2 cups of coffee when filled to the #2 indicator in the collector. (But it is enough to get you started!)
Here is a view of the grind. It is a bit on the course side as I was playing with the adjuster after taking it apart. In general, the particle size if pretty consistent, one of the keys for a consistent cup of coffee.
I do a pour over with a ceramic dripper. I buy the brown 200 pack of Melitta filters as it is a much better value than purchasing the drip specific filters for cone shaped coffee makers. You just need to fold the filter over so it fits the dripper.
I use a 2 cup pyrex measuring cup with a temp gauge. After the boil, I'll let the temp drop between 195-200F before pouring. (If you pour boiling water over your coffee grounds, it will tend to produce a bitter cup)
Smells pretty good at this point,,,,,,,,,,,,, 'got caffeine' ?
So for ~$30, I'd say it's a buy especially if you do not want to break out the electric burr grinder. (A good one will cost you $200+) The cheap electric $30 burr grinders are crap...
It takes about 1 minute of cranking the handle to get 2 cups. You can get leverage over the unit by placing it close to your body with one hand and cranking it over with the other. It does take WORK to get your coffee with this unit!
I've used it for more than 2 years and it has not changed since the day I received it. The grind is pretty consistent for what you are getting, a small, inexpensive manual burr grinder. It has been on a few vacations and easy to pack since it is small.
Final verdict: I'd buy one again if I lost it. If you have crap coffee at work but still drink it, it may be worth investing in one of these units. (I take this one to work everyday) Hario has different sizes as well, check out their website or Amazon for the sizes. One last note: Use the freshest beans you can get!
