If you are on a budget but still demand superior fresh coffee at home, then a hand crank coffee grinder is the way to go. You’ll want to consider the popular Hario Skerton Pro manual coffee grinder. Anywhere you look, this Hario grinder is at the front of any best-selling manual grinder list.
We tested this classy and amenable coffee grinder thoroughly. Let’s find out why the Hario Skerton Pro is so popular.
Hario Skerton Pro Coffee Grinder Review
Hario Skerton Pro Summary
Things we like:
- Sturdy yet well-crafted elegance.
- Affordably priced for quality-minded coffee enthusiasts.
- Plenty of grind options with good grind quality
- Passes the taste test with specialty coffee devotees.
- The capacity is twice as many other competitive grinders.
Could be better:
- This grinder has issues with grind consistency when compared to high-end products.
About Hario – A famous Japanese Brand
The name Hario signals excellence to coffee aficionados. The star of Hario global products is the Hario V60 dripper, pour over coffee lovers must be familiar with it and probably owned one already.
Besides the famous V60, Hario offers a range of easy-to-use coffee gear at pocket-friendly prices. The Hario kettles, range servers, and coffee grinders are also popular among specialty coffee lovers.
In the past few decades, Hario shows coffee lovers that digging into the world of high-quality, home-brewed coffee doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Aesthetics Build Quality
The little Hario Skerton Pro grinder is recognizable for the tactile, chunky bodies that feel good in the hand and add a tasteful touch to your kitchen counter or office.
Some clones can be seen on the market. Still, coffee lovers tend to remain loyal to their beloved Hario coffee buddy, due to its solid performance reputation.
You can observe the grinding process through the attractive clear glass grounds chamber and plastic lid.
While grinding, the rubber grip on the bottom helps to hold it in place. This non-slip silicone layer also aesthetically balances visual appeal.
The aluminum diecast crank handle looks thicker in the new Skerton Pro and much sturdier than other Hario burr grinders. A convenient hex lock now allows for a more simple connection to the stainless steel shaft.
Capacity
Hario Skerton Pro makes it easy to grind for batch brews, with its glass jar capacity of 100 grams. This brews 8 cups of fine java.
The coffee beans are contained within the grinder by a clear, fitted lid, keeping your grinding job tidy and free of naughty jumping beans!
Burr Quality
Steel versus ceramic burrs is an ongoing debate. The more expensive steel burr is harder than the ceramic burr used in the Hario Skerton grinders. Ceramic burrs allow the product to be less pricey but there are other factors that went into the decision to use ceramic burrs.
There is the issue of the beans getting warm while being ground. Ceramic does not conduct heat well, so the beans stay cool during the grinding. Therefore, there is no loss of aromatic oil from the roasted beans. Cleaning the burrs takes no effort—just a quick rinse and they’re ready for the next grind.
The hand-crank grinder has an organic, aural aesthetic, reminiscent of a time when coffee came quietly into our cups in the morning via simple kitchen implements. No screaming motors from an electric burr grinder to jolt the cat.
A disadvantage of ceramic burrs is they are not as sharp as steel burrs, which results in a less consistent grind, slower grinding speed, and more physical effort.
If you want to pay more money, a grinder with steel burrs are an excellent choice, but a decent conical ceramic burr like you find in the Hario Skerton Pro will serve you well.
Grind Settings
The improved Hario Skerton Pro has one intent in mind—to give you the right grind for your perfect cup of coffee. It aims to please you by handing you control over your fresh grind, with speedy efficiency.
Now the click dial is conveniently located under the burrs, allowing for simple turning of the knob to change the grind size. You can remember the clicks and repeat your perfect grind settings for different brew styles without any guesswork.
It provides a wide range of grind settings and hands you the dream coffee grounds in all sizes, from espresso through French press/cold brew.
Below are the recommended settings:
- 2 Clicks – Espresso
- 3 Clicks – Stovetop Espresso (AKA Moka Pot)
- 6 Clicks – V60
- 7 Clicks – Chemex, drip coffee
- 9+ Clicks – French Press, cold brew
Grind Consistency and Quality
A successful company listens to its consumers. Issues with consistency in previous models of the Skerton were addressed and what we have now is the improved Skerton Pro.
The shaft is more stable with an added lower burr spring, so there is less jerky wobbling as you grind. This produces for you the more desired consistency, at the grind for which you are aiming.
A concern for users is the coarse-grind end of the settings. If your fancy is for French press or cold brew, you may be dealing with dust and sediment. This could be improved with more expensive hand coffee grinders. The fact is, some inconsistency in the coarser ground coffee is to be expected at this price point. The Skerton Pro is a reasonably priced crowd pleaser.
You can observe the grind consistency of the Hario Skerton Pro in the photo below. For your everyday coffee, a decent grind can be achieved, without squandering more cash.
Portability
If you love it, take it with you. Hario makes a comforting companion on those trips away from home. It’s relatively compact as a hand grind that can hold 100 grams of coffee. With its great-for-travel size of 4.1 x 3.9 x 8.1 inches, Hario Skerton Pro tucks away into your travel bag at only 1.4 pounds. What’s more, you can effortlessly take it apart and detach the handler. It will be available for that needed cup of coffee when you arrive.
The handle and plastic bits fit anywhere, with no concern, while the glass jar will happily snuggle into a soft item of clothing.
Durability
In the Skerton Pro, Hario has created a manual appliance that will persist in doing its best for your beans. The shaft is strong. The metal, plastic and ceramic burr are high quality. Endurance is its game.
Except for the glass grounds bin, it’s hard to see any of these parts can break from everyday use. But don’t forget, Hario is the ‘King of Glass.’ The Japanese Hario company celebrates 100 years in 2021, with the pride of being a glass factory without chimneys, using electricity rather than fuel oil. [1]
The bottom line, as long as you don’t drop it on the ground, this grinder can serve you a few years without problems. It will be reassuring to know that if your dog rolls the Hario glass coffee grounds bin over a cliff, a Ball mason jar will fit.
Ease of Use:
Most Skerton Pro users express appreciation for the simplicity of use. Fill the hopper, adjust the grind and turn the crank.
In setting the grind, if you plan different coffee brewing methods, it is advisable to pay attention to the number of clicks. If you really love that grind, you will want to remember where it is. Overall the new grind adjustment is easy to use compared with the previous Hario hand grinders.
We all have our own comfort zone when hand cranking a coffee grinder. The Skerton Hario Pro glass container can feel like a perfect fit to some, a substantial handful to others and with a little hand, maybe a bit too much of a grasp.
We tested, it took about one and a half minutes to grind on a medium-fine grind at a pretty normal pace.
Value for Price
Bear in mind that all decent coffee grinders will have pros and cons and the same distribution in a 5-star rating. Hario Skerton Pro rates relatively high within its low-budget, manual grinder category. It’s inexpensive but costs enough for consumers to expect good results, and they get them most of the time.
The Skerton Pro is an attractive piece of equipment. It has a good capacity for storage, high-quality ceramic burrs and build quality, satisfactory grind options. Small enough for travel, it is big on stability and durability. It has superior ease of use. These are good reasons why coffee drinkers continue to buy this affordable hand grinder.
Hario Skerton Plus vs. Pro
Consumers are noticing the improved addition to Hario manual grinders. Skerton Pro started at the gate with a large following of specialty coffee consumers ready to give their favorite beans a spiffy new grind.
The old Hario original Skerton and plus model had a complex grind setting that could only add to the frustration of waiting for your cup of coffee. Also, without the “click” to signal setting changes, it was a guessing game for users.
Coming to the rescue was the earlier Hario Mini Mill, which loaned its little click dial to the Skerton Pro. Now the grind setting is underneath the burrs. It’s a more contented customer who now finds the correct setting for the perfect grind with a quick turn of the dial.
More improvements followed, to give you added control over your grind. The stronger grind shaft with burr stabilizers and sturdier crank handle provide more stability, making the tougher fine grinding easier and the coarse French Press/cold brew setting less chinky.
Any Alternative?
If you want higher Grind consistency
For an additional half the cost of the Skerton Pro, you can have the accurate and fine adjustment of the slimmer Timemore Chestnut C2. With stainless steel conical burrs, it has smooth grinding and a practical, wide-range of brewing possibilities. More importantly, Timemore C2 offers higher grind consistency. This is a strong beginner’s grinder, that regrettably holds just 25 grams in its hopper, but those will be beautifully ground. We have been using it for a year, here is the detailed review of Timemore Chestnut C2.
If you want a more compact hand grinder for traveling
Head on the road or up the mountain with something like the Porlex Mini hand mill. It holds about 20 grams of beans. The ceramic grinder plates adjust easily, producing a high-quality grind. It’s a well-made coffee grinder; great for travel, slipping stealthily into your backpack or small bag. Read our Porlex mini review >>
Or stick with the popular Hario brand and choose the Slim Mill, which will please you with a small version (less capacity) of the Skerton Pro.
Final Thoughts In This Hario Skerton Pro Review
It’s a logical conclusion that when a product like the Hario Skerton Pro keeps its friends and remains on the list for satisfying delivery in its class, it would deserve attention.
This burr grinder holds its head high as a performer—offering quality, design, durability and most importantly, a great grind for a satisfying cup of coffee.
Hario fans will tolerate some inconsistency in the grinds and physical exertion in the grinding process.
Suppose you are getting into home brewing and looking for a great hand grinder at a relatively lower price range. In that case, Hario Skerton Pro will make you smile every morning you enjoy freshly ground coffee.
Reference:
[1] Since it was founded in 1921 and is the only heatproof glass manufacturer in Japan to have a factory. – https://www.hario-asia.com/about-hario-asia/
