Hario Coffee Grinder Smart G Transparent

Early days, so I may come back and edit this.I'm a bit of a coffee noob, but to me this grinder seems to have two flaws:1) the cap on the top pops off easily. I tend to flick if off with my hand when holding this, it seems to prefer being off than on.2) the handle comes of the spindle easily. Perhaps I'm just unco, but based on my early experiences I'd recommend one where the handle is attached or has a nut to screw it on.I bought this because it's translucent and I really like that about this grinder. I went with the smoky colour as I figured that would less messy than the fully transparent one full of coffee bits. It's also neat looking and the handle tucks into it's little holster to pack away.

Amazing little hand grinder.

After making my first brew today using actual hand ground beans, all I can say is this little beast does the job.It holds enough beans to make a single cup of coffee or 2. It is easy to operate and quite sturdy with a simple yet effective grinding action the burr is easily adjustable. Being clear you can easily see the size of your grind.After using the handle stores away quickly on the body. For a compact and first grinder I do recommend this though if you do intend to do a lot of grinding maybe something with a larger bean reservoir would be best, but for me, it works well easy to use and compact.

Design could be improved

Purchase process from Alternative Brewing was faultless with quick dispatch, communication at every step.As for the product, it gets the job done but the design needs fine-tuning. Firstly the lid tends to pop off when grinding. I've found it's best to leave it sitting on but not 'clicked' into place. This will block most of the grounds from flying everywhere. Also the spoke on which the crank attaches could be longer - tends to fall off mid grind. Can be overcome but need to slow the grind down. Overall happy but just note it's not a perfect product.

Does the job, but doesn't make it easy.

Firstly, as a coffee grinder, the Hario Smart G works & works well. There are however, two specific/frustrating flaws that warrant a lower score.1. While the lower chamber (that catches grounds) is easily secured, the top (where the beans go in) lid is not & pops open almost every time. If i'm grinding for 2, this can result in beans flying out.2. The handle needs to be JAMMED onto the burr axle (which is then very difficult to remove) if you don't want it coming lose while grinding. I'm not wheeling this thing around like a madman, but 9 times out of ten, that handle is coming off no matter how careful I am.Your mileage may vary whether these issues are...issues for you, but for me personally they do hinder what is otherwise the best hand grinder in the ... MoreFirstly, as a coffee grinder, the Hario Smart G works & works well. There are however, two specific/frustrating flaws that warrant a lower score.1. While the lower chamber (that catches grounds) is easily secured, the top (where the beans go in) lid is not & pops open almost every time. If i'm grinding for 2, this can result in beans flying out.2. The handle needs to be JAMMED onto the burr axle (which is then very difficult to remove) if you don't want it coming lose while grinding. I'm not wheeling this thing around like a madman, but 9 times out of ten, that handle is coming off no matter how careful I am.Your mileage may vary whether these issues are...issues for you, but for me personally they do hinder what is otherwise the best hand grinder in the "affordable" category.

Excellent portable grinder for pour over coffee

Great little grinder, excellent build quality and easy to disassemble and clean. Works as intended and perfect for camping trips. Can be a bit inconsistent with coarser grind (such as those needed for french press coffee) but works very well with medium to fine grinds for pour over and everything in between. Can't comment on espresso grind quality as I don't use this for that.

Fantastic little grinder for making

Fantastic little grinder for making pour overs and, if you're feeling energetic, espresso. I usually get enough coffee for one ground before my kettle is done boiling, I wouldn't want to manually grind for more than two.The unit folds up very compactly, with the handle coming off and strapping to the side. The square shape makes it easy to put away, and I also find it easier to pour the ground coffee out along the corners. The clear construction makes it easy to see how much you've ground and how much still to go, as well as checking grind coarseness if you are adjusting.

Good burrs and great idea for portability let down by poor housing design

Burrs are great and grind reliably, however the housing design of this product is really poor, the small ring which is intended to keep the burrs seated while grinding at larger particle sizes is held in place by two small plastic clips which snapped before I even realised this piece existed. The removable handle is a great idea for travel however you have to really push it on with great force in order to not have it constantly slip off the unit when grinding coffee, this leads to it having to be removed with reasonable force which I expect will eventually lead to wear that will mean the handle will fly off easily a lot more often. Transparent body is good quality and it's great having the suggested measurements on the side of the grinds bin. The rubber ring which ... MoreBurrs are great and grind reliably, however the housing design of this product is really poor, the small ring which is intended to keep the burrs seated while grinding at larger particle sizes is held in place by two small plastic clips which snapped before I even realised this piece existed. The removable handle is a great idea for travel however you have to really push it on with great force in order to not have it constantly slip off the unit when grinding coffee, this leads to it having to be removed with reasonable force which I expect will eventually lead to wear that will mean the handle will fly off easily a lot more often. Transparent body is good quality and it's great having the suggested measurements on the side of the grinds bin. The rubber ring which sits in between the two halves of the unit is designed to hold the handle when not attached but also makes the unit annoying to clean, this piece can't be left out when using the grinder in normal operation as it acts to keep the grinds bin in place when operating, it won't secure to the rest of the unit without it present. Small plastic lid for hopper seems fine but likely to wear as it just sits in place rather than being well secured.Overall, good burr components, poor external housing design which makes both cleaning and action/operation of the unit troublesome, not a product I would recommend.

Hario Mini set the bar a bit high

I bought the Smart G hoping that it'd be great for travel but the Hario Mini is better IMO. Smart G kind of fits inside an AeroPress when the silicone ring is removed. The handle seems easier to dislodge while grinding (Mini seems more secure). The four notches that clip the container in place don't have a tight hold (Mini screws in more securely). Cleaning is difficult where plastic is holding the ceramic (able to completely disassemble the mini for thorough cleaning). Lid pops up at times (Mini is a bit larger and usually stays put). Ceramic burr seems to be tilted in the plastic enclosure so it might not produce a consistent grind. Overall it's smaller, harder to clean, and feels like the container or lid will come loose while grinding. I'd recommend the Hario ... MoreI bought the Smart G hoping that it'd be great for travel but the Hario Mini is better IMO. Smart G kind of fits inside an AeroPress when the silicone ring is removed. The handle seems easier to dislodge while grinding (Mini seems more secure). The four notches that clip the container in place don't have a tight hold (Mini screws in more securely). Cleaning is difficult where plastic is holding the ceramic (able to completely disassemble the mini for thorough cleaning). Lid pops up at times (Mini is a bit larger and usually stays put). Ceramic burr seems to be tilted in the plastic enclosure so it might not produce a consistent grind. Overall it's smaller, harder to clean, and feels like the container or lid will come loose while grinding. I'd recommend the Hario Mini over this despite the Mini being a bit larger.

Hario have better grinders

I had been using a Hario Mini Mill Slim for a year before getting this grinder. The ceramic burr had started to wear down so I looked for an alternative and found this.I gave up on using the Smart G after a few months. I smashed the case open and put the new ceramic burr in my trusty Hario Mini Mill Slim. The Mill Slim has a handle that's more secure. The lid is more secure. The grounds catcher screws in so it's more secure too. And the grounds catcher is flush on the inside without a lip so it's easy to get coffee out and clean. It's much easier to use and clean the Hario Mini Mill Slim.Smart G Pro's:I was able to fit the grinder in an Aeropress for traveling while the silicone band is removed.It has the same burr assembly as the Hario Mini Mill Slim.It looks ... MoreI had been using a Hario Mini Mill Slim for a year before getting this grinder. The ceramic burr had started to wear down so I looked for an alternative and found this.I gave up on using the Smart G after a few months. I smashed the case open and put the new ceramic burr in my trusty Hario Mini Mill Slim. The Mill Slim has a handle that's more secure. The lid is more secure. The grounds catcher screws in so it's more secure too. And the grounds catcher is flush on the inside without a lip so it's easy to get coffee out and clean. It's much easier to use and clean the Hario Mini Mill Slim.Smart G Pro's:I was able to fit the grinder in an Aeropress for traveling while the silicone band is removed.It has the same burr assembly as the Hario Mini Mill Slim.It looks nice.Smart G Con's:The handle and lid can easily fall off while grinding.The grounds catcher is loosely held in place by four notches so I have to hold the top and bottom half of the grinder with one hand while grinding.The external burr stopper cannot be completely removed for cleaning.

Well Made and Consistent (mostly)

Overall, an excellent budget manual grinder. Consistency in medium to fine settings is good. A bit less so for coarse grinds but there is an inexpensive mod for that.The only serious drawback is grind speed. It takes awhile to grind 20 or more grams for my morning coffee. Now that I am switching to cold brew, the prospect of grinding 340 grams for my toddy brewer. Is almost impossible to imagine.Except for one likely unintended feature of the Skerton Pro. The handle connects vis a 7mm hex shaft. A 7mm nut driver fits perfectly. So slip that nut driver bit into an impact driver and Bobs your uncle!The design of the grinder is very good, the glass bottom is well made. All in all, a great grinder for the budget minded or tool guy or gal.