Hario Burr Coffee Grinder Mini Mill Slim Review
The Hario Mini Mill Slim Coffee Grinder is a hand-powered burr grinder that is an awesome alternative to the traditional, larger size conical burr grinders. 
Hario Coffee Grinder Demonstration
Here I show you how long it takes to grind two tablespoons of coffee from start to finish. The only thing I forgot to point out in the video is how to set the grind which is just a simple turn of a nut at the bottom of the grinder. You just need to experiment with it since there are no numbers or labels saying, "Fine" or "Coarse", etc..But no biggie. You can see in the photo below where I took the Hario grinder apart and the Y shaped part at the bottom is the grind adjuster. I mentioned in the video that it was hard to turn, but that was only because I was trying to make it more viewable for the video. It really isn't that hard. Just view the quick video below.
Personally, I like getting up in the morning to grind my own coffee. It gets the blood pumping and wakes me up before I even take a sip. My coffee warms me up twice - once while grinding, then again 
with the resulting hot cup of perfectly brewed coffee! :-) This burr coffee grinder is easy to use, easy to clean and easy to store. We always like to have good coffee while traveling and camping, so this is the perfect solution with it being so portable and easy to pack. The bottom receptacle is made of a hard plastic (polypropylene) and seems to be nearly unbreakable which is also a big plus. The photo below shows the Hario Coffee Mill taken completely apart. Easy to assemble and disassemble for cleaning. The little "Y" shaped piece at the bottom of the photo is what you turn to get a coarser or finer grind.
The most difficult part about this grinder is the instructions - they are only in Japanese! But I looked online and found an English version which is not the same model, but good enough for care instructions. This unit is so easy to use and assemble, you really only have to refer to the manual only the first time. I made a video below showing how easy it is to use. The trickiest part is figuring out what setting to put the grind on. You simply turn the little wheel on the bottom of the grinder clockwise for a finer ground. It clicks with each turn so if you want to keep up with your setting, just count the number of clicks. Once you find what the best setting is, you won't have to keep messing with it.
There are a couple of other hand coffee mills by Hario which are a little larger and has some slight modifications from the Mini Mill version. One is called the Hario Skerton Hand Coffee Grinder and the other is the Hario Coffee Mill Canister C. This video below explains in detail the difference between the Mini Mill and Skerton versions, giving good comparisons of features. As far as the old-fashioned Canister version goes, there seems to be mixed reviews.
Hario Mini Mill vs Hario Skerton Coffee Grinders
Best Price for Hario Coffee Grinder Mini Mill Slim
Hario Mini Mill Slim English Instructions (pdf)
Hario Skerton English Instructions (pdf) This one gives additional instructions and warnings when using the grinder that the above Mini Mill instructions lack but applies to both models.
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Hello,
In the video “Field Trip-Hario USA; Hand Grinders” there are three Hario grinders shown. The fellow in the video mentions he does not like the fact that the “Skerton” does not have support at the bottom of the shaft; but never quite gets to the point of mentioning if the Mini Mill is supported at the bottom or not.
I watched the video of the Kyocera (the small mill) which seems to be, basically, the same mill as the Hario Mini. (More apparent after seeing your picture of the Hario dissembled; glad you included it.) In that Kyocera video, I think I see the shaft supported along the length. If it is supported in the Hario Mini, I believe it would be very worthwhile to point that out in the disassembled picture you have above. The unsupported shaft is something that is mentioned repeatedly in connection with the Skerton, with many people making modifications to stabilize the shaft in one way or another.
I just purchased a Hario Mini Mill (actually I am waiting for it to get here,) and I am anxious to give it a try. I have a Zassenhaus 169DG, but it has a fatal flaw; the hardened (poorly made) bottom burr, cuts into the soft pot metal centering lugs. And, those tiny metal particles dump in with the grinds. I use a vacuum pot with glass filter, and guess I have been drinking metal for some months now. Besides the fact that metal is dumped into the grinds, the burr is then allowed to wobble, especially with courser grinds, (like the Skerton does.) That wobble means an inconsistent grind; the same complaint that I have seen often about the Hario Skerton.
The Zassenhaus has been a disappointment; the cabinet is very well finished, but the works are terrible. This is the second 169DG mill I have owned, mostly because the bottom burr on the first was so far out of round that, it touched on one side and on the opposite there was a noticeable gap. No way it would ever work right. I sent the mill back (after a few months) and the folks examined it and replaced the mill. But the real problem is the way they tried to hold the bottom burr on center. Oh, it is held centered, for awhile that is; it is no small wobble at this point.
Thanks for the info, it is a appreciated.
Bill
How often should the ceramic grinders be cleaned? Just brush them (this seems to still leave behind a lot of residue)? Or wash with soap and water? just water? thanks!
The manual says to “Soak the burrs in neutral detergent, then rinse it thoroughly with water (do not use bleach).” So yes, you could use a mild detergent and use a toothbrush to gently clean the burrs, then thoroughly rinse with water. I’ve also read a suggestion of first grinding white rice through the grinder until it comes out clean (with no coffee specks) in addition to cleaning with soap and water.
I’m grateful for the article post.Thanks Again. Keep writing.