Hand Grinding with the Hario Skerton N
The Hario Skerton N is a hand grinder with conical ceramic burrs and a stabilising bearing that keeps the shaft steady, improving grind consistency over the original Skerton. Grind size is set by a click-adjust nut beneath the burr. From fully closed, roughly five to seven clicks suits espresso, ten to twelve pour-over, and fifteen or more French press and cold brew. Ceramic burrs don't rust and stay cool.
Grinding by hand takes about a minute for a single cup. Some mornings that's a pleasant minute and some mornings it's an obstacle, and it's worth being honest with yourself about which you'll find it before spending £65.
What you get for it is a grind quality that costs a lot more in an electric machine, and a grinder that will still work in twenty years because there's almost nothing in it to fail.
Burrs, not blades
A blade grinder is a small propeller in a cup. It smashes beans into whatever sizes happen to result, which means dust and boulders in the same batch. The dust over-extracts and goes bitter, the boulders under-extract and taste sour, and you drink both at once.
Burrs work differently. Two shaped surfaces at a fixed distance, so a bean can only pass through once it's been reduced to that size. Everything comes out roughly the same, and roughly the same is the entire game in coffee grinding.
Ceramic burrs specifically don't rust, they hold their edge for years, and they don't conduct heat into the grounds the way steel does.
What the N changed
The original Skerton had one weakness: the shaft was supported only at the top, so it could wobble under load, and the gap between the burrs would open fractionally as you ground. Coarse settings suffered most, which was awkward for a grinder people bought for French press.
The N adds a bearing at the base. The shaft stays put, the burr gap stays fixed, and the coarse end of the range is much more consistent. It's a small change that fixed the main complaint.
Setting the grind
Lift off the handle and you'll find an adjustment nut under the top burr. Turn it fully clockwise until the burrs touch, which is your zero. Then count clicks anticlockwise.
Write down the number that works for you. Everyone means to remember and nobody does.
| Clicks from closed | Grind | Method |
|---|---|---|
| 5 to 7 | Fine | Espresso, moka pot |
| 8 to 10 | Medium-fine | Aeropress, V60 if you like it strong |
| 10 to 12 | Medium | V60, Pegasus, most pour-over |
| 13 to 15 | Medium-coarse | Switch, Clever, syphon |
| 15+ | Coarse | French press, cold brew |
How long it takes
Around 60 to 90 seconds for 20 g at pour-over settings. Finer takes longer, coarser is quicker. If it's a real slog, you're probably grinding finer than you need to.
Hold the jar rather than the grinder body and let your other hand turn the handle in a steady circle. Fighting it makes it slower.
Looking after it
Brush the burrs out every few weeks with a dry brush. Don't wash ceramic burrs with soap, because coffee oils will hold onto the smell of it. Strip and rinse the assembly every few months if you grind daily.
Skerton N or something else?
The Mini Mill PLUS at £39 uses the same burr principle in a narrower body that packs for travel, but holds less and takes longer per dose. The Skerton N at £65 is the one for daily use at home.
If hand grinding isn't for you, the Electro Solo at £99.99 is portable and electric, the Kabuto at £99 steps up the burr quality, and the PRO at £199 uses stainless steel burrs for the most uniform grind in the range.
There's a Skerton N and Drip Kettle AIR bundle at £53, which is less than the grinder on its own.
For the full picture across the range, see our grinder guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many clicks for pour-over on a Hario Skerton?
Ten to twelve clicks anticlockwise from fully closed is a good starting point.
Can the Hario Skerton N grind fine enough for espresso?
It reaches espresso fineness at around five to seven clicks, though a dedicated espresso grinder will be more consistent at that end.
How do you clean a ceramic burr grinder?
Brush the burrs dry every few weeks. Avoid soap, since coffee oils retain the smell.
What is the difference between the Skerton N and the Mini Mill PLUS?
Same burr principle. The Skerton N holds more and grinds faster for home use; the Mini Mill PLUS is narrower and packs for travel.
What did the N add to the original Skerton?
A stabilising bearing at the base of the shaft, which stops the burr gap widening under load and improves consistency at coarse settings.