Hario MSS-1: The Original Skerton Hand Grinder Reviewed
The Hario MSS-1, better known as the Hario Skerton, might be the most popular entry-level hand coffee grinder ever made. It's been a go-to recommendation for budget-conscious coffee lovers for over a decade, and you'll find it mentioned in nearly every "best hand grinder under $50" list out there. But is it actually good, or just popular because it's cheap?
I've used the Hario MSS-1 extensively, and the honest answer is somewhere in the middle. It's a perfectly fine grinder for certain brew methods, but it has real limitations that are worth understanding before you buy. Let me walk you through everything.
What You Get in the Box
The Hario MSS-1 is a simple manual coffee grinder with a ceramic conical burr set, a glass collection jar, and a rubber lid that doubles as a non-slip base. That's it. No fancy accessories, no carrying case, no extra parts.
The glass jar on the bottom is actually a nice touch. It holds roughly 100 grams of ground coffee, which is more than enough for a couple of cups. The glass won't absorb coffee oils the way plastic does, so cleanup is straightforward and your grounds won't pick up stale flavors from previous batches.
The whole unit weighs about 400 grams and stands roughly 17 cm tall (about 7 inches). It's compact enough to toss in a backpack for camping or travel, which is one of the main reasons people buy hand grinders in the first place.
Build Quality
The body is mostly plastic, but it feels solid enough. The metal shaft and ceramic burrs are the main structural components. The handle attaches to the top via a hex nut arrangement, and it folds down for storage.
Here's the thing about build quality: the MSS-1 is a $30-40 grinder, and it feels like one. The handle has some wobble to it. The adjustment nut on the bottom can shift if you're not careful. These aren't deal-breakers at this price, but don't expect the precision engineering you'd get from a Comandante or 1Zpresso.
Grind Quality: The Good and the Bad
What It Does Well
For medium to coarse grinds, the Hario MSS-1 performs respectably. French press, cold brew, and even drip coffee come out reasonably consistent. The ceramic burrs handle these coarser settings without too much variation in particle size.
Pour-over at a medium grind is acceptable too. I've made plenty of decent V60 and Chemex brews with this grinder. Not as clean as what you'd get from a premium burr grinder, but good enough that most people wouldn't notice the difference in a blind test.
Where It Struggles
Fine grinding for espresso or Turkish coffee is where the MSS-1 falls apart. The burr wobble that's barely noticeable at coarse settings becomes a real problem when you try to grind fine. The inner burr doesn't stabilize well at the tighter settings, which creates a wide spread of particle sizes. Some grounds come out powdery while others are still chunky.
This means your espresso shots will extract unevenly, with sour and bitter flavors in the same cup. I wouldn't recommend the MSS-1 for espresso, and I say that knowing a lot of people try to use it for exactly that purpose.
The other issue with fine grinding is speed. At the finest settings, grinding 18 grams of coffee takes about 3-4 minutes of continuous cranking. Your arm will feel it. At coarser settings, the same dose takes about a minute, which is totally reasonable.
How the Grind Adjustment Works
The MSS-1 uses a nut on the bottom of the burr shaft to control grind size. You unscrew the collection jar, hold the shaft, and turn the adjustment nut clockwise for finer or counterclockwise for coarser.
There are no clicks or detents. It's a continuous (stepless) adjustment, which sounds like a positive, but it actually makes it harder to return to the same setting once you've moved it. There's no way to count clicks and dial back to your favorite spot.
Many users solve this by finding their preferred setting and then never touching the adjustment nut. If you brew the same method every day, this works perfectly. If you switch between French press on weekends and pour-over on weekdays, you'll spend a bit of time dialing back in each time.
Pro Tip for Repeatable Settings
Mark your preferred position with a dot of nail polish or a Sharpie on both the shaft and the adjustment nut. This gives you a visual reference point to return to. Simple fix that saves a lot of frustration.
Hario MSS-1 vs. MSS-1DTB (Skerton Pro)
Hario released an updated version called the Skerton Pro (MSS-1DTB) that addresses some of the original's weaknesses. The main improvement is a stabilization plate that reduces burr wobble, especially at finer grind settings.
The Skerton Pro also has a rubber base instead of the glass jar lid arrangement, and the adjustment nut is easier to access and turn. It costs about $10-15 more than the original MSS-1.
Is it worth the upgrade? If you mainly grind for pour-over or drip, the original MSS-1 is fine. If you want better consistency across all grind sizes, the Skerton Pro is a worthwhile improvement.
Who Should Buy the Hario MSS-1
The MSS-1 makes the most sense for:
- First-time hand grinder buyers who want to try manual grinding without a big investment
- Travelers and campers who need something small and light
- French press and cold brew drinkers who need a reliable coarse grind
- Budget shoppers looking for the cheapest path to freshly ground coffee
It doesn't make sense for espresso drinkers, anyone who values speed, or someone who switches between grind sizes frequently.
If you're willing to spend more for better grind consistency, the hand grinder market has options like the Timemore C2, 1Zpresso Q2, and Hario's own Mini Mill Plus. For electric grinders in a similar budget range, check the best coffee grinders for options that won't wear out your arm.
Maintenance and Cleaning
The MSS-1 is easy to disassemble. Remove the handle, unscrew the top nut, pull out the inner burr, and you can access both burr surfaces. A quick brush with a soft paintbrush or the included cleaning brush removes old grounds.
I clean mine once a week. The whole process takes about 2 minutes.
Don't submerge the burrs in water for extended periods. While ceramic burrs won't rust like steel ones, prolonged water exposure can damage the bonding between the ceramic and the metal shaft. A quick rinse and dry is fine.
The glass jar can be washed normally with soap and water. Just make sure it's completely dry before reassembling, or you'll get moisture mixed into your grounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do the ceramic burrs last on the Hario MSS-1?
Ceramic burrs last a very long time under normal home use. Most people report 3-5+ years before noticing any degradation. Ceramic is harder than steel, so it resists wear better. The downside is ceramic is also more brittle, so don't drop the grinder on a hard floor.
Can I use the Hario MSS-1 for espresso?
You can try, but I wouldn't recommend it. The burr wobble at fine settings creates inconsistent particle sizes that lead to uneven extraction. For espresso on a budget, a hand grinder like the 1Zpresso JX-Pro is a much better choice.
Is the Hario MSS-1 the same as the Hario Skerton?
Yes. "Skerton" is the product name, and MSS-1 is the model number. They're the same grinder. The updated version is the Skerton Pro (MSS-1DTB).
How many cups of coffee can the Hario MSS-1 grind at once?
The hopper holds about 40 grams of beans, which is enough for roughly 2 cups of coffee. The collection jar holds more than that, so you can grind multiple batches back to back if you need more.
The Bottom Line
The Hario MSS-1 is a perfectly acceptable entry point into hand grinding. It won't blow you away with precision, and it won't work well for espresso. But for pour-over, French press, and drip at a price under $40, it does exactly what it needs to do. If you outgrow it, you'll at least know whether hand grinding is for you before spending $100+ on a premium option. Check the top coffee grinders when you're ready to step up.