Buying grinders on a budget can be tough - and with electric grinders tending to require a decent outlay in order to guarantee reasonable quality, you might well be tempted to put in a little extra work and go manual.
Manual grinders, also known as hand grinders or hand crank grinders, have a whole heap of other advantages. Typically smaller and more portable than an electric grinder, they're popular not just with people looking for a quality grind for minimal outlay - they're also ideal for travellers, or for people who favour a more hands-on, artisanal approach to coffee making.
They also tend to be more durable and longer-lasting, as they have fewer moving parts and do not rely on electricity to operate. Many manual grinders are made with high-quality materials, such as stainless steel or ceramic burrs, which are designed to last for many years with proper care and maintenance - which is why choosing a grinder with the best parts is key (don't worry, we're here to help)!
Sure, using a manual coffee grinder can be time-consuming and labour-intensive, especially if you are grinding a large amount of coffee. It can also be difficult to achieve a consistent grind with a manual grinder, as it requires a lot of effort and precision to crank the handle evenly.
However, many people find the process of hand-grinding their coffee to have a meditative quality, and besides, if you're in a hotel or out on the trail, what other option do you have (and don't you dare say instant)?
To help you pick through the best manual coffee grinders under 100 (Australian) dollars, we've picked through the leading lights on the market, and worked them thoroughly. We've even included a taste test - read on to find out all you could possibly need to know about the manual coffee grinders you can buy for under a $100.
Our Top Picks For 2023
- Hario Smart G
- Hario Column
- Hario Slim Mini
- Bialetti Manual
- Hario Skerton +
- Yama Hand Grinder
- Rhinowares Compact
- Hario Slim Pro
- Porlex Mini
- Hario Prism
- Hario Canister
- Coffee Accessories Hand Grinder
Hario Smart G
Starting with the cheapest, the Hario Smart G is also among the smallest, weighing in at 230gs. This makes it arguably the most portable of the coffee grinders featured here, which is impressive for the price. However, there is of course a drawback to its diminutive size - it also has the smallest hopper and catch cup, with only 27g up top and 40g below.
However, it is (despite its fully plastic construction) still a solid feeling and durable piece of kit, which seems able to withstand the rigours of travel and backpacking. The crank mechanism works well enough, though the lack of a catch on the handle can mean it slips off the fitting sometimes in use.
With the rounded case to hold on to though, when you do get it going it works well enough. One major plus is the metal spring in the crank mechanism, which helps lock your grind size in place whilst helping to ensure power moves evenly through the burrs - helping to keep your grind consistent.
It's fitted with Hario's standard ceramic burrs, so you know these are fit for purpose. Grind settings are adjusted using a dial underneath the burrs, with 8 settings - easy enough to use, but with a little movement between clicks. Overall though, this feels like a good choice for someone looking for an upgrade on a more basic manual coffee grinder, or who wants something portable and robust for the road.
Pros
- Small hopper - 27g
- Grind Cup Small chamber - 40g
- Very lightweight, weighing in at 230gs
- Rubber grip makes cranking more comfortable
- Removable handle and lid to add beans to hopper
- Handle, drive shaft and metal spring to maintain consistency of grind
- Hario Ceramic Burrs
- Change grind setting inside lid or undercrank, with 8 settings
- Handle feels loosely attached, but is solid
- Clear plastic, but suitably durable
Hario Column
Somewhat of an outlier amongst our selection, the Hario Wood Column Grinder looks more appropriate for the kitchen side than the road. Weighing in at 600gs, and made almost entirely out of wood, it's awkward to use holding in your hand. Just as well then, that it comes with felt pads which allow it to sit firmly on the kitchen bench.
Another oddity is the disparity between hopper and grind chamber size, with only 30g of beans at a time being ground into a comparatively vast 100g chamber. Presumably designed to grind larger batches, you'll need to reload 3 times to fill the chamber.
Fitted with Hario's ceramic grey burrs, you should hopefully get through the beans easily enough - and the bench mounted design does make this easier to operate than some hand held grinders.
Loading the hopper is a little awkward, but easy enough via the door on the side of the hopper. The main gripe is the mechanism to alter the grind size - requiring you to remove the crank, and then revolve a fitting up and down a thread - giving you very little indication of how fine or coarse your grind is.
Overall though, this remains a decent manual grinder, despite its eccentricities - in fact, the old school feel and approach of this grinder will no doubt appeal to many.
Pros
- Durable and solid construction generally
- Super large Catch Cup at 100g, great for brewing large batches
- Easy to operate on a benchtop, making it great for home use
- Heavy at 600gs - so not really a portable grinder
- Small hopper for the size at 30gs
- Hopper is awkward to load via opening on one side
- Not easy to operate when held in in hand
- Bare wood on inside of chamber could take on flavour
Hario Mini Slim
Essentially a step up on the Smart G, you can immediately see the Hario Mini Slim is of a higher quality of build - but of course, the price reflects this. Notably, the plastic feels more solid and robust. And the issues with the handle coming away on the Smart G and resolved here.
First then, the build - thicker, more robust plastic is used, which means this feels like it will take knocks better and be more resistant to stress fractures. The crank handle now fits very snugly, making this easy to use, with the handle hardly ever slipping off even under heavy use.
Otherwise, the inner workings are essentially the same as the smart G - Harios standard grey ceramic burrs, with 8 settings that you can dial in. Unfortunately, the same wobble and movement between clicks is present, which might make achieving a totally consistent grind challenging.
That said, this is portable, tough, and should be able to produce you a decent coffee on the road - and without any worries about it coming out of your bag in several pieces either.
Pros
- 45g hopper capacity
- Lightweight and portable at only 254gs
- Slightly Larger than the Smart G (but still portable)
- Better attachment between handle and driveshaft, and the angle in the crankshaft makes it easier to use
- Better quality of plastic, and better design means less likely to suffer stress fractures
- Easier to use, but grind quality the same as the Smart G
- Relatively small 27g catch cup capacity
- Hario Skerton Plus
- More expensive than the Smart G
- Same quality grind as Smart G for more money
Bialetti Manual
The Bialetti Manual Hand Grinder is something of a mixed bag. At a similar capacity and weight to the Hario Smart G, it is somehow much larger - which makes it, of course, much less portable. It is also a little fragile feeling, with the plastic not as durable feeling as some other models.
The housing for the catch cup seems especially light, and though probably fine for holidays, this may not stand up to more robust travel. However, the point of a coffee grinder is to give you a consistent grind, and, even if it is hard work getting there, the grind from the Bialetti was among the best - and it aced the taste test!
On top of this, there are a number of nice little touches, which, for fans of Moka Pot coffee, may also swing you in this direction. The diameter of the cup is designed to fit perfectly inside a range of Bialetti products, and the hopper size is generous.
Whether you should choose this over the Smart G would depend how fussy you are about your coffee, and where you plan to take it.
Pros
- Large Capacity 46g hopper
- Rim diameter is set to make this compatible with many other Bialetti Products, making it super compatible with other Bialetti products if you have them
- Super easy to load beans, with a plastic lid which doesn’t need to be removed
- 8 clicks per rotation when setting grind size - but as with the Hario, there is a little movement between settings
Cons
- Small crank handle for the size of the grinder
- 238g capacity, but much larger overall than Hario Smart G
- Crank handle is a little small and makes it hard to operate
- Catch cup can be dropped easily due to housing - comes off in two parts
- Not portable
Hario Skerton Plus
Probably not the most obvious 'travel' manual coffee grinder, on first glance the Hario Skerton Plus seems too bulky and awkward for your bag. With an epic 80g hopper capacity and 100g glass chamber, and weighing in at 480g, it's certainly not the smallest.
However, it does pack down surprisingly small, and the glass cup could be used to store beans, grinds and to drink your brew on the go - so, perhaps this could be co opted for the road. Probably though, this is a great manual burr coffee grinder for the home.
Made from solid plastic and Hario's famously durable glass, this is actually solid enough for either. The glass chamber could also be used to store coffee beans or freshly ground coffee between brews without risking tainting the material - which can't be said for any other manual grinder on this list. Ergonomic shaping and a solid crank mechanism make this one of the easier grinders to use.
The downside is the grind setting mechanism - a rather obscure system which requires you to slot two pins into the fitting and feels rather counterintuitive and clumsy. That said, with everything else this coffee grinder has to offer, you may well find you can get used to that.
Pros
- Large capacity - 80g in hopper, nearly 100g in catch cup
- Great if your batch brewing or brewing for a group
- Catch cup could be used to store beans and as a cup to make it more efficient
- Same quality of plastic as other Harios, and solid Hario glass
- Large Hopper opening is easy to use
- Uses a two pin system to set grind size which can be hard to understand, though perhaps more reliable than some click systems.
- Too large for backpacking or off grid travel.
Yama Hand Grinder
- 40g hopper capacity
- 60g in catch cup
- Uses steel burrs so grind should be more consistent
- Better quality wood than Hario, and easier to load with open hopper
- Still bare wood inside which could take on flavour
- Sits flat on table to grind, so not truly portable
- Same annoying 2-pin grind adjustment setting
- Weighs 535gs - though you can take off the handle to pack, probably too heavy for many forms of travel
Another wooden manual grinder, the Yama Hand Grinder feels a little more luxurious than the Hario Column. Finished in darker stained wood, and with an open, conical hopper, loading the beans into the hopper is thankfully much easier.
Though clearly not designed as a dedicated 'travel' grinder, with the handle removed and packed away, it's roughly the size of a can of Coca Cola - which should be small enough for most suitcases. Though, weighing in at 535gs, you might not agree.
Overall, the crank mechanism is solid: this is a steel burr grinder, the only one on this list, with a smooth, reliable feeling action. The possible drawbacks are the bare wood inside the chamber - although not a huge issue, over time this could begin to degrade the flavour of your beans.
And the same two pin grind setting design used in the Hario is also present here - which will mean you'll need to learn your settings well before you can effectively grind for your favourite brew.
Rhinowares Compact Hand Grinder
Straight off the bat, the Rhinowares Compact Manual Grinder looks and feels like a step up in quality. Constructed from brush stainless steel and plastic, the quality of build and design is noticeable - it fits together solidly and neatly. Super portable and durable, weighing in at 267gs, the only real drawback is the hopper and cup capacity - at 20gs a pop, you may feel you need more.
The crank is loaded onto a hexagonal joint which feels rock solid and helps you easily transfer power through the burrs. The burrs themselves are white ceramic, and just like the Hario's, the grind size is adjusted using a wheel on the bottom.
The difference here though is that the Rhinowares has 16 as preferred to 8 positions - which means though you have a much wider range, but it can be a little more fiddly to find the right grind for you.
Overall, if you're looking for a super reliable and robust manual coffee grinder for the road, it's hard to beat this. It is a little more expensive than others, so that's a consideration, but we think the extra money is worth it.
Pros
- Super lightweight at just 267gs
- Slimline design to makes this ultra portable and packable to grind coffee on the go
- Made with brush stainless steel, feels solid and fits together solidly and neatly.
- Crank handle with hexagon attachment gives you good purchase, making for easy and efficient grinding
- 16 clicks per rotation gives more variety to dial in your perfect grind size.
Cons
- Relatively small hopper and cup capacity at only 20g, so more suited to solo travel.
- 16 grind settings could be a little confusing for less experienced users.
Hario Slim Pro
The Mini Slim Pro is essentially the same as the Mini Slim - only this time, it's made out of metal. Other than that, everything is identical inside, with the same conical ceramic burrs, grind setting mechanism and capacity.
The only issue with the Slim Pro is with the catch cup - which has been designed to fit so tightly that you will struggle to get it off and back on again. The real issue here is that as this is metal on metal, you can easily scratch the grinder whilst trying to get it on and off - not ideal.
However, that is in a sense an aesthetic concern - in terms of weight, durability and grind consistency, this is still an upgrade on the Mini Slim - but you might be tempted to take something a little less stubborn on the road.
Pros
- Upgrade on the mini slim
- More robust, metal construction
- Relatively light and packable
- Different profile on the handle makes the grinder slightly harder to use.
- Can be hard to put back together and pull apart as it’s metal on metal and a very tight fit - could lead to scratches as you try to find the right position.
Porlex Mini
The Porlex Mini is a very similar design to the Rhinowares hand grinder, but magically has a larger capacity, despite being slightly smaller in stature. Another advantage is the rubber strap which is designed to hold the crank - making this a very easy grinder to travel with!
With a hopper capacity of 22 grams up top and 25 grams in the grinds catcher for the Porlex (compared to 40 grams up top and 45 grams below for the Porlex Tall), it holds a decent amount of coffee for the size.
The Rhinowares grinder is undoubtedly the Mini’s direct competitor, and with double the number of grind adjustments and that handle connection ensuring easier power exchange to the driveshaft, it does edge out the mini in some areas.
However, the Porlex does have its own unique features that stand out. While the Rhinowares grinder does have more grind adjustments and a more reliable handle connection, the Porlex can boast a larger capacity, smaller footprint, and travel-friendly design. Basically, if space is an issue but you're determined to grind coffee while you travel, the Porlex Mini could be the grinder for you.
Pros
- 22gs in the hopper, 25gs in the catch cup
- Lightweight enough for travel at only 250g
- Smaller than Rhinowares but has larger capacity
- Rubber holder on the side makes it great for travelling
- Same burrs as Rhinowares, but only 8 settings
- Crank is not quite as good as other grinders, as it uses a flat connecter to the driveshaft rather than hexagonal
Hario Prism
Boasting an impressive 25g hopper and a 28g catch cup capacity, the Hario Prism leans on the same tech as the other Hario burr coffee grinders here, but this time features a square design and a more durable construction.. Its weight of 462g, though heavy for its size, is due to its solid aluminium body which gives this grinder its solid feel.
The Hario Prism's unique design is its most interesting feature, as both the catch cup and body are removable for easy cleaning - making this a definitely one of the easier and more convenient grinders to use day to day.
The lid comes off easily to make loading the hopper a breeze - though the square shape can make it a little difficult to grip while grinding. However, the catch cup pops off easily and feels superior to the other grinders here, with four ball bearings locking the grind cup in place, with an almost magnetised feel.
The grinder has the same burrs as the other Hario grinder here: grey ceramic burrs with the grind settings placed under the burr set, with eight grind settings, and each rotation providing eight clicks. If you’re looking for something a bit different though, which will stand up to the rigours of day to day use, the Prism could be a great shout.
Pros
- Catch cup comes off and refits smoothly and easily
- Removable lid to make loading hopper easy
- Solid aluminium construction for durability
- 8 grind settings (same as other Harios)
- Square shape is a little hard to grip
- At 462gs is one of the heavier grinders on this list
Hario Canister
The Hario Canister burr grinder is so large, it really is 100% a benchtop grinder. Offering a solid knob on the handle for easy grinding, it has a 40g hopper and catch cup that is incredibly large at 160g. The hopper lid keeps beans in place while grinding, and the same burrs as Hario are used.
However, it uses a two-pin system to change grades, and there is no indicator, so finding the right setting may require trial and error. Additionally, there is a cork plug inside the grinder that needs to be removed before starting to grind.
The old-school look of the grinder however is a nice touch, and the latch onto the grind's catcher is awesome. While the Hario Canister Hand Grinder is not portable, it is perfect for use on a bench.
A non-slip pad on the catch cup helps keep the grinder from slipping around while you're cranking the handle, and the large pommel on the crank handle makes for smooth grinding. The grinder also offers a handy slip-on plastic cover that stops beans from popping out while grinding.
The glass catch cup is an upgrade from either the Hario Column or the Yammer grinder, which use wood or metal, respectively. While the Hario Canister has some nice features, such as the hopper lid and glass catch cup, the grind adjustment mechanism is not as good as other grinders.
The two pins locking the adjustment wheel in place make it difficult to determine what setting you're on or should go to, so finding the right setting may require trial and error. That being said, if you’re looking for a benchtop manual grinder, the Cannister probably edges out the other ‘vintage’ style grinder on this list.
Pros
- 40g hopper
- Incredibly large 160g catch cup
- Solid knob on handle makes grinding easy
- Hopper lid keeps beans in place while grinding
- Vintage look and feel
- Two pin system to change grind size, with no indicator means finding the right size is a case of trial and error
- Largest grinder here - to the extent that it barely qualifies as a portable grinder
Coffee Accessories Hand Grinder
Last but very certainly not least, the Coffee Accessories Hand Grinder immediately looks and feels like a superior product. The only grinder on the list with 100% metal construction, you can feel the difference in quality compared to the other grinders on this list. Metal interior support brackets, and burrs, making it the most durable and robust grinder here.
With a 24g hopper and catch cup capacity, it’s perfect for grinding small amounts of coffee. Weighing in at 440g, it’s not super lightweight, but is very compact, making it portable all the same. The lid and handle are one piece and removable, so it’s super easy to take apart and pack away when needed.
With the lid and handle fitted, using the grinder is super easy. A dip in the crank handle makes transferring power to the driveshaft a breeze, and the slim body is easy to hold while grinding - making this one of the easiest grinder on the list to crank!
The grind adjustment mechanism is easy to use, and it is clearly marked out with 12 clicks per rotation. The grind setting wheel can be accessed via the wheel below the burr - with a dot found on the key to follow which setting you're on, and no movement between these clicks at all. Accessing the grind chamber once you’re done is straightforward too - and the chamber is reliably screwed on during grinding, so it doesn't wobble or feel like it will fall off.
The Coffee Accessories Hand Grinder manages to look alot more expensive than it actually is, and its performance could easily replicate that of grinders upwards of $160 to $180. Overall, we’d say this is probably the most complete of the grinders listed - with the only possible drawback being that it’s slightly heavier than a few (but not all) of the grinders listed here.
Pros
- 24g hopper and catch cup capacity
- Very compact, so portable even though it’s heavy
- Adding beans to hopper is easy
- Dip in crank handle makes it easy to transfer power to driveshaft
- Slim design makes it easy to hold while grinding
- Full metal construction, so most durable and robust grinder on the list
- Steel burrs are superior to other grinders
- 12 settings on wheel below burr, very solid with very little movement between settings
- 440g total weight makes it among the heavier grinder on the list
Conclusion
We hope this list proves that you don’t need to break the bank to buy a quality hand grinder, and that it will help you decide which hand grinder is best for you. Whether you’re looking for an old school, vintage hand cranked grinder for your benchtop, a super lightweight alternative for your travels, or pretty much anywhere in between, there is a hand grinder to suit you - and for less than $100 dollars!If you’re on the look out for a grinder, be sure to check out our full range of manual grinders, along with our electric burr grinders - we’re sure you’ll find something that’s perfect for your needs!