Hario Skerton hand grinder

I can admit that I purchased my hand grinder, the Hario Skerton, because I didn't want to shell out $300+ for a fancy coffee grinder when 1) I didn't make coffee that often and 2) I didn't even have the counter space for it in my NYC apartment. With use, though, I have fallen in love with it. I would imagine that most people would find this item annoying to use at first; it really takes some elbow grease to grind enough beans for just one cup. But over time, I began to appreciate the work that it took in making that one cup of coffee for myself. It became part of an overall experience that felt restorative for my mind and, I guess, a form of exercise. The electric grinders that coffee shops use employ what is called a "burr," where rotating mills ensure a consistent grind. These machines can be pricey, however, so for the coffee enthusiast on a budget, there is only one way to go: the manual (hand) burr grinder.