I've read all the previous posts and I am confused about the difference between the Hario Slim which is about $35 and the Kyocera CM-45 which OE sells for $75. They both seem to have the same ceramic burrs - i.e. Kyocera. So is there a difference in quality or consistancy of grind? NOTE. I do not care about the CM-50, Skerton, Skelton, Shmelton, etc. Ok, maybe I'll consider the Porlex but these topics have a tendency to wander. What's the verdict on a steel cage death match between the Slim vs. the CM-45? For espresso only.

I'm happy with my Porlex which I can confirm will grind fine enough and with sufficient control to be able to pull decent shots from 18-24g of Four Barrel or Blue Bottle roasts in a Espresso Parts "Synesso-style 18g" basket from my Anita. Cheaper and a lot more portable than a Pharos, I can recommend it where budget or portability are a concern.

I like my Porlex for espresso as well. The Kyocera doesn't give as even of a grind for espresso, and it has static issues.

I recently bought the hario mini and maybe my expectations were too high but I was pretty disappointed.

It's a pleasure to use but the grind is just not that consistent. There was a thread on this earlier but the shaft is not tight so it wobbles and the burrs grind somewhat lopsided.

Same question, thinking hario with mypressi for travel. Sweet marias seems to like the hario, and I admit to liking the price. (given I now own 3 decent espresso machines, though, price is obviously not my main issue...)

I picked up a Hario mini-mill slim at a thrift store for about $5 NIB and couldn't pass it up. I use it at work for AeroPress and other pourover (Coava Kone in a Clever dripper). I would consider the Hario to be good for pour-over coffee and I've been happy with it. I don't believe that it grinds espresso as well as the Kyocera CM-45 CF, but I have not done extensive testing on this.

I also have the Kyocera CM-45 CF grinder that I've paired with the Mypressi Twist here at work. It does well for espresso grind and can be dialed out for pour-over but I prefer to leave the Kyocera dialed in for espresso and use the Hario for pour-over. I did take the Kyocera to Kauai with me with my Aeropress simply because it was smaller and fit in my case better and was disappointed when I dropped the outer burr in the sink and broke it, but I'd already purchased a spare burr set to I'm up and running again.

You can review a more detailed post regarding my impressions of the Kyocera here.

The burrs are similar, but not identical since the Hario has four alignment notches and the Kyocera has three.

Great info, thanks. If you feel the urge to do side by side testing with had grinders, I think you are pretty well positioned

I can't believe you found the Hario in a thrift store! Are you also the guy who got the Salton Steamer in the thrift store? If so, I want the address of that store! All the ones around here have is mismatched plates...

Smaller on the Kyocera seems like a good thing for a travel kit. Especially as coming up with a water heating solution is challenging (I'd literally like to be able to make it in a parking lot for road trips. Escape the chains of starbucks!)

Thrift stores are pretty hit and miss. It seems like I get a lot of good scores because there's lots of times I go and find nothing, but I've been pretty lucky. It's sort of a family hobby, one that we practice even when on vacation (especially when on vacation to hit new stores with different types of goods).

No Salton steamer for me, but I did see a 12 V coffee maker / boiler that I passed on a while ago that would be perfect. Don't know if you could run an immersion coil on an inverter from the car, might be worth a try. I couldn't believe that the Hario slim was really NIB, so I had to check it out, but once I saw how it was packed and that it was complete, I had to leave with it.

Memorable thrift scores are:

• Vesuviana Moka Pot with pitcher
• Old fashioned popcorn popper for home-roasting over campfires
• Hario Slim
• Nuova Point and ACF demitasses
• 8 cup Chemex with wood handle and leather tie intact
• Glass percolator pot with glass basket (for naked percolation fun)
• Oil can drizzler pitcher that I use for pour-over (pour-man's Buono)
• Hot air popcorn poppers that started me in home-roasting

If I do a side-by-side of the Hario and Kyocera, I'll post the results. Probably best done with multiple tasters.

Wow, thats pretty good. Ive achieved the popcorn poppers (very expensive, as they led to me buying a hottopp) but nothing else. I do stop in and look, but no luck.

Just ordered a belman frother from fantes. I'll see if i can tap it to a standard fitting.

Is OE the place to get the kyocera?

I know OE caries the Kyocera CM-45, they were the only one and had just started carrying them when I bought mine.

Post or let me know if you do manage to cut some threads on the Bellman, I can see using it again with a better steam tip or drilled out acorn nut instead of the hole it comes with. I think I have an extra drilled acorn nut on my thrift store pump toys (Delonghi Bar 140s) that live in the garage.