Hario Mini-Slim Plus Review: A Lightweight Travel Companion!

In today’s Hario Mini-Slim Plus review I’ll be taking a look at one of the most budget-friendly hand grinders out there. I know that not all of you have tons of extra cash lying around to spend on a grinder, especially seeing as coffee is so expensive these days.

So, I bought the Hario Mini-Slim Plus to test out for you. I’ll discuss its performance a little later, suffice to say I only had to spend $36.53 on the thing.

Seeing as that’s a heck of a good deal, I’m sure you’ll be hoping this thing can deliver! So, without further ado let’s jump right into my Hario Mini-Slim Plus review.

Overview: Hario Mini-Slim Plus Review

It’s no secret that hand grinders have come a long way in recent years. In fact, you’ll find one or two of my favorite grinders of all time in my manual coffee grinder guide 2025.

As it happens, a hand grinder usually represents much better value for money than an electric burr coffee grinder. And models like the Comandante C40 and the 1Zpresso J-Max outperform electric grinders costing twice as much. With that said, those models still aren’t exactly cheap, even if they are worth every penny.

So what about the budget end of things? Well, I’d say that Japanese manufacturer Hario pretty much leads the way when it comes to affordable hand grinders. Come to think of it, Hario produces stellar pour-over drippers and gooseneck kettles, too.

Released in 2011, the original Hario Mini Mill Slim quickly became a bestseller. Folks really loved this thing, so hats off to Hario for releasing an updated version – it’s not like they had to.

Anyway, I’m glad they did, seeing as the Hario Mini-Slim Plus features an updated crank arm attachment. That makes the grinder much more stable when it’s in use. Plus, the crank arm itself has been upgraded and now feels more durable than before.

As with other Hario grinders, the Mini-Slim Plus is equipped with ceramic conical burrs. This certainly helps keep the price down, but don’t expect the ultimate in grind consistency, especially at coarser settings. Essentially, this hand grinder is ideal for use as a travel companion or backup grinder for testing new beans.

Speaking of travel, the Mini-Slim really lives up to its name, and you’ll have no issues finding room for it in your backpack. Plus, its rugged construction means it’ll be pretty much indestructible.

Hario Mini-Slim Plus Features

Thus far we’ve established that the Hario Mini-Slim Plus is a budget hand grinder that’s worth considering. Let’s keep the ball rolling by taking a closer look at this compact grinder’s standout features.

Size and Design

Overall, I was really quite impressed by the build quality of this grinder during my testing. While the Hario Mini-Slim Plus is a plastic hand grinder, the materials used actually feel quite premium. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, you aren’t going to have to worry about anything breaking if you drop the thing.

I actually really appreciate this Hario grinder’s design – it fits very nicely in your hand and weighs practically nothing. What’s more, everything fits securely, including the plastic hopper lid and the improved crank arm.

The Hario Mini-Slim Plus bean hopper has a 24-gram capacity, which is just about enough for a single pour-over. While the cup size markings on the side of the collection jar look nice, they aren’t really much help when it comes to accurately measuring coffee. Still, I could see them being handy as a rough guide if you’re camping without a coffee scale.

By the way, I discovered an awesome hack for stopping the upper chamber from rolling around awkwardly on the adjustment dial when you’ve taken the grinder apart. Simply remove the lid, flip it upside down and put the chamber on top. I’m not sure if Hario designed it with this in mind, but it works like a charm!

Ceramic Conical Burrs

Having reviewed other Hario grinders, I’m pretty familiar with the manufacturer’s ceramic conical burrs.

Listen, you’re never going to get the kind of precision and consistency from these burrs as you would from stainless steel burrs. However, you can’t really complain at this price point!

Anyway, it just so happens that the Hario ceramic burrs perform more than admirably, especially at finer grind settings. Plus, ceramic burrs definitely keep heat transfer to a minimum, which is a big advantage.

Another advantage is that you can wash ceramic burrs with water, so keeping them in tip top condition is a breeze. Just be careful when you’re handling the removable burr, seeing as ceramic can chip quite easily.

Grind Settings

Having recently reviewed the Hario Skerton Plus, I can’t tell you how happy I was to see a more user-friendly method for making grind adjustments on the Mini-Slim Plus.

Seriously, adjusting your settings is a piece of cake, thanks to the dial located under the burrs. It’s simply a case of twisting the dial, which clicks each time it moves the burrs apart.

With that said, finding your ideal grind setting involves a decent amount of trial and error, seeing as there aren’t any markers. Still, once you’ve established how many clicks from zero you need to go for a specific brewing method, you’ll quickly be able to make the necessary adjustments.

I feel like I should point out that the Hario Mini-Slim Plus performs best as a grinder for pour-over and AeroPress. In fact, I was very impressed by the grind consistency at the finer end of the spectrum. However, as the burrs move further apart, the grinder’s limitations quickly become obvious. So, fans of French press and Chemex might want to look elsewhere.

Crank Handle

During my Hario Mini-Slim Plus review I couldn’t help but compare it to the JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder. After all, both models are compact, lightweight and budget-friendly.

While I’m a huge fan of the JavaPresse, I will say that the Hario’s crank handle is far superior. The Japanese manufacturer has done a great job with its upgrade, and the durable metal arm fits securely onto the drive shaft.

In other words, the crank handle doesn’t wobble in use, making grinding much easier and quicker.

Don’t get too excited though – the Hario Mini-Slim Plus isn’t going to win any prizes for its grinding speed! However, I was able to comfortably grind 24 grams of light roast beans in under a minute, which isn’t too bad.

Catch Cup

The Hario Mini-Slim Plus includes a clear plastic catch cup with clearly marked level indicators on the side. Actually, it’s kind of smoky rather than clear, which can make it hard to see darker roasted coffee beans inside. One more reason to use a coffee scale, folks!

The catch cup screws on to the upper chamber, so there’s no risk of it flying off during grinding. I guess my main complaint would be that the plastic gets really statically charged, so emptying it of ground coffee can be a little frustrating. Still, all you need is a little brush to help solve that particular problem.

The Hario Mini-Slim Plus in Use

Seeing as the Hario Mini-Slim Plus is an inexpensive hand grinder most suitable for travel, I wasn’t expecting it to blow my mind or anything. However, as I already mentioned, I was pleasantly surprised at how well it performed for finer grind sizes.

During my testing, I used a light roast single origin coffee from Guatemala, and I managed to prepare some delicious pour-over coffee. Sure, some of the depth, complexity and brightness was missing from the cup. Still, the Mini-Slim Plus burrs did a great job of bringing out the dried fruit sweetness I love about the natural process Guatemala.

I found the best setting for pour-over to be at around seven clicks of the adjustment dial. And while the grind consistency wasn’t perfect, it was pretty great for such an affordable hand grinder.

Using the Hario Mini-Slim Plus is about as easy as it gets. You simply put coffee beans in the upper chamber, snap on the plastic lid, then attach the crank arm. Oh, and don’t forget to screw on the collection jar before you start grinding. I’m not going to officially admit to having forgotten one time, but it might have happened!

In my experience, the Mini-Slim Plus grinds slow and steady, although it’ll make easy work of coffee beans with a darker roast profile. On the other hand, grinding denser light roast beans will feel like more of a workout.

Hario Mini-Slim Plus Cleaning

Cleaning and maintaining the Hario Mini-Slim Plus is a breeze. Seriously, everything can be washed, including the ceramic burrs. I’d recommend cleaning the burrs once a weekor so to remove dust and coffee oil buildup. However, I wouldn’t recommend using soap of any kind – warm water will do nicely.

There really isn’t much more to say, other than to avoid the dishwasher altogether. You’ll just end up with a scratched grinder and damaged burrs.

Hario Mini-Slim Plus Specifications

	Hario Mini-Slim Plus
Manufacturer	Hario
Name	Mini-Slim Plus
Type	Hand Coffee Grinder
Burrs	Ceramic conical
Capacity	24 g
Grind adjustment levels	13+
Weight	10.6 oz / 300.5 g
Color options	Black
Height	7.0 in / 17.8 cm
Current price on Amazon	$36.53

Hario Skerton Plus vs Other Hand Grinders

Let’s continue this Hario Mini-Slim Plus review by comparing it with a couple of other offerings from the Japanese manufacturer.

Hario Mini-Slim Plus vs Pro

Costing $52.50, the Hario Mini-Slim Pro is a good deal more expensive than the Mini-Slim Plus.

So, what do you get for the extra investment? Well, the Pro version is made from stainless steel, which is always better than plastic. Also, the catch cup attaches to the upper chamber with a bayonet mount rather than screwing on.

To be honest, I’d rather have the screw-on chamber, but that’s just me.

Finally, Hario has made the Pro’s cast aluminum crank arm even more sturdy and effective. Other than that, the Mini-Slim Pro is pretty much the same grinder, and I wouldn’t expect it to perform any better.

Hario Mini-Slim Plus vs Skerton Plus

I’ve had the original Hario Skerton in my kitchen for years, but I recently bought the Hario Skerton Plus to test out. While it’s a slight upgrade, it really isn’t very different from the original.

And that’s a shame, because the Hario Skerton feels rather outdated and irrelevant at this point. While a compact hand grinder like the Mini-Slim Plus will always appeal thanks to its travel-friendly design, the Skerton Plus simply can’t compete.

I mean, if its performance was more impressive, then maybe I could overlook its awkward shape and finicky grind adjustment dial. But sadly, that isn’t the case. On the bright side, the Hario Skerton Plus will only set you back $42.53 on Amazon.

See Also: Hario Skerton Plus Review 2025

Hario Mini-Slim Plus vs Others Comparison Chart

	Hario Mini-Slim Plus	Hario Mini-Slim Pro	Hario Skerton Plus
Manufacturer	Hario	Hario	Hario
Name	Mini-Slim Plus	Mini-Slim Pro	Skerton Plus
Type	Hand Coffee Grinder	Hand Coffee Grinder	Hand Coffee Grinder
Burrs	Ceramic conical	Ceramic conical	Ceramic conical
Capacity	24 g	24 g	100 g
Grind adjustment levels	13+	13+	Stepless
Weight	10.6 oz / 300.5 g	11.0 oz / 308.0 g	1.2 lb / 544.3 g
Color options	Black	Silver	Black
Height	7.0 in / 17.8 cm	8.25 in / 21 cm	6.5 in / 16.5 cm
Current price on Amazon	$36.53	$52.50	$42.53

Verdict: Hario Mini-Slim Plus

If you’ve made it this far into my Hario Mini-Slim Plus review, you’ll hopefully have a clear idea of what we’re dealing with. Namely an affordable hand grinder that punches above its weight for manual brewing methods like pour-over and AeroPress.

The Mini-Slim Plus is nothing to write home about, and I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it as a primary grinder for home use. However, it’s so inexpensive that any coffee lover will be happy to have it around, either as a backup or a travel grinder.

Honestly, I just kind of love the thing and I recommend it most highly!