Head to head
Timemore Chestnut C2 vs Hario Skerton Pro
Head-to-head: Timemore Chestnut C2 versus Hario Skerton Pro on burr material, capacity, grind consistency, and value.
Timemore Chestnut C2
The budget hand grinder that beats entry-level electrics on grind quality.
- Burr type: 38 mm stainless conical burrs
- Adjustment: Stepped click adjustment
Sources: Timemore official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
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Hario Skerton Pro
A 100g-capacity ceramic-burr workhorse for coarse brewing on a budget.
- Burr set: Ceramic conical
- Capacity: 100g
Sources: Hario official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
Check current priceTimemore Chestnut C2
What owners report
- Owners praise the 38 mm stainless conical burrs for outperforming blade grinders completely
- Many owners like the dual ball-bearing shaft keeping grinding smooth and centered
- Owners say the aluminum body is durable and travel-friendly
- Some owners find the stepped adjustment lacks the fine control espresso needs
- Owners note the 25 g capacity means two loads for larger French press batches
- A common complaint is grinding light roasts by hand taking noticeable effort
Hario Skerton Pro
What owners report
- Owners praise the 100g hopper for swallowing big batch doses in one grind
- Many owners like the ceramic burrs never rusting and holding an edge for years
- Owners say the silicone base grips the counter and keeps the grinder steady while cranking
- Some owners report burr-shaft wobble hurting consistency at finer settings
- A common complaint is slower grinding than steel-burr rivals
- Owners note the plastic body feels less premium than metal grinders
Our recommendation
Buy the Timemore C2 for pour over, Aeropress, and daily grinding: its 38mm steel burrs are simply more consistent. Buy the Hario Skerton Pro for large coarse batches, where its 100g hopper does in one grind what takes the C2 four. They are complementary tools more than direct rivals. See the C2 review, the best manual grinders roundup.
Burr material
The C2's 38mm CNC stainless steel burrs cut cleaner and more uniformly than the Skerton Pro's ceramic burrs, especially at medium settings. Ceramic never rusts and holds an edge for years, but steel wins on particle consistency, which is what you taste in pour over.
Capacity
The Skerton Pro's 100g hopper is built for batch brewing: a full French press or cold brew dose in one grind. The C2's 25g hopper matches single servings. For a household brewing a liter of press at once, the Hario saves real time.
Adjustment
The C2 uses positive click adjustment with essentially no learning curve. The Skerton Pro uses a stepless nut that covers the coarse range smoothly but is fiddly to set precisely, and its documented burr-shaft wobble introduces inconsistency at finer settings.
Build and grinding effort
The C2's aluminum body and foldable crank feel solid and pack well. The Skerton Pro's plastic body with silicone base is stable on the counter but less premium in hand. The C2's steel burrs also grind faster per dose than the Hario's ceramic set.
Choose Timemore Chestnut C2 if…
- You brew pour over or Aeropress daily
- Grind consistency matters more than batch size
- You want a grinder that travels well
Choose Hario Skerton Pro if…
- You brew French press or cold brew in large batches
- You want the biggest hopper for the least money
- You prefer ceramic burrs that never rust
Questions, answered
Which is better for French press?
The Skerton Pro, for its 100g hopper: one grind covers a full batch. The C2 grinds more consistently but needs multiple fills for large presses.
Which lasts longer?
Both are durable in different ways: the C2's metal body resists drops, while the Skerton's ceramic burrs never corrode. With normal care, either serves for years.
Can the Skerton Pro do pour over?
Adequately but not excellently; burr wobble shows at medium-fine settings. The C2 is the clearly better pour-over grinder.
Is the C2 worth the higher price?
For daily brewing, yes: the steel burrs' consistency is audible in the cup. For occasional coarse grinding, the Skerton Pro is the rational cheaper pick.