Is the porlex really worth almost double the price of the hario?
I'm not currently looking to get an electric grinder so I won't need any information but thanks for the offer.
Thanks everyone for all the information so far.
I used the Skerton for months before retiring it to spice duty. To be fair it makes good coffee, but I found it wanting after a while and wished I went for the porlex instead.
The porlex is an outright better grinder than the Hario Skerton, but I wouldn't say its 2 times better.
The difference between the two is how the lower burrs are stabilised in each grinder; the Hario has a wobbly, floating burr that is centered during grinding by burrs pressing against the beans on all sides, which is okay when grinding on a finer setting, but starts to get fairly inconsistent once you get towards the coarser settings (which incidentally is what the mod kit from orphan addresses by adding a stabilizing ring at the bottom, but this is done at the expense of fine grinding, and costs about 15 bucks shipping excluded).
The porlex has a stabilized burr out of the factory, and will provide more consistency in the grind quality. Unless you luck out on a nice vintage coffee mill (that still works), the porlex is likely the last step up before the mid-range handgrinders like a Zassenhaus (over 100 usd), a Hausgrind (over 100 british pounds), or a Lido 2/3 (175/195 usd).
However, keep in mind that the Porlex is not built to last either. You'd like need to replace it after a few years of heavy use.
If you have to go for a Hario, go for a Hario Slim Mini Mill. Cons: Very small capacity. If you grind for more than one person, it can get annoying. Pros: Stabilized burrs.