I've been tinkering with the Pharos for the last two days. Here is my 1st impression:
It has the cool factor, but has many short comings. Hard to hold, hard to empty, hard to put the beans in, hard to adjust (I had to use the tools to tighten the handle because if I didn't it would tighten the grind when I started grinding)... It should have marking on the top like a clock so you could have a gauge of how many degrees you've adjusted the grind. It should come with a bag or wooden box to keep the tools and loose part.
As for the grind, it does a good job. Very consistent size grind and not many turns to grind as compared to other hand grinders. If you have $275 to blow, get one..... me nope thumbs down. I have a few more days with it and will use it some more, but after using it I prefer all 3 of my other hand grinders to this one from a practical day to day grinder. Note: I don't use any of my other hand grinders for espresso.... This can grind espresso well.
Pros.
1) Very good grind (Edit) can grind very fine for espresso.
2) Takes way fewer turns to grind the same amount of coffee. Compared to the Hario, the grindripper and German wooden box grinders
3) Cool factor (in a Tim Allen way)l. It's more like a tool than a grinder.
Edit 4) grind knob fits the hand nicely
Cons;
1) holds only ~20 grams of beans. Not enough for a Chemex Kone pourover
2) Adjustment of the burrs is not precisely repeatable, You can get close, but not exact
3) Adjustment requires a tool to free and tighten the handle. PITA
4) I comes with a zip-lock bag of extra parts/tools. It should have a storage box for the price (wooden box with storage.
5) Difficult to hold onto for espresso grinding. There should be some sort of handle on the grinder
6) Difficult to empty, makes a mess every time. And if emptying in a glass container you could easily break the glass with it due to it's size.
7) too expensive for what you get. For $275 it should be better designed
Left to right
Hario, German Trosser, Grindripper, and Pharos
