Ceramic vs Aluminium Herb Grinders: Which Finish Is Right for You?
Ceramic-coated or bare aluminium? A direct comparison of the GC and GAC against the GA - stickiness, cleaning, weight, tooth design and how each one ages.
The Discovery Stash Box: What's Inside, and Which Lock to Choose
The Discovery Stash Box: What's Inside, and Which Lock to Choose
PRESALE CLOSES 1 NOVEMBER · SHIPS 15 NOVEMBER
Both the Discovery 1.0 and the Discovery 2.0 are open for presale until 1 November, shipping on the 15th. Every presale order includes the 2.5-inch aluminium herb grinder — once the presale closes, the grinder is no longer part of the box.
The Discovery is the largest and most complete box we make. It is a bamboo cabinet for an entire routine — a sliding rolling tray, three sealed glass jars, a configurable magnetic lid and a full set of tools that each have a place to sit. Order before 1 November and the aluminium herb grinder comes with it.
It comes in two versions. They are the same box with two different locks, and we'll get to that at the end, because the lock is the smallest interesting thing about it.
The body
Bamboo, 10.8 inches across, 7.87 deep and 6 tall. That's a real piece of furniture rather than a tin — big enough to be the only thing you own for this, which is the entire design intent.
Bamboo is the material for a reason beyond the environmental one. It's a grass, so it regrows in years rather than decades, but the property that matters here is that it's light for its stiffness. A hardwood box this size would be heavy enough that you'd leave it where it sits. This one you can actually pick up and move to the table.
The hinges are metal and the lid closes onto a magnet rather than a catch, which means it shuts silently. No clasp noise, no latch to line up one-handed. It's a small thing that you notice every single day.
The sliding rolling tray
The tray is the part that changes how the box gets used.
It slides out of the body like a drawer and comes all the way out, so it works as a standalone surface anywhere — the sofa, the kitchen counter, a table in another room entirely. When you're done it slides back and the mess goes with it.
That's different from the common design where the lid flips down to become a tray. A lid-tray is only flat when the hinge is at the right angle, and it's only available while the box is open and sitting next to you. A drawer is flat by default and independent of the box, which means you can have the tray out and the box closed.
Set into the tray is a slot that stands a phone or a small tablet upright. Two silicone strips come in the box so you can tighten the slot to your device's thickness and stop it sliding. It's the feature nobody photographs and everybody ends up using — a screen at a readable angle instead of flat on the table catching the ceiling light.
The tray slides out and works on its own. The slot holds a phone upright.
The magnetic lid
The inside face of the lid is a magnetic board, and ten metal stickers come in the box.
The stickers go on your tools. The tools then go on the lid, wherever you decide they should live. That's the whole idea: rather than a moulded insert that dictates one arrangement forever, you get a blank vertical surface and the freedom to lay it out the way you actually reach for things — and to change it when your routine changes.
Vertical storage is the underrated half of this. A box with everything lying flat in the bottom is a box you dig through. Putting the tools on the lid means the floor of the box stays clear for the things that need the depth.
Everything that comes with it
Both versions ship with the same kit:
- Three airtight glass jars — real seals, for anything that needs to stay fresh rather than just contained
- Tools stand and a storage unit — the upright pieces stay upright instead of rolling around the bottom
- Metal cones, king size and 1¼ — plus cone funnels, so both common sizes are covered
- Metal packing stick
- Metal scissors
- Metal plate
- Ashtray
- Herb grinder brush and a cleaning brush — one for the grinder, one for everything else
- Two smell-proof bags — for taking a portion out of the house
- Ten metal stickers for the magnetic lid
- Silicone strips for the device slot
And, until the presale closes on 1 November, a 2.5-inch aluminium herb grinder. It's a full-size four-piece with a magnetic lid and a mesh screen — the same standard as the grinders we sell on their own, not the token two-piece that usually comes bundled with a box. It's included with every presale order and it won't be part of the box afterwards, which is the single best reason to order before the first.
The full kit, to scale.
The jars are worth dwelling on, because they're the part most kits cheap out on. Glass with a real airtight seal is what keeps things from drying out; a jar with a loose lid is just a container. Three of them means you can keep things separate rather than mixed.
Living with it
The thing that makes the Discovery worth its size is that it ends the hunt. Most people's kit is distributed — grinder in one drawer, tips in another, tray on a shelf, scissors wherever scissors go. Every session starts with five minutes of assembly and ends with the pieces scattering again.
A box this size holds all of it, which means the routine starts by opening one lid. The tray slides out, the tools are on the inside of the lid where you put them, the jars are in the bottom. When you're done it all goes back and the lid closes, and what's on the table is a bamboo box.
That last part is why it's built to be looked at. A box that lives on a shelf in a room you use gets seen several thousand times over its life — by you, and by everyone who visits. The finish matters for the same reason furniture's finish matters.
Two locks, one box
Now the choice.
The Discovery 1.0 has a brass key lock. Two keys come in the box, plus a wall hook so the spare has a deliberate home, and replacement keys are available separately. There is nothing to charge and nothing to set up, and it will work exactly the same way in ten years as it does on the first day.
The Discovery 2.0 has a fingerprint sensor. One touch and it's open, nothing to carry, nothing to lose, and access that stays with you rather than with an object a visitor could find. It charges over USB-C and stores multiple prints, so everyone in the household who should have access can have it.
Which one is right comes down to a single question: how often does the lid come up?
A box opened a few times a week wants a key. Nothing to maintain, nothing to think about, and the saving is real. A box opened most days wants the sensor — one touch matters more than it sounds when you're doing it several hundred times a year, and a lock you leave unlocked because locking it is a hassle isn't protecting anything.
Whichever you choose, order before 1 November and the aluminium herb grinder comes in the box.
If you want that decision in more depth, we wrote a whole post on it: Key Lock or Fingerprint Lock.
| Discovery 1.0 | Discovery 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Lock | Brass key lock | Fingerprint sensor |
| Power | None | USB-C rechargeable |
| Also included | 2 keys + wall hook | USB-C charging |
| Spare parts | Replacement keys | — |
| Body, tray, lid | Identical | |
| The accessory kit | Identical | |
| Price | $190$133Presale price until 1 November | $230$161Presale price until 1 November |
Four rows differ. Everything else is the same box.
Discovery 1.0 · Key Lock
Discovery 2.0 · Fingerprint
Presale closes 1 November, and the aluminium herb grinder goes with it. Both ship on the 15th.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Discovery stash box?
10.8 inches wide, 7.87 deep and 6 tall. It's the largest box we make — sized to hold a complete setup rather than a selection of it.
Does the rolling tray come all the way out?
Yes. It slides out of the body like a drawer and separates completely, so you can use it as a standalone surface anywhere and slide it back when you're finished.
What's the difference between the Discovery 1.0 and the Discovery 2.0?
The lock. The 1.0 uses a brass key lock and ships with two keys and a wall hook; the 2.0 uses a rechargeable fingerprint sensor. The bamboo body, sliding tray, magnetic lid and the whole accessory kit are identical.
What's included with the Discovery?
Three airtight glass jars, a tools stand and storage unit, metal cones in king size and 1¼ with cone funnels, a metal packing stick, metal scissors, a metal plate, an ashtray, a herb grinder brush and a cleaning brush, two smell-proof bags, ten metal stickers and silicone strips — plus the sliding rolling tray and the magnetic lid board. Presale orders placed before 1 November also include the 2.5-inch aluminium herb grinder.
Is the herb grinder included with the Discovery?
Yes, with every presale order placed before 1 November. The 2.5-inch aluminium herb grinder is a full four-piece with a magnetic lid and mesh screen. Once the presale closes it is no longer part of the box, so ordering during the presale is the only way to get it included.
What happens if the fingerprint lock's battery dies?
The lock has a built-in backup access method, so you can still open the box. Registered fingerprints are held in memory that doesn't depend on power, so nothing is lost — charge it over USB-C and every print is still there.
Is the Discovery child-resistant?
Both versions are child-resistant, though neither is childproof — that's a stronger claim than anyone in this category can certify. A locked box reliably settles curious children and houseguests; it will not stop a determined teenager with time alone in the house.
How do you clean a bamboo stash box?
Wipe with a slightly damp cloth and dry it straight away. Never soak it or put any part of it in a dishwasher — bamboo is moisture-sensitive. A little food-safe mineral oil once or twice a year keeps the grain from drying out.
When does the Discovery presale ship?
Presale closes on 1 November and orders ship on 15 November. The aluminium herb grinder is included with any order placed before the presale closes.
