Porlex Mini II
A compact Japanese hand grinder with a stainless lid and grinds cup and rust-proof ceramic burrs - but a POM (plastic) body that the beans sit in, so it isn't fully plastic-free.
The verdict: Minimal plastic contact
The lid, shaft, grinds cup, and adjusting nut are stainless steel and the conical burrs are ceramic (rust-proof, no metal taste) - a genuinely good plastic-free story on paper. But the grinder's main body is POM (polyoxymethylene) plastic, and there's also a POM inner burr insert, both of which sit in the bean/grind path. The grounds collect in a stainless cup, but the beans are held and ground against POM, so this is not a plastic-free grinder. A silicone handle holder rounds it out (not food contact).
What it's made of
| Part | Material | Food contact |
|---|---|---|
| body (hopper / grind housing) POM (polyoxymethylene) plastic; beans sit in and are ground within this housing | Plastic other / unspecified | Yes primary |
| burrs ceramic conical burrs; do not rust or absorb odors | Ceramic / Stoneware / Porcelain | Yes primary |
| inner burr insert / burr holder Porlex sells this as the "Burr Holder II" spare and calls it only plastic; the POM attribution comes from a retailer materials list, not from Porlex | Plastic other / unspecified | Yes primary |
| lid stainless steel; grade unspecified | Stainless Steel grade unspecified | Yes primary |
| shaft stainless steel; grade unspecified | Stainless Steel grade unspecified | Yes primary |
| adjusting nut stainless steel; grade unspecified | Stainless Steel grade unspecified | No |
| grinds cup / catch stainless steel; grounds collect here; grade unspecified | Stainless Steel grade unspecified | Yes primary |
| handle stainless steel; grade unspecified | Stainless Steel grade unspecified | No |
| handle holder silicone grip band; not in the food path | Silicone | No |
A long-running Japanese hand grinder (made in Kagoshima) prized by travelers for its slim stainless-steel exterior and rust-proof ceramic burrs. It's compact enough to nest inside an AeroPress, holds about 20g of beans, and the detachable stainless grinds cup screws onto the base for grinding on the go. Also sold as the larger Porlex Tall II.
Pros
- Rust-proof ceramic burrs; no metallic taste
- Stainless lid, shaft, and grinds cup; grounds collect in metal
- Compact and durable; a classic travel grinder
Cons
- POM (plastic) body and inner burr insert that beans sit in and are ground within
- Small capacity (~20g); slow for larger batches
Notes
- The Tall II variant holds ~30g+ but uses the same materials
Common questions
Does the Porlex Mini II have plastic in it?
Yes. On the Porlex Mini II, the body (hopper / grind housing) and inner burr insert / burr holder are plastic and sit in the food path. The rest of what touches your food is ceramic / stoneware / porcelain and stainless steel.
What is the Porlex Mini II made of?
Part by part, the Porlex Mini II is: body (hopper / grind housing) — plastic; burrs — ceramic / stoneware / porcelain; inner burr insert / burr holder — plastic; lid — stainless steel; shaft — stainless steel; adjusting nut — stainless steel; grinds cup / catch — stainless steel; handle — stainless steel; handle holder — silicone.
Does the Porlex Mini II have silicone in it?
Yes — the handle holder is silicone on the Porlex Mini II. It is a seal rather than a surface your food sits against, which is ceramic / stoneware / porcelain and stainless steel.
Where is the Porlex Mini II made?
The Porlex Mini II is made in Japan.
Categories: Hand Grinders
Sources
Every material claim above is backed by these. This is the scattered info we centralized.
- review https://ecscoffee.com/products/porlex-mini-coffee-grinder-ii retailer materials list - "Ceramic burr, Stainless Steel shaft, stainless steel lid, metal handle, stainless steel, pom body, silicone handle holder, stainless steel grinds cup, pom inner burr insert, pom, stainless steel adjusting nut"
- review https://thecoffeefolk.com/porlex-mini-hand-grinder-review/ notes ceramic burrs and "some BPA-free plastic in the interior of the grinder"
- manufacturer https://www.porlexgrinders.com/products/porlex-burr-holder-ii Porlex sells the burr holder as a spare and describes it only as "This plastic replacement piece holds the burrs in place" - fits both the Mini II and Tall II. Porlex itself never names POM
- manufacturer https://www.porlexgrinders.com/products/porlex-mini-grinder-ii brand confirms ceramic burr set and made in Japan; does not itemize the POM body on the page
Independent reviews
- https://thecoffeefolk.com/porlex-mini-hand-grinder-review/
- https://www.homegrounds.co/porlex-mini-hand-grinder-review/
Spot a mistake or something out of date? Let us know — corrections are how this stays accurate.