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.
Plastic-free 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).
Verification: Manufacturer confirmed · reviewed 2026-07-06
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 |
| burrs ceramic conical burrs; do not rust or absorb odors | Ceramic / Stoneware / Porcelain | Yes |
| inner burr insert POM plastic insert in the grind assembly | Plastic (other / unspecified) | Yes |
| lid | Stainless Steel (304 / 18-8) | Yes |
| shaft | Stainless Steel (304 / 18-8) | Yes |
| adjusting nut | Stainless Steel (304 / 18-8) | No |
| grinds cup / catch stainless steel; grounds collect here | Stainless Steel (304 / 18-8) | Yes |
| handle | Stainless Steel (304 / 18-8) | 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 looks like an obvious plastic-free pick and is often recommended as one, but the material breakdown tells a more nuanced story: the structural "body" the beans sit in - and an inner burr insert - are POM plastic. The stainless lid, shaft, and grinds cup are the parts most people see. If your bar for plastic-free is "nothing in the grind path," the Porlex doesn't clear it; if you mainly care about the catch/grounds being metal and a rust-proof ceramic burr, it does well.
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 that the beans sit in and are ground within
- POM inner burr insert in the grind assembly
- Small capacity (~20g); slow for larger batches
Notes
- Also sold as the Porlex Tall II (larger ~30g+ capacity), same materials
- The stainless-steel exterior look leads many to assume it is all-metal; the load-bearing body is POM
Categories: Coffee 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-mini-grinder-ii brand confirms ceramic burr set and made in Japan; does not itemize the POM body on the page