Porlex II Hand Grinder: The Travel Companion That Keeps Showing Up in Everyone's Kit

The Porlex II is a Japanese-made stainless steel hand grinder that's been a staple in the travel coffee community for years. It grinds well, fits inside an AeroPress, and weighs just 260 grams. At around $70 to $80, it sits in a competitive price bracket, but the Porlex II still has a loyal following for good reason.

I've taken this grinder on backpacking trips, work conferences, and weekend cabin getaways. It's reliable, nearly indestructible, and produces good enough results for someone who just wants a solid cup of coffee away from home. Here's my honest take after putting serious miles on it.

Build Quality That Actually Lasts

The Porlex II is built entirely from stainless steel and ceramic. No plastic. This is its biggest selling point and the main reason it's survived being tossed around in my travel bag for hundreds of trips.

The body is a simple cylinder, about 19cm tall and 5cm wide. It has a matte brushed finish that resists fingerprints and scratches. After a year of heavy travel use, mine still looks nearly new aside from a few minor scuffs on the bottom.

The AeroPress Connection

The Porlex II was designed to nest inside a standard AeroPress plunger tube. This saves space in your travel kit and makes the two a natural pairing. You pull off the handle, drop the grinder body into the AeroPress, and pack them as one unit. It's a small thing, but it's clever and practical.

The handle connects via a spring-loaded mechanism that snaps into place. Earlier Porlex models had issues with the handle popping off mid-grind. The Mark II fixed this with a stronger spring and a redesigned connection point. I haven't had the handle come loose once.

Ceramic Burrs: The Good and the Bad

The Porlex II uses ceramic conical burrs. Ceramic has some advantages: it doesn't transfer heat to the coffee, it doesn't rust, and it holds its sharpness for a long time. Porlex claims the burrs will last for years of daily use, and based on my experience, that seems accurate.

The downside is grinding speed. Ceramic burrs are harder but more brittle than steel, and the Porlex's burrs are relatively small (about 30mm). Grinding 18 grams of medium-roast beans takes me about 60 to 70 seconds for a medium grind. Light roasts take even longer, sometimes close to 90 seconds.

Consistency at Different Settings

For medium and coarse grinds, the Porlex II does a respectable job. French press grinds are uniform enough, and AeroPress results are consistently good. I've brewed hundreds of AeroPress cups with this grinder and been happy with the results.

Finer grinds are where it gets less impressive. The particle distribution at fine settings is wider than what you'd get from a Timemore C2 or 1Zpresso Q2 at the same price. If pour-over clarity matters to you, there are better options for the money.

Grind Adjustment System

The Porlex II uses a click adjustment system at the base of the inner burr. You turn the adjustment nut, and each click changes the grind setting. There are roughly 15 to 18 usable clicks depending on how you count the extremes.

Each click represents a meaningful change in grind size. For AeroPress, I use about 6 to 8 clicks from the finest setting. For French press, I go to about 12 to 14 clicks.

The system works, but it's not as refined as what Timemore or 1Zpresso offer. The clicks don't feel as precise, and it's easy to accidentally go one click too far if you're not paying attention. There's also no way to mark your preferred setting, so you end up counting clicks from zero every time you adjust.

Travel Performance

This is where the Porlex II earns its reputation. For travel, it's hard to beat. The stainless steel body is virtually indestructible. It fits inside an AeroPress. The handle detaches for compact packing. And at 260 grams, it adds almost no weight to your bag.

I've used it in hotel rooms, on camping trips, and even on a long-haul flight (grinding during the beverage service got some curious looks). The grinder performs the same whether I'm at home or at 10,000 feet.

What I Pack for Travel Coffee

My go-to travel setup is the Porlex II nested inside an AeroPress, a Fellow Prismo attachment, and a small bag of beans. The whole kit fits in a quart-size pouch. I just need hot water, which is available almost anywhere.

Porlex II vs. The Competition

At $70 to $80, the Porlex II competes directly with the Timemore C2 and the 1Zpresso Q2.

The Timemore C2 grinds faster (steel burrs, larger burr size) and has better consistency for pour-over. If speed and grind quality are your priority, the C2 wins. But it's aluminum, not stainless steel, and it doesn't fit in an AeroPress.

The 1Zpresso Q2 is more compact, has better fine-grind capability, and offers more click adjustments. For versatility, the Q2 is the stronger option. But it also doesn't nest inside an AeroPress.

The Porlex II wins on durability and the AeroPress pairing. If your kit revolves around the AeroPress and you want something that will last forever, it's still a smart pick. Check our best coffee grinder roundup for a side-by-side look at the full field.

If you're shopping specifically for a quality grinder across different categories, our top coffee grinder guide breaks it down by use case.

FAQ

Is the Porlex II good for espresso?

Not really. The click adjustments aren't fine enough for proper espresso dialing, and the grind consistency at fine settings isn't tight enough for even extraction. You can make moka pot coffee with it at a fine setting, but true espresso needs a grinder with more precision.

How do you clean the Porlex II?

Disassemble the burr set by unscrewing the adjustment nut at the bottom. Remove the inner burr and brush out the grounds from both the burr and the body. A dry toothbrush works well. Don't use water on the burr mechanism. Reassemble and grind a few beans to clear any remaining dust. I do this every couple of weeks.

What's the difference between the Porlex II and the Porlex Mini?

The Mini is shorter (holds about 20 grams vs. 30 grams for the II) and also fits inside an AeroPress. The grind quality is identical since they use the same burr set. Choose the Mini if you want maximum portability and usually brew single cups. Choose the II if you sometimes brew for two or prefer a more comfortable grinding experience.

Do the ceramic burrs break easily?

Ceramic burrs can crack if you grind something hard like a small stone that got mixed in with your beans. In normal use with coffee beans only, they're extremely durable. Porlex sells replacement burr sets for about $25 if you ever do need to swap them out.

My Recommendation

The Porlex II isn't the fastest grinder, and it's not the most consistent at fine settings. But it's one of the toughest, most travel-friendly grinders you can buy. If you're an AeroPress brewer who travels often and wants a grinder that will survive years of being tossed in bags, it's a solid investment. Just know that for home use or pour-over brewing, the Timemore C2 or 1Zpresso Q2 give you better grind quality for similar money.