Porlex Tall 2: A Thorough Look at This Hand Grinder
The Porlex Tall 2 is a Japanese hand grinder that's been in the specialty coffee conversation for years, and for good reason. If you want a compact, well-built hand grinder for travel or off-grid brewing, the Porlex Tall 2 belongs on your short list. It's small, it's durable, it's made in Japan, and it fits inside a standard Aeropress plunger.
That last detail is a bigger deal than it sounds if you travel with coffee gear.
I'll walk through what the Tall 2 actually delivers, how it compares to the competition, what it's best suited for, and whether it's the right choice for your situation.
What Is the Porlex Tall 2?
Porlex is a Japanese manufacturer based in Kagoshima that specializes in ceramic kitchen tools. The hand grinder line is their most internationally recognized product, and the Tall 2 is the updated, improved version of their classic Tall grinder.
The Tall 2 uses ceramic conical burrs, stainless steel body, and a folding handle for compact storage. The "Tall" designation refers to the grinder's capacity: it holds around 40g of beans, which is more than the Porlex Mini (20g) and enough for a couple of cups in most brew methods.
What Changed From the Original Tall to the Tall 2
The Tall 2 updated the adjustment system. The original Tall used a locking collar adjustment that was functional but slightly fiddly. The Tall 2 introduced a locking ring adjustment system with better click-stop precision, making it easier to dial in and return to a setting.
The burr geometry was also refined in the Tall 2, improving grind consistency particularly at the coarser settings used for French press and AeroPress.
Grind Quality
For a hand grinder in its price range (around $70-$90), the Porlex Tall 2 performs well. The ceramic conical burrs produce a reasonably consistent grind for filter methods. You won't mistake it for a Comandante or a Timemore C2 for uniformity, but it's genuinely good for the price.
Best Brewing Methods
- AeroPress: Excellent, especially using the Japanese AeroPress championship-style methods that use medium-fine grinds
- Pour-over (V60): Works well at medium settings
- French press: Good at the coarser end of the range
- Moka pot: Adequate at finer settings, though it requires more effort and consistency isn't perfect
- Espresso: Not suitable. Ceramic burrs at this size don't produce consistent enough grind for proper espresso
For AeroPress specifically, the Porlex Tall 2 is frequently recommended because of the physical compatibility: the grinder body fits inside the AeroPress plunger barrel for travel packing. This is a design detail Porlex clearly intended.
The Ceramic Burr Question
Ceramic burrs versus steel burrs is a real distinction in hand grinders. Ceramic burrs are harder than steel and resist heat well. They're also less prone to rust, which matters for travelers or users who don't always dry equipment perfectly.
The downside: ceramic can crack if dropped on a hard surface. Steel burrs can absorb impact better. If you're rough with your gear, steel burr grinders like the Timemore C2 are more forgiving.
Ceramic burrs also take longer to wear than steel, which means consistent grind quality over a long lifespan under normal use. For a home or travel hand grinder that isn't being used commercially, ceramic is a reasonable choice.
Build Quality
The stainless steel body is the Tall 2's main structural advantage over cheaper plastic hand grinders. It doesn't flex, it doesn't crack from temperature changes, and it feels solid in hand. The exterior finish is smooth and the Porlex branding is minimal and tasteful.
The folding handle clicks firmly into the operational position and folds flat for storage. It doesn't wobble during grinding, which is important because a wobbly handle makes hand grinding annoying.
The grounds collection canister at the bottom screws off cleanly. It's stainless too, so no plastic taste carries into your coffee.
Grinding Effort
Hand grinding is always going to require more work than pushing a button, but the Tall 2 is one of the smoother, more comfortable grinders to use at its price point. For a 20g dose at medium settings, most people grind in about 60-90 seconds. At finer settings the effort increases; at coarser settings it's easier.
For a daily home grinder, the arm fatigue over time is minimal for single servings. For larger batches (4+ cups), the effort becomes more noticeable.
Capacity
The Tall 2 holds approximately 40g of beans in the hopper and approximately 40g in the grounds canister. That's enough for:
- 2 cups of drip or pour-over
- 2 standard AeroPress doses
- 1 large French press (350-450ml)
For single-cup brewing, you're well-covered. For a full French press feeding two people, one grind cycle handles it.
Porlex Tall 2 vs. Porlex Mini 2
The main difference is size and capacity. The Mini 2 holds 20g vs. The Tall 2's 40g. The Mini fits even more compactly, particularly in a jacket pocket.
The Mini is better if you're always making a single serving and want the smallest possible pack size. The Tall is better if you occasionally make two cups or use a larger brew ratio.
Grind quality is effectively the same between the two. Choose based on capacity and portability needs.
Porlex Tall 2 vs. Timemore C2
The Timemore C2 is the most common alternative comparison for hand grinders in the $60-$100 range. The C2 uses steel burrs and produces a more consistent grind, particularly at fine-to-medium settings. Most blind taste tests show a small but real difference favoring the C2 for pour-over and AeroPress.
The C2 is heavier and slightly bulkier. It doesn't fit inside an AeroPress. It doesn't have the AeroPress-compatible design advantage.
For pure grind quality, the Timemore C2 wins. For travel compatibility with AeroPress and Japanese manufacturing provenance, the Porlex Tall 2 wins. Both are good grinders and neither is clearly wrong for a home or travel setup.
My best coffee grinder roundup covers both alongside electric options if you're still deciding whether a hand grinder is right for your situation.
Cleaning
Ceramic burrs are easy to clean. Occasional disassembly and brush cleaning keeps the Tall 2 performing well. The burr assembly comes apart without tools: unscrew the grounds canister, remove the axle screw, and the upper burr lifts out.
A small stiff brush (Porlex includes one) sweeps out any grounds from the burr chamber. For coffee oil buildup over months of use, a quick rinse of the burr components with warm water and a dry before reassembly works well. Don't put the whole unit in water; keep the body dry.
Price and Availability
The Porlex Tall 2 retails in the $70-$90 range. It's widely available on Amazon and through specialty coffee retailers. The original Porlex Tall is still sold in some markets; make sure you're getting the Tall 2 for the improved adjustment system.
FAQ
Can the Porlex Tall 2 grind for espresso? Not reliably. The ceramic burrs and adjustment range aren't suited to consistent espresso grinding. At the finest settings, you can get close, but the grind won't be tight enough in distribution for a proper shot. Use a dedicated burr grinder for espresso.
How does the Porlex Tall 2 handle dark roasts? Dark roasts are softer and easier to grind than light roasts. The Porlex handles them well with slightly less effort per gram. The grind quality is consistent across roast levels.
Does the Porlex Tall 2 work with a Hario V60? Yes. Set the grind around 8-12 clicks from the finest setting for a standard V60 brew. Adjust up or down based on your flow rate and taste preferences.
How long do the ceramic burrs last? Under normal home use, ceramic burrs last a very long time. Many Porlex users report years of daily use without noticeable grind quality decline. Commercial volumes would wear them faster, but for personal use they're very durable.
The Bottom Line
The Porlex Tall 2 is a reliable, well-built hand grinder that works well for filter coffee and travel brewing. The Japanese manufacturing quality, ceramic burrs, and AeroPress-compatible size make it one of the more practical choices in the $70-$90 hand grinder category.
It's not the highest-performing hand grinder you can buy. The Timemore C2 and Comandante produce more uniform grinds. But for value, durability, and travel convenience, the Porlex Tall 2 earns its reputation.
If you're deciding between hand and electric grinding, my top coffee grinder guide covers both categories and helps you think through which setup makes sense for your daily routine.
For AeroPress travelers or anyone who wants a Japanese-made, zero-fuss hand grinder that works well and lasts, the Tall 2 is a solid buy.