Porlex Coffee Grinder (Tall) JP-30 - [REVIEW]
Porlex
Regular price
The Porlex JP-30: A Truly Brilliant Hand Coffee Grinder for Home & Travel
The Porlex Tall JP-30 hand grinder is a super affordable, quick and easy way to grind your own beans and drink your coffee at its best. If you love making coffee at home, when travelling or while camping, I implore you to grind your own beans and taste the difference.
I've been using the Porlex for a number of years now and have reviewed it below with a great contribution by my friend Asser from Coffee Chronicler - check it out below!
What you'll find here:
- A bit of background info on the JP-30 grinder & Porlex themselves
- What I like (and don't like) about it
- Best places to buy for the best pricing and service
Porlex JP-30 Tall Hand Coffee Grinder Review by Darcy - Bircher Bar Founder & Owner
Being a passionate coffee enthusiast (bordering on addict), the Porlex Tall has been a good friend of mine for a few years now.
Having travelled quite extensively, I know the perils of being stuck with no coffee options other than that from a dodgy roadhouse or service station.
Pairing the Porlex with the trusty Aeropress, Able Disk and a bag of fresh beans has saved my skin on more occasions than I can count now, meaning this caffeine fiend doesn't have to ever settle for something that is closer to dishwater than coffee.
Who is it for?:
The Porlex Tall JP-30 is an obvious choice for travelling, hiking and camping due to its compact size and robust build. It's Japanese-made and precision designed to grind ... and grind ... and grind without fail for many years.
It is also a great one to keep on the kitchen counter if you are only ever making coffee for one or two people - any more than that and you'd probably want to start thinking about something a bit bigger and/or electric.
Where to Buy It?:
Hit the big blue button at the top of this page to check the best pricing and customer service we've found. The pricing can change quite quickly on them so we keep this link as up-to-date as possible.
If you prefer to purchase in-store, a number of cafes and speciality coffee suppliers often stock them as well.
Porlex JP-30 Key Features:
What I Like About It:
- Compact, portable and robust. Easy to travel with and no fear of damaging it or having it breakdown
- Very affordable for its quality standard - most other hand grinders at its price are renowned to be dodgy and problematic
- Excellent grind consistency for espresso & AeroPress grind
What I Think Could Be Improved:
- A bit slower grind time than some of the top-end steel burr grinders
- Grind consistency falters a bit when you go coarser for French Press etc.
Asser Christensen: Q Grader, Coffee Expert & Founder of the Coffee Chronicler:
As I mentioned earlier in the review, my friend Asser from Coffee Chronicler has kindly given us his thoughts and experience on the JP-30 too. As a certified Q-grader and coffee expert with a large collection of manual grinders, it's great to have such an expert opinion on the Porlex.
Check it out!:
"The Porlex hand grinders are iconic.
If you shop around to find a new grinder online, you’ll definitely see a bunch of different Porlex knock-off models. However, I’d highly encourage you to stay away from those and go with the original.
When it comes to manual grinders, two things are critical: alignment and burr quality. The cheap copies tend to cut some serious corners with regards to both.
The Porlex Tall and Mini are both designed and produced in Porlex’s factory in Japan. This means that the materials and quality control are excellent. Yes, the grinder does use ceramic burrs, but I’d argue that these are the highest quality ceramic ones you’ll find in a hand grinder. The reason? Porlex is mainly a ceramics ware producer. Of course, you’re not going to get the same knife-through-butter sensation as you would with some of the top steel burr grinders, but it’s not a dull set of burrs. Also, it won’t pick up rust as steel burrs tend to if not used frequently.
The consistency of the grind is excellent around espresso and Aeropress setting, and then it gets progressively worse as you coarsen up the grind. You can make good pour over with this grinder; however, at the French press spectrum, there will be some boulders.
The general ergonomics of the Porlex are comfortable. The diameter of the grinder makes it easy to hold even if you have smaller hands, and the crank handle has an appropriate length, which makes it easier to turn than its rival, the Hario Slim.
Overall, the Porlex grinders are great entry-level grinders. The design is sturdy and straightforward, and they have a size that’s good for travel. They fit inside the Aeropress, which is a nice bonus when packing a suitcase. For the money, it’s a great grinder.
Best Accessories For The Porlex:
The Porlex JP-30 is the best friend of the AeroPress as it produces a superbly consistent grind for it and fits nicely in the chamber for travel pack down. Add to it the Able Brew Disk and you've got an excellent home barista kit.Porlex JP-30 Alternatives:
There are a few subtle differences between the top-end manual coffee grinders that might be better suited to your needs so it's always worth checking out a few alternatives when you're looking to buy. I've run through a couple more below that I'd highly recommend considering:
1.) 1Zpresso Mini Q
Being a touch more expensive than the Porlex JP-30, the 1Zpresso Mini Q offers two ball bearings and sharp steel burrs to give a noticeably faster grind. It's a great compact grinder (fits snugly inside the AeroPress) for the price
2.) Porlex Mini Coffee Grinder
Offering the same quality standards and grinding gear as the Porlex Tall, the Porlex Mini is even more compact and a bit cheaper again. Fit's perfectly inside the AeroPress chamber making it a great grinder for solo travellers.
3.) Hario Skerton Pro Coffee Mill
With thousands of positive customer reviews, the Hario Skerton Pro is one of the best manual grinders for its price. A significant upgrade on its predecessors, the Skerton and Skerton Plus, the Pro is super quiet with a large capacity and consistent grind quality.
Porlex Customer Reviews:
Scoring an average of 4.7 stars from hundreds of happy customers, the Porlex JP-30 is one of the best rated manual grinders available. You can head over and read them all yourself but I've put one below that I think sums it up simply:
"I bought this grinder with my Aeropress. It is a compact grinder and fits well inside the Aeropress. The build quality is excellent. It's easy to use and clean. The grind is always consistent. I've been using it every day and been enjoying every single time I grind my coffee beans. - F.B."
--------------------------------------------------
Thanks From The Bircher Bar!
I hope you've enjoyed this review and found it helpful! 😊
If you have any more questions at all, don't hesitate to send us an email - always happy to help out.
Again, through clicking the blue button at the top of this page, you will be taken to our recommended supplier and the best pricing and we can currently find for this product.
We also make a small commission on that link at no extra cost for you which enables us to keep our site going and you to get the best deal out there - win/win for all!
Finally, we are lucky enough to have negotiated some incredible coupon codes with our favourite brands and producers - these are some of the biggest discounts on the market. If you'd like to grab these codes, simply join our email list via the link at the top of the page.
Thanks so much for the support!
The Porlex JP-30: A Truly Brilliant Hand Coffee Grinder for Home & Travel
The Porlex Tall JP-30 hand grinder is a super affordable, quick and easy way to grind your own beans and drink your coffee at its best. If you love making coffee at home, when travelling or while camping, I implore you to grind your own beans and taste the difference.
I've been using the Porlex for a number of years now and have reviewed it below with a great contribution by my friend Asser from Coffee Chronicler - check it out below!
What you'll find here:
- A bit of background info on the JP-30 grinder & Porlex themselves
- What I like (and don't like) about it
- Best places to buy for the best pricing and service
Porlex JP-30 Tall Hand Coffee Grinder Review by Darcy - Bircher Bar Founder & Owner
Being a passionate coffee enthusiast (bordering on addict), the Porlex Tall has been a good friend of mine for a few years now.
Having travelled quite extensively, I know the perils of being stuck with no coffee options other than that from a dodgy roadhouse or service station.
Pairing the Porlex with the trusty Aeropress, Able Disk and a bag of fresh beans has saved my skin on more occasions than I can count now, meaning this caffeine fiend doesn't have to ever settle for something that is closer to dishwater than coffee.
Who is it for?:
The Porlex Tall JP-30 is an obvious choice for travelling, hiking and camping due to its compact size and robust build. It's Japanese-made and precision designed to grind ... and grind ... and grind without fail for many years.
It is also a great one to keep on the kitchen counter if you are only ever making coffee for one or two people - any more than that and you'd probably want to start thinking about something a bit bigger and/or electric.
Where to Buy It?:
Hit the big blue button at the top of this page to check the best pricing and customer service we've found. The pricing can change quite quickly on them so we keep this link as up-to-date as possible.
If you prefer to purchase in-store, a number of cafes and speciality coffee suppliers often stock them as well.
Porlex JP-30 Key Features:
What I Like About It:
- Compact, portable and robust. Easy to travel with and no fear of damaging it or having it breakdown
- Very affordable for its quality standard - most other hand grinders at its price are renowned to be dodgy and problematic
- Excellent grind consistency for espresso & AeroPress grind
What I Think Could Be Improved:
- A bit slower grind time than some of the top-end steel burr grinders
- Grind consistency falters a bit when you go coarser for French Press etc.
Asser Christensen: Q Grader, Coffee Expert & Founder of the Coffee Chronicler:
As I mentioned earlier in the review, my friend Asser from Coffee Chronicler has kindly given us his thoughts and experience on the JP-30 too. As a certified Q-grader and coffee expert with a large collection of manual grinders, it's great to have such an expert opinion on the Porlex.
Check it out!:
"The Porlex hand grinders are iconic.
If you shop around to find a new grinder online, you’ll definitely see a bunch of different Porlex knock-off models. However, I’d highly encourage you to stay away from those and go with the original.
When it comes to manual grinders, two things are critical: alignment and burr quality. The cheap copies tend to cut some serious corners with regards to both.
The Porlex Tall and Mini are both designed and produced in Porlex’s factory in Japan. This means that the materials and quality control are excellent. Yes, the grinder does use ceramic burrs, but I’d argue that these are the highest quality ceramic ones you’ll find in a hand grinder. The reason? Porlex is mainly a ceramics ware producer. Of course, you’re not going to get the same knife-through-butter sensation as you would with some of the top steel burr grinders, but it’s not a dull set of burrs. Also, it won’t pick up rust as steel burrs tend to if not used frequently.
The consistency of the grind is excellent around espresso and Aeropress setting, and then it gets progressively worse as you coarsen up the grind. You can make good pour over with this grinder; however, at the French press spectrum, there will be some boulders.
The general ergonomics of the Porlex are comfortable. The diameter of the grinder makes it easy to hold even if you have smaller hands, and the crank handle has an appropriate length, which makes it easier to turn than its rival, the Hario Slim.
Overall, the Porlex grinders are great entry-level grinders. The design is sturdy and straightforward, and they have a size that’s good for travel. They fit inside the Aeropress, which is a nice bonus when packing a suitcase. For the money, it’s a great grinder.
Best Accessories For The Porlex:
The Porlex JP-30 is the best friend of the AeroPress as it produces a superbly consistent grind for it and fits nicely in the chamber for travel pack down. Add to it the Able Brew Disk and you've got an excellent home barista kit.Porlex JP-30 Alternatives:
There are a few subtle differences between the top-end manual coffee grinders that might be better suited to your needs so it's always worth checking out a few alternatives when you're looking to buy. I've run through a couple more below that I'd highly recommend considering:
1.) 1Zpresso Mini Q
Being a touch more expensive than the Porlex JP-30, the 1Zpresso Mini Q offers two ball bearings and sharp steel burrs to give a noticeably faster grind. It's a great compact grinder (fits snugly inside the AeroPress) for the price
2.) Porlex Mini Coffee Grinder
Offering the same quality standards and grinding gear as the Porlex Tall, the Porlex Mini is even more compact and a bit cheaper again. Fit's perfectly inside the AeroPress chamber making it a great grinder for solo travellers.
3.) Hario Skerton Pro Coffee Mill
With thousands of positive customer reviews, the Hario Skerton Pro is one of the best manual grinders for its price. A significant upgrade on its predecessors, the Skerton and Skerton Plus, the Pro is super quiet with a large capacity and consistent grind quality.
Porlex Customer Reviews:
Scoring an average of 4.7 stars from hundreds of happy customers, the Porlex JP-30 is one of the best rated manual grinders available. You can head over and read them all yourself but I've put one below that I think sums it up simply:
"I bought this grinder with my Aeropress. It is a compact grinder and fits well inside the Aeropress. The build quality is excellent. It's easy to use and clean. The grind is always consistent. I've been using it every day and been enjoying every single time I grind my coffee beans. - F.B."
--------------------------------------------------
Thanks From The Bircher Bar!
I hope you've enjoyed this review and found it helpful! 😊
If you have any more questions at all, don't hesitate to send us an email - always happy to help out.
Again, through clicking the blue button at the top of this page, you will be taken to our recommended supplier and the best pricing and we can currently find for this product.
We also make a small commission on that link at no extra cost for you which enables us to keep our site going and you to get the best deal out there - win/win for all!
Finally, we are lucky enough to have negotiated some incredible coupon codes with our favourite brands and producers - these are some of the biggest discounts on the market. If you'd like to grab these codes, simply join our email list via the link at the top of the page.
Thanks so much for the support!
