An ink jet printhead is disclosed which includes at least one nozzle-defining channel having non-wetting walls and a step structure therein. The step structure is arranged within the channel so that the inlet to the channel has a cross-section which is larger in area than a cross-section of the nozzle outlet. The non-wetting walls of the channel prevent ink from being driven towards the outlet nozzle by capillary action as would normally occur with wetting channel walls. By controlling a positive pressure applied to an ink supply, the meniscus of the ink within the channel can be controlled to be located adjacent the step structure of the channel and spaced away from the nozzle outlet. When an actuator, such as, for example, a resistive heating element, is actuated, a droplet of ink will be expelled from the outlet nozzle of the channel. However, since the natural location of the meniscus is spaced from the outlet nozzle, when ink surges forward to refill the channel, no additional ink will weep out of the outlet nozzle. The location of the ink meniscus spaced from the nozzle outlet also inhibits the drying of ink within the channel.