How to Clean a Coffee Grinder in 7 Steps

A coffee grinder is a device that grinds whole coffee beans. Many coffee lovers grind coffee beans at home to create the freshest, most potent cup of coffee. A coffee grinder will grind beans to different consistencies, from coarse to fine, making it ideal if you plan on making different kinds of coffees at home.

Two main kinds of grinders for grinding coffee beans include:

1. 1. Blade grinder: A blade grinder includes two or three blades powered by a small motor, similar to a blender. When the blades rotate at high speeds, they grind the coffee beans down. In addition to coffee beans, you can use a blade grinder to grind spices. One disadvantage to using a blade grinder to grind coffee is that it can produce uneven grounds.
2. 2. Burr grinder: A burr grinder, also known as a burr mill, is strictly for grinding coffee beans. Burr grinders contain a top storage container for the coffee beans, called a bean hopper, and the bottom grinder section. The grinder crushes beans between two revolving burrs: an inner center burr and an outer burr. Burr grinders produce evenly-sized coffee grounds.

It is essential to regularly clean your coffee grinder to ensure your coffee tastes better and that your grinder will continue to work well for you.

• Oils: Coffee beans release oils when ground. The coffee oils will collect in the grinder, and the oils will go stale and rancid over time, putting off an unusual smell. The stale oil will affect the taste of the coffee grounds and the final brew of coffee.
• Coffee build-up: Old coffee particles and coffee dust collect in the coffee grinder, affecting the taste of the coffee grounds and the coffee brew. If you use a blade grinder also to ground spices, the residual spices will also collect in the grinder, affecting the taste of your coffee.
• Performance: Old oils and coffee bits accumulating in the grinder will also wear down the blade. This will affect the performance and lifespan of your grinder.
  

There are different methods to clean a coffee grinder, depending on the type of grinder. Follow these steps to clean a blade grinder:

1. 1. Fill the grinder with rice. The easiest way to clean a blade grinder is to fill the grinder with uncooked rice until the blades are covered.
2. 2. Run the rice in the grinder. Run the rice in the grinder for about a minute—the rice will collect the oils and remove the excess coffee grounds. Pour the rice out of the grinder.
3. 3. Repeat the process. Pour in more rice and repeat the process until the grinder is clean.
4. 4. Wipe down the grinder. Unplug the grinder, then use a damp cloth or paper towel to wipe down the inside of the grinder. Make sure to get all of the crevices.

The cleaning process for a burr coffee grinder can be labor-intensive. Follow these steps to ease the process:

1. 1. Clean the hopper. After unplugging the grinder, remove the bean hopper and empty it of any coffee beans. Clean the inside of the hopper with soapy water.
2. 2. Remove all the pieces. In the grinder, remove any removable plastic and rubber pieces, including the grind chamber, and wash them with soapy water.
3. 3. Take out the inner burr. Remove the inner burr; you may need a screwdriver for this step.
4. 4. Scrub with a brush. Use a stiff brush, like a toothbrush, to remove any coffee grounds stuck to the nooks and crannies of the burrs. You can use a toothpick for any hard-to-reach crevices.
5. 5. Wipe down the burrs. Wipe down the burrs with a slightly damp towel.
6. 6. Clean the coffee chute. Clean the chute where the coffee beans are fed from the bean hopper into the grinder. A cotton swab is a good tool for this purpose.
7. 7. Let it dry. Wait until all the parts of the burr grinder are completely dry before you reassemble it to avoid rusting the burr grinder.

When cleaning a coffee grinder, keep the following tips in mind:

1. 1. Clean your coffee grinder frequently. You can clean a blade grinder weekly if you use it every day. You can clean a burr grinder once a month. If you wipe down the grinder with a cloth after every use, this will make your deep cleaning of the grinder much easier.
2. 2. Use cleaning tablets. As an alternative to disassembling your burr grinder to clean, you can run the special cleaning tablets through the machine to clean it.
3. 3. Avoid rice in burr grinders. Unlike blade grinders, you should not use rice to clean a burr grinder. The rice can damage the burrs.
4. 4. Avoid water. You can wipe down the grinders with a damp cloth but don’t put them under running water, or the grinder will rust. You can also use a dry microfiber cloth to catch all residual coffee particles and coffee oils.

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