How to Clean a Coffee Grinder? [Step-by-Step Guide]

Do you love the taste of fresh coffee? If so, you need to make sure you’re using a well-cleaned coffee grinder, as a dirty coffee grinder can ruin the flavor of your coffee and make it taste bitter.

In this article, we’ll mention different types of grinders and teach you all about how to clean a coffee grinder and properly care for it.

Types of Grinders

Good coffee is of great value to every coffee lover, and the quality of coffee depends on many factors, such as the choice of coffee beans and the way of preparing your coffee. Your coffee grinder of choice can have a great influence on how your coffee tastes, which is why you should be aware of the different types of grinders.

There are two main types of coffee grinders: blade and burr grinders, but a spice grinder can be sometimes used as a coffee grinder, too. So before we move on to explain the ways to clean a coffee grinder, let’s see how they work.

1. Blade Coffee Grinder

Grinders like the Krups coffee grinder belong to blade grinders, which usually include 2 or 3 blades and are very similar to commercial blenders. This coffee grinder offers 2 stainless steel blades that rotate at high speed to grind down the coffee beans. It can also be used for spices, herbs, and nuts.

2. Burr Coffee Grinder

On the other hand, a burr grinder is strictly designed to grind only coffee beans. Burr grinders consist of two sections, a coffee bean storage container on top and a grinder section located on the bottom. This grinder works by crushing beans between two revolving burrs, one of which is located in the inner center, while the other is an outer burr.

3. Spice Grinder

Aside from being designed to grind whole spices, they can also be used for grinding coffee beans and nuts. There are two types of spice grinders: manual and electric, with the latter being a more suitable option for grinding larger quantities.

How to Clean a Coffee Grinder?

If you want to preserve your coffee grinder’s functionality and enjoy the taste of freshly brewed coffee, you should learn how to properly care for your grinder.

Read on and learn what’s the best way to clean different types of grinders.

Cleaning Blade Coffee Grinders

When it comes to cleaning a blade coffee grinder like the Krups coffee grinder, a different cleaning technique can be used depending on your preference:

Using Soapy Water

1. Before you start, remove the bean hopper and grinder chamber.
2. Then, wash all its parts using soapy water.
3. Rinse well using water, then dry it properly.
4. Once done, reattach the hopper and chamber, and do a test run to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Using Rice

The reason we clean a coffee grinder with rice is that it absorbs the oils and removes excess coffee grounds from the grinder. Here’s how to do it:

1. Use uncooked rice to fill the grinder until its blades are fully covered, and run it for about a minute.
2. Pour out the rice and fill the grinder again and repeat the process.
3. Once clean, thoroughly wipe the inside of the grinder using a paper towel or damp cloth.

Cleaning Burr Coffee Grinders

To clean Burr coffee grinders, you should:

1. Remove the bean hopper and grinder chamber.
2. Using a lint-free cloth, wipe them to remove any remaining coffee dust or oil build-up.
3. To get rid of stubborn coffee oils, wash them using soapy water.
4. Rinse them to avoid contaminating them with soapy flavors, and dry them thoroughly.
5. When cleaning a burr grinder, only the outer burr is removed, as the inner one is usually difficult to remove and you might need a screwdriver to do so.
6. Use a toothbrush to remove coffee grounds from every nook and cranny of the burrs.
7. Use a damp towel to wipe the burrs, and clean the coffee chute with a cotton swab to remove any debris.
8. Gather all the removable components and reassemble your grinder.

Cleaning Spice Grinders

The method for cleaning a spice grinder is very similar to the one for blade grinders, as both coffee beans and spices that can be put in the spice grinder release oils. The best method to eliminate these oils is rice.

The Rice Method

Here’s how to clean a spice grinder with rice:

1. Pour ¼ cup of uncooked rice and run the grinder until the rice is fully pulverized.
2. Pour out the rice flour and unplug your grinder.
3. Use a damp washcloth or paper towel to wipe off any rice residue.
4. Make sure your cloth or tower isn’t soaking, as this can invite rust and damage the blades.

Key Takeaways

Is It Necessary to Clean a Coffee Grinder?

If you want to avoid serving bad-tasting coffee to your guests or ruining your morning with it, you should make a habit of cleaning your grinder regularly. Here are some of the reasons why grinder maintenance is important:

• Coffee Build-up

Coffee dust and particles accumulate within the grinder over time, causing your coffee to taste different. If you use your blade grinder for spices as well, the spices can also be the reason behind the odd coffee taste.

• Oil Release

The longer you avoid cleaning a coffee grinder and the more coffee oils reside in the grinder, the more likely it is they’ll become stale and cause an unusual smell. These oils can also affect the coffee grounds and the final brew.

• Effect on Lifespan

Similarly to other kitchen appliances, grinders can also perform poorly when not properly maintained. Not only can built-up oils lower the performance, but they can also shorten the lifespan of your appliance, which is why regular cleaning is of key significance.

How Often to Clean a Coffee Grinder?

How often you clean your grinder will largely depend on how much you use it. If you use it daily, you should clean it about once a week to get rid of coffee bean residue and oil build-up. If you don’t use it as often, you can clean the coffee grinder once every two weeks.

Cleaning your coffee grinder regularly can help reduce the need for deep cleaning. For instance, wiping your burr grinder after each use can make deep cleaning much easier, as there will be less residue.

Another way to reduce the need for deep cleaning of your burr grinder is to use cleaning tablets, which you can simply run through the machine to spare yourself the trouble of disassembling your burr grinder.

Conclusion

No matter which method you choose, it’s important to clean your coffee grinder on a regular basis to avoid the negative effects of coffee oil build-up and contribute to a longer lifespan of your coffee grinder. If you’re interested in how to take care of other gadgets found in the kitchen, check out what’s the best way to clean an electric kettle.