Being a coffee enthusiast, I love my coffee fresh, so I do own a coffee grinder, and I had to learn how to clean my coffee grinder. Do you need to clean a coffee grinder? Yes. Oils and coffee residue from the coffee beans can build up in the coffee grinder and become stale over time, so having a clean grinder affects how fresh your next cup of coffee will be. The build-up in a coffee grinder may also burn out the grinder’s motor.
You can clean a coffee grinder using a grinder brush, cleaning pellets, uncooked parboiled rice and vinegar for odor. The type of coffee grinder determines the cleaning technique. We have two main types of grinders; a blade coffee grinder, and a burr coffee grinder.
Note: Before cleaning a coffee grinder, it is crucial to first read the manual for cleaning and disassembling instructions to know what to avoid using. You should also keep water away from any metallic parts as it can cause rusting and degrade your machine.
Things you will need
- Grinder cleaner pellets
- Grinder brush or a toothbrush
- Uncooked parboiled rice
- Paper towel
- Vacuum cleaner
How to Clean a Blade Coffee Grinder
A blade grinder is very simple to use and clean. It has two or three blades that rotate at high speed and grind the coffee beans. You can wipe it down with a grinder brush after every use. Below are some other options that clean a blade grinder:
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Using Uncooked Parboiled Rice
Rice is an affordable cleaning agent for a blade coffee grinder. We recommend parboiled rice as it is less hard than regular rice and will not damage the blades or burrs. Parboiled rice is also less starchy; therefore, it won’t gum up on your grinder.
Instructions
- Pour a 1/4 cup of uncooked parboiled rice into the grinder.
- Run the grinder for a minute or until it turns to powder.
- Dump the rice flour in a bin.
- Carefully wipe the grinder with a slightly damp paper towel.
Using Bread
Bread works as a substitute for rice.
Instructions
- Cut two or three slices into quarters and put them in the grinder.
- Run the grinder until it turns into crumbs and throw them.
- Carefully wipe down the grinder using a slightly damp paper towel.
How to Clean a Burr Coffee Grinder
Cleaning a burr grinder is much more cumbersome due to the intricate moving parts. Cleaning will also vary by the model due to differences in construction, but they all have the same concept.
Using a Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming can be done for weekly cleaning to reduce build-up.
Instructions
- Unplug the burr grinder.
- Using the hose attachment, set the vacuum close to the burr grinder and suck up all the loose coffee residue.
- Remove the hopper and clean it with warm soapy water and air dry it before connecting it back.
- Wipe the burrs using a lightly damp paper towel.
Using a Grinder Brush or Toothbrush
Using a brush with soft bristles will cause less damage to the burrs.
Instructions
- Remove the hopper and hand-clean with water and mild soap.
- Run the grinder for a minute to remove any coffee stuck on the burrs.
- Unplug the grinder.
- Disassemble all the removable plastic and rubber parts and hand-wash them with water and mild soap.
- Remove the inner burr using a tool that comes with the grinder.
- Using a grinder brush or toothbrush, wipe out all the coffee debris on the inner and outer burrs. You can also use a toothpick for smaller crevices.
- Wipe down the burrs with a slightly damp paper towel.
- Allow all the washed parts to air dry before you reassemble them.
Using Grinder Cleaning Pellets
Cleaning pellets absorb oils and fats and also disinfect the burr grinder.
Instructions.
- Unplug the burr grinder.
- Using a brush, wipe down as much coffee residue as you can.
- Plug the burr grinder in again.
- Pour the recommended amount of commercial cleaning pellets into the hopper and run the grinder until the powder runs through the machine.
- Pour about 30 grams of coffee beans in the machine to remove any cleaning pellet tablets and run them through.
- Discard the debris and rinse out the collecting bin.
Using Vinegar
Vinegar is excellent for removing any odor or smell. After removing any coffee debris using a grinder brush, slightly wet a towel paper with some vinegar and wipe down the grinder thoroughly. Run a small amount of coffee through and discard them.
How Often Should You Clean a Coffee Grinder
Clean your coffee grinder at least once a week, and a deep clean done once a month. Clean the hopper and collecting bin as often as after every coffee refill by just wiping down with a clean paper towel.
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However, how often you use your coffee grinder dictates how regularly you clean it. The more you use your coffee grinder, the more regular cleaning it requires. You can also tell when your coffee grinder needs a clean when your coffee starts to taste stale, when an odor comes out of the coffee grinder and even when you notice the machine working slower than usual.
After cleaning, remember to run a little bit of coffee through your grinder before using it and discard the residue. With those cleaning tips, you can enjoy a fresh cup of coffee every time.