Whether you have a manual or electric grinder in your home, both require maintenance in order to continually serve up the best cup of coffee. Let's take a look at how to clean a coffee grinder so you can enjoy the true flavor of the beans.
Many coffee enthusiasts out there prefer the taste of freshly ground beans to pre-ground ones, and it’s not hard to understand why. When freshly ground, the beans release the oils that make the coffee taste that much better. However, over time, that same oil coats the inside of your coffee grinder and can become rancid, causing the flavor of any beans you put through to be off-balance. That’s why regular cleaning is a necessary part of owning a coffee grinder. We’ll show you how to clean a coffee grinder in a few simple steps!
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How to Clean a Manual Coffee Grinder
(Foto: Utopia / K.Stankiewicz)
If you’re short on time and looking for a quick fix, throw some raw white rice in your grinder and churn it through. This will help soak up some of the oils and loosen the stubborn bits of coffee stuck in the burrs, which you can then brush away with a soft brush. However, a deeper clean is highly recommended, especially if you use your grinder every day.
Step One: Disassemble
When cleaning your coffee grinder, disassembly is a crucial first step in order to get at the inside parts that get blocked up with oils and coffee. With manual coffee grinders, there can be several small parts that you need to keep track of. Lay out a tea towel on a flat counter so you won’t lose any pieces.
Step Two: Cleaning
Depending on your coffee grinder, once you’ve disassembled it, you can wash all the parts in warm, soapy water in the sink. Use a small bottle brush for difficult-to-reach spots – if you have reusable straws at home, the brush that comes with them works well.
Step Three: Dry Thoroughly
You can use a tea towel to dry the separate pieces, but to prevent rust, it’s best to allow the entire coffee grinder to air dry before putting it back together.
Step Four: Reassemble
Once your coffee grinder is clean and dry, it’s time to reassemble it! You should be able to taste a clear difference in your next cup of coffee.
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Cleaning an Electric Coffee Grinder
(Foto: CC0 / Unsplash / Crew)
If you have a coffee machine that has the coffee grinder integrated into it, or if you have a hand-held electric one, they also need to be cleaned. An electric coffee grinder has the same parts as a manual one, but cleaning them requires a bit of extra attention. Here’s how to clean your electric coffee grinder:
- Unplug the coffee grinder or coffee machine before starting to clean it.
- Remove any of the parts that come off easily, and wash them by hand.
- Using a soft brush, gently remove ground particles from the blades.
- Wipe everything with a damp cloth, and allow to dry completely before replacing the lid.
- Give the base a wipe as well, and then your grinder is ready to use again.
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