It’s worth grinding your own coffee, and there are a lot of ways to grind coffee beans. And one of the methods is using a blender.
Some people might wonder if it’s possible to do this, and the answer is yes – you can grind coffee beans in a blender!
However, there are a few things you need to know before you get started. In this blog post, I’ll discuss how to grind coffee in a blender and provide some tips for getting the best results.
Can You Grind Coffee Beans In Blender? [Does Any Blender Is Fit for the Purpose]
So, grinding coffee beans in a blender is possible. However, in the long run, a blender isn’t the best option for those who are serious about coffee or who like to enjoy a quality cup of joe.
The purpose of grinding coffee is to break the beans down into smaller pieces so that they can be brewed. This process also helps to release the coffee’s flavor and aroma.
When the beans are ground, it exposes more of their surface area to water, which is what extracts the coffee’s flavor.
Consequently, anything that increases the exposed surface area in the same way as a grinder will accomplish the same thing.
But can you grind coffee beans in any blender? The short answer is yes, you can grind coffee beans in most blenders. But not all blenders are created equal! The type of blender you have will affect the process and outcome.
Immersion blenders, like immersion hand-mixers, will likely not be able to cope with grinding coffee beans.
This is because they aren’t built to handle heavy-duty tasks such as grinding coffee beans. Stick Blenders are a better choice for grinding coffee beans, but these are still slightly limited in capacity.
On the other hand, high-powered countertop blenders may be able to cope with grinding coffee beans. Such blenders usually come equipped with powerful motors and blades.
So typically you should find that you’re able to get a grind in a relatively short period of time. But if you want the right gear for grinding beans you should go for a burr grinder.
You can look for the review of some of the best coffee grinders from the below links:
- Top Burr Coffee Grinder Review for Espresso
- Best Coffee Grinder (Manual) Review & Buying Guide
- Best Available Manual Ceramic Burr Grinder Review
Understanding Blender Speed Settings and Capabilities
The blade system in blenders breaks down the coffee beans, similar to blade coffee grinders. In a blender, there is more room to grind coffee compared to blade coffee grinders.
The drawbacks of household blade grinders are they are tiny and don’t have enough volume. On the other hand, you can grind your coffee in a larger quantity and with greater consistency using a blender.
Consistency in the grind of coffee beans is key to producing the perfect cup. If the grind is inconsistent, the oils in the coffee beans are not extracted correctly, resulting in bitter coffee.
A consistent grind will allow the beans to extract their oils and flavors in a much more accurate manner, resulting in a smoother cup of coffee.
A blender can produce a somewhat consistent grind if the beans are added gradually. That way, there will be plenty of room for beans to move and groove and grind up well.
Coffee beans that are hit by the blade are blasted into a bunch of differently-sized pieces. The fine grounds fall to the bottom of the chamber where the blade is and get chopped all over again. The boulders (big grounds) stay towards the top, occasionally getting hit by the blade.
Garrett Oden, javapresse.com
In addition, working in small batches will preserve the aroma of the coffee beans. The reason is that the longer the blender runs, the higher the temperature inside the vessel will be.
The natural oils of the coffee bean begin to cook as the beans heat up, producing a harsh, bitter taste [1]. Therefore, make it a point to work in small batches and be patient!
What is the best way to grind coffee beans in a blender?
I recommend adding only a small handful of coffee beans (20-25 grams or 1/4 cup) to your blender at a time. If you add more than that, the beans will have difficulty moving around and grinding evenly.
Add the beans to the blender and then pulse the blender for about five seconds. After five seconds, check to see how finely the beans are ground.
If they’re not ground to your liking, pulse the blender for a few more seconds. Repeat this process until the beans are ground to your desired consistency.
Blending creates heat and will often “cook” the beans while you’re blending them, which you don’t want! The beans could burn, so it’s important that the whole grinding process takes about 20 seconds, perhaps 30 seconds if you really need it!
prolinerangehoods.com
Once you’ve achieved the perfect grind, remove the lid of the blender and pour the grounds into an airtight container.
And that’s it! You’ve successfully ground your coffee beans using a blender.
Just remember to work in small batches, pulse the blender for short bursts, and remove the blender’s lid as soon as the beans are ground to your desired consistency.
Doing so will help to preserve the flavor and aroma of your coffee beans.
Blending generally produces a coarser grind suitable for steeping with a French press, drip coffee maker, or cold-brew machine.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Grinding Coffee in a Blender
However, there are certain advantages and disadvantages to grinding your beans in a blender that should be considered before trying this method at home.
- Grinding your own coffee beans in a blender can save money and provide you with a fresher cup of coffee than what you can buy from the grocery store.
- Grinding your beans with a quality blender can help you achieve an even grind size more quickly than other methods. But not like burr grinders.
However, there are some drawbacks to using a blender for grinding coffee beans.
- Without special gears like burr grinders, it can be difficult to get a consistent grind [2].
- Additionally, blenders may potentially heat up quickly when used for extended periods of time – which could end up affecting your final cup of coffee flavor-wise.
So, consider exploring the different options available before deciding which one best suits your needs.
Best Practices When Grinding Coffee in a Blender [Do’s & Don’ts]
It’s clear that there are two ends to the spectrum of grind size. It ranges from extra-coarse to extra-fine. Coarse particles are under 1 mm per particle, while extra-fine particles have just under 0.25 mm per particle.
We cannot be certain of our eye’s ability to judge particle sizes when grinding coffee, so I do not recommend using a blender or any other blade grinder.
I recommend using a burr grinder instead. Burr grinders can give you a more consistent grind size, and they also offer more control over the grind size.
That being said, if you still want to use a blender, follow the below do’s and don’ts so that you can get a more consistent grind size compared to the conventional approach.
Do’s
- Always use short bursts, and shake up the beans that will help to get more evenness in grind size.
- Have a close look at the ground, and see if the grounds are close enough to your desired size.
- At this point, use a sieve to filter out the large ones from the ground. Then only grind the larger pieces, so that you can prevent a lot more fine particles.
- To take care of the fine particles spread the ground coffee on a paper towel or on a piece of cloth with a lot finer mesh. The finer grounds will stick around the paper towel or cloth piece.
- Always clean the blender after each use as static can build around the blades and other space inside the blender pitcher. Using it without cleaning can result in stale coffee.
Dont’s
- Never grind for a longer burst because blenders heat up quickly and can spoil the flavor & aroma of the coffee ground.
- Never use the blender for spices. if you want to stick with the blender try to keep that dedicated only to grinding coffee beans.
If you don’t want to do all the hustle, and bustle simply buy a burr grinder. Here, read the price-specific burr coffee grinder review:
- Top Espresso Grinder Review Under 300 USD
- Best Burr Coffee Grinder You Can Buy Under 100$
- Review & Buying Guide of Burr Coffee Grinders Below 200 Dollar
Other Ways To Grind Coffee
If you don’t have a blender, or if you’re looking for other ways to grind coffee beans, there are plenty of options available to you.
You can use a mortar and pestle, food processor, rolling pin, or Hammer.
Mortar And Pestle:
This is a great option if you only need to grind a small amount of coffee beans. To use this method, simply add the beans to the mortar and use the pestle to grind them into a fine powder.
Food Processor:
This is a good option for those who need to grind a larger quantity of beans. Simply add the beans to the food processor and pulse until they’re ground to your desired consistency.
Rolling Pin Or Hammer:
If you don’t have a mortar and pestle or food processor, you can use a rolling pin or hammer to grind the beans. Place the beans in a Ziploc bag and use the rolling pin or hammer to crush them into a fine powder.
So there you have it! These are all great methods for grinding coffee beans without a blender & burr grinder.
Wrapping Up
Absolutely, one can grind coffee beans in a blender; however, it is not the optimal way.
Burr grinders are the best option for grinding coffee beans, but if you don’t have one, you can use a mortar and pestle, food processor, or rolling pin or hammer.
So there you have it! I hope this post has helped clear up any confusion on how to grind coffee beans with a blender. Thanks for reading!
Coffee Gears that I Use Daily
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
This is my favorite grinder when I’m at home to start my day with the perfect cup. It delivers excellent grind consistency & offers versatile settings. The price is also reasonable. I recommend this grinder to all my fellow coffee enthusiasts. Check it out on Amazon now.
VSSL JAVA Manual Hand Coffee Grinder
I travel a lot, but can’t take Baratza with me. So, I carry this fantastic manual hand coffee grinder made by VSSL. It’s compact and lightweight, and its crank handle comes with a convenient carabiner feature, making it the perfect on-the-go companion for me. Get yours on Amazon today.
Coffee Scale
I rely on my trusty digital scale to measure the exact amount of coffee grounds and water for the perfect flavor and strength. Whether I’m at home or on the go, this scale is a must-have. Available on Amazon, get your hands on one and elevate your coffee game to the next level.
References
- https://www.prolinerangehoods.com/blog/how-to-grind-coffee-beans-without-a-grinder/
- https://www.javapresse.com/blogs/grinding-coffee/blades-vs-burrs
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