Like most coffee lovers, you probably have a burr coffee grinder. They’re the best way to get a consistent grind and make the perfect cup of coffee.
But if you don’t clean it properly, it can quickly become covered in coffee oils and grounds, which will affect the taste of your coffee. Keep in mind that a clean grinder equals better-tasting coffee, so consider it an investment in your coffee routine.
Burr grinders come in various sizes and configurations, but all should be disassembled before cleaning. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. In this post, we’ll show you How To Clean Burr Coffee Grinder so that your coffee always tastes its best.
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What You’ll Need To Clean Burr Coffee Grinder
- A soft, gentle brush (normally comes along with the coffee grinder)
- Cleaning pellets.
- Wooden toothpicks and cotton swabs.
- Screwdriver (Just in case you need it to remove some pieces).
- Spare coffee beans.
Soft Brush
The brush aids in the removal of grinds from hard-to-reach areas. People utilize a variety of brushes that fit into the crevices of their grinder and work well for them. A toothbrush with gentle bristles is ideal.
Grinder Cleaning Pellets
Grinder cleaning pellets are a great choice to deep clean your grinders. While they aren’t always necessary – especially when doing light cleans.
Some people believe that rice can be used as a pellet alternative. While it can be used as a stand-in if you’re stuck, it’s not recommended for various reasons.
Rice is significantly more rigid than pellets, harming the grinder’s motor. And grinding it may leave a foul residue because rice is starch, making cleanup more difficult.
Wooden Toothpicks
Having wooden toothpicks on hand comes in handy when you need to get into those hard-to-reach places. Not everyone needs them, but we think those wooden sticks are beneficial when you need a hard-to-reach place cleaned out quickly. ̵
However, invest in high-quality toothpicks to last longer and be easier to use. Don’t buy low-cost ones that will fall apart while cleaning. That doesn’t assist the situation, and it’s highly aggravating.
Cotton swabs are another optional yet essential item. You can use them to clean the chute through which the ground coffee exits your grinder because they are usually flexible. If you prefer oily dark-roasted beans, this is an important area to keep clean in your grinder.
Screwdriver
You’ll need a screwdriver to remove the flat burr disks or the conical burr. It may be beneficial to remove additional components as well. So, to clean your coffee grinder, keep one to remove several of the pieces.
Spare Beans
Adding this step is entirely up to you. If the cleaning was extensive, you might wish to season it afterward.
When the grinder has been cleaned and sanitized, grind some beans. This returns a small amount of oil from the beans to the machine and removes any remaining but unseen residue. When you’re ready to make your next cup of coffee, you’ll notice a tiny variation in flavor.
How To Clean Burr Coffee Grinder In 10 Steps
Cleaning a burr grinder is a little more complicated, but it is a simple task that won’t take too much time with a proper procedure. So learning how to clean a burr grinder isn’t tricky.
Here’s how to clean your burr coffee grinder in 10 easy steps.
1. Remove the Hopper and Clean
Cleaning should be done when the hopper is empty, as most burr grinders have a large hopper to keep coffee beans. Remove the hopper and hand-wash it, the lid, and any removable sealing gaskets in hot, soapy water.
To clean them thoroughly, wash everything in hot soapy water, then rinse off well using microfiber cloths for best results.
2. Turn on the Grinder
Make an attempt to grind up any residual bits of beans stuck in the burr blades by running the grinder for a few seconds after it has been turned on.
3. Unplug Your Grinder
Doing this doesn’t necessitate any sort of Zen-like mental state. It’s as simple as unplugging the grinder. This may seem like an obvious step, yet it is all too often for individuals to overlook it. When it’s connected, it’s best not to tamper with it. For your own protection, you need to take this step before cleaning.
4. Pull-Apart Your Burrs
The burrs of your grinders must now be disassembled for cleaning. That includes the sections that are supposed to be removed. Don’t let yourself get carried away.
It’s a little tough to get to this point. Your handbook should tell you the specifics of what your grinder can and can’t do.
To reach the burrs, you typically remove the hopper and upper grinding casing. This allows you to get into the nooks and crannies to remove the coffee sand and other debris.
5. Shake And Scrub Burrs
Turn the grinder over and pound the sides. What comes out of it might surprise you. Repeat this process until you get nothing.
Use a gentle brush to remove any remaining coffee grounds or dust from the grinder’s interior. You’ll need those toothpicks and cotton swabs to remove old grinds and the oils they contain from your burrs and other internal parts.
The feeder channel, the chute by which ground coffee is lowered into the ground drawer, should be given specific care. Using the cotton end to wipe the channel’s sides and the stalk’s flexibility to reach into the tiniest of spaces is a great usage for the cotton swab.
6. Suck It Up
A brush or toothpick can be used to remove all of the ground and dust the teeth, screws, and any other areas you can access while the grinder is disassembled. Cotton swabs can also penetrate into narrow channels and crevices that are difficult to reach with a rigid tool.
In some models, the upper burr may be removed so that you can thoroughly clean out the crevices and eliminate dust. After that, whack the lower burr with the same force and proceed in the same manner.
Next, use the hose attachment of your vacuum cleaner to pick up any remaining small particles. It’s a headache to clean up little pieces like screws that get sucked into your vacuum, so be careful.
7. Wash Other Components
Any parts that come into contact with the coffee beans, such as the bin that collects the grounds, should be removed in accordance with the owner’s handbook. You can use a microfiber towel to dry the parts after they’ve been hand-washed in a sink full of warm, soapy water.
8. Wipe It Down
Remove any dust from the plastic parts by wiping them off with a damp cloth or a soft brush. Ensure that all debris has been removed from the pieces and that they have been thoroughly dried before reassembling.
Keep the metal parts dry at all times. The brush can be used to remove any remaining grounds from the grinder and remove any accumulated oils.
Ensure no oily residue is left in the hopper and the grinds bin before putting the machine back together again. When cleaning your coffee beans and ground coffee, certain grinders allow you to use the dishwasher.
9. Reassemble The Burr Grinder
Once you have cleaned and dried each component of your coffee grinder, it’s time to put them all back together. Again, do it carefully, following any expert instructions.
10. Grind It Up
If you’re willing to go the extra mile, it’s worth it: Clean the grinder with a small amount of coffee before resuming the process of brewing. This is done as part of its preparation for the next time, and this step lets you make sure that it all works.
A little handful of regular dried beans will work fine for this step. This helps ensure that all of the settings are in their proper places.
Put a little bit of coffee dust and oil back into the machine, as well, to keep it running smoothly. It may not make sense at first, but that’s just the nature of the art of coffee!
A Short Video Demonstration By The KitchenAid
Use Of Grinder Cleaning Pellets
It’s human nature to seek out the simplest solution. However, when it comes to cleaning an electric coffee grinder, grinder cleaning pellets simplify the process. It’s also effortless.
Grinder pellets should be ground on a medium-fine setting according to the instructions on the package. After that, everything about your coffee grinder is going to be improved.
You don’t need to do this more than once or twice a month for most people. Running some beans through shortly after will ensure that the pellet dust has been completely removed.
Add about an ounce of coffee beans to the hopper when completing the grinding operation. Toss the ground coffee into a trash bin and thoroughly clean it to eliminate any remaining cleaning tablets.
How Often Should You Clean Your Burr Grinder?
Every two weeks, give your coffee grinder a good cleaning. The only exception is if you’re grinding every day or using oily beans, in which case you’ll need to clean your grinder every other week.
It’s easier to keep your coffee fresher for longer when your grinder is clean and dry.
Can I Wash My Grinder In A Dishwasher?
In most cases, pieces of your grinder can be washed in a dishwasher. However, it is best to read your grinder’s instruction manual or the manufacturer’s website to see if it is safe to use in a dishwasher. However, dishwashers should not be used to clean steel burrs or other electrical components.
Read also: Can You Grind Coffee Beans In A Blender? The Answer & How To Do
Wrapping Up
Just keep in mind that a well-maintained grinder produces better-tasting coffee and will also last longer. Also, if you’re going to experiment with new coffee concoctions, make sure your machine is sparkling clean before you begin!
Please let me know what you think in the comments below – do you find this helpful?
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