Without a doubt, a coffee grinder is one of the most important parts of any coffee brewing setup. But no matter how big or small, powerful or sophisticated your grinder might be, it’s still essential to regularly maintain it. Coffee particles and the oil residue from the grinding process can be stuck inside the grinder, especially if you fail to clean them after using. These oils and particles tend to cling to every nook and corner within, causing performance to suffer. Thus, this may result in giving your coffee an unpleasant taste, affecting your overall coffee experience. Therefore, it is essential that you clean them right after usage, so you will get the best coffee out of it each time.
You may think that those coffee particles and oils that were built up inside your grinder seem harmless now. But they will soon start affecting your brew negatively. These things, like everything else, are prone to heat and oxygen decay, which implies that some unpleasant flavors will develop. As time passes, fresh, untainted grounds will pick up on these odd flavors. They will even become rancid and produce a bad odor and taste too. This means that you must keep your coffee grinder maintained at all times. Clean them, or even wipe them with a damp cloth right after using. There are actually several effective ways on how you can be able to keep your coffee grinder clean. You also have an option to use rice or grinder cleaning tablets, or just simply wipe them after usage.
Cleaning a coffee grinder isn’t especially intuitive because of how many tiny parts there are and the complexity of the gear system. But then, it is easily manageable so long as you know what to do. The reality is that depending on how much time you want to spend, along with the type of coffee grinder model that you own, cleaning both blades and burr grinders is fairly straightforward. Not only that, but cleaning your grinder will probably mean an even more delicious cup of coffee in the morning.
By giving your grinder a once-over every month – whether at home or behind your counter, it is ensured that you will be consistently producing delicious cups of coffee with a perfect grind. It would only take a few minutes of your time to clean it out every so often. Embrace good coffee grinder cleaning practices, to keep your equipment in good shape and your coffee tasting as wonderful as it should.
Unplug Your Coffee Grinder
Of course, before starting to clean your coffee grinder, make sure that it is unplugged. No matter what appliance you are going to tinker with, always keep in mind to pull it off the socket first. It is actually one of the most important safety precautions to practice. And relative to the coffee grinder, if it is a blade grinder, you also have to unscrew them first, then remove the blades from the main grinding cavity. For burr grinders, on the other hand, it is easier to disassemble as it can be unhinged and lifted out of the cavity without having to unscrew anything. Regardless, your goal is to remove as much hardware as possible so that you have room to give all parts a thorough cleaning.
Use Rice or Grinder Cleaning Tablets
One of the most common and effective methods to clean a coffee grinder is by using rice or grinder cleaning tablets. It may seem to be a risk. However, it is still considered to be a successful approach in keeping grinders clean. Some people believe that doing this method can damage the entire coffee grinding unit. For some instances, it is actually true. Not all rice holds the same level of harness. And there are cases where extra-hard rice grains can damage burrs or stain motors. However, some insist that it is a very effective coffee grinder cleaning strategy. The abrasion that the rice creates is responsible for cleaning the blades, while the starch in the product can be able to absorb the oil residue.
To do this, you have to pour one-fourth cup of dry, uncooked rice into the hopper of the blade grinder. Or, if you were to use grinder cleaning tablets, put only the recommended amount. Then, you have to run the grinder. Plug in the grinder, then turn it on. Run it until all of the rice or tablets are reduced to a fine powder.
Once it has been pulverized, turn the grinder off, and unplug it again. Empty the grinder hopper, and dump the ground rice or cleaning tablets into the trash. Tap the grinder on the side of the can a few times to help loosen any rice powder trapped in the hopper.
Wipe Clean
After doing the cleaning process, remember to wipe your coffee grinders clean using a damp cloth. This step sounds simple enough, but it is not always that easy. Coffee dust is virtually magnetic. It sticks to everything, making it hard to resist reaching for a damp cloth for its removal. This is primarily because the slightest bit of moisture will make those gears and your caffeinated mornings grind to a halt.
Use dry fabrics or towels that are just as magnetic, like the microfiber ones. Actually, the thinner, the better. This can get into all the nooks and crannies that have now been freed up by the steel brushes that heavy duty scrubbing was too rough on. Use one to wipe up independent coffee grounds, particularly a dry cloth in wiping the inner and outer burrs. This will absorb and remove any oils left behind by the coffee beans better.
Clean the Base Too
After you have kept the blade or the burr clean, it is time to clean the base as well. This has been the most common part of the coffee grinder that is left overlooked. You should take extra precautions in cleaning this part as it contains the electrical components of the grinder. This is usually where the plug is connected. Which is why it is essential to remember to never put the base in the water. Just wipe it with a clean, damp cloth.
Key Takeaway
Upon regularly following and practicing these recommended coffee grinder cleaning procedures, the entire method of keeping it maintained should be simple enough for you to do frequently. Not only will it make your grinder function in an optimum and quick manner. It could also provide you with a better and fresher tasting coffee that you will certainly enjoy.
