Imagine you get home after purchasing a bag of coffee only to realize they are coffee beans, not ground coffee!
You were anticipating that crispy aroma coming from the brewing coffee.
But you open the coffee bag and panic! Well, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
Maybe you are just a coffee lover who has no idea how to grind coffee. If so, you’re reading the right article.
Stick around to learn how to grind coffee using various grinding equipment to make ground coffee.
This article also highlights alternatives that you can use if you don’t have a grinder.
Coffee Grinding Options
To start you off, we confirm that we have done a sampling of various coffee grinding methods.
In addition, we have sampled store-bought equipment and other methods for grinding those precious coffee beans.
Check out this list; learn how this equipment operates and some of the benefits of each technique.
Manual grinder
Ah, manual grinders! You just gotta love them! All about performance and uniformity in every grinding experience.
Using manual grinders is the best starting point on learning how to grind coffee.
If you value the taste of freshly ground coffee, manual grinders are the best choice.
They produce uniform-sized coffee grounds to enhance the deliciousness of every cup of coffee you drink.
Value for simplicity and efficiency comes from manual coffee grinders. They are easy to use and operate.
But did I just say most manual coffee grinders are small in size?
Yes, you can actually hold the grinder using one hand and crank using the other hand.
They offer portability, reliability, and efficiency, so you won’t have to worry about grinding coffee beans quickly, even when busy.
You can even take your manual coffee grinder along when camping. Besides, since they are manual, they tend to last long.
Place the right amount of coffee beans into the grinder. Close the lid and start turning the handle. Repetition is key here.
Continue grinding and grinding till you get the desired results–this may take a significant amount of time.
If you want a French Press coffee, settle for a coarse grind. You may have to continue rotating the handle if you want a finer grout for expresso.
On the other side, the name ‘manual’ seems to be a turnoff for many. Look at it this way–manually grinding coffee gives you a bit of a workout!
Ultimately, manual grinders are the best starting point to learn how to grind coffee.
Their simplicity and efficiency ensure that you get the best out of your brew.
There are no complex operations or external power necessary when using this equipment to grind coffee.
Most manual coffee grinders have a single rod connecting the burrs for grinding coffee and the handle.
Blade coffee grinder
Learn how to grind the coffee using a blade coffee grinder.
A blade grinder has a propeller-shaped blade (stainless steel) that revolves at high speeds. These blades connect to an electric motor.
Blade coffee grinders chop coffee beans into small-sized particles. The period of grinding determines the fineness of the grinds.
For smaller coffee grinding, you must extend the running time of the grinder.
The blade coffee grinder types are a good option for flavorful coffee beans.
You can use the same blade grinder to grind both flavored and non-flavored coffee beans.
If you visit a supermarket, you’ll likely find two types of coffee grinders, one for grinding flavored beans and another for non-flavored beans.
Blade coffee grinders are the best way to learn how to grind coffee; easy to clean and affordable.
On the downside, these coffee grinders may produce uneven coffee particles.
Irregular coffee particles alter that fine and delicious taste of coffee.
Pour the coffee beans into the grinder jar (quarter full). Close the lid and select a high RPM and grind for around 10-20 seconds. Depending on the level of grind you want, you may have to shorten or lengthen the grinding time.
Remember that prolonged running periods for this grinder will increase the heat of the equipment due to friction.
This grinder type can quickly burn your coffee, giving it a bitter or burned flavor. Do not run the grinder for long without pausing.
Consider grinding in pulses until you get the level of grind that you want.
On the upside, some blade grinders have a pulse button. You can just press this button for around 10 seconds and release it.
Do this repeatedly to prevent burning the beans.
Blade coffee grinders are conveniently easy to use and clean, making them ideal for learning how to grind coffee.
Burr Coffee Grinder
If you ask experienced coffee lovers, most will say that a burr grinder has superior qualities in producing flavorful coffee in the grind size you want.
Although the burr grinder is a bit more expensive than manual and blade grinders, they have unmatched performance.
So what is a burr coffee grinder? A burr grinder is a lot like a pepper mill.
First, coffee beans go through two metal contraptions that grind the beans into small sizes.
Next, coffee beans enter between a grinder and a static surface, where they are crushed into tiny particles.
Burr grinders come in two types; manual and electric. Manual burr grinders have similar properties to the manual grinders mentioned earlier.
Electric burr grinders have a motor that rotates the grinding wheel to crush coffee beans.
I recommend the use of electric burr grinders as they guarantee convenience, uniformity, and speed.
If you are just learning how to grind the coffee, the electric burr is the ultimate choice.
It allows you to control the grind size of the coffee to achieve a balanced grind and taste.
Using burr grinders when you are still learning how to grind coffee may increase power use.
Ensure you grind a significant amount of coffee beans at a go to preserve energy.
Alternatives
If you’ve gone through all our top three options on how to grind coffee and are still interested to know more, this is for you.
Maybe you are not lucky enough to have a grinder. Don’t worry–you have other options.
They may involve some manual effort, but they’re there, so you can consider these alternative methods to grind coffee.
Mortar and pestle
When you use a mortar and pestle to grind your coffee, you have better control over every grind.
You literally determine the size of each grind of a coffee bean. Whether you want coarse or ultrafine grinding is all in your hands.
It’s simple to use. Fill the mortar with coffee beans to about ¼. Use one hand to hold the mortar and the other to grind the coffee beans.
Use force to crush the beans in a twisting motion.
After you crush all the beans, use a firm, circular motion to roll the pestle to achieve a uniform grind.
To get the best results using this method, thoroughly clean the mortar and pestle before grinding the beans.
There’s a downside to finding unwanted flavors in your coffee if you use this equipment for preparing another foodstuff and forget to wash it thoroughly.
Blender
Yes, I said it! You can use a regular kitchen blender to grind your precious coffee beans.
Want to know how to grind coffee with a blender? It works almost the same way as a blade coffee grinder.
First, ensure that the grinder you have has variable speed control. Select high RPMs.
After that, you can pour the coffee beans into the blender (quarter level). Ensure that you close the lid firmly before pushing the button.
Start grinding the coffee, and remember to pause after around 20 seconds to prevent overheating the beans.
You can also use a pulse button to grind the coffee beans in small bursts.
Only place a small amount of the beans in the blender at any one time to prevent the blades from becoming blunt or the engine overheating.
Hammer
Now, bachelors can shine here by using a hammer or mallet to grind coffee!
When you grind your coffee using this method, expect the best results to be coarse or medium grinds.
You’ll need a Ziploc bag or freezer bag together with a large cutting board–this method of how to grind coffee needs caution.
Take the desired amount of coffee beans and put them inside a freezer or Ziploc bag.
Use your harmer to crush the coffee beans by pressing them down using a controlled force.
Continue hammering consistently to get finer grinds.
Rolling pin
A rolling pin is a must-have utensil in any kitchen (except perhaps for some bachelors).
Using a rolling pin is a quick method when learning how to grind coffee in the absence of other ways, especially if you want to prepare a quick cup of coffee.
I think it’s the best approach to use when you want to increase the shelf-life of your coffee beans, as you only need to grind the amount you need.
Do a little grind at a time for better consistency and quality.
Take a handful of beans and put them into a Ziploc bag. Start rolling your pin while exerting force from bottom to top.
The more rolls you do, the finer the grind size and tastier the coffee.
Conclusion
Necessity is the mother of invention. Most of the alternative methods discussed are to achieve a coarse to medium result when you need help in how to grind coffee.
Using these methods may not give you perfect results, but at the end of the day, you’ll have your cup of coffee!
Getting the best coffee grinds requires consistency. The more you grind, the finer and more uniform the grind becomes, and the coffee tastier!
Having gone through our answers on how to grind the coffee, be sure to look out for the best manual, burr, and blade grinders.
They are available at most stores and are affordable.
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Last Updated on June 18, 2022 by Ashok Parmar
