A coffee grinder is the automatic, electronic version of the manual coffee grinders that people have used to grind coffee for centuries. Whether it’s a flat or conical burr (I explain the differences in my guide to the best coffee grinders), these sturdy burrs grind coffee beans into a relatively uniform size, and on a microscopic level, they have a different consistency than ground beans. They are crushed rather than cut to extract and preserve their oils. There’s nothing that can improve your coffee at home like investing in a coffee grinder.
Unfortunately, the more oily residue a coffee produces, the more oily residue will build up in your grinder over time. Burr grinders are more demanding than knife grinders and require more thorough and regular cleaning than you might expect. Here you will find out how and how often you should clean your grinder so that your coffee tastes as fresh and aromatic as possible.
Be sure to check out our other coffee coverage for more advice and recommendations, such as: B. the best espresso machines, the best latte and cappuccino machines, the best portable coffee machines, the best coffee subscriptions and the best coffee grinders.
Special offer for Gear readers: Receive WIRED for just $5 ($25 off). This includes unrestricted access to WIRED.com, full gear coverage and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help finance our daily work.
The necessary tools and preparations
There’s a good chance your grinder came with some tools you’ll need to clean it. If you know where these tools are, get them. We are looking for a brush with stiff bristles. If you lost it or your device didn’t come with it, don’t worry, there are plenty you can find elsewhere. I lose these little brushes a lot, so I bought replacement parts from Amazon.
Next, take a look at your grinder’s instruction manual. If you can’t find it, check the manufacturer’s website. I guarantee you that there is a PDF version waiting for you online. This will give you instructions on how to remove the burrs from the inside. Some grinders require a screwdriver to remove the funnel and access the burrs. If this is the case, you will find out in the user manual. Unless you’re very lucky, there’s a good chance there’s an explanation on YouTube for your particular model.
Finally, you will need some Urnex Grindz cleaning tablets. They are small pills that crunch in your grinder to remove built-up oils and debris. (We’ll talk more about this later.)
Before you begin, make sure your coffee grinder hopper is empty. Sometimes there is still some coffee left from last use, so let the grinder run without beans for a few seconds, or until no more coffee comes out. You can also tell by the sound of your grinder. When empty, a higher pitched tone should be produced as the blades rotate faster without any resistance from the coffee beans.
1. Expose the burrs
Disconnect the machine from the power supply. Do not open your grinder while it is still plugged in. Almost every coffee grinder I’ve ever tested has a safety mechanism that ensures you can’t turn it on if the burrs are exposed, but just to be safe, I always unplug it.
The next step in this process depends on which coffee grinder you have. In my experience, most grinders can be disassembled like this: Place one hand on the funnel and turn it in the direction the instruction manual says. You will probably hear a click when you are in the right place and then the funnel will immediately come off. Put it aside.