Grinding Your Own Coffee Beans

You’re on vacation. You just checked into that pristine, near-perfect Airbnb. You’re looking forward to enjoying yourself. You start looking around and checking out the appliances. “This place has everything I need!” you say. As you’re getting unpacked you place your pound of freshly roasted coffee beans on the counter next to the French press provided by the host.

You wind down and go to bed.

You wake up in the morning. “Alright! Time to get some coffee brewing!” But lo and behold, a grinder is nowhere to be found. What are you going to do? You’re in the middle of nowhere and the closest store is 30 minutes away. They might not even carry a coffee grinder. You begin to improvise. You find a blender in the corner cupboard. “Can this work as a grinder?”

Reasons for Grinding Your Own Coffee Beans

There are many reasons for grinding your own coffee beans:

• Grind size: It allows you to have control over the grind size. This is important because the grind size will affect the flavor of the coffee. A finer grind will result in a stronger cup of coffee, while a coarse grind will produce a weaker cup of coffee.
• Fresher Coffee: Grinding your own beans allows you to create more aromatic coffee. Coffee beans begin to lose their flavor as soon as they are ground, so pre-ground coffee can be quite stale by the time you drink it.
• Satisfaction: It’s simply more satisfying to drink coffee made from beans that you’ve ground yourself!
• Flavor: It tastes better.

Grind Settings for Coffee Beans

When you grind coffee beans, you set the grind the beans to match the brewing method.

Grinding beans allows for exposing more surface area of the coffee to the water you are brewing it in. You adjust the grind according to which brewing method you are using as well as how long the ground beans are exposed to the water during the brewing process.

The grind settings on a coffee grinder are important because they determine how finely or coarsely the beans will be ground. The wrong grind setting can ruin a cup of coffee, so it’s important to know what you’re doing.

There are three main grind settings for coffee beans: coarse, medium, and fine. The grind you choose will depend on your brewing method and personal preferences.

Coarse: This is the most common grind setting for French press and cold brew coffee. The large, chunky pieces of coffee take longer to extract, resulting in a bolder flavor.

Medium: Medium grinds are often used for pour over and drip coffee makers. The medium-sized pieces of coffee allow for a more even extraction, resulting in a well-rounded flavor.

Fine: Finely ground coffee is typically used for espresso. The small pieces of coffee extract quickly, giving the espresso its signature strong flavor.

Extra-fine: Extra-finely ground coffee is sometimes used for Turkish coffee. The extremely fine grind results in a very strong cup of coffee.

How to Determine the Right Grind Size for Your Coffee Maker

The grind size you choose will depend on the type of coffee maker you’re using. Here’s a quick guide to help you choose the right grind setting for your coffee maker:

• French press or cold brew coffee maker: coarse
• Pour over or drip coffee maker: medium
• Espresso machine: fine
• Turkish coffee pot: extra-fine

Note that these are just general guidelines. You may need to experiment with different grind sizes to find the one that works best for your particular coffee maker and brewing method.

Storing Ground Coffee

Once your coffee beans are ground, it’s important to store them in an airtight container to keep them fresh for longer. Ground coffee generally has a shelf life of about two weeks, so be sure to use it up within that time frame for the best flavor. You can store ground coffee in the freezer for up to six months, but it’s best to grind only the amount you need for each batch of coffee.

Can a Blender Be Used as a Grinder?

The short answer as to whether or not you can grind your coffee in a blender. Sort of but not really…

Yes, you can grind your coffee in a blender, and it’ll work in a pinch. But for serious coffee drinkers or even for those who enjoy a quality brew, a blender is not a good long-term solution. But let’s take a closer look at what grinding coffee beans in a blender does.

Grinding Beans in a Blender 101

The rotating blades at the bottom of the blender pitcher do the hard work of grinding. In this sense, this is similar to a blade coffee grinder. The main difference is that in a blender you have much more room to grind coffee. This is a weakness of many household blade grinders—they don’t have enough volume. 

If you want to grind enough coffee for an entire pot, you may be going through a grinding cycle two to three times. Of course, this all depends upon your desired brew strength.

That being said, if you have a blender and like to grind coffee in large quantities, this may be the right fit for you, especially if you are accustomed to using a blade grinder anyhow. A blender can actually grind your coffee at a greater consistency than a tiny blade coffee grinder.

If you don’t mind pre-ground coffee, then you can avoid the hassle of pulling out the blender. However, if freshly ground coffee is important to you, then the blender can get the job done. Just know that the consistency is not going to be the same as pre-ground coffee that you can buy in a grocery store.

Is a burr grinder better than a blade grinder?

The short answer is yes.

If you haven’t heard of a burr grinder, it’s time you have. They come electric and manual. This is the best way to get a consistent grind for your morning brew. 

Blade grinders chop the beans into specific ground sizes based on the length of time that the beans are ground. This is adequate for drip and pour over, but not espresso.

But a burr grinder grinds the beans against a burr so that you have better control. Burr grinders actually “pulverize the beans” rather than chop them.

This results overall in a more consistent grind. Your grounds of coffee will roughly be the same size.

There are two different types of burr grinders. Wheel grinders have a burr that spins like a wheel. The speed is usually faster. They are messier and louder. They’re also better for your wallet. 

Then there’s the conical burr. These are the best burr grinders on the market. It’s because they are so thorough and spin slower than the wheel grinder that they grind coffee less quickly. But if you enjoy the most consistently ground cup of coffee, this is your machine. It will pay you back in smooth and flavorful coffee to drink.

What is the best way to grind coffee beans without a grinder?

If you don’t have a coffee grinder, you can use a food processor or blender to grind your coffee beans. Just add the desired amount of beans to the food processor or blender and pulse until they’re ground to your desired consistency. You might need to experiment with different pulsing times to get the right grind for your coffee maker. Keep in mind that grinding coffee beans in a food processor or blender will likely be noisier than using a coffee grinder.

Can you grind whole coffee beans in a food processor?

You can grind whole coffee beans in a food processor, but the results will not be as good as if you use a dedicated coffee grinder. The blades on a food processor are not as sharp as the blades on a coffee grinder, and they are also not designed to grind beans into a fine powder. It will work but it’s like using a blunt object to cut a steak. It will get the job done but it’s not the best approach to coffee.

The biggest problem is controlling a consistent size of the finished grind.

Other Ways to Grind Coffee

You can’t find even a blender at your Airbnb? Look through the cupboards and see if you can’t find any of these items which can also get the job done.

Mortar and Pestle

You’re not going to be able to grind a lot at once, but it’ll work. Fill your mortar about a third full of coffee beans. Take the pestle and press hard with a twist. Keep repeating until you’ve reached the desired consistency. Be sure to stir the grounds for consistency.

Food Processor

Using the blade attachment, this can function just like a blender. Be sure to use the pulse blend button. This way you can simulate using a small blade grinder.

Rolling Pin or Hammer

Fill a Ziploc bag (not all the way) with your beans and using a rolling pin, roll over the bag repeatedly with pressure. Be sure there is room in the bag so that the grounds have room to move around. This same method goes for using a hammer. Just be sure to cushion your blows a tad so that you don’t damage the bag. A dishtowel works well for this.

Why is it important to use fresh coffee beans? 

It’s important to use fresh coffee beans because they will be more flavorful and aromatic than older beans. Coffee beans start to lose their flavor as soon as they are ground, so it’s best to grind them just before you brew your coffee.   

Does grinding coffee beans make a difference?

Grinding coffee beans does make a difference. If you grind your own beans, you will be able to control the coarseness of the grind, which impacts both the flavor of your coffee and the duration of the brewing process. Coffee that is ground too finely can taste bitter, while coffee that is ground too coarsely can taste weak. The best way to find the perfect grind for your coffee is to experiment until you find a grind that works well for you – for that particular coffee and your brewing method.

Is pre-ground coffee that bad?

You can always buy pre-ground coffee. But fair warning. It is not a replacement for grinding it fresh. We know that grandpa always loved his pre-ground Folgers. It worked for him. But from the taste of it, you’d think he missed the can and scooped from his ashtray instead. 

With all of the quality coffee out there these days, it’s safe to say that “the best part of waking up is not having Folgers in your cup.” Grandpa didn’t run across nearly as many independent roasteries that we have today.

Contrary to the belief of some, coffee is not a nonperishable item. You are likely not going to get sick from drinking expired coffee grounds, but it will taste stale. 

Some people drink stale coffee for years without realizing that coffee beans have a shelf life, whether whole bean or ground. Though once they are ground, that time on the shelf accelerates. 

What you stand to lose with pre-ground coffee is the ability to savor more flavors from the freshly roasted bean. Once coffee is ground it starts to release oils and gasses that give the coffee its flavor and aroma. It’s like leaving a piece of bread on the counter.

But grinding the beans too fresh will result in ‘gassy’ coffee. The beans release a lot of carbon dioxide and other gasses within the first few days after roasting. The beans need time to ‘settle’ before they are beverage ready.

Conclusion

For the smoothest cup, it is not recommended that you regularly use a blender or a blade grinder. A burr grinder will produce the most consistent grind and particle size for your coffee. Grind fresh (within a few weeks of roasting) whole roasted beans, only grind what you need for that one brew, and use the machine presets to be accurate. This will set you on your way to having a delicious cup of coffee that you can savor, not gulp down medicinally.