I know everyone needs a coffee grinder. But what happens when you do not have one in your kitchen?
In my free time I like shopping around and just the other day I came across coffee grinders on Amazon and I put it on my next shopping list.
In the meantime, I decided to use my blender to grind my coffee as I waited for my grinder to be delivered. Yes! you can grind coffee in a blender.
As a kitchen enthusiast, I like to have appliances that have multiple uses so that if one spoils as is the order with machines you are not left without an alternative. I also ask myself, how can I grind coffee beans without a grinder?
Find: Top 7 Blenders for grinding Nuts and Vegetables HERE
The rich, spicy aroma created by the grinding of freshly roasted coffee can be part of your morning ritual. Grinding coffee beans can not only be enjoyable but a relatively simple affair with a blender.
It is a bit tricky but it will not take a while before you master the skill.
There is no urgent need to purchase or have a specific coffee grinding coffee machine. You will get espresso-worthy ground coffee by just using your blender.
Can you grind coffee beans in a Ninja blender?
Yes!
The Ninja bullet does a pretty good job. It performs almost the same as the Nutribullet on grinding coffee. It works well for an amateur coffee drinker. If you are you would prefer something more professional like the coffee grinder below.
When you grind your own coffee the results are fresher, more flavorful coffee because beans hold taste longer than pre-ground coffee does.
The reason why blenders are a great alternative to a coffee grinder is that you will need to add a bit of liquid to help move around the solids you put in them.
If you decide to do it without enough liquid it can hang up your blender blades and overwork the motor. No matter what you are making with the blender enough liquid is needed, you do not want to burn up your blender motor.
The medium-fine grind is something that a blender, just like a blade coffee grinder is capable of achieving. Check to see if your blender has the grind setting, if it does not that means you are using a one-speed blender.
You will need to add a small number of beans, grind them to a suitable consistency using short bursts of power. Remove the results of the grind and then grind up another small serving. Having the blender running continuously moves the blades at high speeds, which creates a heated cavity.
The heat cavity might cook the natural oils in the beans, leading to a bitter and harsh taste which will not be pleasant.
It will take a bit of time if you are planning to brew a whole pot of coffee but it is a precaution so that remnants of the coffee do not get stuck on the blades.
Can you grind coffee beans in a Nutribullet?
Yes!
Often I am asked: can you grind coffee beans in a Nutribullet? The Nutribullet grinds coffee beans very effectively. It does such a nice job compared to the ninja and the magic bullet.
However, you need to grind coffee in Nutribullet in small batches to get the fine texture.
If you decide to throw in half a bag of coffee beans into your Nutribullet blender, you will have inconsistent grinds with chunks of beans throughout. This is like overworking your blender hence you might end up spoiling its motor.
A medium-fine grind is perfect for most pour-over brew techniques it is a little too fine for a standard drip brewer. While using a blender a medium-fine grind is the safest bet but it will give your coffee a stronger and more pungent flavor.
To compensate for the more pungent flavor, try shortening the brew time or the brew temperature.
A normal home blender is a great coffee grinder alternative as established because the blade system will chop the coffee beans just like a conventional coffee grinder.
It would be better if you have a blender that has a grinder setting, which is perfect for chopping coffee beans.
Can you grind coffee beans in a magic bullet?
Can I grind coffee beans in a blender? With your blender you will be able to control the consistency of the coffee beans, so you can make it for your preferred brewing method and get the flavor that suits you.
If it is a French press style grind or an espresso grind, you will be able to grind as coarse, medium, or fine (Turkish) as you would like depending on the time you opt to grind your coffee beans.
Even as a serious coffee lover you will need an alternative when your grinder fails you and that is the blender. Brewing your own coffee is an art and starting your day with a perfectly made cup of coffee can make your day better.
This just goes to show that your blender can come in handy when your coffee grinder fails you.
You will be able to enjoy the rich flavor and enchanting aroma of freshly ground coffee beans without having to spend extra money on a coffee grinder simply by using your blender.
Steps on How to grind Coffee with your Normal Blender
Can you use a blender to grind coffee? Now that you have the precautions here is what you need to start the process:
A kitchen blender with a well-fitting top and a glass jar blender body, a flat surface, liquid dish detergent and water for cleanup.
How to grind coffee beans in a blender.
- Step one is to set up your blender. Place it on a flat surface on the counter and plug it in. The flat surface is essential so that the blender's vibrations do not cause other things to fall off the counter.
- Step two is you deciding how finely you will need to grind the beans medium ground beans work best for a blender.
- Step three is to put your coffee beans into the blender and start grinding. Begin with a small number of beans in the blender until you can know exactly how much ground coffee your beans will yield.
As the process progresses you will be able to determine the right amount of coffee beans that your blender can take in.
A handful of beans should result in one to two tablespoons of ground coffee.
For safety purposes please make sure that the blender top has been placed to avoid any explosion of coffee beans all over your kitchen.
The ideal setting to use as you grind is the pulse setting so that your beans do not burn.
If your blender does not have the pulse setting, turn it off after every ten seconds to let the beans cool down.
Do not place your hand in the blender while it is in use.
- Step four is to clean the blender after you have finished the grinding process. Twist the blade attachment off the blender then proceed to rinse the blender in the sink.
Wash the blade attachment and the blender top carefully. The final step is to make your coffee the way you usually do it.
If you find yourself without a blender or the grinder there are alternative methods to grind your coffee beans.
You can use a food processor; it is similar to a blender.
Also, see; My List of 7 Best Food Processors for Chopping nuts
Use it on the pulse setting; this will help all of the beans to grind consistently.
The old mortar and pestle it may take a while. Fill your mortar with a small number of coffee beans.
Use your dominant hand to handle the pestle and the other to hold the mortar in place.
Press down the pestle and crush the coffee beans with a twisting motion. Roll the pestle around the bowl, until you achieve the consistency and texture you want.
How to grind coffee beans without a grinder.
A Hammer
The other method is using a hammer to put the coffee beans in a high-quality plastic freezer bag and then put the bag in between two towels.
Use a meat tenderizing mallet or the hammer in your garage and crush the beans. Do not use too much force; keep checking the bag to ensure that the consistency of the coffee beans is achieved.
This a kitchen appliance that is used for making your pastries a rolling pin but it can double as a coffee grinder.
Rolling Pin
The rolling pin is able to both crush and grind coffee beans at the same time.
It will result in a more even texture and will also allow you to get a finer grind than some other methods.
It requires a little energy on your end but helps you achieve a medium-fine to fine grind.
Fill the high-quality freezer plastic bag with coffee beans or place the beans between two sheets of parchment paper with the edges folded over.
Using your rolling pin press down firmly on the beans to crush them, until the desired consistency is met.
Do not hit the beans, for it to be a more consistent grind, start crushing on one side of the bag and move gradually to the other side.
A Butcher's knife
Another option for how to grind coffee beans without a grinder is by using a simple kitchen knife; the flat of the blade, not the edge will give you a better grind.
Get a butcher's knife or a chef’s knife, because they have a slightly wider and stiffer blade.
The wideness of the blade provides extra leverage and a surface area to improve the process of crushing and cracking the coffee beans.
Crushing beans with the flat of the blade gives you exceptional control and lets you produce a medium to medium-fine grind.
This method needs a person who is skilled to avoid any kitchen injuries. If you are working with hand tools like the rolling pin, knife, mortar and pestle make sure you have a large workspace.
Grind consistency and uniformity are necessary to produce the best cup of coffee.
A consistent grind helps to uniformly extract the desirable flavors from your coffee; it also helps to ensure your coffee once brewed has a consistent taste.
An inconsistent grind over-extracts some grounds and under-extract others leaving a funny aftertaste.
Without a grinder, the best way to achieve a consistent grind in your coffee beans is to grind or crush only a few beans at a time.
Click on The Below To Check