Have you also figured out that grinding your own beans is much tastier and even healthier? Have you been using your coffee grinder for years and never even given it a major cleaning? Is your coffee starting to give off an unpleasant taste? Then it’s time to give your bean grinder a thorough cleaning. I did it the other day too and I’ll tell you here in a few steps how to do this in a simple way.
Why a coffee grinder gets dirty
Grinding coffee beans releases various oils, coffee grounds and other particles. Some of these particles can easily get stuck in the bean grinder. Over time, this caking can become a bit stale or even mouldy. It is a place where bacteria can also multiply well. It’s not always fun to clean a coffee grinder, but you also want your espresso to taste great again, right?
The importance of cleaning your coffee grinder
Not only do you want the coffee in your coffee cup to taste good again, it is also good to clean your bean grinder so that it will have a longer life. I myself often use a brush with which I wipe away most of the coffee residue. This way, it is almost impossible for the coffee to cake in the machine in large quantities. I also clean it thoroughly once a month.
A thorough cleaning with granules
There are plenty of websites on the internet offering special cleaning granules. For instance, there is something like Umex Grindz, cleaning tablets that you can put into an empty bean grinder. The idea is that these tablets grind just like coffee beans. These grindz are supposed to clean the grinder completely. Yet, to be honest, I have my reservations about this. After all, a small portion of these tablets too remain in the mechanism and that’s not very tasty in your next cup of brew.
How to clean a coffee grinder
I like to explain to you how I clean my bean grinder myself. It is a process that takes me about 20 minutes, and depending on which appliance you have in your home, it will take longer or shorter.
- Step 1: First of all, unplug the machine, because if a machine can grind coffee beans, it can also cut the skin off your fingers. Always put your own safety first!
- Step 2 : Next, it is good to disassemble all the parts of the coffee grinder. Sometimes you can disconnect them easily, sometimes it is good to unscrew the grinding discs with a screwdriver.
- Step 3 : Take a cloth and gently wipe all parts of the coffee grinder clean. If there is a lot of grease on the parts, you can choose to use a damp cloth. I have also used the hoover on occasion, but you have to be careful not to suck up the small parts.
- Step 4 : It is crucial to let all parts dry. If you don’t, the next time you grind the coffee, it will cake again and you won’t have achieved anything. I usually leave them quietly on a dry tea towel for a few minutes.
- Step 5: Now you can screw all the parts back together. Sometimes it’s a bit tricky, but practice makes perfect. Next time, the whole process will be a lot easier.
Keep maintaining the coffee grinder regularly
It is not cheap to buy a bean grinder and we recommend that you maintain the beast well. No one benefits if such a device breaks down. Make sure the taste of the coffee stays good and clean your bean grinder often. Then you can also serve your guests a responsible cup of coffee with peace of mind.