For coffee enthusiasts, grinding beans right before brewing is essential for getting the freshest, most flavorful cup of joe. While burr grinders and manual grinders are ideal, blenders can also be used to grind coffee beans in a pinch. Here we’ll explore the pros and cons of using a blender to grind coffee and share tips for getting the best results.
Can You Use a Blender to Grind Coffee Beans?
Yes, you can use a blender to grind coffee beans. Blenders are designed to pulverize fruits, vegetables, and other foods into fine particles, so they have the mechanical capability to grind coffee. However, there are some drawbacks to using a blender instead of a designated coffee grinder.
The main downsides of grinding coffee in a blender include:
- Inconsistent grind size – Blenders produce an uneven grind with fine coffee dust and large coffee chunks. This can lead to overextraction and underextraction.
- No grind size adjustment – You can’t control the size of the ground coffee particles like you can with burr or manual grinders.
- More mess – Blender jars don’t have lids to contain the ground coffee like dedicated grinders.
- Overheating – Blenders are not designed to grind hard objects like coffee beans which can burn out the motor over time.
While blenders aren’t ideal for grinding coffee, they can work well for occasional or small batch grinding when you don’t have other options available.
Tips for Grinding Coffee Beans in a Blender
If you need to use a blender to grind your coffee, here are some tips to help get better results:
- Use short pulsing bursts – Don’t let the blender run continuously. Pulse for a few seconds at a time to prevent overheating the beans and motor.
- Grind in small batches – Grind 1/4 to 1/2 cup of beans at a time for more even results.
- Use a blender jar rather than personal blender – The jar style blenders have more power and space for even grinding.
- Pick blender speed carefully – Use a low or medium speed for more control over the grind size.
- Stir between pulses – Open the blender and stir the beans around for more even grinding.
- Sift the ground coffee – Use a fine mesh sieve to remove large chunks and coffee dust.
Experiment with short pulse times and speeds to get a grind that works for your coffee maker. It takes some trial and error to get it right with a blender.
Coffee Grind Size Chart
The grind size you want depends on your brew method. Here is a general guide to the best grind size for various coffee brewing methods:
| Brew Method | Grind Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Drip coffee maker | Medium | Looks like coarse sand. Grounds should feel gritty but not powdery. |
| Pour over | Medium-fine | Grains should be about the size of granulated sugar. |
| French press | Coarse | Particles are slightly gritty and chunky. |
| Espresso | Fine | Powdery texture similar to flour or sugar. |
| Turkish coffee | Extra fine | Silky and powdery like talcum powder. |
Ideally you want uniform particles for even extraction. Blenders often produce an inconsistent mix of fine powder and large chunks that is far from ideal. But with some trial and error you can get close to the right grind texture.
Pros of Grinding Coffee Beans in a Blender
While not perfect, using a blender to grind coffee can be a decent option in some scenarios. Here are some potential advantages:
- Convenience – Blenders are a common household appliance making them very convenient and accessible for grinding.
- Speed – Blenders grind beans faster than manual options saving you time in the morning.
- Small batches – Blenders work well for grinding single servings rather than large batches of coffee.
- Improvised option – When you don’t have a burr grinder, blender gets the job done in a pinch.
- Portability – Personal/travel size blenders provide an option for grinding coffee anywhere.
- Versatility – Blenders allow grinding beans for any brew method from French press to espresso.
- Easy to clean – Blender jars clean up faster than a coffee grinder hopper.
For occasional coffee grinding or travel, a blender can provide reasonable results. The convenience factor makes blenders a handy backup option for most coffee drinkers.
Cons of Grinding Coffee Beans in a Blender
There are also some distinct disadvantages that come with using a blender instead of a burr grinder to grind coffee:
- Uneven grind – Blenders often produce an inconsistent mix of powder, grit, and large chunks.
- No grind adjustment – You can’t control the grind size beyond pulse time in a blender.
- Lower quality coffee – Inconsistent grind leads to lower extraction and weaker flavor from the coffee.
- Messy – Ground coffee can easily spill out of the open blender jar during grinding.
- Time consuming – Getting a good grind requires carefully pulsing and stirring the beans.
- Bean heating – Friction from blades can overheat the coffee beans altering the flavor.
- Motor wear – Hard coffee beans can burn out blender motors over frequent long term use.
While blenders get the job done, the grind quality and lack of control makes it hard to get truly great coffee compared to proper burr grinders. Frequent use long term may also damage some blenders not built for heavy grinding tasks.
Alternatives to Grinding Coffee Beans in a Blender
What are some other options for grinding coffee at home besides using a blender?
Burr Coffee Grinder
Conical or flat burr coffee grinders evenly grind beans between steel or ceramic burrs. They produce the most consistent grinds with precise size adjustment. Burr grinders minimize bean heating and oils loss too. They are the gold standard for home coffee grinding.
Manual Coffee Grinder
Manual grinders provide similar quality to burr grinders while requiring hand cranking. These provide an inexpensive, portable grinding option. But they require significantly more physical effort and time to operate.
Spice Grinder
Small electric spice grinders are similar to mini personal blenders. They are affordable and simple to use but have the same consistency issues as blenders.
Mortar and Pestle
A mortar and pestle allows grinding beans by hand with some effort and experience. Results depend greatly on technique but can produce quality consistent grinds.
Each grinding method has pros and cons to consider based on your budget, coffee tastes, and brewing habits. But for the most control and best grind, a quality burr coffee grinder is recommended if you frequently grind beans.
Should You Grind Coffee Beans in a Blender?
Grinding beans in a blender should really only be done occasionally, for small batches, while traveling, or as a last resort. While it will work, the grind consistency will be poor compared to proper coffee grinders. The best use is when you suddenly run out of preground coffee and need a quick single serving.
For daily coffee grinding, invest in a burr grinder for quality and consistency. Use your blender as a backup option when your grinder is not available. With careful pulsing and sifting, blenders can produce grinds usable for drip, pour over, or French press. Just don’t expect the same finesse you’d get from a burr grinder.
Be aware that frequent long term usage may cause wear and tear on some blenders not designed for heavy grinding tasks. Stick to short intermittent grinding sessions and let the blender rest between uses. For the freshest coffee flavor, grind right before brewing and adjust the pulse time to best match your brewing method.
Conclusion
While blenders are not an ideal tool for grinding coffee beans, they can be used in a pinch to produce adequate coffee grounds. Pay attention to short pulse times, small bean batches, and blender speeds. Sift the grounds to remove uneven particles. The results won’t be as consistent as a real coffee grinder, but you can still get passable grounds for most brew methods. Limit blender grinding to occasional use and invest in a burr grinder for daily coffee grinding.
