Cleaning Your Grinder

WHY CLEANING YOUR GRINDER MATTERS

Your grinder does a lot of work before the coffee ever reaches your espresso machine.

Every time you grind coffee, small amounts of grounds and coffee oils are left behind around the burrs, grinding chamber and exit chute.

Over time, that old coffee can build up and affect flavour and consistency.

A clean grinder won’t fix every espresso problem, but it removes another variable when you’re trying to dial in good coffee.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CLEAN A COFFEE GRINDER?

There isn't one cleaning schedule that suits every grinder.

How often yours needs attention depends on how much coffee you use, the coffee you're grinding and the design of the grinder itself.

A regular light clean is much easier than waiting until coffee has built up inside the grinder.

For deeper cleaning, always check the instructions for your specific model.

BEFORE YOU START

Before cleaning your grinder:

• Unplug it from the power
• Empty the beans from the hopper
• Check the manufacturer's cleaning instructions
• Only remove parts designed to be removed for routine maintenance

Grinders aren't all assembled the same way, so don't pull apart components unless your manual tells you how.

CLEANING THE HOPPER

Coffee beans naturally contain oils, and over time they can leave a film inside the hopper.

Empty the hopper and wipe it clean regularly.

If your hopper is designed to be washed, make sure it's completely dry before reinstalling it.

Never allow water to enter the grinder body.

CLEANING THE BURRS

The burrs are where your coffee is actually ground, and fine coffee particles can collect around them and inside the grinding chamber.

If your grinder gives you easy access to the burrs, use a suitable grinder brush to remove loose coffee.

Brush gently around the burrs and surrounding chamber.

Be careful — grinder burrs can be sharp.

Many grinders allow the upper burr to be removed for cleaning, but follow the procedure for your specific grinder rather than pulling it apart unnecessarily.

KEEP WATER AWAY FROM THE BURRS

Treat the inside of an electric grinder as a dry-cleaning area unless your grinder manufacturer specifically says otherwise.

Don't rinse the burrs under the tap or pour water into the grinding chamber.

A brush and the manufacturer's recommended cleaning procedure are the safer approach.

CLEANING THE GRIND CHUTE

Ground coffee can also collect in the chute after leaving the burrs.

With the grinder unplugged, use a suitable brush to remove accessible loose grounds.

Don't force tools deep inside the grinder. The goal is simply to remove coffee you can safely reach.

WHAT ABOUT GRINDER CLEANING TABLETS?

Grinder cleaning tablets are designed to pass through compatible burr grinders and help remove coffee oils and residue.

They can be useful, but check that the product is suitable for your particular grinder first.

After using them, you may need to grind and discard a small amount of coffee before making your next drink.

Follow the directions supplied with both the grinder and cleaning product.

SHOULD YOU CLEAN A COFFEE GRINDER WITH RICE?

We wouldn't recommend putting ordinary rice through your grinder as a substitute for proper grinder cleaning.

Rice can be harder than roasted coffee and may place unnecessary load on the grinder.

If you want a product that passes through the burrs, use something specifically designed for grinder cleaning and confirmed as suitable for your grinder.

SIGNS YOUR GRINDER MAY NEED CLEANING

Your grinder might be due for attention if you notice:

• Coffee building up around the chute
• Grounds collecting around accessible burr areas
• An oily film inside the hopper
• More retained coffee than usual
• Old grounds dropping out after grinding
• Unusual noises or obvious obstruction
• Changes in consistency that normal grind adjustment isn't fixing

If the grinder sounds abnormal or appears jammed, stop using it and check the manufacturer's troubleshooting instructions.

DON'T FORGET RETENTION

A small amount of coffee can remain inside the grinding chamber or chute after grinding.

This is known as retention.

Old retained coffee can mix with your next dose, which matters when making espresso where relatively small changes can affect extraction.

Regular cleaning helps keep stale coffee out of fresh doses.

AFTER CLEANING YOUR GRINDER

Reassemble everything according to the manufacturer's instructions and make sure removable burrs and the hopper are seated correctly.

Then grind a small amount of coffee before making your next espresso.

If you've removed and reinstalled the burrs, don't assume your old grind setting will produce exactly the same result.

Make a coffee, check how it runs, taste it and adjust if necessary.

A SIMPLE GRINDER CLEANING ROUTINE

REGULARLY

• Empty old beans from the hopper
• Wipe the hopper clean
• Brush away accessible loose grounds
• Keep your dosing cup or grounds container clean

DEEPER CLEAN

• Unplug the grinder
• Remove accessible burr components according to the manual
• Brush the burrs and grinding chamber
• Clear accessible coffee from the chute
• Reassemble everything correctly

WHEN REQUIRED

• Use compatible grinder-cleaning tablets if appropriate
• Investigate unusual retention, clogging or noises
• Check calibration after deeper disassembly if required

CLEAN GRINDER. FRESH COFFEE.

Your grinder doesn't need to look brand new inside after every coffee.

It just shouldn't become a storage compartment for months of old grounds.

Regular cleaning helps keep stale coffee out of fresh doses and gives you a more consistent starting point when dialling in espresso.

Once the grinder is clean, use our Espresso Brew Guide to dial in your dose, yield, grind size and extraction time.

If your espresso still tastes sharp, dry or unpleasant, our Sour vs Bitter Guide can help you work out what to adjust.