Broke your coffee grinder? Are you in need of that fresh batch of coffee? Worry not, for there are easy solutions for your predicament. But, can you grind coffee beans in a blender?
A blender can be a great alternative for your coffee grinder. Using a blender will require patience and a little bit of know-how as a simple mistake could end you up with a very bitter batch. Today’s blenders come with a “grind” option to make grinding coffee beans a lot easier.
The question now that remains is how do we grind the coffee beans using a blender? Can we grind coffee just by using our hands? And is it really worth it for us to grind our own coffee beans? Find out below.
Can you grind coffee beans in a blender
As mentioned earlier, yes, you can grind coffee beans using a blender but you need to know how to do it correctly. Otherwise, you might not get the flavor and aroma that you were hoping for.
You might be wondering, how many coffee beans to grind per cup – this will depend on the type of coffee and cup size. I have a handy table in that article to help you know how many beans you will need.
Nowadays, you can get a blender that has a “grind” setting, but a normal home blender will work just as well. As long as you know how to grind the coffee using a blender, you might not even need a coffee grinder anymore.
If you are looking for a food blender that will work perfectly for coffee beans, then I recommend this food blender from Ninja (Amazon link) It is a really great blender that will finely and safely grind coffee beans for years to come. It’s also great for iced and flavored coffee.
Just consider what you do with used coffee grounds, If you simply dispose of your coffee grounds down the sink then you need to read that article!
Instead of that, maybe consider a coffee grounds knock box (Amazon link) to dispose of used coffee grounds.
If you are looking for more creative and surprisingly useful things to do with used coffee grounds then check my 5 top ideas HERE — can you flush coffee grounds down the toilet & 5 bonus tips – Think you’ll be pleasantly surprised what you can do with used grounds!
How to grind coffee beans with a blender
Now we have determined that you can grind beans using a blender, let’s take a look at just how to grind coffee beans with a blender.
- Toss in a few coffee beans into the blender. Not too much because the longer the blender stays on, the more heat is generated, and that heat could end up cooking the natural oils from the beans. You might end up with a very bitter coffee if the natural oils have been thoroughly cooked.
- If your blender has a “grind” option, use that. Otherwise, you will have to use the high-speed setting if “grind” is not available.
- Grind the coffee beans until your desired consistency.
- Add more coffee beans until you have the amount you want.
- Make sure to clean your blender after the procedure, or else your blender might smell like a stale coffee the next time you use it.
You may be interested in another little coffee life hack, and that is what to use if you run out of coffee filters – check this out to learn more on that!
How can I grind my coffee beans by hand
Besides using a blender, there are plenty of ways to grind coffee beans by using your hands and some tools. However, the procedures might be a little too time-consuming and will also require quite a bit of work. Anyways, here are the different ways to grind your coffee beans.
Mortar and pestle
Here is a great mortar and pestle (Amazon link) that is ideal for coffee beans
- Put some coffee beans in the mortar.
- Pound the coffee beans until you reach the desired consistency. Make sure to grind every corner to ensure you have the proper consistency.
- Continue adding beans until you have enough ground coffee.
- To make the coffee finer, you will need to continue grinding.
Rolling Pin
If you need a rolling pin (Amazon link) for your zip lock bags (Amazon link) then check these out.
- Place some coffee beans inside a plastic bag or zip lock.
- Place the plastic bag on top of a flat surface.
- Use the rolling pin to pound the coffee beans.
- Once the coffee beans are broken down, use the rolling pin to roll over the coffees to make them finer.
- Just continue rolling over the coffee beans until you reach your preferred consistency.
- If there are some big chunks left, just pound them again using the rolling pin.
Butcher or Chopping Knife
- Place some coffee beans on your cutting board.
- Flatly place the chopping knife on top of the beans.
- Put some pressure on the knife using your palm to crush the beans.
- Continue doing so until you have your desired consistency.
Hammer
- Place the coffee beans inside a plastic bag or zip lock.
- Pound the coffee beans using the hammer.
- Try to see if there are any large chunks left.
- If so, pound the coffee beans again until you have your preferred consistency.
Can you brew coffee beans without grinding them
Well, technically, you can brew coffee beans without grinding them, but it will be quite an extensive process, and the aroma and taste of the coffee won’t be the same at all. Since whole coffee beans are hard, the brewing process will take a very long time.
To be able to brew your unground coffee, you will need to have the following:
- Hot water
- Saucepan
- Ball jar or also known as Mason jar
- Spoon
- Mug
- Strainer
- Whole coffee beans
To brew your whole coffee beans, do the following:
- Put some coffee beans inside the ball jar.
- Fill the ball jar with hot water.
- Boil water using the saucepan and place the ball jar in it.
- Simmer for about a few hours, don’t forget to stir the coffee beans from time to time.
- Put a strainer on top of your mug and pour in your brewed coffee.
- Add some water to your brew to dilute it until your desired taste.
Should I Grind All My Coffee Beans At Once – Is It Worth It
The effort and time you put in grinding your own coffee are, honestly, totally worth it. Not only is it so much cheaper than pre-ground coffee that you can buy in your local supermarket, but the taste is also a lot richer, and the aroma is just more divine than store-bought coffee.
That being said, gound coffee will start to lose its flavors not too long after it has been ground so if you want the most flavourful coffee it’s best to grind it in batches and seal in an air-tight container.
For best results grind only the coffee you need, but most people don’t do it this way and choose to grind a bigger batch of coffee. if you do this then make sure to store your ground coffee (Amazon link) in an air-tight and dark place.
Just be sure that when you are brewing your coffee, you are using freshly ground coffee to get that amazing flavor and aroma.
Final thoughts
To answer can you grind coffee beans in a blender for all the coffee lovers out there, then the answer is yes!
Coffee lovers want to have a coffee grinder in hand. But, just like any gadget, your coffee grinder might just break down at any given moment.
Sure, people can just go on with the day without their coffee, or they could perhaps go to their nearest café to get a cup of Joe, but sometimes, going out without your daily dose of caffeine can be quite a hassle.
Luckily, if you have a blender that is sitting in your kitchen, you can use that as an alternative for your coffee grinder. Just make sure that you follow the guide above on how to blend your coffee beans, or else you might just have to make another batch.
If you don’t have a blender in your house, remember that you can always use some other tools for grinding coffee or brew your coffee beans directly.
