How to Clean a Burr Coffee Grinder: 10 Secret Techniques

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Burr grinders are more expensive than blade grinders, but the real benefit of using one is that they produce a higher quality grind. Buying fresh coffee beans, roasting them yourself, and grinding them on a burr coffee grinder is the best way to make coffee taste fantastic. Unfortunately, no matter how well you care for your grinder, it will eventually get clogged with coffee grounds.

Cleaning a burr coffee grinder isn’t tricky, but it does take some patience and a few simple steps. Once you’ve cleaned out your grinder, you’ll find that it performs better as it will no longer be clogged with coffee grounds. So whether you’re using a handheld burr coffee grinder or an electric one, here’s what you need to do to clean a burr coffee grinder.

Coffee grinders are not complicated pieces of equipment, and you can quickly clean up with a bit of patience and the proper tools. The following procedure will clean your grinder in less than 15 minutes.

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How to Clean a Burr Coffee Grinder: 10 Secret Techniques

Best Burr Coffee Grinder Cleaning Tools

Cleaning your coffee grinder is vital to the quality of your daily cup of Joe. The good news is that cleaning your coffee grinder with the right tools and know-how isn’t a complicated process. We’ll walk you through the essential cleaning tools list here.

  1. Soft brush
  2. Toothpick
  3. Cotton buds 
  4. Soft Cloths
  5. Canned Compresses Air

Using these tools, you can easily clean your electric/no electric burr coffee grinder at home. You need to follow some simple steps to clean your burr grinder properly. Lose ground coffee cleaning processes seem easy when you apply these methods.  You can also clean it once a week. 

SAFETY Info: Unplug your burr coffee grinder machine before starting the cleaning process.

Separate All Removable Parts 

The first step is to disassemble the grinder. You have to remove all the parts from the grinder so that you can clean them individually. Separate all the removable parts of your coffee grinder machine. Almost any electric burr grinder will easily allow you to separate all the removable parts. This step will make your cleaning process more manageable. Oxo, Baratza, or any higher or entry-level grinder almost has the same options for removable parts. You can learn from the way we did it.

Step 1: Remove the Hopper

You can easily remove the hooper from any electric grinder because every coffee grinder machine has this feature. Though, the removing process will be a bit different. For example, on the Baratza coffee grinder machine, you need to turn or twist the hoop in the right direction to unlock it.

On the other hand, the Oxo coffee grinder has a hooper push release button. It would be best if you pushed the button to separate the hooper from the Oxo grinder machine. Maybe you have another kind of coffee grinder machine. But do not worry; you will find the instruction manual with your grinder machine to separate all the removable parts of your grinder machine. 

After detaching the hooper from your grinder machine, you can now easily wash it with soap, a liquid dishwasher, or with a soft detergent. Make sure you rub the hooper inside out correctly to remove all the stains from the hooper. If you are cleaning your coffee after a long time, the hooper will feel much oily from the inside. That is why you must clean it with persistence. 

Step 2: Separate Other Loose Parts

Now it is time to clean the other removable parts. After removing the hooper, you will find a metal plate, which catches the coffee grounds mostly. So, move your grinder machine separately and remove the metal plate safely. They sit on the machine loosely. Remove it and set them aside. 

But for the encore, you can remove the grounds bin, but you will also need to remove the rubber gasket on top of the outer Burr. 

Step 3: Removing the Outer Burr

Now you need to remove the outer Burr from your coffee grinder machine. The outer Burr is easily removable on the Oxo and Baratza coffee grinder machine. On the Baratza machine, you need to pull out the outer Burr straightly. Also, the same process on the Oxo coffee grinder machine, but before pulling it out straight, you need to twist the outer Burr a bit counterclockwise to hear a click, and after feeling the click, it’s ready to remove safely. 

Step 4: Cleaning process of outer Burr

In this section, we will talk about cleaning the outer Burr with a soft brush. You don’t have it; you can use a regular toothbrush. Your outer Burr may have some areas with cracked coffee grounds. This area collects the coffee dust and oil, and for this main reason, we removed the outer butt to clean it properly. 

Do not use water to clean the outer Burr because a small drop of water can damage your coffee grinder machine. Brush the dusty areas carefully. You can also use the can compressed air to clean all the loose dust from your outer Burr. Use the wooden toothpick to remove all the jammed and stuck dust. After applying these processes, you will be good to go. 

Clean inside of your grinder: How to get the job done?

This section is a bit difficult, but don’t worry, follow our instructions, and you will get it done very quickly. Cleaning inside of your burr coffee grinder machine is a bit sensitive. You have to be careful while doing this part. Please make sure your grinder machine is unplugged and take it outside. Inside there will be a lot of loose dust which will mess your indoor. 

Take the can of compressed air and spray it inside the grinder. That will remove all the loose dust and coffees. Take the soft brush all over again and knock all the remaining dust. Again, make sure you remove all the loose parts. Turn your burr grinder upside down give a light shake; all extra particles will fall from the grinder machine.

Tips: If you have a mini vacuum machine or any vacuum cleaner, it can suck all the tiny dust from your burr grinder machine. 

How to clean Coffee Grounds Output Area: Simple cleaning process

When using a coffee machine to brew your coffee, it is vital to understand and pay attention to the grounds output area. The grounds output area is where you want to catch all the used coffee grounds for easy disposal, making sure not to leave any coffee grounds on the counter where they could easily stain.

Oxo can hold surprising amounts of grounds and trash; that’s why you will need some extra time to clean the Oxo burr grinders chute. Knock the ground output for 7-8times, and it will remove the loose dust inside from the chute. 

Now turn on the grinder machine and start it up; use the can compressed air to create air pressure inside the machine while it is running. After 1-2minutes, check the ground’s output; at the moment, you can see lots of tiny grounds and specks of dust gathered inside the chute. Take a brush and clean that stuff. You can also use the wipe tissue to clean all the plastics area. 

For corner portion cleaning, use the cotton buds to clean all the narrow areas. Wipe all the sides properly, and now you are good to go.

For better finishing, use the microfiber cloth to clean the plastic surface.

Cleaning Process of Coffee Grounds Bin

Not all coffee waste is created equal. When you’re finished with your coffee beans, whether that’s after grinding them up or tossing them in the bin, it’s time to clean them out. The container collects the coffee grounds during the coffee grinding process. The grounds bin cleaning process is very easy for all burr coffee grinders. Remove the bin and wash it with soap and water properly. 

Assemble Everything Back

Now it’s time to put everything back together. Before assembling the grinder machine, make sure all the removable parts are soaked properly, not a small amount of water on or inside the parts. Wipe all the removable parts with a dry towel before putting them all together. 

While a good burr grinder costs a pretty penny, it can pay for itself with time saved and more perfect shots, so long as you remember to clean and maintain it well!

Coffee Grinder Brush

A coffee grinder cleaning brush is a very useful tool for cleaning your burr grinder machine. It makes the cleaning process easier and quicker. You can buy these brushes easily from online or offline stores. There are many brands you will find in marketplaces. Most of them are made of wooden handles. But we always prefer the highly-rated products for you. 

Merryseason coffee grinder cleaning brush is the best model available in the market. They have been selling coffee grinder cleaning brush for more than five years, and they’ve served thousands of coffee lovers worldwide. This model is a professional tool, durable and practical. You can use it to clean coffee grinders, coffee machines, and other household devices.

Coffee Grinder Cleaners

Coffee grinder cleaners are a bit different product. Grinder’s cleaners are mainly known as grinder cleaning tablets. It helps to clean the interior section of grinders.  The Capresso Clean Grind Coffee Grinder Cleaner is specifically designed to clean out the grinder. When you grind coffee beans, fine particles escape your grinder and linger in the grinder. That’s especially true if you are using whole beans. The fine particles of coffee can get stuck in the burrs, making it difficult for the next time you grind.

Coffee Grinder Cleaning Tablets

There is a wide range of grinder cleaning tablets in markets. Grinder cleaning tablets use for cleaning the interior of a grinder machine easily. There are so many advantages of using the coffee grinder cleaning tablets: 

  • It removes coffee deposits and oils in separate coffee grinding machines.
  • Successfully cleans grinding machines without taking apart burrs or casing.
  • Food-grade, gluten-free, and all-natural tablet rivet and releases proper coffee grounds.
  • It would be best to use it regularly to make sure accurate sanitation and retain steady grinding performance.
  • These cleaning tablet models are perfect for avoiding flavor transmission as soon as switching between consistent flavored and decaffeinated coffee beans.
  • It helps to clean your coffee grinder machine easily and quickly. 

You can buy any of those higher-quality coffee grinder cleaning tablets from the market. But, we prefer the Urnex Grindz Professional Coffee Grinder Cleaning Tablets. It’s highly rated, quality full, and very popular in marketplaces. Also, this model is easy to afford. 

Cuisinart Burr Grinder Cleaning

Maximum burr grinder machines have almost the same cleaning process. Cuisinart Coffee Grinders are some of the best around, but they require a bit of maintenance to keep them working at their best. It isn’t too tricky, but we have noticed a few common mistakes people make when cleaning the unit. Fortunately, a little bit of cleaning can return your Cuisinart burr grinder to complete working condition.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Often Should You Clean Your Burr Grinder?

We recommend cleaning your grinder once a month or every three months, depending on how much you use it. Generally, you do not need to clean your Burr grinder every day because you only make coffee there. But still, you should clean it for having fresh coffee always. First, remove the grinder’s hopper, wash it with soapy water or water, but make sure it will help you remove the grinder’s oil. Remove other loose pieces with the outer Burr and clean them with a cheap toothbrush. You have to clean the inside of the grinder, coffee grounds output area, coffee grounds bin area, etc., and then fix all of them together again. This step helps clean the coffee grinder entirely so that any residual coffee grounds inside the grinder are gone.

Do you wash the Burr grinder as you like?

Usually, coffee grinders have a hopper for grinding coffee beans there. So, you need to remove that hopper and wash it. Then take a soft and dry cloth, wipe the inner side and the hopper’s outer side. It helps to soak the burrs, and if there is some oil or buries left, it will be gone after this.

Can you clean the coffee grinder with water?

There’s a myth circulating on social media that you can – and probably should – clean your coffee grinder with water. That’s a terrible idea. It’s also a terrible idea for the grinder itself.

You cannot clean a coffee grinder with water or any kinds of liquids. Water is a highly damageable element for electric circuits. That’s why you must avoid the water while cleaning any kinds of electrical devices or gadgets. 

Can you clean a burr coffee grinder with rice?

Well, the simple answer is yes. But there are some things you need to know before you start. Some people use rice to clean the internal of a burr grinder machine instead of grinder cleaning tablets. They tried to save some money. But we do not recommend it. Try to follow the right steps to get the perfect cleaning results. 

Can you wash a ceramic burr grinder?

Yes, but only if you are using a manual burr grinder. Disassemble the burr grinder, soak it into the soap water, and clean all the parts with a soft brush. Wash the parts will clean water and dry them. Now it is ready for re-assemble and re-use again. 

Are oily coffee beans clog grinders?

Yes, oily coffee beans are bad for your machine. These beans also can jam an electric coffee grinder. To avoid this problem, you need to clean your burr coffee grinder once a week. If you are too busy with your daily works, you can easily use the coffee grinder cleaning tablets to clean your grinder and avoid the clogging problem quickly. 

How to clean a conical burr grinder?

Conical, OXO, Baratza, all these grinders cleaning processes are the same. Follow proper steps and instructions, and that will be enough for getting a perfect result. 

How to clean a burr grinder with cleaning tablets?

This method is the easiest and quickest method among all of them. Buy the higher-rated grinder cleaning tablets from the market (450g will be enough). Please turn on the grinder machine, drop one hand full cleaning tablets inside your coffee grinder, start the machine; when it’s done, clean up the coffee grounder chute. And that’s it! 

How long does a burr coffee grinder last?

The lifespan of a burr coffee grinder can vary depending on various factors. Some of the most important ones are: how often you use it, which type of coffee beans you grind, and what accessories you have for your grinder.

If you take good care of your burr grinder, the manual burr grinder will last for 7-8years for sure. Electric burr grinder usually lasts for 3-4years of regular use with good maintenance. 

How to clean the KRUPS coffee grinder?

To clean the KRUPS coffee grinders, you will need a paintbrush (1/2inch wide) to brush out all the ground coffee. Now use a paper towel, clean up the rest powders. You can do it every time after using the KRUPS coffee grinder machine.

You might be asking yourself, what makes this the best burr coffee grinder for home use? A burr grinder is a must-have when it comes to coffee. It doesn’t matter if you brew your coffee at home or buy it from a shop; you’re getting a much better cup of coffee with a burr grinder. There are hundreds of coffee grinder options available, so picking the “best burr coffee grinder” can be challenging. Sboly Electric Burr Coffee Grinder is the best model in the market. This model is fast and easy to use. You will get fresh ground coffee every time. This burr coffee grinder enables you to grind the exact amount of coffee you need right there without worrying about measuring.

Final Words:

Cleaning and maintaining a burr coffee grinder is an essential part of owning and operating a coffee shop, café, or any establishment that uses this type of coffee-making equipment.

After you buy a burr coffee grinder, you’ll need to clean and maintain it to get the most out of your new coffee gadget. It’s not an overly complicated process, but it does take a bit of time and know-how. The good news is that we’ve got the answers to your questions, so after reading this article, you already know how to keep your burr coffee grinder to work great for years to come!

If you have any questions regarding this article, feel free to contact us regarding your query. Thanks for reading!

Have a nice day!

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