Cleaning Your Coffee Grinder Properly Will Get You a Fresher, Better Brew

Get uniformly ground coffee beans (and thus better-tasting coffee) every time by keeping your coffee grinder neat.

There’s a good chance you own a grinder if you’re a coffee connoisseur. But what you might not realize is that old particles and oils of coffee beans can go rancid, clog the grinder, and wear the blades if you don’t regularly get rid of the stuck-on buildup by cleaning your coffee grinder.

Learn how to clean a coffee grinder—whether it’s a blade or burr type—to maximize that fresh bean aroma and flavor and extend the tool’s lifespan with our handy step-by-step guide.

Related: We Tested 21 of The Best Coffee Grinders of 2024 —These 8 Will Make You a Morning Person

How Often to Clean a Coffee Grinder

How often you clean your coffee grinder depends on how big a coffee drinker you are and how dark a roast you like for your espresso. Darker roasts mean oilier beans. If you use your coffee grinder daily, a weekly wash is best. Once you have the knack for these cleaning techniques, it shouldn’t take you more than 15 minutes to complete. If you only use your coffee grinder occasionally, clean it monthly or before you store the grinder at a minimum.

Before Getting Started

Before cleaning your coffee grinder, follow these tips to set yourself up for success.

Know Your Grinder

Simple, inexpensive blade grinders crush beans via fast-rotating blades. Burr grinders are more complex, multi-sectional tools with serrated disks that produce more evenly-ground coffee, but they are more tricky to clean.

Check the Manual

The instructions below offer general guidance, but some models have specific directions for disassembly and cleaning.

Skip Soaking

Don’t soak burrs in water. It might seem like a quick solution, but these pieces rust easily.

How to Clean a Blade Coffee Grinder

When cleaning a coffee grinder, the aim is to banish oils and residue clinging to the blades and container.

What You’ll Need

• A microfiber cloth
• Coffee grinder cleaning tablets or 1/2 cup of uncooked rice

Step 1: Empty the Grinder

Run the grinder until all the coffee beans in it are ground. Tap and shake gently to release as many of the grounds as possible.

Step 2: Run Cleaning Tablets (or Rice) Through the Grinder

Coffee grinder cleaning tablets are typically made from a blend of grains and cereals (and sometimes additional food-grade binders). These safe and absorbent ingredients are effective at lifting out residual oils and bean particles. 

Instructions and quantities vary by product, but you’ll typically use around 35 to 80 grams of cleaning tablets, depending on the size of your grinder. 

Add the tablets to the grinder, run until they turn into a fine powder, then empty out. If you don’t have any tablets, you can use around 1/2 cup of uncooked rice as an alternative.

Related: Should You Put Rice Through Your Coffee Grinder to Clean It?

Step 3: Repeat with Coffee Beans (Optional)

Running coffee beans through the grinder once or twice before using it for drinking helps ensure the freshest, cleanest batch.

Step 4: Wipe the Grinder Clean

Unplug the grinder before using a damp microfiber cloth to wipe the inside and outside of the grinder, taking care around the blades. Use a dry microfiber cloth to remove any moisture.

How to Clean a Burr Coffee Grinder

Cleaning a burr coffee grinder requires more effort, but it is still a cinch if you follow the steps below. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions for any model-specific variations.

What You’ll Need

• Microfiber cloths
• Soft-bristled toothbrush
• Bottle brush
• Screwdriver (for some burr grinders)
• Compressed air (optional for burr grinders)
• Dishwashing liquid
• Coffee grinder cleaning tablets

Step 1: Remove and Clean the Hopper

Remove and empty the hopper holding the beans on top of the grinder. Some hoppers (and their lids) are dishwasher-safe, and others will need to be washed with warm, soapy water.

For any stuck-on residue, use a clean soft-bristled toothbrush. Rinse the hopper well and dry it with a microfiber cloth.

Step 2: Get Rid of Beans from the Burrs

Run the grinder for around ten seconds to move any remaining beans from the burrs.

Step 3: Unplug Grinder and Wash Removable Parts

Unplug the grinder and, making sure to check the instructions, disassemble any washable, removable parts, including the ground beans container or tray and lid. Wash the items by hand in warm, soapy water with a microfiber cloth.

Warning

Never wash the burr of your coffee grinder in water.

Step 4: Clean the Burrs

The burr has a two-piece construction. Remove the top half of the burr (some models may require a screwdriver). Use the brush provided with the machine (or a bottle brush) to clean the upper burr, lower burr, and ground coffee chute. Take care, as the serrated burr edges are very sharp.

Compressed air can also help remove hard-to-reach coffee grounds stuck in the burrs.

Step 5: Insert Cleaning Tablets (Optional)

Regularly cleaning the burrs with a brush should be enough to keep them in good condition. For particularly dirty, oily grinders, you can run cleaning tablets through the grinder as you would with a blade grinder. Never use uncooked rice, as this could damage the serrated edges of the burrs.

Step 6: Reassemble the Grinder

Carefully put the coffee grinder back together, ensuring all the parts are fully dry.

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