Can I Grind Coffee Beans In A Blender? Yes! Here’s How!

The most annoying thing that can happen to coffee lovers is a broken coffee grinder. Thankfully there are some reasonably good emergency alternatives and methods of grinding your coffee beans. This article is in response to the question “Can I grind coffee beans in a blender?”

The great news is that you can use your blender or food processor to get a reasonably good grind. The next questions are what grind size and what level of consistency and quality can you achieve with your food blender.

Keep reading as this is what we discuss in this article.

Why Use A Blender To Grind Your Coffee Beans?

There is literally no specific reason for you to use your blender to grind your coffee beans other than in an emergency or because you mistakenly bought whole beans instead of  pre-ground packaged coffee.

Nonetheless, if your coffee grinder is in need of replacing or repair you can use it as a temporary solution. A Blender can and will grind your coffee beans in a cutting and slicing action and thus not get you that same fine grind or great consistency in grind size.

The grind sizes you will get will be coarse and medium fine, which is good for a wide possible range of coffee drinks like:

• 1. French Press.
• 2. Percolator Coffee.
• 3. Siphon Coffee.
• 4. Drip Coffee.
• 5. Pour Over.
• 6. Chemex Coffee.
• 7. Cold Brew Coffee.

And more delicious cups of coffee.

Read: Can you Grind coffee in a food processor?

How To Grind Coffee Beans With A Blender

Grinding your coffee beans in a blender is very easy. Incredibly easy. The blades at the bottom of your blender pitcher work in a manner that is very similar to a blade coffee grinder and cut and slice your coffee beans.

The biggest difference is the size of your blender – you can grind a lot more coffee beans in one go for a similar grind size, and you have a lot more space to grind coffee.

It is said by many, that with a blender you will get a better grind consistency than with a blade coffee grinder. While you can get a reasonably good coffee grind size and consistency, in my opinion and experience a blade grinder does the job much better. To be as clear, the best grinder, a burr grinder, is even better.

It is the case of the right tool for the right job but if you want freshly ground coffee and your grinder is broken, you can use your blender to get the job done.

The easiest way of grinding your coffee beans with your blender is to add a quarter of half a cup of coffee beans to your blender and select the grinder setting.

If you don’t have a grinder setting on your blender, you will need to experiment with smaller amounts of coffee beans to get the grind size that you are looking for. Usually a medium-high speed will be the setting that you are looking for.

Then grind your coffee beans using the pulse technique to get the consistency that you are seeking.

Read: Makeshift coffee filter

How Do I Get the Proper Coffee Grind Size With A Blender?

Getting an exact and precise grind size with your blender can be a bit more difficult than you would expect from a blade grinder and a burr grinder.

Proper grinders are better due to greater precision and being free from consistency issues – more so with burr coffee grinders.

You won’t be able to get a precise exact grind size or a consistent grind, but you will get a good enough to get a good cup of coffee. You will need to be very visual here and know your particle size by eye and know what a coarse grind size is and what a medium fine grind size looks like.

Coffee connoisseurs might get all snobby and insist that you can’t truly judge a grind size by your eyes, and they are correct…mostly. A coffee lover that regularly grinds and brews their coffee using freshly ground coffee beans really should be able to identify a grind size by eye.

There is truly no way of getting the proper coffee grind size; you will get a rough, close but not correct grind size. Your blender will not measure your grind by an exact size in microns as they are not designed for that.

The Benefits Of Grinding Your Coffee Beans In A Blender

The obvious benefit of grinding your coffee beans in a blender or food processor is obvious: enjoying a well-brewed cup of coffee made with freshly ground coffee beans. As a coffee drinker and coffee lover you will enjoy a much better quality cup of coffee than you would have had you used instant coffee or pre-ground coffee.

What Coffee Can You Brew When You Use A Blender As A Coffee Grinder?

When you want to use your hand blender, food processor or any blender for that matter you can, and will be able to make a number of types of coffee drinks including French press coffee, and any number of coffee drinks that take a coarser grind like a percolator coffee and a cold brew for example and still get close to optimal flavor.

You can also brew regular-strength coffee and use the grounds that you have made for your drip coffee maker as long as you can get a good grind size. An espresso or Turkish coffee or any coffee or anything that will require a fine grind size.

Can I Grind Coffee Beans In A Nutribullet?

Yes,

you can grind your coffee beans in a Nutribullet. Some claim that due to the high speed and portability is better than a traditional blender. It is true that due to the high speed that it has a lot of more advantages than a conventional blender.

The 600-watt motor is very powerful and will grind literally anything that you put in it. There is no advantage or benefit in terms of greater grind consistency or more size variability.

Like all blenders, you can brew a number of different coffee drinks that use a medium-fine to coarse coffee grind size.

Just be aware that due to the quick speed you may find it a little more difficult to control the grind size and quality using the pulse technique.

Can I Grind Coffee Beans In A Food Processor?

Yes,

You can grind your coffee beans in a food processor or mini food processor and get a quality grind that is equally as good as you would expect from a blender. You will need to grind them in small quantities at a time for best results.

You will be able to get the similar grind size and consistency and make the same coffee drinks as you can with a blender.

Frequently Asked Questions About Can I Grind Coffee Beans In A Blender

Is It OK To Grind Coffee Beans In A Blender?

Yes, it is perfectly OK to use a blender to grind your coffee beans. It’s not a permanent solution. It is a good solution while you are waiting to get a coffee grinder or get one delivered or your current grinder repaired.

Can You Use A Blender Instead Of A Coffee Grinder?

Yes, you can use a blender instead of a coffee grinder, but not as permanent solution as a blender or a food processor for that matter will not help you to get a quality even and consistent grind.

What Is The Best Way To Grind Coffee Beans?

The best way to grind coffee beans is by using a high-quality ceramic flat burr grinder. In the event of you not owning one, or having access to one, you can use a food processor or a blender. If you want to use a little elbow grease, a mortar and pestle will get the job done.

Do Coffee Beans Stay Fresh In A Grinder?

No. A coffee grinder and the storage area does not provide the ideal storage conditions for keeping your coffee beans fresh.

The perfect conditions for storage of your coffee beans involve keeping them away from moisture, away from air and bright light and heat.

The hopper of your coffee grinder provides no protection at all. You are best to use a professional opaque coffee canister that is airtight, has a one way valve and store it in your fridge or freezer.

Is It Necessary To Have A Coffee Grinder?

Yes, in my opinion, if you are a coffee enthusiast or coffee fan, it is worth getting a coffee grinder as you will be able to enjoy coffee that is fresher and better than pre-ground coffee.

You will also be able to adjust the grind size and brew different types of coffee using different brewing methods and techniques.

What Is The Difference Between A Coffee Grinder And A Coffee Blender?

Blender, to use an understandable term, slices and dices your coffee beans using a blade while a high quality grinder uses a flat or conical burr to crush the beans. Burr grinders can be made of various materials including stainless steel and ceramic and essentially pulverize your coffee beans to a powder. 

Should I Heat Coffee Beans Before Grinding?

No, you should never heat your coffee beans prior to grinding.

Heat is an enemy of freshness. It is advised that you do the opposite and chill your beans by storing them in your freezer or fridge in an airtight container to keep them fresh and counteract the heat transfer when you are grinding your beans.

Why Buy An Expensive Coffee Grinder?

An expensive coffee grinder will produce a finer and more consistent grind size and are made of better, higher quality materials with precision engineering. They will last longer than cheap grinders.

With an expensive grinder you’ll also get a higher grind rate.

Frappé-Ing It All Up – Can I Grind Coffee Beans In A Blender?

The answer to the question – Can you grind coffee beans in a blender is an affirmative yes. You can, and you can get reasonably good quality of grinds with a more than acceptable level of consistency. The approximate grind sizes you can get are medium fine and coarse.

If you need to use your blender in an emergency or temporarily speaking you can do so and brew any coffee that requires the grind sizes indicated.

Join our cool coffee community and share your recipes, creations, eye-catching latte art and be sure to tell us all about the great new beans that you are trying out.

Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location