Grinder maintenance
Grinder Care

Grinder Cleaning

Keep your grinder performing. Usage-based cleaning schedules and oily bean protocols.

View Schedules Oily Bean Guide

Why Grinder Cleaning Matters

Grinders accumulate coffee residue and oils. Over time, this buildup affects grind consistency, introduces stale flavors, and can damage burrs. Cleaning frequency depends on bean type, usage, and grinder design.

Oily beans (dark roasts) require more frequent cleaning than dry beans (light roasts). This guide provides usage-based schedules.

✓ Cleaning Types:

  • • Daily: Purge old grounds
  • • Weekly: Brush burrs
  • • Monthly: Deep clean
  • • Quarterly: Full disassembly

Cleaning Schedules by Grinder Type

Choose your grinder type and usage pattern to find your cleaning schedule.

Burr Grinders (Light Roasts Only)

Minimal oil content. Easiest to maintain.

Daily:

  • • Purge 5-10g of beans through grinder to clear old grounds
  • • Discard purged grounds (stale)

Weekly:

  • • Use brush to clean burr chamber
  • • Wipe interior with dry cloth
  • • Check for stuck grounds

Monthly:

  • • Deep clean with grinder cleaning tablets (Cafiza)
  • • Run through grinder, then purge with beans
  • • Brush burrs thoroughly

Quarterly:

  • • Full disassembly (if possible)
  • • Clean all parts individually
  • • Check burr alignment

Burr Grinders (Mixed Roasts)

Mix of light and dark roasts. Moderate oil content.

Daily:

  • • Purge 10-15g of beans
  • • Discard purged grounds

2-3x Weekly:

  • • Brush burr chamber
  • • Wipe with dry cloth
  • • Check for oil buildup

Bi-Weekly:

  • • Deep clean with cleaning tablets
  • • Purge with beans after cleaning
  • • Aggressive burr brushing

Monthly:

  • • Full disassembly if possible
  • • Clean all accessible parts
  • • Check for oil residue

Burr Grinders (Dark Roasts Only)

High oil content. Requires frequent cleaning.

Daily:

  • • Purge 15-20g of beans
  • • Discard purged grounds
  • • Brush burr chamber lightly

Every 2-3 Days:

  • • Deep brush of burr chamber
  • • Wipe with cloth to remove oil
  • • Check for clumping

Weekly:

  • • Deep clean with cleaning tablets
  • • Multiple purges with beans
  • • Aggressive burr cleaning

Bi-Weekly:

  • • Full disassembly
  • • Clean all parts thoroughly
  • • Check burr condition

Hand Grinders

Conical burrs, minimal retention. Easier to clean.

Daily:

  • • Empty grounds completely
  • • Tap out residue
  • • Wipe interior with cloth

Weekly:

  • • Brush burr chamber
  • • Clean handle and exterior
  • • Check for stuck grounds

Monthly:

  • • Full disassembly (most hand grinders allow this)
  • • Clean all parts individually
  • • Lubricate threads lightly

Oily Bean Protocol (Dark Roasts)

Dark roasts release oils during roasting. These oils accumulate in your grinder and affect flavor. Here's how to manage them.

Why Oily Beans Matter

Oils oxidize and become rancid. Rancid oil flavors contaminate fresh coffee. Oils also cause clumping and reduce grind consistency.

Daily Purge (Critical)

Grind 15-20g of beans and discard. This removes stale grounds and oils. Do this before grinding fresh beans for espresso.

Oil Removal Technique

After grinding dark roasts, use a brush to aggressively clean the burr chamber. Wipe with a dry cloth to remove visible oil residue. This prevents oil from oxidizing between uses.

Weekly Deep Clean

Use grinder cleaning tablets (Cafiza) weekly. Run through grinder, then purge with light roast beans. This removes accumulated oil buildup.

Storage Tip

Store dark roast beans in airtight containers. Don't leave them in the grinder hopper. Oils continue to oxidize and degrade flavor.

Deep Cleaning Procedure

Step 1: Empty the Grinder

Remove all beans from hopper. Grind out any remaining grounds.

Step 2: Use Cleaning Tablets

Add Cafiza or similar cleaning tablets to hopper. Grind through as if grinding beans. This breaks down oil and residue.

Step 3: Purge with Beans

Grind 20-30g of beans and discard. This removes cleaning tablet residue. Repeat 2-3 times.

Step 4: Brush Thoroughly

Use a stiff brush to clean burr chamber. Get into all crevices. Wipe with dry cloth.

Step 5: Final Purge

Grind 10g of your regular beans. Discard. Now grind fresh beans for use.

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Keep Your Grinder Clean

Regular cleaning maintains grind consistency and flavor quality. A clean grinder is a happy grinder.

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