Today, more people drink coffee than any other beverage, thanks to its rich caffeine content. More so, many coffee lovers prefer grinding coffee beans at home to enjoy a fresh brew. Besides, grinding coffee beans by yourself will allow you to experiment with different grind sizes including fine, medium, and coarse grounds.
But what if your grinder decides to act up and you do not have a budget to replace it right away? Does it mean you will stay without drinking coffee for a couple of days? And can you grind coffee beans in a ninja blender before getting a new grinder?
Fortunately, you can grind coffee beans with a ninja blender. Read on to find out why this is possible and how to do it.
Why a Ninja Blender Can Grind Coffee Beans
There are many types of blenders available today. Although they are all designed to grind solid foods, their effectiveness differs. For instance, ninja blenders are more robust than most blenders. They come with several features that make them ideal for blending a wide range of solid foods.
Most notably, ninja blenders allow for attaching accessories for more applications. That makes them more useful than ordinary blenders. If you already own one with several functionalities, you will find it reliable for many applications in your kitchen, including grinding coffee beans.
A ninja blender is a great alternative method for grinding coffee beans with consistent results. Although it cannot grind them as fine and consistent as a burr grinder, it can be very useful when your coffee grinder malfunctions. Also, it is not a must to brew coffee with super fine grounds, especially when your options are limited. Besides, a ninja blender is strong enough to handle the tough work of grinding coffee beans.
How to Grind Coffee Beans in a Ninja Blender
If you want the best results when blending coffee beans with your Ninja blender, use a single-serve cup. A smaller cup will offer better results due to more control over the blending power. Also, you will have more control over the coffee beans when using a small cup.
If you prefer brewing coffee with super fine grounds, you will find it easier to grind with a smaller single-serve cup. Also, you will find it easy to stop grinding the beans further before they become too fine. For instance, if you want coarse grinds to brew coffee with a Ninja coffee maker or Keurig, you can easily achieve the grind with a smaller cup.
It is also advisable to only grind a small number of coffee beans at a time. If you make the mistake of overloading the cup, you will be an inconsistent grind size. Consequently, your brew will not have the best taste due to poor extraction.
If you prefer using a standard pitcher rather than a single cup to grind coffee beans with your Ninja blender, add about 1 cup of beans into the pitcher. When running the blender, avoid using the pulse option. It is recommended to allow the Ninja blender to run full blast for approximately 30 seconds. You can let it run longer if you want finer grinds.
If you are using a standard single-serve cup to grind the beans, it is advisable to blend with the pulse setting. Run the pulse setting about 12 times to get a fine grind. You can use the grinds to brew coffee immediately after grinding them.
Advantages of Grinding Coffee Beans in a Ninja Blender
Using a Ninja blender to grind whole coffee beans offers numerous advantages including:
1. Compact size
Ninja blenders are small-sized and compact. Thus, you can find one to keep in a corner of your kitchen without consuming extra space.
2. Easy to clean
Cleaning a Ninja blender is quite simple. It does not demand a lot of effort to keep it clean after grinding coffee beans.
3. Affordable option
Using a Ninja blender to blend coffee beans is a more economical option than coffee grinders. Burr coffee grinders are often more expensive than Ninja blenders. Also, you can use a Ninja blender as a regular blender, chopper, and grinder.
4. Retains flavors
Grinding coffee beans in your Ninja blender allows them to retain their full flavors. A blender holds flavors when grinding, thereby keeping the aroma intact.
5. Fast solution
It is easier and faster to grind coffee beans in a Ninja blender than in coffee grinders. The grinding process is simple and allows for a quick solution when your blender fails.
Disadvantages of Grinding Coffee Beans in a Ninja Blender
Although a Ninja blender can save your day when looking for an alternative method of grinding whole beans, it comes with some cons including:
1. Risk of inconsistent grinds
Unlike a burr grinder, a ninja blender may fail to maintain a consistent grind size every time. The results may vary from time to time.
2. Some bitterness
Sometimes, you may end up having a slightly bitter brew when using grounds prepared with a ninja blender. The reason is due to uneven grinds.
Conclusion
Can you grind coffee beans in a ninja blender? It is possible. However, only use it when it is very necessary. Although it serves the purpose when your coffee grinder fails, it is not the best long-term solution. The reason is due to producing inconsistent grinds. Use a burr coffee grinder for the best results, and only switch to a ninja blender when your grinder decides to act up.
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