Grinding whole coffee beans just before brewing allows for fresh brews. Brewing with freshly ground coffee reduces their exposure to oxygen. Exposure to oxygen destroys natural coffee flavors. If you brew coffee with pre-ground coffee that has stayed out longer, the flavors will become bland and your brew will taste stale.
But what if your grinder malfunctions or you do not have one? Can you use your food processor to grind coffee beans in place of a coffee grinder? In this article, we will show you how to grind coffee in a food processor.
Can You Grind Coffee in a Food Processor?
Shopping for different kitchen appliances is quite fun. Unfortunately, it becomes challenging to find enough storage space for many kitchen appliances, especially if your kitchen has limited space. In this case, it is ideal to find one appliance that performs several functions. A food processor is one of the few kitchen appliances that perform several functions.
A food processor is designed to chop hard vegetables such as carrots with its sharp, rotating blades. But can you use it to grind coffee beans? Yes, it is possible to grind whole coffee beans in your food processor. You can also use any food processing appliances that come with blades, such as a blender.
A food processor grinds coffee beans into medium-fine grind size. However, getting the consistency right needs some practice. A medium-fine grind is ideal for most pour-over brewing methods. However, this grind size is not ideal for standard drippers.
What is the difference between food processors and coffee grinders?
Although you can use a food processor in place of a coffee grinder, they have certain differences. The main difference between them is their mode of grinding. Burr coffee grinders have abrasive burrs that cut and crush whole beans into ground coffee. Some burr grinders allow you to change the grind setting, making it possible to grind coffee beans into different grind sizes.
On the other hand, a food processor comes with sharp blades that cut whole beans. A food processor works like a blade coffee grinder. However, it is challenging to set the grind size with a food processor, which is one of the reasons why burr grinders are superior to blade grinders.
Another reason why coffee grinders are better than food processors is that they produce uniform grounds. With a burr grinder, the individual bits of ground coffee have a consistent size. As a result, you get a more balanced cup of coffee.
How to Grind Coffee in a Food Processor
If you do not have a coffee grinder or it has malfunctioned and you are yet to replace it, you do not have to miss your favorite cup of morning coffee. You can use your food processor to grind coffee beans using these simple steps:
Step 1– Add a few scoops of whole beans into the bowl of your food processor.
Step 2– Place the lid on the top firmly.
Step 3– Grind the beans in short bursts. Preferably, use the “pulse” option on your food processor for the best results.
Step 4– As the beans grind, tilt your food processor from side to side a little. Doing so will allow larger pieces of the coffee beans to move into the rotating blades.
Step 5– Empty the ground beans and brew coffee. If the grounds are not enough, add new whole beans and repeat the grinding process until you get the preferred amount of coffee grounds.
Final Thoughts
If your coffee grinder decides to act up, or you do not have a coffee grinder, you can grind coffee beans with a food processor. We have shown you how to grind coffee in a food processor. Just ensure you grind a small amount of whole coffee beans at a time to minimize inconsistencies. Although using a food processor is not a perfect method of grinding coffee beans, it can save your day. Besides, you can improve the consistency of the grounds with practice.
