HOW TO GRIND COFFEE BEANS WITHOUT A GRINDER?

Whether you are out camping, traveling, or at home, from time to time, you may find yourself without the use of your favorite kitchen gadget; a coffee grinder. In that case, How do you grind coffee beans without a grinder?

A good cup of coffee always starts with perfectly ground coffee beans. While you can always buy pre-ground coffee, nothing beats making your daily cup of coffee from freshly ground beans. Although some coffee lovers already have a grinder at home, many do not, as a good one does not come cheap. Also, sometimes it might not be possible to use a coffee grinder, even if you have one.

However, all this does not mean you have to forego the flavor and aroma of freshly ground coffee, as there are many ways of grinding the beans without a grinder. These grinder alternatives can still give you the coffee grounds consistency you want for your favorite brew if you use them correctly. This guide explains how to grind coffee beans correctly using things you already have at home without a grinder. But first, there are a few essential things you need to know about grinding coffee beans.
 

WHY DO YOU NEED TO GRIND COFFEE?

It is possible to make your coffee using roasted or even green whole beans if you steep them in water for a longer time. However, with whole beans, there is less surface area in contact with the water meaning, a lot of the coffee flavors will not be extracted. Grinding allows the water to extract more of the oils and other components in the coffee beans responsible for the distinctive coffee flavor and smell. By grinding coffee beans, you cut down the brewing time significantly. Steeping whole beans to make coffee can take up to 24 hours, while brewing with ground coffee takes as little as a few seconds depending on the method you are using.

Another point to keep in mind is that grinding your coffee beans just before making your coffee ensures minimal contact with elements. Freshly ground coffee beans get little exposure to oxygen, heat, and moisture, which can ruin the coffee flavor and smell.
 

COFFEE GRIND TYPES

Before grinding your coffee, whether you are using a grinder or the other alternatives, it is vital to know what grid consistency you want to get.

The grind consistency affects things like the extraction rate, flow rate, and steeping time. Therefore, a specific grind type might be suitable for some brewing methods but not for others.

Here is a table that summarizes the main coffee grind types, the grain size, and the respective brewing methods they suit.

6 WAYS TO GRIND COFFEE BEANS WITHOUT A GRINDER

Whether a beginner or an experienced barista, the flavor and aroma you get from homemade coffee largely depends on properly grounded beans.

The good news is that you can still achieve that perfect grind consistency every time, even when you do not have a grinder. Here are the best ways to grind coffee beans without a grinder.
 

1. GRIND COFFEE BEANS USING A BLENDER

A blender is a multipurpose home appliance that always comes in handy when you need to chop food to a fine powder or a smooth puree. Now you can add grinding coffee beans to the list of the many things a blender can do. Blenders will work more like coffee burr grinders. They include blades that look and work the same way as those you get on a coffee grinder. These fast-spinning blades will cut down the coffee beans into a medium-coarse or coarse grind. Some modern blenders will include a dedicated setting for grinding coffee. With such blenders, you get multiple coffee grind settings to ensure that you are not restricted to a coarse or medium-coarse grind like regular blenders.

Step by Step Directions:

Step 1: Start by thoroughly cleaning and drying your blender. This step is vital as it ensures you do not contaminate your coffee grounds with tastes and smells from other foods.

Step 2: Add a small scoop of coffee beans (the actual amount depends on how much coffee you are making) and cover the blender with the lid.

Step 3: Choose the “medium-high” speed setting on your blender. Also, if you are using a model with a coffee grinder setting, it will be an even better option.

Step 4: Grind the beans using short and quick bursts. The “pulse” button on your blender should be handy here. Remember to push down the lid firmly when grinding.

Step 5: As you grind the coffee beans, try to tilt the blender from one side to the other as this ensures all the beans get into the blade’s path for consistent grinding.

Note: Always ensure you have the lid on when grinding coffee beans with a blender, as the fast-spinning blade can force the beans to fly out.

2. USE A MORTAR AND PESTLE

The mortar and pestle are among the oldest and most authentic coffee grinding methods. Traditionally, the mortar and pestle used were either made from stone or wood. Still, nowadays, you can find them in a wide variety of materials, including different kinds of metals. Grinding your coffee beans using the mortar and pestle technique takes more time. Still, it gives you greater control over the consistency you get. Also, with this method, the longer you grind the beans, the finer the coffee grounds you will get.

Step by Step Directions

Step 1: Put a small amount of the coffee beans in the mortar. Make sure you only add coffee beans to a quarter of the mortar’s capacity to eliminate spillage when grinding.

Step 2: Use your dominant hand to hold the pestle and then hold the mortar with the other. Start pushing down the beans against the mortar base using the pestle and use a twist motion to crush them.

Step 3: Keep rolling the beans around while repeating step 2 above to ensure consistent grinding. Be careful not to overdo things because you can easily make the coffee grind consistency a little too fine or inconsistent when using the mortar and pestle method.
 

3. GRINDING WITH A FOOD PROCESSOR

The food processor is what many homeowners turn to when they need to chop down most foods into smaller pieces or finer powders.

A food processor will not give you the consistency or adjustability of a burr coffee grinder. However, It should still chop your coffee grounds well enough for a good brew. With many food processors, you can control how small you want your food chopped, meaning you still get some degree of control over the fineness of your coffee.

Step by Step Directions

Step 1: Add a scoop of coffee beans or a few of them into a processor and put back the lid.

Step 2: Start grinding the coffee in quick, short bursts as you would with a blender. Depending on the size of the food processor, you can keep shaking it to ensure all the beans get to the blade or stop and give the beans a quick stir after every few bursts.

Step 3: Scrape the food processor bowl and then continue grinding for a while to ensure an even more uniform coffee ground.

Step 4: Pour out the coffee ground and add a new batch of coffee beans to repeat the steps above if you still need more.
 

4. USING A MEAT TENDERIZER/MALLET

Sometimes the obvious coffee grinder alternatives like a blender, food processor, or mortar and pestle might still not be an option for you. In such instances, you need to get more creative by using things like a meat tenderizer.

A meat tenderizer will not chop down the beans with blades like in a grinder or blender but instead use brute force to crush them into smaller particles.

The larger the hammer, the faster you can get the job done. However, it is essential to note that this method might not be ideal when you want a fine, consistent grind for an espresso. Instead, it works best for a coarse grind type ideal for the French press and cold brewing.

Step by Step Directions

Step 1: Add a small number of coffee beans into a plastic zipper bag, close it and place it over a kitchen counter or cutting board.

Step 2: Place a clean dishcloth over the plastic bag with your coffee beans

Step 3: Press down on the beans firmly using the meat tenderizer and keep moving from one spot to the other until you attain the desired consistency.

Note: When using this method, you should not pound on the beans using the hammer as this only punctures the plastic bags and leads to an inconsistent grind. Also, start from one side and move to the other slowly to ensure you end up with a consistent coffee grind.

5. USING A ROLLING PIN

A rolling pin does a surprisingly great job when it comes to grinding coffee. Rolling it over the coffee beans crushes and grinds them. This action results in a more even texture and uniform grind consistency.

Using a rolling pin to grind coffee takes quite some effort. However, it is one of the few methods that will give you something close to the fine grind consistency you need for making espresso.

Step by Step Directions

Step 1: Measure and pour the coffee beans into a Ziploc bag. Make sure you use a thick enough bag so it does not tear when grinding. Also, remember to close it well to avoid making a mess.

Step 2: Place the zipper bag over a cutting board or any other flat surface such as a kitchen counter. You also need to check and make sure that you have a single coffee bean layer at this step.

Step 3: Place the rolling pin over the bag and apply gentle pressure on the coffee beans. Always start from the bottom of the bag and roll the pin upwards while maintaining consistent pressure.

Step 4: Keep rolling the pin across the bag until there are no chunky fragments and you achieve the consistency you want.
 

6. CRUSHING BEANS WITH A KITCHEN KNIFE

Chances are you have used a kitchen knife to crush things like garlic cloves at some point. You can also use the same technique to grind your coffee beans down to a coarse ground to make coffee.

Using a knife to crush coffee beans will not be suitable for making lots of coffee, but it should work well enough for one or a couple of cups.

Step by Step Directions

Step 1: Place a few coffee beans on a flat surface like a cutting board or kitchen counter.

Step 2: Lay a large butcher knife over the coffee beans and place a clean kitchen cloth over your blade to ensure the beans do not fly away.

Step 3: Apply gentle pressure on the knife using one hand and use the other to keep it secure in place.

Step 4: Keep pressing the blade down even after the beans are broken down and move it back and forth for a more even grind consistency.
 

TIPS TO ENSURE YOU ALWAYS GET THE PERFECT GRIND

Grinding coffee beans without a grinder takes more effort and time to master the technique depending on the specific method you choose. However, for the best results, you need to keep the following tips in mind.

Tip # 1. Choose a coffee grinder alternative that can produce a ground coffee consistency suitable for your intended brewing method. For example, a mortar and pestle will give you a fine texture for espresso-making. At the same time, a blender delivers a coarse grind for the French press.

Tip # 2. Always clean the tools you are using thoroughly if you also use them to process other food types to avoid coffee flavor contamination.

Tip # 3. Move slowly regardless of the method you are using, as hastening the process almost always delivers an inconsistent grind size.

Tip # 4. Grind the coffee beans in small batches for more consistent coffee grounds.
 

FAQS

Q: CAN YOU MAKE COFFEE USING WHOLE BEANS?

Yes, you can make coffee using whole beans. However, the steeping time will be much longer compared to ground coffee. Also, you will not be able to extract all the flavor oils from whole beans.
 

Q: SHOULD I GRIND LARGE BATCHES OF COFFEE BEANS AND STORE FOR LATER USE?

Although grinding coffee beans in large batches sounds more convenient when you have some time to spare, it is not a good idea. Coffee grounds will start deteriorating in under 30 minutes regardless of how you store them. So the longer you keep them, the more flavor you lose.
 

Q: HOW MUCH COFFEE DO I NEED TO GRIND FOR ONE CUP?

This mostly depends on the coffee brewing method you plan to use. That said, a couple of tablespoons of ground coffee beans is often enough for one cup.
 

Q: HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GRIND COFFEE WITHOUT A GRINDER

It depends on the specific method you are using. If you go for manual tools like mortar and pestle or rolling pin, your muscle power and technique will dictate the speed. When grinding with electric appliances like a food processor or blender, the process takes under 30 seconds.
 

CONCLUSION

A coffee grinder provides the fastest, easiest, and most consistent way of grinding coffee. Still, it might not always be an option for you. Therefore, coffee lovers need to know how to grind coffee beans without a grinder.

The good news is that there are almost countless methods you can use. The options range from simple electrical appliances like blenders and food processors to manual methods like mortar and pestle. That said, as you choose a coffee grinder alternative, make sure it can grind your beans to the correct size for your intended brewing method.