Do you love coffee? Then there’s no better way to enjoy a cup than with freshly-grounded beans. Unfortunately, not all Americans get to enjoy coffee at its finest.
“If you want your cup of coffee to be fresh and full of flavors, then you should grind your beans right before brewing coffee”. – [Coffee About]
A recent study revealed that coffee drinkers in the US focus on convenience and affordability.
They would rather go for pre-ground coffee, which is one of the most inferior forms available. Hence, you want to go for the freshly-grounded option.
But what if you don’t have a coffee grinder at home? Don’t know how to grind coffee beans without a grinder?
We’ve got you covered. Continue reading below to learn what you can do:
Grinding CoffeeWithout a Grinder
When it comes to grinding coffee beans, there are alternatives to the coffee grinder. It may even surprise you that some of the items on our list seem pedestrian to say the least.
If you want to grind coffee but do not have a grinder, check our list of seven excellent alternatives below:
1. Mortar and Pestle
Any list that teaches how to grind coffee beans without a grinder is incomplete without the mortar and pestle. This combination of in-your-face items is the most timeless. Its history dates back centuries when cooks and pharmacists used the tandem to grind all sorts of spices, and herbs into a fine powder.
To get the right consistency and texture, you need to use a hammering and rolling motion. The good thing about the mortar and pestle is that they offer a good range of control. In turn, you can achieve several types of coffee grinds.
To use this method, take a few small scoops of coffee beans and place them inside the mortar. Make sure not to go beyond ÂĽ full. This way, you will have better control when grinding.
Use your dominant hand to hold the pestle. Use the other to secure the mortar in place. To start the grinding process, take the pestle and press it down against the coffee.
Use some force as you press down. Grind the beans using a twisting motion. After crushing the beans, use the pestle to roll the fine coffee into a clean bowl.
You may also transfer it directly to your coffee maker. If you need more coffee, keep on adding beans to the mortar. But keep in mind that this process can be tedious.
2. Hammer
If you think that your hammer is only for punching nails, you may also use it to crush coffee beans. But before you start grinding, prepare a plastic Ziploc bag or a freezer bag. You will also need a large cutting board.
Take the plastic bag and fill it up with coffee beans. Hold the hammer with your dominant hand and press it down to the beans. You want to sustain firm pressure as you crush them.
Stop until you reach the consistency that you desire. When it comes to consistency, this method is not the ideal one if you are looking for more range. However, you can improve the consistency by grinding on one side of the bag and slowly working your way toward the other end.
In case you’re feeling iffy about the hammer, you may use a meat tenderizer as a substitute.
3. Blender
Your good old blender is another substitute to a coffee grinder. Though it will not give you the same consistency, its blades can chop and crush coffee beans with ease.
Though there is no dedicated blender for coffee beans, there are blenders that come with a “grinder” setting. If your blender comes with this option, use it at medium to high speed to grind coffee.
Start by pouring a small amount of coffee into your blender. Cover the lid tightly and securely. Grind by using a “pulse” approach.
Press the grind button as if mimicking a pulse. This means using short but quick bursts. To achieve better consistency, tilt the blender slightly while grinding.
Do this tilting side-to-side to help prevent the beans from building up on one side. If you feel you need more, empty the blender first before dumping a new batch of beans.
4. Knife
One of the simplest kitchen tools you can use to grind coffee beans is your trusty knife. But if you want to get the best results, use a cleaver or any other knife that comes with a large blade.
The idea is similar to that of using a knife for squashing a clove of garlic. Place your beans on the chopping board. Position your knife perpendicular to your table or countertop.
Position the flat of the blade directly on top of the coffee beans. Using the flat of the blade instead of its edge will give you more control while crushing.
Gently push down against the beans using your palm. Use gentle pressure at first until you start to get the groove.
Since crushing the beans may cause residue to fly all over the place, cover the blade with a kitchen towel. If you want to get a finer ground, pull the blade slightly towards you.
5. Frying Pan
This may sound absurd, but you can also use your frying pan to grind some coffee beans. It uses the same idea as the knife.
Prepare the beans the same way as you would when grinding with a knife. Position the body of the pan on top of the beans. The good thing about using a frying pan is that it gives you a larger coverage area.
Use both hands to push the pan against the beans. You want your hands to be on opposite sides of the pan. You don’t want to use the handle except for repositioning the pan.
Make sure to apply consistent pressure to avoid any accidents.
6. Rolling Pin
If you love baking, then pull out that rolling pin of yours and use it for grinding. Compared to a frying pan or a large knife, a rolling pin can give you a more even texture. It also yields a finer grind, though this method can be one of the trickiest.
After placing the beans inside a plastic Ziplock bag, lay it flat on your counter space or cutting board. Much like with the hammer, crush the coffee beans using your rolling pin. After crushing, roll the pin over the beans.
You want to roll the pin while pressing down hard on the beans. Do the rolling motion back and forth until reaching the consistency that you like.
Thereafter, transfer the ground beans to a different container or directly to your coffee maker.
7. Food Processor
Last but not least, you can also grind coffee in the food processor. Like with the blender, you want to put in only a few scoops of coffee beans inside the processor. Apply the “pulse” technique when grinding.
The processor has powerful blades that let you apply short bursts when grinding. Furthermore, apply the tilting motion with the processor. You don’t want any of the beans to build up on either side.
Make sure to empty the processor first before loading more beans.
Here’s How to Grind Coffee Beans Without a Grinder and Maintain Consistency
If you notice, we keep on mentioning the word “consistency” numerous times. This is because consistency or the size of the coffee granules plays a crucial role in the type of brewing method that you want.
To enjoy the best coffee experience, you need to get that perfect consistency that you need. According to Sherry Harris of Coffee Shop Lady here are a few important tips to help you out:
1. Right Before Brewing
If you’re looking to grind some coffee, make sure to do it right before brewing. Moreover, store the beans inside an airtight container. This will protect them from elements that affect the quality of the coffee.
These elements are light, heat, air, and moisture.
2. Measurement Accuracy
You also need to master the art of measuring your coffee beans accurately. You can do this with a little help from a small kitchen scale. Invest in one that lets you measure in grams.
This allows you to measure not only the beans but also the grounds and the water that you will use for brewing.
Start with a small amount like 500 grams of water to 30 grams of coffee beans.
3. Match the Consistency with Brewing
When determining the consistency of the grounded beans, you want to match it always with the type of brewing that you want to use. Some of the more popular types of grinds include “coarse,” “medium,” and “fine.”
The consistency of a coarse grind is similar to potting soil. This is your best bet for brewing a French Press.
Meanwhile, the medium grind is similar to coarse sand. This is what you want for your drip pots and machine drips. As for fine, it feels like sugar or table salt when you touch it.
A fine consistency is perfect for Espressos.
4. Temperature and Time
Last but not least, you need to use the right temperature when boiling water. The ideal brewing temperature is anywhere between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit.
Also, stir the grounds properly. Let it brew for about four minutes then pour it straight thereafter.
Become a Coffee Connoisseur
Now that you know how to grind coffee beans without a grinder, you can enjoy great-tasting coffee anytime you want. But there are many other things that you can learn if you want to become a coffee expert.
Check out our other articles on coffee. We discuss valuable tips and information that will help you become a coffee connoisseur.
