Easily Clean Your Coffee Grinder With Rice

You probably know by now that you should be washing your rice before cooking (to clean off debris and remove lingering starch when desired), but rice can also work the other way and be used to clean household appliances. One such appliance is an electric coffee grinder, a gadget so handy it's frequently referred to as one of the most important investments of any coffee connoisseur. Keep in mind that, when cleaning your coffee grinder, you don't want to use just any kind of rice. Instant or precooked rice is the way to go, since standard uncooked rice is harder than most coffee beans and therefore can damage the blades of your machine. Since rice is great at absorption, this method helps to catch all the excess oil, coffee remnants, and moisture stuck in the grinder.

To clean the grinder, start by emptying out any coffee grinds. Next take a handful of rice (about ¼ cup works for most devices) and pour it into the coffee grinder. For bigger machines, you can use ½ cup instead. Grind the rice for about 30 seconds. Once finished, the rice should be a fine powder. Pour this out and wipe down the interior with a clean cloth or paper towel, or a small brush. Ta-da, clean coffee grinder! Give your grinder a deep clean using the rice method about once a month, but regular wipe downs and dust offs are essential for a healthy coffee grinder that consistently produces tasty coffee.

Blade or burr, that is the question. Although most coffee devotees will have their own opinion after years of coffee making, newcomers in the coffee world might wonder which grinder best suits their needs. Blade grinders are typically more affordable than burr grinders. However, beans can sometimes get caught below the blades and result in an uneven grind. Grinding in stop-and-go pulses, pausing to give the grinds a quick mix with a spoon, or giving the grinder a small shake can help combat these slight hiccups. Despite this, you'll find plenty of highly-rated blade grinders on the market including MuellerLiving's Electric Coffee Grinder, which has extra sharp blades that allow for a smoother grind.

Burr grinders are the preferred tool for most coffee enthusiasts as they produce a more even grind. Plus, the interior of the machine stays cooler which is good for preserving flavor of the volatile oils in roasted coffee beans. Although burr grinders are a bit more costly than blade grinders, those prices tend to be fair in consideration of the higher quality. For instance, OXO Brew's Conical Burr Coffee Grinder retails for about $100 and maintains very good reviews. Truthfully, the coffee world is diverse and expansive so find a method that best suits your preferences and budget. These days you don't even need a coffee machine to make great coffee, so do what works for you ... just don't forget to clean your grinder.